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Boost of support to Papawhāriki proposal
Boost of support to Papawhāriki proposal
The Papawhāriki community sports hub proposal has received huge support from Council today when councillors agreed to consult with the community to fund a grant of $1million dollars towards the community-led project.
Council received a number of submissions to its 2015-2025 Long Term Plan regarding the proposal to develop a community hub at Waikirikiri Reserve.
Through the Long Term Plan the decision was made to support the development of a business case and also committed a significant amount toward the upgrade of the reserve.
Geoff Milner from the Papawhāriki Society presented the findings of the business case completed by the Davies Howard Group.
The Society intends that the community hub would be complementary to projects already underway by Te tini o Porou with facilities for community and whanau sport and high performance sport development.
It would also be a facility for the whole community not just Kaiti but wider Gisborne and east coast region.
“Based on the business case we recommended that Council support the development with a $1m seed grant to the sports related portion of the hub and provides an ongoing annual operational grant of $45,000, starting in the financial year that the facility becomes operational,” said chief executive Judy Campbell.
“The amounts would not impact on the planned rates increases in the Long Term Plan, but to be clear we will need to consult on this proposal with the community to allocate the funds.”
Council agreed with the recommendations to consult on the funding proposal through the 2018 – 2028 Long Term Plan, on the conditions that the Papawhariki Society needs a robust revenue strategy to ensure that the community hub is financially sustainable.
Council would then develop a lease agreement with the Society for the area of land needed for the development.
A reclassification of the land status under the Reserves Act 1977 will also be required.
Mayor Meng Foon did not participate in the debate as his family own Kaiti Mall and it was suggested some tenants may relocate to the new hub.
ENDS
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