Council eyes sports control

Clubs like Cambridge Football, which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, have invested heavily into infrastructure. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Waipā’s 17 ratepayer-owned sports fields could soon be managed by the council rather than the clubs which lease them.

The proposal was considered by the council’s Service Delivery committee on Tuesday after The News went to press.

Part of the plan would involve council employing its own sports liaison officer and negotiating short-term leases with clubs whose existing agreements end before 2027.

Brad Ward

Sports affected by that include those using Te Awamutu Stadium, John Kerkhof, Pirongia, Tom Voyle, Albert, Anchor, Castleton, Sherwin, Cambridge Memorial and Athletic parks.

Kihikihi Domain, Victoria Square, Ōhaupō Memorial and Leamington parks have leases expiring between 2031 and 2039 while the Kaipaki Centre’s lease runs through to 2061.

Community Services manager Brad Ward told the committee if changes were not made to the current model, council would have to buy more sports field to cater for demand.

Already some sports are struggling to get access to fields. He cited the example of lacrosse which uses a field in Tamahere because nothing is available in Waipā.

The News understands some sporting clubs are not impressed with the proposals, particularly those that have invested heavily in facilities they manage for the council under existing leases. It would potentially take away a revenue stream they rely on to fund their activities.

The current Waipā model is unusual, said Ward. Most medium to larger sized councils manage and maintain sports fields themselves.

Lessees in Waipā manage field renovations, maintenance and bookings.

Council does the mowing of lawns and visitor infrastructure m.

Ward said the new staff member’s job would be to focus on working with sports clubs to build alignment and efficiency, develop a greater understanding of their needs and to scope a future lease model.

“Staff wish to reiterate no matter what the future lease model looks like, it must be structured in a way that meets clubs’ needs in terms of adequate sports fields available for the hours required.

“It is also anticipated that existing facilities (clubrooms etc) remain for the sole use of the respective clubs, ensuring clubs can continue to consider their current sports fields their ‘home base’ if what is what they desire,” said Ward.

The council’s project team did not undertake a community-wide consultation, instead targeting community and user views via the council’s two community boards and surveying park users.

Most sporting groups wanted to retain the current system.

“Maintaining the status quo would continue inequitable access to sports fields for all codes and would not allow for best practice sport field management across the network,” Ward said in his report.

However, given the opposition staff recommended delaying the move to put all fields into council management immediately.

“Council staff consider the proposed approach a pragmatic solution to work with lessees and other sport providers to ensure their needs continue to be met so they can focus on the delivery of sport and recreation, with council providing best practice sport field management,” said Ward.

New council-developed fields at Cambridge’s John Kerkhof Park where leases expired two years ago. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

 

More Recent Sports

Jane’s two-day plus marathon

Cambridge’s Jane McAlpine set a New Zealand women’s record last week in Queensland at the Dead Cow Gully Backyard Masters, running 355km in 53 hours. The Te Awamutu College alumna is coached by fellow New…

Czyk burns out in Spain

Wotjek Czyz caused the big upset in the second round at the Parastanding World Tennis championships in Spain last week only to dip out in the quarter finals. The Cambridge Paralympian beat France’s Cédric Delmas…

Swim Fest launched

Lake Karāpiro will host a two-day festival of swimming next year, the first of its type in New Zealand, say organisers. The combination of swimming events, community activities and lakeside entertainment will make the lake…

New caps and victories

Te Awamutu Sports and Hautapu claimed wins on Matariki weekend, while the Cambridge-based side has a new All Black cap in their ranks. Chiefs prop Ollie Norris has joined fellow Hautapu club man Luke Jacobson…