Council backs sports centre

The Queenstown Lakes District Council's backing this week of plans for an Arrowtown Community and Sports Centre has Murray Bennett, of Kelvin Heights, mighty pleased.

The Arrowtown Community and Sports Centre Trust chairman said he was elated that the council had seen the value in the proposal, by supporting it in principle at its full meeting in Queenstown on Tuesday.

Mr Bennett told the Otago Daily Times that was ''the biggest meeting of our journey'', which began in 2006.

''It's more than just knowing where the building is going to go; it's knowing the council has come on board ... it feels really, really good.

''We're working with the Arrowtown community - it's going to be their building, they're going to own it, they're going to manage it and use it ... it's a win-win for Arrowtown.''

Mr Bennetts, who had been involved with the trust for three years, said while the initial proposal was for new rugby clubrooms, ''that wasn't going to get a great deal of traction. Council indicated it had to be a multi-use facility''.

The proposed building would service assorted community groups, including the Arrowtown Rugby Club, Arrowtown Scouts, karate and line dancers.

Now the group would speak to the community about what was proposed and ask for their input, lodge plans for in time for the council's next meeting in October and start lodging funding applications.

''We've got all of the ducks ready, but we couldn't let them loose until we got [yesterday's] recommendation.''

Yesterday's unanimous support from the council came with support in principle for a capital contribution for the new facility and relocation of the existing rugby field at Jack Reid Park, proposed by the trust.

The council also endorsed the establishment of a working party, involving Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden, Cr Lex Perkins, operations general manager Ruth Stokes and the sport and recreation manager.

Mr Bennett said the trust was pleased to work with the council to promote sports needs in Arrowtown.

A report said the trust had sought a decision now so construction could begin in 2014.

Mr Bennett told the ODT part of the work over coming weeks would be confirming the building size and detailed plans. There were several options for stage two, including developing squash courts, netball courts or other outdoor playing surfaces.

However, no decision would be made on stage two for some time, he said.

The working party would now determine and recommend a preferred option for funding a council contribution to the development of the facility, in partnership with the trust.

A formal agreement between the trust and the council would also be entered, which would include an agreed minimum level of funding to be raised by the trust, start and finish dates, a sunset clause for the council's financial support and that council funding would be released only once all funding was in place for the project to be completed.

- tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz

 

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