Northland's sporting community has been bombarding the Northland Regional Council with hundreds of submissions in favour of a $30 million Regional Events Centre being built at Okara Park in Whangarei.
However, Whangarei Grey Power has hit back with a submission on behalf of more than 400 members opposing the events centre on financial grounds.
The public has been asked to comment on a plan to partially fund the centre through a NRC ratepayer levy that would add between $24 and $96 to ratepayers' annual rates bills, depending on the type of property and its proximity to Whangarei. That figure excludes GST.
The 10-year levy would raise about $23.6 million for the 20,000-capacity events centre.
Two-thirds of the way into the public submission process, 959 submissions have reached NRC headquarters with 573 in support, 336 opposed and 50 neutral. The submission deadline is next Tuesday.
Northland's sporting community flooded the NRC with 300 submissions supporting the proposal in one day last week.
The feedback is in stark contrast to earlier in the submission process when 80 percent of the first 200 submitters opposed the centre being funded by ratepayers.
Whangarei Grey Power was putting the finishing touches to its submission yesterday.
"We are saying no because people on fixed incomes will find the extra costs very difficult to handle," Grey Power president Val Scurr said.
With the recent announcement of NRC and Whangarei District Council rates rises, another rates rise in the form of an events centre levy would be tough for pensioners relying on just the one income to handle, she said.
"For lots of people it won't seem like much money but for those relying on superannuation it will be out of the question.
"I am signing our submission on behalf of well over 400 Grey Power members in the Whangarei district."
Sport Northland CEO Brent Eastwood said his organisation had made Northland sporting groups aware in recent times of what he believed were the event centre's benefits in sporting, social and economic terms.
An independent public telephone survey of 1015 Northlanders last month showed 56 percent were in favour of being rated to help pay for the centre, 33 percent against and 11 percent undecided.
Dozens more submissions are expected to arrive at the NRC before the May 31 deadline.
The hearing before NRC councillors is on June 8, 9 and 10 in Whangarei.
Features of the events centre include:
* Multi-purpose outdoor stadium capable of hosting major sporting and community and cultural events.
* Seating for 20,000 people with 5000 covered seats, 10,000 exposed seats and 5000 standing on terraces.
* Corporate dining facilities for up to 500 people. Six corporate seats capable of hosting 10-15 people and 15 open-air corporate boxes capable of hosting 10-15 people each.
* Four elite/professional changing rooms and associated warm-up areas.
* Television and media facilities.
* Coaches boxes.
* Male and female umpire facilities.
* Enclosed concourse or gallery that can be used for other community events (exhibitions, markets, tradeshows etc).
* Administration facilities for stadium management, Northland Rugby Union and Sport Northland.
* Gymnasium facilities.
* Two-lane 25m lap pool.
* 60-person lecture theatre.
* Sports medicine centre.
* Sports retail outlet.
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