Papamoa Surf Club's funding search for the proposed replacement of its rescue base looks like it's going to be put through another round of council hoops.
The club is seeking $1,199,750 from Tauranga City Council ratepayers as 31.5 per cent of the $3.8 million project.
Papamoa Community Surf Rescue Base Trust chair Jim Pearson with a concept design for the new rescue base. Photo: Tracy Hardy.
The Papamoa Community Surf Rescue Base Trust's programme for funding and construction works, requires the resource consents and lease documents to be granted/agreed by December 2016, and all detailed design, and building consent granted by July 2017, to enable occupation of the new building by approximately October 2017.
City council staff say they don't understand the Trust's business plan, and basically want to take it over.
City council staff who have been dealing with the club's aspirations for at least three years, now say the Trust's proposed programme does not include sufficient time to obtain the resource consents and agree on the lease conditions, before final detailed design is completed.
The recommendation is that council fund $100,000 for resource consent applications and to commence detailed design.
Staff also recommend that Council agree to staff working with the Trust to develop robust business plans to support future funding requests for consultation through future Annual Plan or Long Term Plan processes.
A city councillor approved the redevelopment of the clubhouse in August 2013, overriding concerns expressed then by council staff about the ability of the reserve to cater for further development.
The original clubhouse was built in 1988-89, extended in 2001, and continues as the base for the club's operation that covers the 14.5km stretch of coast from Sandhurst Drive to Marjorie Lane at the end of Papamoa East.
The building is now in a state of disrepair and unsuitable. The toilet and shower facilities are dysfunctional and unusable, the patrol tower structure is decaying, there are weather leaks and the storage is inadequate - requiring three containers, and some gear stored by Omanu Surf Life Saving Club.
From its construction, the Papamoa Surf Club building has also been a community facility and home to the local Lions Club, Scouts, Girl Guides, Cubs and Brownies, relationships that are expected to continue in the new building, which in summer also provides a summer base for St John Ambulance service.
4 comments
This will cost ratepayers plenty
Posted on 24-05-2016 10:02 | By BullShtAlert
It seems that ratepayers are being softened up for this. I've no problem with maintenance, but expansion is quite different. I oppose things like gyms at Baywave which effectively compete with private business which pays rates that subsidise Baywave?? Go figure. Then much expanded surf clubs effectively become booze barns, restaurants and wedding venues and compete with private hard working businesses. Maintain, yes, but expand, no. We have enough empire builders in Tauranga as it is, usually with other peoples money.
The last straw ..
Posted on 24-05-2016 10:28 | By Rusty Kane
If the TCC don't wake their ideas up .. Papamoa will break away from Tauranga ... leaving Tauranga short changed ..
It's election year so no problem
Posted on 24-05-2016 10:33 | By Annalist
All clubs and groups should get as much as possible out of the big spending councillors because it's election year and a lot of people are too stupid to realise their rates will rise to pay for all this. I read that the Council budget is already predicted to blow out by $ 7 million, so what's a few more million among friends?
Out side the square
Posted on 24-05-2016 22:24 | By lionred31
Like all clubs of the past how bout they go out and raise as much money as possible thru raffles etc to show there intend if they are serious.And prove it is a community asset for papamoa. Instead of relying on handouts from councils. Bit of old school thinking required.Then it shows to everyone not just a handout please.
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