The understanding was that all appropriate sports (especially those already there) would be located at in the new Blake Park Sports redevelopment zone, otherwise it's all really a waste of time. Currently the ‘I want, I need, I want' mentality of fringe groups has to stop. There is no need for Badminton to relocate to one of few Green Space Reserves at Newton Road, at the Mount.
Councillor Guy's criticism is right on the money.
Tauranga Indoor Sports
Mount Sports Centre
QEII Centre, Bethlehem, Tauranga, Aquinas Colleges
Memorial Halls all adequately serve the local community and in most cases cater for sports like badminton otherwise what are they going to be used for?
Badminton like Bowls is not a booming sport in New Zealand. This project will need maximum TECT, BayTrust funding, etc. and yet again, it's not a ‘needy' community charity. There is no evidence of any Badminton Club savings, building funds or cash contributions. The community will pick up any shortfall.
As usual the public will pay, not the participants. Will anyone even have the nous to ensure any such facility doubles as Indoor Tennis Courts?
TCC bureaucrats always seem to come up with left-field done deals set in concrete which are preserved for blessing by elected members and ratepayers without any prior warning. I trust that Velodomes, Ice Rinks, and Equestrian Centres are not on the TCC agenda or for that matter a full time circus, apart from the one that is currently performing at Tauranga City Hall.
R Paterson, Matapihi.