Golden Bay grandstand fight moves past $200k
The grandstand trust has spent over $80,000 trying to save the historic building in Takaka from demolition.
In a statement released last week, The Golden Bay Grand Stand Community Trust said it had incurred a debt of $64,863 to date.
It had cost the trust $81,192 to fight against the grandstand’s demolition.
The $17,000 remainder had been paid for by donations and fundraising efforts.
Golden Bay Grand Stand Community Trust trustee Hazel Pearson said it was ‘‘the financial equivalent to the emperor’s new clothes’’.
She said $6233 has been returned to Pub Charity, and that it still had a balance of $52,136 after borrowing $112,000.
‘‘In monetary terms, debating the movement of 10 carparks 15-20 metres has already cost the region more than $230,000,’’ she said.
Pearson said the trust had plans to start a Highland Games next summer as the trust’s biggest annual fundraising event.
Trustee Averille Grant will be organising the games, to be held on the first Saturday of January, 2019.
The council has spent around $150,000 defending the resolution to demolish the grandstand in the Environment Court.
In December, a proposal by a new group emerged to relocate the top part of the structure 18m.
The council resolved to spend $100,000 on this, if it could come to an agreement with the group by February 2.
The newly formed group are working together with council on a restoration plan for the grandstand.
Details of the group and its plan are expected to be released soon.
The grandstand was to be removed as part of the development of the new rec park centre with the space it occupies earmarked for car parks.
But debate has raged over whether the more than 100-year-old structure could remain in situ.