Clubs urged to share after flood

PROPOSAL: Water sport fan Cr Phillippa Baker-Hogan is suggesting a one-stop shop in a flood-proof location. PHOTO/FILE A_121114WCSMROWER1

Wanganui District Council's sport and recreation portfolio-holder Phillippa Baker-Hogan is urging officialdom and the community to take notice of the plight of water sport clubs following the June flood.

Baker-Hogan, who is a member of a water sport club, has called a meeting between Sport Whanganui, the council and the water sports community to discuss ways to work more closely to support each other.

She said the recent significant floods in the district, which caused such widespread social and financial devastation to the wider community, clearly signalled the only certainty is there would be more floods.

"Very likely they will be more often and regardless if they are supposedly one in 50 years or one in 150 years, we need to proactively plan for them.

"Although I commend the council's Civil Defence and Emergency Management response to residential, rural and commercial areas, the water sports community has largely been ignored to date, although many of our rowing, kayak and waka ama clubs have sustained the most significant damage in their history.

"Although I have heard many stories and understand most of them have some level of insurance and are getting on with the job of trying to future-proof their buildings as much as possible, I hope key people in each club will attend the meeting."

The meeting has been scheduled for next Wednesday between 5.30 and 7pm at Sport Whanganui to discuss common issues and consider ideas looking forward.

"I'm upfront in saying that the idea of a combined water sport facility, in one flood-proof location, with one set of overheads and some shared spaces, like changing, meeting and gym space with each club retaining its identity would be a really exciting project to benefit all.

"I believe clubs should retain their own identity, as competition is healthy, yet grow our water sport clubs wider membership, work collaboratively and compete stronger against more centralised sports performance programmes around the country, as well as benefit more people in our own community.

"Finally, I commend all the water sport clubs on how they have responded to their extremely challenging flood damage issues."