Community Activities - Recreation

Community Wellbeing

At a Glance

Primary Services

• Community Activities - Recreation

Why We Do It

Council contributes to community development and the general health of the community through the provision and maintenance of recreational facilities, encouraging the use of these facilities and supporting events that will contribute to community wellbeing.

What Has Changed Since The LTCCP 2009/19?

There is an increased focus on working together with schools, sports clubs, the community, Sport Northland and other regional sports organisations to deliver better outcomes for sporting participation, better skill levels, and more sporting opportunities for school age children.

Council will also be focusing its resources on improving services and support to sport and recreation clubs that co locate and share facilities at recreation hubs.

Council has determined that the one off grants to improve access to the Northland College swimming pool and the Whangaroa community pool were successful and will continue. This will next be reviewed as part of the 2012/22 Long Term Plan process.

Council is continuing to work with the Kaikohe community to develop a recreation hub for the town.

Priorities For 2011/12	What We Have / Haven't Achieved
Developing a recreation strategy based on minimum standards approach rather than needs approach	Council have achieved this priority and a number of recreation projects have been deferred, with others included in the 2012/22 Long Term Plan based on the standards approach.
Working with Northland regional sporting partners on the best possible outcome for Far North sports in the allocation of regional partnership sports funding	This priority has been achieved and Council has worked together with Sport Northland to allocate central government funding to Far North sports.
Continuing with the development of the Kerikeri sports complex	The Kerikeri sports complex landscape plan has been implemented and no further capital work is now planned until Stage 3 - squash club relocation can be funded. Unfortunately Council has not been successful in attracting grant funds to facilitate this next stage.
Continuing to work with Kerikeri Domain Trust to develop the domain as a recreation centre	Council has achieved this priority and in partnership with the Kerikeri Domain Trust has finalised implementing the development plan for the domain. This has included completing the pavilion upgrade, security lighting and gates and tree planting.
Continuing to work with the Kaikohe community to develop a recreation hub for the town	Council is still working on this priority. The first step is to develop an organisation that represents all sport and recreation interests in Kaikohe to drive future hub development. Council and a working party have developed a final draft of this organisation structure and this is being reviewed by all interested clubs. Sport New Zealand has approved funding to continue with this project.
Continuing to contract Sport Northland to provide 3 district sports coordinators to increase physical activity, create stronger clubs, and ensure a variety of recreational events and sports are available in the district	Council has continued to support this priority. In partnership with Sport Northland key sports have been identified and these clubs will receive support to assist them to provide quality community sport opportunities in our district. Sport Northland continued to support a number of events across the district.
Reviewing the recreation & sport policy	This priority has been achieved and the recreation & sport policy has been reviewed.
Building netball courts as part of the Whatuwhiwhi recreation hub	The Whatuwhiwhi community have made good progress on this project and it is expected to be completed early in the next financial year.
Continuing the development of the Pukenui sports field within available funds.	Council has met all conditions of the resource consent and have undertaken pest control, weed control and continued to monitor on site water levels on the area surrounding the future sports field.

Future Issues / Challenges	Implications
Increased demand from the community for access to more recreation programmes and facilities e.g. indoor recreation space and heated pools	The increased demand must be managed within available budgets by delivering agreed levels of service based on population size and agreed standard of provision. Council will also help communities to explore opportunities for partnering or innovation. Council is working with a number of sports and recreation groups to facilitate the development of improved governance structures (sportsville model) that will enable improved access to external funding sources to develop and manage recreation facilities without the need for increased ward rates.
Balancing the expectations of the community with the level of service that can be provided within existing budgets while ensuring best value is obtained from the funds that are available	Community expectations regarding the condition of assets, sometimes exceeds Council's ability to deliver. Managing these expectations, while ensuring assets are maintained to an acceptable and safe standard remains a challenge.
Increasing operational costs (power, fuel, chemicals, labour, electricity, water)	Increasing costs of the community services and maintenance contract may require decreased levels of service to remain within existing budgets. Council makes strenuous efforts in negotiations with suppliers and contractors to achieve maximum value for ratepayer dollars.
Climate change is increasing the incidence of erosions at coastal reserves	Council will work collaboratively with beach and river care groups, but will not under take works to protect coastal reserves from erosion, despite community expectations.
Improving access to the coast, particularly in the Bay of Islands area, is very important to the community	Council has been trying to improve public access to the coast by negotiating access by voluntary means as part of any resource consent process for coastal proper ties. Council will to continue to work collaboratively to achieve improved coastal access when it has the opportunity.
Trend towards freedom camping	The Freedom Camping Act 2011 prohibits Council from having no freedom camping sites in its district. Council has developed a freedom camping policy that permits camping at 3 remote locations. It is still Council's policy that for the protection of the environment and for personal safety, it is recommended that visitors to our district stay at a registered camp ground.

Community outcomes

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Financials

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