16 February 2005

Decision On Manukau Outriggers Canoeing Proposal

The community development committee of Manukau City Council has decided not to support a proposal to grant $237,496 to the Manukau Outriggers Canoeing Whare Nui Trust in order to develop a clubroom and outrigger storage facility on the Mangere Bridge Waterfront Reserve.

The Trust had requested a roll-over of the grant. The committee also decided it was not willing to hear any further requests from the Trust on the matter. The committee decision will now be presented to the full Council meeting at the end of this month.

Manukau mayor Sir Barry Curtis says the Council supports the idea of an outrigger facility and accepts there is strong need for a facility within the community.

“However the committee made the right decision because we cannot consider the current proposal from the Trust as it does not fit the guidelines under the community facilities partnership scheme. We could only consider giving such a grant once the rest of the required funding has been found, and that has not happened.

“The Trust has so far failed to raise enough funding for the project from other sources, and the Council can only contribute part of the total funding. It is a great shame because the idea is very much worth supporting and an outrigger club would be a fantastic asset for the city. I look forward to other proposals coming forward in the future and the Council will look closely at how it can help those proposals succeed.”

ENDS

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