The Upper Clutha Rugby Club and Luggate Albion Cricket Club
yesterday won Wanaka Community Board support for new
long-term leases over reserves to future-proof their sports.
However, the Wanaka Golf Club's application to sub-lease part
of its land for a new development remains under wraps.
The application was heard before the Wanaka Community Board
with public excluded on commercial prejudice grounds.
Wanaka Community Board chairman Lyal Cocks said if the board
approved the sub-lease, the matter would need to be
considered by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) chief
executive Debra Lawson.
Wanaka Golf Club president Peter Hart said yesterday if the
application was successful, the club would inform its members
and announce it publicly.
"Part of it is to do with the council seeking car-parking
facilities and also a joint project on the balance of the
site," Mr Hart said.
The golf club has a 33-year lease over recreation reserve,
with 30 years still to run.
The Albion Cricket Club won support for a 20-year lease and a
10-year right of renewal over the Luggate recreation reserve
and camping ground, while the Upper Clutha Rugby Club has a
new 30-year lease over land at the Wanaka showgrounds.
Both sports clubs were represented by community board member
Mike O'Connor, who declared his conflict of interest as an
official of both clubs and left the discussion.
The cricket club took over the Luggate reserve in the 1980s
and its lease expires on August 30.
The club pays $1 rent a year and has built facilities and
infrastructure and maintained and upgraded the camping
ground.
The camp earned $16,118 to the year ended June 2011, and,
after expenses, made a net profit of $4203. Club members
volunteered 702 hours.
If the club had to pay rent, it was unlikely it would
continue to manage the camp and the council would have to
take over.
The rugby club's 33-year lease expires on June 30.
The club is seeking to build a second storey on the clubhouse
to cater for future growth.
Having hosted two Highlanders pre-season training camps, the
club hoped the redevelopment would encourage the Highlanders
to play in Wanaka one day, he said.
The board recommended deputy community board chairman Bryan
Lloyd and Cr Jude Battson form a hearings panel to assess
submissions for the cricket club, while board members Dick
Kane and Ken Copland will hear for submissions for the rugby
club. The approval of the QLDC and Minister of Conservation
is also required.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.