Photo Louis Klaassen D3599-11
THE location will be known as Kawerau Adventure Hub, the building will be called Firmin Field Lodge, and the field will be known as Firmin Field.
Kawerau district councillors agreed on new names for the location home to the Firmin Field Clubrooms and its environs this week, choosing a name for the new multi-use facility being developed at Waterhouse Street.
The building will soon be a multi-use dormitory-style facility.
Kawerau District Council events and venues manager Lee Barton said with completion imminent an opportunity had arisen to develop a unique identity for the facility.
At a council meeting on Tuesday, name options were put forward to elected members.
Finance and corporate services manager Peter Christophers said councillors needed to take into account marketing when choosing a name.
“We are trying to promote a facility to the rest of the world,” Mr Christophers said.
Deputy mayor Alistair Holmes was first to suggest the name Kawerau Adventure Hub. He said it explained exactly where and what the facility was.
All councillors present agreed incorporating Kawerau into the new name was desirable. It pinpointed the area and people were familiar with it.
Mr Holmes said the name indicated further development of the field and gave the impression of a big entertainment area.
Mr Barton said Kawerau Adventure Hub built on the notion the facility was a focal point for adventure-based activities, drawing on Firmin Field as the white water, trail running, adventure race and mountain race base of Kawerau.
However, councillors decided it was important to incorporate the history of the facility and honour Bill Firmin, a Kawerau constable prominent in rugby promotion.
Councillor Carolyn Ion suggested naming the building Firmin Field Lodge and Councillor Rex Savage agreed the name of a man he remembered in the community should be retained.
It was decided that the field surrounding the new facility will remain Firmin Field. The entire facility would be known as Kawerau Adventure Hub, and to retain its history, the building would be named Firmin Field Lodge.
Other suggestions put forward but not taken up were Tarawera Base Camp, The Tarawera Delta and Kawerau-Tarawera White Water Lodge.
Source: Whakatane Beacon