The Queenstown Lakes District Council will underwrite half the shortfall in the cost of extending Shotover Country Primary School's hall to accommodate a full-sized indoor court.
The council will underwrite the project by $250,000, adding to $1.6 million it committed in June for the project at the subdivision on State Highway 6, Ladies Mile, near Lake Hayes.
In her report for councillors at a special meeting in Queenstown yesterday, council sports and recreation manager Rachelle Greene said the final cost of the extension would be $2.1 million, leaving a shortfall of $500,000.
The ministry would fund half the shortfall, and had asked the council to underwrite the rest.
Mayor Vanessa van Uden said the situation was ''disappointing'', as it was the ministry's responsibility to provide such facilities.
The council had planned to apply for third-party funding to offset the cost of its initial contribution, but now any funds raised from that source would have to be applied to the shortfall.
On the other hand, the community would gain a new facility, Ms van Uden said.
''We are between a rock and a hard place.''
The extension means Queenstown will gain a third full-sized court; one that meets minimum requirements for netball, tennis, basketball, volleyball and other sports.
Residents will have access outside school hours and on weekends for a term of 30 years, with two 10-year rights of renewal.
The school will manage the facility and set council-approved charges for public use.
The council has approached the Central Lakes Trust, Community Trust of Southland and Lottery Grants Board for funding to offset the shortfall.
