New hall to be built for Scouts, Guides

GETTING PREPARED: Scouts training leader Neil Debenham near the site of the planned new Welcome Bay Scout and Guide Hall. It was planned to go at the western end of Ila Park, beyond the belt of trees.PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK

A $55 million roading project to relieve congestion in one of Tauranga's biggest traffic hotspots will have a valuable spin-off for Scouts and Girl Guides.

Welcome Bay's 32-year-old Baden Powell Hall sits in the path of the underpass that will provide a direct link to the Hairini causeway and Turret Rd.

Although there was sadness that the old hall had to go, the upside was the Government was paying to build a brand new home for Scouts and Guides on Ila Park off Harrisfield Drive in the neighbouring suburb of Ohauiti.

The boost for the two communities comes at the same time as the Welcome Bay Community Centre and Sport Bay of Plenty's Paul Pou prepare to relaunch a chance for kids to have a bit of semi-organised fun on Owens Park next to the school and kindergarten.

Community centre chairwoman Mary Dillon said there was a successful trial last summer when the appearance of a few kids with balls, bats and nets became an instant magnet for others wanting to join the fun. Pretty soon 30 or 40 youngsters were participating.

They were planning to hold it once a week after school. "It is something that the kids can turn up to regularly ... it could grow into something more structured at the pace that the kids want."

Meanwhile, the planned construction of the Baden Powell Centre on Ila Park could not have happened at a better time for Welcome Bay's Scout troop which has gone into recess because it ran out of leaders. Guiding, on the other hand, was thriving.

Western Bay's Scouts training leader Neil Debenham expected the new hall would open June-July next year and they were getting ready for a big push to coincide with the opening. Ideally they would like to get leaders for keas (ages 5-7), cubs (7-10), scouts (10-14) and venturers (14-18).

Flyers were dropped into schools about a month ago but they had heard nothing back. Although there were lots of youngsters in Welcome Bay and Ohauiti, not a lot were buying into scouting, he said.

Mr Debenham hoped to cash in on all the excitement of a new purpose-built facility to help relaunch scouting on that side of town. The key thing was to attract new leaders. "We can't have scouts without leaders."

The ratio for activities in scout halls was one adult for every eight youths or one in four for more adventurous activities elsewhere. Generally they needed a minimum of two adults, he said.

Welcome Bay & Ohauiti's New Scout Hall
Floor area: 270 sq m
Design: Hall with storage rooms and gable roof
Off-street carparking: 15 cars