Recreational reserve funding revised

The Queenstown Lakes District Council has revised an unpopular recreational reserve funding policy to remove rentals for the majority of sports clubs, reduce rents for golf clubs and provide for free youth sport, among other things.

The council's community services committee will today consider the revised policy and a recommendation by community services manager Paul Wilson, that the resulting $78,000 deficit in revenue be met increasing Lakes Leisure's operational subsidy and rates.

The revised policy also sets a $300,000 (gross) threshold on club profits for food and beverage before a 5% fee on the value of trading is imposed.

Sports clubs, particularly those in Wanaka, heavily criticised earlier rental proposals in submissions and hearings in April.

The clubs do not want to pay increased levies, ground charges, maintenance fees or building rentals, saying they were "unfair" to the clubs whose members had voluntarily maintained assets for years, saving the council from paying management fees.

The council raises between $30,000 and $40,000 from sports-ground leases and club user charges.

It had sought to remove inconsistencies in the amount sports clubs paid.

The bulk of the money is raised from golf clubs.

The council had also discovered virtually no Wanaka sports clubs were paying charges, while Wakatipu clubs were paying 10% cost recovery to the council.

The revisions also address fee waivers, commercial coaching concessions and continuing levels of subsidies.

 

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