Sign In / Register
The question of who will get to build a sports facility at Metro Park in Millwater came before the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board again recently, with the presentation of designs by representatives of Metro Community Trust (MCT).
It follows the presentation of designs for a sports hub at Metro Park by YMCA North, on April 23 (HM May 6).
A building as a base for sports clubs has been proposed for Metro Park for many years, with a feasibility report completed in 2018 by Opus.
MCT’s proposed pavilion, as presented to the local board’s June 25 meeting, is estimated to cost around $4 to build. It includes storage, changing facilities and toilets, function facilities, squash and basketball courts and a bowling green.
Trust representative John Campton said around $48,000 would be needed to get the project to resource consent stage.
The group is seeking the local board’s feedback on the designs, and funding to enable a resource consent application.
However, progressing the plan will be difficult until issues relating to the trust overseeing Metro Park are sorted out. MCT sought the board’s support for a transition that involves dissolving the previous trust (the Metro Park Community Sports Charitable Trust) and transferring its assets to MCT so it can continue work on delivering the pavilion.
MCT will include representatives of sports groups that use Metro Park – currently most of the trustees are from Rodney District Sports.
Issues around the trust were front of mind for local board members. Deputy chair Julia Parfitt described this as “the elephant in the room” and several members asked questions around the trust’s current status.
The other concern raised by members was the rival bid by YMCA North.
Both organisations have received Auckland Council funding to progress their plans (HM October 30, 2023).
Parfitt noted that further funding could be difficult unless MCT has separate or complementary objectives to the Y.
“If it’s going to cover the same ground, there will have to be some agreement [between the Y and MCT],” she said.
Backstories Oct 30, 2023, May 6, 2024
