$100,000 is added to funding

"Twenty four delegates does not a conference make. It's a meeting."

Councillor Roy Weaver

Christmas came early for community organisations and the New Plymouth BMX Club, with both getting thousands of dollars in funding from the New Plymouth District Council.

The last New Plymouth District Council meeting of 2017 saw councillors add $100,000 to community funding.

The move means community funding is back to the same level as before the council slashed it by $200,000 in June 2015.

Councillor Harry Duynhoven said there were a lot of community organisations that would not exist without the fund.

‘‘This is money that will be well spent,’’ he told Tuesday’s meeting, held in the council chambers.

The New Plymouth BMX Club was given $26,000.

The club is hosting the 2018 BMX New Zealand National Championships at Easter 2018, at Hickford Park.

A pre-nationals event is being run the weekend before, and overall an estimated 1000 to 1200 competitors will take part in the events.

The club hadn’t been able to quite reach its target of $75,000 coming up $26,000 short.

With an average of two people accompanying the competitors, it is estimated that the event will attract approximately 3000-3600 visitors to the district, a report to the council said.

Councillors agreed to fund the BMX club the $26,000, with more than one councillor saying the decision was a ‘‘no brainer’’.

They were impressed with the way the club recently came to speak to them, its detailed budget and how for every dollar they give the club, the event is expected to return $80.

BMX had done everything right, councillor John McLeod said.

Councillor Roy Weaver said he was in awe of the BMX Club for building a facility for everyone to enjoy.

‘‘So, $26,000 is the icing on their cake.’’

But he wasn’t so enthused over Surf Taranaki’s request for $30,000 so it could host the World Surf Cities Network (WSCN) conference and AGM in October/November 2018.

‘‘Twenty four delegates does not a conference make. It’s a meeting. Should we be spending money on a meeting?’’

Surf Taranaki copped a bit of criticism for asking for money from the council without providing enough detail.

Mayor Neil Holdom said Surf Taranaki’s bid was ‘‘underdone’’.

‘‘Don’t come to me and say give me money and I’ll give you the details.

‘‘But I’m not going to shut the door on you because I’m in a good mood. Sorry, but you didn’t do your homework and haven’t done the numbers.

‘‘Come back and show me how it benefits the region. Do the work over the holidays.’’

The council didn’t dismiss Surf Taranaki’s bid, rather it has given them time to come back with more information.

Also at the meeting the council agreed to continue funding the North Taranaki Sport and Recreation Incorporated $38,500 per annum, continue its annual service grant of $75,000 plus inflation with YMCA Taranaki and pay $70,000 to contract youth engagement provider Zeal.