Sports clubs, exercise providers and schools have given strong initial backing to South Wairarapa District Council’s plan for a district-wide sports and recreation delivery body.
Council agreed in March to provide an initial $161,000 in funding “towards the delivery of a single South Wairarapa sports and recreation service,” as it emerged half the south’s community are involved or connected with sports, recreation and leisure groups, clubs and organisations.
A report to council then noted shortages of playing fields and of club and meeting facilities to support the activities. Currently, there is no over-arching delivery body – only volunteer bodies, informal groups, schools and some regional agencies.
Officials reported mid-May that at that point some 35 responses had supported the development, with just two opposing it – both from Featherston – arguing that the body won’t reflect the needs of Featherston’s clubs/groups/community.
“They (the two responders) feel that the voices of Greytown and Martinborough are often louder for a number of reasons,” officials reported _ without their report providing the reasons.
Of nine responses from Featherston groups, seven supported the proposal, while 18 Greytown groups were in favour – none opposed, and six Martinborough groups or clubs offered approval – with none against.
Officials characterised the “one quango” centralised plan as leading to “a community-led shared service secretariat for sports and recreation, through a lead body.”
Raising funds for activities, for facilities and their maintenance and increasing overhead costs were identified as the biggest barriers to growth for the district’s clubs, while “venue saturation” was a major problem for rugby, football, hockey and college sports.
Practice workouts were often cancelled to save field venues for games, with “many venues” not up to standard to support multiple sports codes “and the increase in participation,” councillors were told.
Facilities upgrades and increasing overhead costs were the biggest challenges clubs face.
A decision to proceed with “one quango to rule them all” was due June 4.
