Hard times threaten kayak centre plans

A $60 million whitewater kayak facility planned in Manukau City may be canned because of a lack of money.

Similar to the manmade course used at the Beijing Olympics last year, the two-track facility was to be built behind the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Great South Rd.

But plans are up in the air after a Manukau City Council committee voted against putting up $40 million for it.

Botany-Clevedon councillor Michael Williams said the policies and activities committee voted against including it in the council's long-term plan because of various factors, including the large amount of money being sought.

"We've had many submissions come through about this and many have said, 'We want you to stop investing in grandiose schemes and invest in the normal things'," he said.

People in the community had told the council of "many rugby clubs that are run down, of damaged roads and footpaths - it's things like these they want us to help with, which $40 million could cover.

"That's a lot of money and there is no spare $40 million floating around."

A full council meeting will be held next Tuesday, at which councillors will make a final decision on whether to help finance the facility.

The Counties Manukau Trust has been working on plans for the facility for nine years. It would have one 380m circuit for adults and professional athletes and a smoother inside lane for children.

The trust asked the council for $40 million and planned to raise the remaining $20 million itself.

The facility was to have been open in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

TelstraClear Pacific chief executive Richard Jeffery said he hoped the council would make a decision based on the best interests of Manukau City and the wider South Auckland community.

"There's been a lot of support from the people of Manukau for this project. We would like to think that the council will support what the people of Manukau want."

Last month, more than 19,000 submissions in support of building the facility were received, Mr Jeffery said.

"It's also great for the Auckland region. It'll put Manukau on the map."

He acknowledged that Auckland's Super City scheme had changed circumstances, but said it was important for policymakers to endorse something that would benefit not only the people of Manukau, but also the rest of the country.

Mr Williams said that although he was not advocating that the new Super City pay for the facility, the idea of the council footing the $40 million bill was "just too big for Manukau City Council to bite off" given the hard economic times.

But Mr Jeffery said it was an investment for the council.

The young population was also relevant, as the facility was likely to be something of interest to young people.

"There's a lot of talk about it - that the population is young. Well, we're focused on serving the youth of the community."

An educational initiative which would be linked to the course would also benefit youngsters, and a Pacific art gallery and cultural stage would show the history of Polynesia and Maori.

Olympic gold medallist Ian Ferguson, who came up with the idea, is putting $1 million of his own money into the project.

He is in Europe and could not be reached for comment.