Liston Park deal announced

A squeeze on sportsfields in the middle of Auckland is likely to be alleviated by a new deal signed this week on Liston Park.
Auckland Council has signed a contract to purchase the privately-owned sports fields known as Liston Park in Ellerslie.
The property is owned by Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Football Club at 71-77 Abbotts Way.
The 4.4 hectares is currently used as rugby fields with clubrooms, amenities and parking. Purchase of the land by the council will ensure the retention of much-needed recreation and open space in the area.
The Marist Brothers are amalgamating with Tamaki Rugby Football Club and relocating to Mt Wellington War Memorial Reserve. The club had intended putting the property on the market for sale but agreed to give the council first option to buy the site.
In June this year, The Aucklander profiled the plight of footy players hoping for a council deal on the park.
Cameron Wong was one of hundreds of Ellerslie kids having to travel across town to find adequate fields to practice on.
His under-13 team completes its drills at One Tree Hill College.
"It's crazy," he told us, "when I was a junior, the fields down there were always closed. We had three games cancelled in a row. Even now we have to practise at another venue."
Last year the number of players at the Ellerslie club grew by 10 per cent. That's close to 80 new players in one season - and there are only five fields available.
In October, Auckland City Council decided to buy the land.
"Ellerslie, Remuera and Meadowbank have a shortage of sport fields, and like the wider Auckland region, not enough dedicated soccer venues and winter training fields, so to retain sports fields in this location is ideal," says Ann Hartley, chair of the council's regional development committee.
"There was some concern among local residents that the site could have been sold on the open market and developed so we are delighted that we've been able to retain Liston Park as an active sports ground."
Marist Brothers members will consider the offer made by council at its annual general meeting on 29 November 2010.
If accepted Marist will continue to use the grounds through the 2011 rugby season while moving to the new location as council works with sporting groups to identify the best future use of the park.
Marist owns almost 5ha of sports grounds at Liston Park, which has clubrooms, a carpark and two football fields. It is merging with the Tamaki rugby club, which plays at Mt Wellington War Memorial Park.
Marist chairman Tim Goldfinch told The Aucklander in June he had a letter of intent from the council to buy the park.