Targeted rate may continue for other Northland projects

An artist's impression of the Sportsville Dargaville facility that may attract funding from the Northland Regional Council. Photo / Supplied

Ratepayers are close to paying off $13 million spent on a revamped Toll Stadium and will be asked if they are happy to keep paying money targeted for sports and recreational facilities.

In 2009, the Northland Regional Council contributed $13m towards the upgrade of Toll Stadium ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and introduced a Regional Recreational Facilities' Rate to recoup the money.

That $13m will be paid off by the end of June next year.

In March/April ratepayers will be asked if they want to keep paying a targeted rate toward sport and recreation, after the $13m is repaid.

The continuation of a targeted rate would provide a contestable fund and Kaipara District Council has already signalled it is keen to apply for funds to complete $1.5m of projects.

Sportsville Dargaville- a $2.8m multi-purpose sports facility at Memorial Park- needs an additional $594,000 to complete the project.

And the Mangawhai Activity Zone needs $700,000 to complete a skate arena to Olympic games standard.

A partially-built skate park, netball, basketball, tennis, cricket, football, an all-weather cricket pitch, outdoor fitness gym, a children's playground, and walking and mountain bike tracks are already in place in the activity zone.

NRC chairman Bill Shepherd said there was about $750,000 left to be paid on the $13m grant.

During work on its 2015/17 Long Term Plan, Mr Shepherd said the NRC had sought public feedback on whether to extend the recreational facilities rate or establish a new sporting infrastructure rate to replace it.

"Given the resulting positive feedback, council decided at that time that a new sporting infrastructure rate be further considered and consulted on as part of the 2018-2028 Long Term Plan, as this would coincide with the time the Events Centre would be paid off," Mr Shepherd said.

He said the proposed consultation on the Long Term Plan was expected to happen around March or April next year. Then it would be up to Northland Regional Council councillors to decide whether the rate would get the green light.

Regardless of the decision, Far North District Council will seek funding from NRC for the multi-purpose Te Hiku Sports' hub, built at a cost of $12m.

The Government has committed $2.8m and an additional $2.7m is expected to be raised through a Far North District Council targeted rate.

Another $2.8m is being sought from funders such as Foundation North and New Zealand Lotteries.