Sports groups face reserves review

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 437, 19 May 1992, Page 1

Sports groups face reserves review

Ruapehu District Council's policy on recreation reserves was one of the topics for discussion at last week's meeting. The council aims to set a policy for the short, medium and longterm management of all recreation reserves owned or administered by the Ruapehu District Council. One of the stated objectives is the intention to move towards a position where a percentage of cost recovery can be apportioned from identifiable sources. This will limit the input of funding from ratepayers in general for the on-going costs associated with the maintenance of recreation reserves within the District. Council staff are currently developing a marketing strategy whereby a reserve is managed on a day-to-day basis by a committee drawn from the local community. This strategy acknowledges the fact that the local community is in a better position to decide what their needs are and what activities are best suited to the area concerned. The four categories of reserves or parts of re-

serves are as follows: • Those leased for grazing, camping grounds etc to private individuals for pecuniary gain.

• Those leased by organisations for clubrooms, workshops etc. • Those leased by organisations for their exclusive use

• Those leased for multi-user purposes A high percentage of organisations currently using Council reserves are non-profit making

and don't have the ability to incur a large financial liability on behalf of their members. Another consideration Turn paee 2

Recreation reserves review

From page 1 is that some sports codes receive greater advantages from the use of Council recreation reserves than others. Subsidies by way of ground maintenance, rates, charges and other fees paid by Council for some sports, while others lease areas for their specific use, maintain their own grounds without Council support and provide a return to Council through rent. The council aims to 'tidy up"and rationalise these anomalies through the policy review.. Cr Kirton said it was

essential to get a meeting with all the clubs, sporting organisations, individual leasees and others using Council reserves to get complete compatibility and agreement before any decisions are made. (Note: the policy recommendations will be published in next week's edition of the Bulletin). Cr Gould advised Council to"be a bit careful after what we've done to the District's libraries." Council agreed unanimously that they would meet with all RDC recreation reserve users and

leasees before the 26 June to discuss the

situation and proposed policy with them.