Strike out declined

An application to strike out an appeal on the plan change for the Regional Sports Park has been declined in the Napier Environment Court.

The HB Fruitgrowers Horticultural Land Protection Society lodged the appeal and the Regional Sports Park Trust had applied for it to be struck out.

“Like a lot of ratepayers we’re disappointed but not particularly surprised. We respect the judge’s decision and understand where he is coming from - the threshold for a strike out is high. Nevertheless our application potentially saved a great deal in legal costs and time so was a necessary process,” said Sports Park Trustee and spokesperson Rex Graham.
Mr Graham said he was pleased the judge had set down a tight timeline for the subsequent stages of the appeal and had endorsed mediation. “We have previously tried to engage in mediation but unfortunately our endeavours have been unsuccessful,” he says.

Mr Graham said the plan change was designed to streamline the consent process for the Park. Because of the appeal, the Sports Park Trust had earlier lodged, and been granted, a consent under the existing district plan to complete stage one of the Sports Park. An all weather athletics track has been laid and tender documents for construction of the grandstand to go alongside the athletics track were released earlier this week. Interested parties have until 18 February to submit tenders and it is expected construction on the $4 million, 2500 seat grandstand will commence in March. Anticipated construction time is one year.

Construction of the grandstand and associated carparks will complete stage one of the Regional Sports Park. When all three stages are complete the 30ha site will have 8 football fields, 16 tennis courts, 18 netball courts, an indoor velodrome and central complex to accommodate gymsports, retail and office space.
The cost of all three stages is $56.8m. The Park will be funded through a mix of sponsorship, charitable and community organisations, the corporate sector and central and local government. As an example, the cost to an average ratepayer in the Hastings District is $26 per year or 50 cents per week.