Proposed projects: outlines - Northland Sporting Facilities Plan - Northland Regional Council

Northland Sporting Facilities Plan
Proposed projects:
outlines
November 2017

Project Name:
Sportsville Dargaville

Background:
A centrally located multi-sport facility with associated infrastructure in Dargaville has been mooted
by a host of different organizations for a number of years now.

In September 2012 the Dargaville Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Plan was completed, with
major recommendation being for the development of a centrally located multi-sport precinct at
Memorial/Rugby Park in Dargaville.

Progress:
To maintain momentum, in 2013 Sport Northland established a Board of local people with the right
skills and expertise to drive the project forward. They have since done a fantastic job in moving the
project forward; undertaking much consultation with stakeholders, establishing itself as an
incorporated society, undertaking a feasibility study on the proposed facility at Memorial Park,
funding the final concept design and geotechnical/survey work; working with stakeholders on
securing enough local funding to ensure external funding applications can be made, and
subsequently being hugely successful in major funding applications to Foundation North
($1,033,000), NZ Lotteries Grants Board ($650,000) and Pub Charity ($178,000).

Griffiths and Associates were contracted as the project managers in late 2015 and their pre-
construction work has been focused on a thorough review and re-design of the building and courts
due to the increased costs associated with the previous design. This has been done in conjunction
with the preferred main building contractor (using a design/build method) to ensure that they are
onboard with the need to ensure maximum cost savings for the project.

Planned:
Construction is planned to start in November 2017, with completion due in May 2018.

Funding:
Due to increased costs and limited funding, more funding is required to complete this project:
Overall Confirmed Cost
Netball/Tennis Courts           $ 850,000
Building                        $ 1,600,000
Floodlighting                   $ 250,000
Carpark                         $ 100,000
                                $ 2,800,000
Confirmed Funding
Foundation North                $ 1,033,000
NZ Lotteries                    $ 650,000
Local Stakeholders              $ 245,000
Pub Charity                     $ 178,000
KDC                             $ 100,000
                                $ 2,206,000

Funding Still Required          $ 594,000

Project Name:
Mangawhai Activity Zone (MAZ)

Background:
In 2009 a group of concerned local residents of Mangawhai listened to their children when they said
they had nowhere to play. From this request the Mangawhai Activity Zone (MAZ) was set up to
establish a multi-purpose sport and recreation zone.

With support from KDC, land was made available and a specialist company eas commissioned to
design an ambitious park with multiple activities for not just youth but for families to play and
workout together in an enjoyable but challenging environment.

Progress:
Progress thus far has been spectacular, so much so that MAZ is now established as a key aspect of
outdoor activities, sport and leisure facilities for the wider community with over 30,000 visitors
alone over the 35 day holiday period (end of December 2016 to January 2017). However, some
serious funding is still required to complete this community project all of which is developed and run
by a dedicated team of volunteers.

MAZ currently has; a partially built high quality skate park with the deepest bowls in the southern
hemisphere; a multi-purpose court consisting of netball, basketball and tennis; an all-weather cricket
pitch on the lower oval; a junior soccer field; a partially built BMX pump track; a large outdoor
fitness gym with adult emphasis; a children’s playground including a flying fox; 12kms of walking
tracks; and 4kms of mountain bike tracks

Funding:
To Date
$1,350,000 has so far been raised to build the above plus thousands of volunteer hours all free of
charge. Major funders with over $50,000 grants or donations include:

NZ Lotteries            $ 345,000
KDC                     $ 220,000
Foundation North        $ 180,000
Pub Charity             $ 106,000
MELA (local fund)       $ 98,000
C Gallagher             $ 70,000
All others              $ 331,000
                        $1,350,000

Still Required
$700,000 is needed to complete the skate arena, which will be constructed to Olympic Games
standards (aiming as a training venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics).

If $500,000 is obtained, it is understood both NZ Lotteries and Foundation North will support the
park with a further $100,000 each.

Completion of skate park              $ 700,000
Soundshell                            $ 150,000
Senior BMX tracks                     $ 20,000
Caretaker and equipment building      $ 40,000
Further planting/seating              $ 40,000
                                      $ 950,000

Project Name:
Te Hiku Sports Hub, Kaitaia

Background:
The Te Hiku Sports Hub is a community-led initiative whose primary goal is to
create a multi-functional sporting and recreational hub in Kaitaia. They are a
registered incorporated society, with a clear vision of aspiration for their community, working in
collaboration with the Te Ahu Charitable Trust. The project was initiated in March 2012 with a
submission to FNDC’s long term plan.

The community sports hub development will encompass multipurpose sports fields, a shared club
room and flexible meeting spaces, team changing rooms, cardio fitness gym, eight multi-sport courts
and facilities, a playground, and a 2 km trim track, along with an heated indoor pools complex.

Progress:
In 2012 a submission was made to FNDC’s long term plan, an aquatic strategy feasibility study was
completed and a community action group was formed.

In early 2013 a potential site was identified and Te Hiku Sports Hub became an incorporated society,
in September an initial site plan was developed and in November funding was approved by Te Hiku
Community board to carry out a feasibility study / business plan.

In February 2014 the first draft of a feasibility study was received and a draft aquatic plan report was
presented and approved by FNDC. In May an FNDC workshop was held to seek options to establish a
targeted rate to contribute funding to the project, then in August stakeholder and community
consultation was undertaken for the Moerua Park Reserve Management Plan with the first draft of
the plan completed in October. In September and October FNDC community consultation for an
Aquatic Strategy was carried out with a draft presented to FNDC in November. In December a Geo
Tech Report was completed.

At the beginning of 2015 the Moerua Park Reserve Management Plan report was completed and
adopted by Te Hiku Community Board and FNDC, and a final draft feasibility business plan was
completed. Later that year the project was formally adopted into the FNDC LTP. Also during 2015
consultants were engaged to produce a site master plan and concept document that all sporting
codes signed off on, and a draft strategic funding report was also completed.

In 2016 the civil design tender was awarded to Opus and preliminary civil design was presented by
Opus and FNDC staff. All sports codes and stakeholders signed off on the civil design, and resource
consent applications for earthworks were submitted and a tender for site works was prepared and
called for. The Hub also called for Expressions of Interest for operating the facility once built, with
EOIs received from three parties.

So far in 2017 the Hub has formally signed an MOU with Sport Northland, has had consent granted
for earthworks resource consent and has held a very successful celebration to ‘turn first so’. Recently
earthworks for playing fields have begun.

Planned:
A major funding application to Foundation North was recently declined, with the major reason being
that a wider Kaitaia Sports Facilities Plan has not been completed (which would determine
independently whether the proposed facility replicated any other facility in Kaitaia). Investigations

are now underway to seek funding for such a study so that it can be completed in order to be able to
re-apply to FN in 2018. An application to NZ Lotteries is also planned for 2018.

Funding:
Overall Estimated Cost
Sports Fields and Carpark  $2,500,000
Netball Courts/Facilities  $ 262,000
Pool/Gym/Change/Clubrooms $8,400,000
                          $11,162,000
Confirmed Funding
Sports Field and Carpark   $2,560,000 (FNDC)
Netball Courts/Facilities  $ 262,000 (FNDC)
Pool/Gym/Change/Clubrooms $3,382,000 (FNDC)
                           $6,204,000
Funding Still Required     $4,958,000

Applications Pending
Government Regional Fund       $2,800,000
Foundation North               $1,500,000
NZ Lotteries                   $ 600,000
                               $4,900,000

Project Name:
Lindvart Park Sports Hub

Background:
Lindvart Memorial Park (Lindvart Park) is located on the southern side of Kaikohe. The bulk of the
reserve land comprising Lindvart Park was purchased in the 1930s. Since its purchase, the site has
been gradually developed to eventually become one of the key sporting assets within the district.
The grounds comprising Lindvart Park service a wide variety of sporting codes including Rugby
Union, Rugby League, hockey, table tennis, football, netball, tennis, softball and touch.

Progress:
In 2009 a steering group was formed by FNDC to progress sports facility development and
improvements at Lindvart Park. The impetus behind the formation of the group was the 2008
Western Ward Recreation Plan, which identified the need to invest in the development of a sports
hub at Lindvart Park.

In 2010, an application was made to Sport NZ’s Active Communities Investment Fund. The funding
application was granted and significant time and effort was invested into developing a ‘Sportsville’
entity aimed at improving the capacity of sports clubs and advance initiatives that address the
retention of school leavers in sport and recreation.

In 2011 the Lindvart Working Party was set up and comprised the major codes operating at the time.
These included hockey, netball, rugby, touch, rugby league and basketball. With support from the
Active Communities Investment Fund, the codes worked together, with FNDC facilitating, to
eventually set up Kaikohe and Districts Sportsville (Sportsville) entity.

In 2014, FNDC entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Sportsville. The MOA sets out
that Sportsville will lead the review of the future needs of Lindvart Park, initiate the operational
changes for the management of the facility and provide a single unified entity representing all the
codes for council to engage with in respect of the long term financial planning for sporting facilities.

In December 2016, FNDC resolved to fully notify its intent to review the Reserve Management Plan.
Public notification was made in March 2017 and FNDC staff are presently engaged in targeted
surveys with the youth population of Kaikohe to ensure their views are captured before the drafting
of the Plan commences. Once the new reserve management plan has been drafted, full public
notification of the draft is required, depending on the feedback obtained, a hearing may be held
before finalising the management plan and obtaining final Council approval. It is expected the plan
will be completed by the end of 2017.

Funding:
In 2010, around $1M was invested in an astro-turf at Lindvart Park. Later, in 2014, competition grade
lighting was installed in partnership with Top Energy. In 2015 around $700,000 was spent upgrading
the netball courts to national competition standards. These upgrades alone substantially increased
the relevance of Lindvart Park as a district sports hub.

Additional expenditure is provided in the 2015-25 Long Term Plan. A budget of approximately $1.2M
of renewals funding from depreciation has been identified for the pavilion. A further approx.
$800,000 has been set aside for additional capital projects. Initial plans for this work have already
been developed in conjunction with Sportsville and the bulk of this spending was initially set for the
16/17 financial year. However, the majority of the budget will need to be carried forward to the
18/19 financial year. This will enable sufficient time to progress with the Reserve Management Plan,
finalise the upgrade plans and undertake the procurement process.

Project Name:
Bike Park and Multi-user Facility, Pohe Island

Background:
Both Bike and Rugby Union have been working on projects that would see the development of
facilities on Pohe Island that would provide a home for their respective sports.

The bike concept came out of concerns of Northland cycling clubs and the issues that they face were
raised with Sport Northland in early 2006. Initial meetings were held with representatives from each
club to discuss the challenges that each of them faced and their views on the future of cycling in
Northland. To achieve their desired goals it was decided that a regional body would be developed
(Bike Northland).

Early in 2007 Bike Northland was formed, catering for the core groups of road cycling, mountain
biking and BMX. In June 2007 Bike Northland became incorporated and shortly after submitted to
WDCs LTP for the proposed development of a Bike Park on Pohe Island.

The history of the Rugby Union concept goes back to when Toll Stadium was developed and the
union were looking for a new home that could include a high performance centre, as well as a base
for their offices.

The opportunity arose to partner with the Marist/Old Boys Rugby Club, who merged when WDC
chose to move Old Boys out of their clubrooms above Toll Stadium to make room for future
development. As such, NRU partnered with the club and proposed a joint facility for Pohe Island,
which was being re-developed following the re-location of the old rubbish dump.

WDC has now completed the development of the fields that are part of this project – all 3 fields are
fully flood-lit and are now being used.

The main problem with the building part of the project remains with the foundations. As stated,
Pohe Island is an old refuse dump and sits adjacent to tidal water. Extensive geotechnical studies
have been commissioned revealing significant questions as to the suitability of the site for such a
building. There are solutions but costly with estimates ranging from $1,200,000 to $2,500,000.

Progress:
The bike project received support from WDC after initial concept designs and a feasibility study were
completed in 2016, but a re-structure of Bike Northland governance has stalled the project. The
details of this are now being finalised.

Northland Rugby and Bike Northland have had a number of in-depth discussions about the
possibility of working together over the facilities, as Foundation North (and likely Lotteries) will not
fund both separately, given their proximity on Pohe Island.

Both have now agreed that Northland Rugby will come in as a tenant of the Bike Northland project
on the old Recycling Centre site, adjacent to both the BMX track and the three new rugby fields,
where the needs of both organisations will be catered for.

Planned:
Final design and updated costings still need to be complete.

Funding:
Overall Estimated Cost   $8m

Confirmed Funding
WDC                      $1,200,000 (possible increase following merger?)
Foundation North         $1,400,000 (from Nthld Rugby - possible increase following merger?)
NZ Lotteries             $ 750,000 (from Nthld Rugby)
                         $3,150,000
Funding Still Required   $4.9m

Possible Sources
Gaming Trusts            $ 400,000
WDC                      $ 400,000
Foundation North         $ 600,000

Project Name:
Northland Football Hub – Tikipunga Sports Park

Background:
For many years the Northland football community has recognised the need for a regional hub for
football development in the Northland region - a facility that would support the continued
development of community and representative football. New Zealand Football has also identified
the development of a regional football hub as a key priority.

The Tikipunga Association Football Club (TAFC), Northern Football Federation (NFF) and Northland
Football Club (NFC) are fully committed to this need and created the group, ‘The Northland Football
Hub’. All three entities entered into a Heads of Agreement on 1 June 2017 to commit to work
together to bring this need to fruition.

The Tikipunga Sports Park has been identified by NFF and NFC as the preferred location for the
development of the Northland Football Hub and has long been the unofficial home of football, with
NFF running many of their development programmes using TAFC facilities. It is the only current park
that has the potential to satisfy all of NFF’s and NFC’s needs.

Progress:
To follow on from the signed Heads of Agreement, it was agreed that one of the main priorities was
to obtain a detailed feasibility report outlining the sustainability of the project. The feasibility report
will be the basis to secure funding for building costs.

TAFC engaged local architects Hawthorn Geddes to develop concept plans of the proposed changing
room facility upgrade and clubroom expansion. Hawthorn Geddes also provided an initial estimate
for the build of $1.3m.

The Northland Football Hub intends to set up an Incorporated Society, but for the moment the three
organisations recognise TAFC as the original owner/leaseholder of the facility and as such are the
lead party for the feasibility study process. Griffiths and Associates have forwarded a proposal to
TAFC to engage additional consultants such as Geotech, Structural Engineer, Planner, Fire and Traffic
that will be needed to complete a robust report.

Funding of the feasibility report is now a priority. Funders that have been approached are:
• The Oxford Sports Trust
• Transpower (an Expression of Interest was lodged 21/9/17; if this is successful more information
will be required and this will close 31/01/2018)

Failing this option, applications will be made via the Lotteries Commission with their funding closing
8 March 2018.

Funding:
Overall Estimated Cost
Changing Rooms - Ground Floor                      $ 805,000
Clubroom Expansion - Level 1                       $ 420,000
Clubroom Expansion Decking Area - Level 1          $ 75,000
Consultants Fees                                   $ 182,000

Pitch facilities Upgrade                $ 425,000
Carpark Upgrade                         $ 700,000
                                        $2,607,000

Confirmed Funding
WDC Funding (Pitch & Carpark upgrade)   $1,125,000
Funding Still Required                  $1,482,000

Only Other Possible Sources
NZ Lotteries
Foundation North
Transpower
Gaming Trusts
NRC
Payment in kind