Two important new regional plans for arts and sport discussed recently are setting out a long-term vision for the Waikato.

At this week's Waikato Mayoral Forum the arts plan from Creative Waikato was received, while the sports plan from Sport Waikato was agreed in principle.

Two important regional plans for arts and sports was unveiled at this week's Waikato Mayoral Forum. Image: File

Waikato District mayor and forum chairman Allan Sanson says arts and sports are a core part of how we have fun and come together as people.

'It's crucial that we provide as best we can for the way these activities operate in future in the Waikato region.

'These two reports are further evidence of the value of taking a collaborative approach on doing just that.”

The Creative Waikato document is a 30-year infrastructure plan and the fruit of the first ever regional creative infrastructure review.

Creative Waikato chief executive Sarah Nathan say there's a need to fill gaps in infrastructure and a high percentage of regional and sub-regional creative facilities were old and required re-investment.

'There is a need for coordinated, long-term regional and strategic planning for arts infrastructure in local government.

'As well as a need for reinvestment and refurbishment in 80 per cent of creative infrastructure over the next 10 years.”

The report indicated opportunities for a regionally unified approach to arts policy and vision setting, plus developing strategic planning and funding models.

These models are particularly in the areas of Maaori arts, visual arts and performing arts infrastructure.

While The Waikato Regional Sports Facilities Plan is a national first of its kind, involving key stakeholders such as councils, funders and Sport Waikato working together.

Regional leaders at the forum meeting agreed to Sport Waikato's request to look at matching $100,000 worth of annual Sport NZ funding over three years to help implement the plan.

It will now be up to individual councils to consider what they will contribute.

Sport Waikato chief executive Matthew Cooper says not everyone will agree with everything suggested in the plan but it did provide a clear framework for discussion on the way forward.

'It represents an agreement to collaborate, bring parties together, and to develop and deliver the facilities our communities need.”

Allan says the arts and sports plans will be taken into account in the development of the wider Waikato Spatial Plan being developed under the forum's auspices.

Both reports will be fully released once discussions with local councils have been completed.

To read summaries of both reports visit the Creative Waikato and Sport Waikato websites.