Like all good public meetings, the one held last night in Queenstown to discuss "supporting sport in the Wakatipu" ended with a round of applause and a move forward.
The meeting, spearheaded by "community supporter" Craig (Ferg) Ferguson and former youth leader Merve Aoake, was attended by about 40 people, representing various sporting codes in the Wakatipu, the Queenstown Lakes District Council and Lakes Leisure.
Mr Ferguson said the meeting was the culmination of three years of discussions between a group of five concerned community sports enthusiasts.
"It's not a revolt . . . that's certainly not the way that I function. [And] it's certainly not sour grapes from Ferg because he didn't get on the Lakes Leisure board."
At the heart of the meeting last night were the estimated 3000 young people involved in sports in the district and concerns over a lack of consultation before Lakes Leisure - the body which controls the operation, management and delivery of all recreation and leisure facilities in the district - was formed and the lack of consultation with Lakes Leisure since July 1; concern some sports began their seasons too early, encroaching on other sports and forcing children and their parents to choose between codes; and the fees charged by Lakes Leisure for the use of the grounds.
Lakes Leisure was formed in January as a not-for-profit company, contracted by the district council to manage all council-owned venues and parks.
Queenstown Chamber of Commerce representative Richard Thomas told the meeting the chamber felt a council-controlled organisation was the wrong model to use for the community assets, because it appeared to be relying on commercial resources user groups did not have.
Many of the representatives at the meeting took the chance to voice their concerns, with a recommendation passed to form a united users group comprising Mr Ferguson, Mr Aoake and Simon Spark, representing all sports and groups covering the Wakatipu Basin, to liaise with the council to help solve short and long term sporting issues.
