Rhythmic gymnasts train at the Caledonian Gymnasium on
Andersons Bay Rd last week. Photo by Craig Baxter.
The future of Dunedin's Caledonian Gymnasium and Bowling
Club and the city council's support for gymnastics in the city
is to be considered by councillors.
Any decisions, however, are unlikely to take effect in the
next financial year.
The issue of the Andersons Bay Rd gymnasium's future was
raised by the Dunedin Gymnastic Academy (DGA) during last
year's annual planning round.
The DGA says the ageing facility does not meet modern
recreation expectations and limits growth in their sport.
It also questions whether the location of the gymnasium in an
area of significant commercial growth is any longer
appropriate.
A report to councillors considering the 2013-14 budget
recommends councillors approve further staff investigations
into several options.
They are: retaining the status quo, which requires about
$80,000 investment over the 30 years of the building's
remaining useful life and $250,000-$300,000 in the next two
to three years to keep the facility going at its current
level of service; sell the land of the gymnasium and/or the
next door bowling club and realise about $2.5 to $3 million;
redevelop, in two stages, the current gymnasium for about
$4.3 million; or sell the land and build a new purpose-built
facility in the Ice Stadium car park in Victoria Rd, also for
about $4.3 million.
In the scenarios that require sale of the bowling club land,
valued at about $1.5 million, the 32 members would have to
find new clubs to play for.
The redevelopment option would involve initially improving
the standard of the building at a cost of about $1.8 million.
A second stage in five to 10 years' time would double the
floor space and include an underground car park.
The total cost could also be increased, as it is listed as an
earthquake-prone building and requires a structural
assessment before July next year.
The report informed councillors that before DGA could begin
to fundraise for new facilities, a decision needed to be made
about the future of the Caledonian sports hub and what
support, if any, could be expected from the council.
DGA could raise $1.8 million over two to three years, but if
it needed to raise the full cost of an upgrade or new
facility, that would take up to 10 years.
Staff advised council support could be in principle, by
supporting the development and renewal of existing building,
through the provision of a green field space for a new
facility, and/or making a capital contribution from the sale
of the gymnasium or bowling club.
There is no funding in the draft annual plan for gymnastics
facility improvement.
A commitment from council around the preferred direction was
sought, the report said.
Further investigations would then take place and staff would
report back to the Community Development Committee in
September, with any implications to be considered as part of
the 2014-15 annual plan process if appropriate.debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz
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