knepperhorn: Golden Bay $5 million recreation facility proposed...

A $5 million multi purpose, shared sports and recreation facility for everyone from babies to the elderly is being proposed for Golden Bay.

Bay residents are proposing a "one stop multi use complex" to be developed at the existing Golden Bay Recreation Ground, commonly known as the Golden Bay A&P showgrounds.

Golden Bay Shared Recreation Facility Incorporated Society chairman Dean Lund said they envisaged the complex being of use to a wide range of people from football players to bridge enthusiasts and people practising yoga.

"The sports fields are effectively there already. There will be a new hockey area there, while the soccer field will be upgraded and a new one added. We're in negotiation with the A&P Association to construct three netball courts and a car park on their block of land adjacent to the Recreation Park," he said.

Mr Lund said the proposed building would include a gymnasium for indoor netball, basketball, volleyball, and other sports. Two squash courts, a multi-purpose room (for yoga, boxing, and martial arts) changing rooms, showers and toilets, meeting rooms, a function/social area and a commercial kitchen and bar were also planned.

"We've also had expressions of interest from Search and Rescue. We think it would be a natural place for Civil Defence - being an elevated site - they'd have all the networks in place. It would also be good for weddings, funerals and hosting large events such as sports tournaments," he said.

Mr Lund, Jenny Pomeroy and Peter Blasdale presented a feasibility report to the Golden Bay Community Board last month. They hope the proposal will be recommended to the Tasman District Council.

Carolyn McLennan, chairwoman of the Golden Bay Community Board said the board was considering it.

"We will discuss at our next meeting whether or not we can provide a letter of support. They did a good presentation, we were all very impressed. Their planning has come a long way," she said.

Mr Lund said the TDC was aware that Golden Bay needed a new facility, but the process had to be "community driven".

"TDC identified that Moutere had a hall, also Murchison, Motueka and St Arnaud had halls," said Mr Lund.

"The feasibility report that Sport Tasman have provided, backed up by Sport New Zealand, clearly shows the need and the community support and the operational viability for the centre," said Mr Lund.

While the TDC has budgeted for $3.7 million to be available for the complex in its long-term plan, a further $1.5m would need to be raised by the group.

"We see a significant portion of that coming from funding agencies - for example Lotteries and the Canterbury Community Trust. And we expect that a considerable amount of community input will come in the form of ?in kind' work such as labour, landscaping, use of machinery and equipment in the site preparation and construction," said Mr Lund.

"We're very, very conscious of the hospital and how hard the community is being pushed for funding at the moment so we're not wanting to put pressure on individuals. There are a lot of funding sources that we can access that the hospital can't because we're sports and recreation and they're health."

- ? Fairfax NZ News