Stadium’s hire fee hike questioned
An elderly exercise group is asking for a fairer deal after being hit with another hike in the weekly venue hire fee it pays New Plymouth District Council.
When the new price rise comes in to force in July, the Active in Age group will be paying $72 more each week than it was paying in 2017 for the use of courts at the TSB Stadium.
Group leader Hillary Blackstock and Positive Ageing chairman Lance Girling-Butcher have now urged the council to give groups for older adults the same discount it gives to youth events and schools.
Blackstock, the aerobics instructor for the group, told Tuesday’s full council meeting that every week approximately 120 elderly people turn up for the two-hour session of movementbased activity, including tai chi, line dancing, bowls and strength and balance exercises.
‘‘This is a group of New Plymouth residents who usually have fixed incomes on the lower side and this price rise will need to be passed on to them to ensure that the class and this asset to our community’s residents remains viable,’’ she said.
‘‘Youth and older adults are seen as priority populations by NPDC.
‘‘At the community halls that our classes are held in... they pay the same rate whether they’re youth or superannuants, but for some reason this is a different rate for use of the TSB Stadium.’’
Blackstock told councillors they were currently paying approximately $100 an hour and prices were going up.
But schools paid $51 an hour, the meeting heard.
Blackstock also said the loss of Yarrow Stadium meant there are more groups and events requiring venues, and her members were often moved to rooms at the New Plymouth racecourse.
‘‘This means we’re moved up to the racecourse more, but with rugby using one of the buildings we now have half the original space available to us.’’
Blackstock said the stadium staff had always looked after them very well, but the racecourse was not as good a venue.
The council noted the submission. Councillors also noted reports from the planning and performance committees, including giving authority to chief executive Craig Stevenson to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Fitzroy Golf Club, and approving the Green Spaces Management Plan, which gives guidelines for taking care of council reserve areas.