Funding for bowls hub in firing line
A fight may be looming over a proposal to spend $6 million on a regional bowls facility in Naenae.
Community Facilities Trust (CFT) manager Peter Healy last week put a case to the council’s finance committee urging them to support the bowling hub.
The council is being asked to provide $4m, with the CFT promising to raise the rest.
Councillor Campbell Barry signalled his doubts about the viability of the project, its funding model and whether it is the best use of ratepayer money.
The new centre on Walter Mildenhall Park will be formed by the merger of the Park Avenue and Naenae bowling clubs.
Healy argued the city would get a ‘‘world-class facility’’ that would be a hub for bowls, the RSA, petanque, darts, and a range of activities enjoyed by the elderly. There would be a ‘‘knock-on effect’’ for local retailers from the investment which would benefit the Naenae community, he said.
Barry questioned why the council is supporting private bowling clubs that would exclude the general public.He asked why the price had risen from $4m to $6m and why the council should pay the increase.
Healy denied the original price had ever been $4m, and said the community would be getting an asset that would benefit more than just bowlers.
Councillors Tui Lewis and Michael Lulich also expressed concern that the council was funding a private club that would exclude the public.
After the meeting Barry released a statement urging the council to take a ‘‘ step back’’ to reconsider the project.
The original idea resulted from a proposal to merge the two bowling clubs and the cost has increased significantly, he said.
Even if the petanque members are added, the two clubs only have a combined membership of 309, many of whom are social.
‘‘Council contributing $4m is effectively giving one club a $13,500 per member subsidy for a brand new facility – that’s not right.’’
Barry believes there are far better ways to spend the money.
‘‘Imagine what $4m could do in revamping the Naenae Library as a multipurpose facility in the middle of Hillary Court.’’
He wants the council to draw ‘‘ a line in the sand’’ and not commit any more money.
‘‘We said we would contribute $2m out of the $6m required. If that’s not enough then the project should be altered and built for $4m or deferred until the rest of the money is raised.’’