Auckland Council has agreed $5 million in funding to eight sports organisations across Auckland in the first funding round from its new Sport and Recreation Fund.
The $120 million Sport and Recreation Facilities Fund introduced last year as part of Mayor Phil Goff’s Long-Term Plan, was designed to help fund the development of more sports and recreation facilities needed to cater to Auckland’s growing population.
Today, the Environment and Community Committee approved the allocation of the first round of funding to a total of $5 million.
Mayor Phil Goff said, “The council’s investment of $5 million for this financial year will unlock over $16 million worth of investment in sports clubs right across our region from hockey clubs in Waitakere and North Harbour to the Papakura Netball Centre, Three Kings Football and the development of off-road racing facilities at Colin Dale Park.
Sport and Recreation Facilities Investment Fund allocation for 2018/2019:
- Waitemata Table Tennis Association – facility redevelopment - $540,000
- Three Kings Football Club – clubhouse development - $992,000
- Waitakere Regional Hockey Turf Trust – hockey pavilion - $200,000
- Manukau Taniwha BMX – supporting infrastructure - $203,000
- Mahu Vision Community Trust – multi-sport indoor court facility - $785,000
- Counties Manukau Off-road racing – track development - $380,000
- Papakura Netball Centre – outdoor court rubberisation - $900,000
- North Harbour Hockey – new turf - $1,000,000
More detail on the individual projects can be found here (item 10)
Phil Goff says, “Funding from the council will give these sports clubs the kick-start needed to get major projects off the ground, ensuring access to high-quality sports facilities for our communities and a bright future for a variety of sporting codes in our city.
“I commend council officers on the robust and rigorous process applied to funding allocations in this round. The investments made possible through the Sport and Recreation Fund ensure sport in Auckland is on a strong footing now and into the future,” Phil Goff says.
Chair of Environment and Community Committee, Penny Hulse, says, “The best thing about these projects is that they are already underway, and this funding provides the boost needed to ensure Aucklanders can use the facilities as soon as possible.
“They’ve been selected as they will bring significant community benefits and we’re all looking forward to seeing this in action,” she says.
"Officers used a targeted approach to decide this year’s recipients as the council’s Draft Sport Investment Plan has not yet been adopted."
Councillor Hulse noted that while we are still in the process of finalising our sport investment policy, it was important that we allocated this funding this year while it was available.
“Council considered over 50 existing projects, against the approved outcome areas of the draft plan, as well as the Auckland sector plan which sets criteria for the priority of facilities across the region."
As this is a targeted approach for 2018/2019, the guidelines for the Sport and Recreation Facilities Investment Fund will be finalised following the adoption of the Sport Investment Plan, outlining the contestable process and timing for future funding allocations.
