Rates fiqures quoted for proposed sport facility
The committee investigating an integrated sport and recreational facility at Takaka’s Recreation Park is making progress.
Dean Lund chairs the group, which also includes Jenny Pomeroy, Roger Tait and Peter Blasdale.
Since the first public meeting in August last year, interested people have continued to get together and discuss the possibilities.
Groups represented in the discussions so far include Search and Rescue, cricket, rugby, soccer, netball, Aikido, hockey, squash, bridge, swimming, tap-dancing and athletics. Representatives of the scouts the drama club and the tennis club have been consulted as well.
“We’ve consistently got 20-30 people attending meetings and talking about a wish-list of features that an integrated facility might have,” said Peter. “That wish-list is published in a blog at goldenbayfacility.blogspot.com so anyone can access it and see where we have got to. There are lots of things that nearly everybody seems to want, so we think that’s very positive progress. Obviously the more people who want a particular thing, the better the chance of that thing being included. Eventually the process will involve working throught the wish-list and deciding what has to stay and what can go.”
The committee members say they have had very helpful discussions with Steve Mitchell who chairs the Moutere Hills facility. Steve is apparently now regarded as a nationwide authority on such projects and he met with Dean Lund again last week.
“The Moutere Hills complex is just going from strength to strength,” said Dean. “Steve has convinced us that the more widely we cast our net the better results we’ll get. By involving the biggest possible range of organisations – maybe profit and non-profit – we can make the project successful. There’s no point in Golden Bay people trying to do it all from scratch ourselves when there’s this recent successful experience in the Moutere. Steve is totally supportive.”
Dean pointed out that the process is still completely open and that a multi-purpose facility at the Recreation Park should not be seen as a threat.
“We’re totally open to all suggestions. Nothing is set in concrete. Also we’re not trying to take anything away from existing halls. A new facility at the Recreation Park could provide features that don’t currently exist here.”
A new community facility would affect the rates paid in Golden Bay. TDC community services manager Lloyd Kennedy has sent the committee the exact details.
“At present every household in Tasman District pays a district facilities rate of approximately $42 and a shared facilities rate of approximately $52. These may increase each year to pay the interest and principal repayments on any new projects approved by council. Should the Golden Bay community wish to uplift all the money available to them and build a new or upgraded facility, there would be an increase to the district facilities rate of about $15-16 per household in the Tasman District.
In addition there is a facilities operating rate of approximately $25 to meet the operating costs of the various community facilities in the district. Golden Bay households do not currently pay this because there is no facility here. If Golden Bay does build a facility it is most likely that Golden Bay households will attract this facilities operating rate.
In short, if Golden Bay goes ahead with the plans to build a new or upgraded facility there will be a rate increase of about $41 per household. If they do not take up the opportunity another area may may do and there would still be an increase in the facilities rate – even though Golden Bay people would not be getting much use of that facility. There is also no guarantee that Golden Bay households will continue to be exempt from the facilities operating rate – as they are at present – whether or not a facility is built.”
The committee will begin meeting again after the holiday break and their deliberations will be available on the blog.
Neil Wilson
