Ōtara Rugby League Football Club Incorporated, better known as Ōtara Scorpions, is nestled in the scenic and iconic Ngāti Ōtara Park, and popular Kolmar Charitable Trust in Papatoetoe, have scored big, with three years of funding support.
Among fifteen sports organisations that will share $3.2 million in Auckland Council funding through the Sport and Recreation Facilities Operating Grant, these two play a crucial role in supporting over 20 sporting codes regionally.
Manukau Ward Councillor Lotu Fuli is pleased with the outcome and the final decision to provide three years of funding for two iconic sports hubs in the Manukau Ward.
Fuli shares, “Three years of funding will give Kolmar and the Ōtara Scorpions some breathing space as they face ever increasing costs and support our South Auckland families, who are disproportionately affected by the cost-of-living crisis.
“Councillor Filipaina and I were able to strongly advocate for more funding for Kolmar and the Ōtara Scorpions, applying our specialist local knowledge to the decision making.
“I thank the Chair and the Committee members for understanding the need to take an equity-lens approach to the funding, and I know this funding will go a long way to making sports more accessible for our Manukau Ward and South Auckland community.”
Kolmar’s funding totals $555,000, divided into $185,000 per year for the period 2024 to 2027.
Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board chair Apulu Reece Autagavaia says, “Kolmar sits within the bustling Papatoetoe Recreation Grounds, a very popular and well used space. It is a key player in our sports and recreation scene hosting everything from bowling, cricket, football, hockey, netball, rugby, tennis, Olympic weightlifting, scouts’ group, girl guiding, and an outdoor fitness centre. With a significant portion of the South Auckland community relying on these facilities, this funding ensures that Kolmar continues to cater to local needs, maintain its top-notch quality, and the facilities remain a beloved and accessible resource.”
Image credit: Kolmar Facebook.
A total of $75,000 has been allocated to the Ōtara Scorpions, with $25,000 provided each year from 2024 to 2027.
Apulu is adamant that it’s important to have the right mix of facilities in terms of type and location, to meet the communities’ diverse needs and active lifestyles.
“Ōtara Scorpions, is a cornerstone of our community. This beloved club is synonymous with Ōtara and has seen its team numbers soar. The club supports a range of sports including netball, boxing, and kilikiti. Beyond the field, it offers essential services like a laundromat, medical care, and senior citizen programs. With the board's recent funding for new facilities, untouched since the 1970s, we’re thrilled to see continued support from our Councillors, for this vital community hub," says Apulu.
How funding is allocated
In total, the council reviewed 37 applications for the fund. The applications requested a total of $10,336,919 from the available funding pool of $3,208,126.
Auckland Council staff reviewed the applications for eligibility to ensure alignment with the Community Grants Policy 2014 and Increasing Aucklanders’ Participation in Sport: Investment Plan 2019-2039.
An independent panel assessed the applications and recommended that 15 organisations receive an operating grant.
The full eligibility criteria and funding priorities are explained on the Auckland Council website.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stay connected
Sign up for our Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board e-newsletter and get it delivered to your inbox each month.
