Council invites people to have their say about proposed options for the Southland Outdoor Stadium (Rugby Park). Submissions will close on Friday, February 13, 2015.
The Southland Outdoor Stadium Trust is facing cash flow difficulties due to the impending repayment of loans to both the Community Trust of Southland and Rugby Southland, and maintenance costs for the Stadium.
Three options addressing the future of the Southland Outdoor Stadium were presented to Council on Tuesday night. Council is asking people to give feedback by written submission on their preferred option.
Key documents
Extracted sections from the full consultation document:
- Rugby Park – Background to Proposal
- Rugby Park – Council analysis of the options
- Rugby Park – Consultation details (this includes information about the Community Consultation Clinic, making a submission and hearing of submissions). NOTE: Submissions must be received by Council no later than 5pm on Friday, February 13, 2015.
Submission forms will be available at the community consultation meeting and Council staff will be available to answer questions, explain the options and provide assistance to complete the submission form.
Copies of the full consultation document and submission forms would also be available on the Council’s website, www.icc.govt.nz, Council’s Policy and Strategy Manager Melissa Short said. “If people don’t want to make a formal submission but would still like to have their say on the proposal, they can post a comment on the Council’s Facebook page. However, if they do this they will not receive the opportunity to speak to the Mayor and Councillors, nor receive formal notification of the decision on this proposal.”
The options
Option 1
Status quo – no Council involvement in the Southland Outdoor Stadium.
Option 2
Council offers Southland Outdoor Stadium Trust $400,000, which will then on-pay the Community Trust of Southland $400,000 in full and final settlement of the debt owing by the Southland Outdoor Stadium Trust. The Southland Outdoor Stadium Trust transfers ownership of the Stadium to the Council, in exchange for Council taking over the debt of approximately $740,000 currently owed to Rugby Southland by the Southland Outdoor Stadium Trustunder the management contract.
Option 3
Council makes a one-off grant of $400,000 to the Southland Outdoor Stadium Trust to settle the Community Trust debt. Council also makes an ongoing grant of $290,000 per year to Rugby Southland for the ongoing running and maintenance costs of Rugby Park. Rugby Southland would take over ownership of the stadium.
Council’s suggested option is Option 2, as it believes the initial and ongoing cost of ownership and maintenance of the Stadium is outweighed by the community good that would arise from securing the stadium for future use, Mrs Short said.
Additional details on Option 2
- Council will pay $400,000 to the Southland Outdoor Stadium Trust, which will then on-pay $400,000 to the Community Trust of Southland in full and final settlement of the debt owed to it by the Southland Outdoor Stadium Trust.
- Council will assume responsibility for the ongoing running and maintenance costs of Rugby Park at approximately $290,000 per year.
- Council will assume responsibility for the debt owed to Rugby Southland. This debt is approximately $740,000 and will be reduced in exchange for free office rental at a rate of $35,000 per year.
- Council will be the owner of the Southland Outdoor Stadium.
If Council determines to follow Option 2, the annual contribution
from people’s rates is as below:
| Property value | Rate for Rugby Park |
| $100,000 | $5.14 |
| $200,000 | $10.28 |
| $300,000 | $15.42 |
| $400,000 | $20.56 |
FOOTNOTE: A community consultation meeting was held at Rugby Park from 4pm to 6pm on February 4.
