Whanganui council to form partnerships with sporting groups

Whanganui District Council property manager Leighton Toy (left) was on hand as holes were drilled to test stability for a velodrome roof. Photo file / Bevan Conley

A plan that allows Whanganui District Council to part-fund a range of sports facilities has been approved and is now being consulted on.

The Sport and Recreation Facilities Strategy 2019 has been worked on since 2015, and council staff hope it can be finally signed off before the local body elections in October.

It was approved at the council's strategy and finance committee meeting on February 26.

It allows the council to part-fund new or expanded sports facilities, provided the bodies advocating them have "a decent business case", general property manager Leighton Toy said.

Whanganui has a rich sporting heritage but most of the council facilities are ageing, and the council gets lots of requests for money to improve them.

Dissatisfaction with them was highlighted in a community views survey last year.

The plan will be put in place with the help of Sport Whanganui, which will begin a development plan for Springvale Park.

It allows for council to contribute $200,000 (10 per cent) toward a hockey turf, $75,000 (20 per cent) toward football improvements at Wembley Park, $20,000 (20 per cent) toward an indoor cricket facility and $100,000 (20 per cent) toward netball facility improvements.

There is also a possible $50,000 (20 per cent) to create a River Activity Hub.

"I really like this model, of council partnering with the community and Sport Whanganui. We have only got limited resources and we can do a lot more if we work together," councillor Helen Craig said.

There has already been extensive consultation on the plan, and more submissions will be accepted until April 12.

Submissions can be made online at the council's website, or emailed to policysubmissions@whanganui.govt.nz. There are also paper copies of the plan and submission forms at four council venues.