Historic sports clubs barter their land

John Ivory says Ponsonby Bowling Club will get new facilities in exchange for allowing houses and apartments. Photo / The Aucklander

Two historic sports clubs are involved in property deals that will see them either sell or develop their sites.

Marist, one of the last remaining Auckland rugby clubs that owns its fields, plans to sell its huge land holding in Ellerslie.

In Herne Bay, the Ponsonby Bowling Club has done a deal with a developer to have part of its site developed for housing in return for better greens and facilities.

Marist owns almost 5ha of sports grounds at Liston Park, which has a clubrooms, carpark and two football fields.

This month, club members voted almost unanimously to sell the freehold land, which has no mortgage. As part of the sale process, Marist hopes to merge with the Tamaki Rugby Club, which plays at Mt Wellington War Memorial Park.

Andy Evans, a property expert formerly of ING and a member of a special working group established to investigate the real estate deal, said options for the club had been considered for some time.

Only two members objected, he said, and that was on the basis of where the club should go next rather than about the sale.

On October 18, a special general meeting of the Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Football Club (Auckland) Inc was held at its clubrooms.

In June, a group was formed from senior members of the club and members of its management committee to investigate the financial situation and report back on recommendations. The group was headed by Simon Devoy, the club chairman.

Mr Evans said he was only one member of a group of 12 who had investigated the options and put many different ones to club members, who voted on the deal.

It had become apparent that cost-cutting and revenue-raising efforts would not provide a sustainable culture for the club, which last year celebrated its centenary.

"We wanted to position the club for the next 100 years - and particularly focus on the next 20," Mr Evans said.

Other members said the council rates bills and the field maintenance fees had left the club facing annual bills of up to $100,000.

That was unsustainable and the property is expected to fetch more than $11 million.

Mr Evans said the land was zoned for residential use and the district plan would enable a developer to carve it into house lots of just 375sq m. That could result in an estate of more than 100 houses, he said. "But it could also be a retirement village."

Property consultants DTZ valued the land but Mr Evans said the Auckland City Council had indicated it did not have the budget to buy it.

He could not reveal market valuations because this could affect potential buyers' offers.

A residential development is planned at the Ponsonby Bowling Club in a project which will see members get new sports facilities in return for allowing the development.

But the club in Jervois Rd is "definitely not" selling its land, according to member John Ivory.

Eleven new apartments are proposed by Sport & Recreational Developments. Nine will be terraced houses and two will be apartments. The club will get two new bowling greens and other amenities in return.

Auckland City said that the proposal was non-complying and infringed a number of district plan rules.

"It is proposed to redevelop the Ponsonby Bowling Club to create an integrated residential and sporting club development. The proposed redevelopment includes a clubhouse, 11 residential units, two bowling greens and a basement floor below the greens providing parking, storage, and stormwater facilities.

"The application requires resource consent for the construction of the residential units, the clubhouse (as a building used for recreational and community purposes) and to establish car parking.

"The proposal also requires consent for infringements to the maximum height, building coverage, and yard development controls.

"Consent is also required for a parking shortfall and the extent of earthworks required."