Latest news with #CherryLucas
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Council votes to get behind Nuggets, Hoiho
Call it an assist — but the Dunedin City Council has offered $50,000 a year for the next three years to help keep the Otago Nuggets and Southern Hoiho basketball teams bouncing. At yesterday's council meeting, Deputy Mayor Cherry Lucas put forward the motion to help the struggling franchises. "This is a very small minor way to get the Nuggets back on court." In March, Australian-owners Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) announced its intention to end its involvement with the Southern Hoiho and Otago Nuggets basketball teams from the conclusion of the (men's) National Basketball League (NBL) season. The Nuggets run in the NBL has been fraught with financial challenges. They pulled out of the league at the end of the 2008 season, but re-emerged in 2010 before folding again at the end of the 2014 season. This time they spent five seasons on the sidelines before re-entering the league in 2020 for the NBL Showdown. Cr Lucas said the money would largely cover the cost to hire the More FM Arena at the Edgar Centre. There was a group working behind the scenes to put together a registration of interest for the Hoiho, while the money would also allow time for interest in the Nuggets licence, she said. "Basketball has the highest participation rates among young people in Dunedin — it exceeds rugby and cricket." Cr Andrew Whiley said it was important to keep the Nuggets and Hoiho if only to keep the levels of participation going. "This money is a drop in the bucket ... but I see this money coming back in spades. It's actually going to be invested and thrown back into the Edgar Centre." Cr Jim O'Malley said supporting the measure would have "multiple positive benefits" for the community at large. Cr Brent Weatherall said the Nuggets were a professional team and, as much as he supported basketball, professional sports could be "cruel" at times. "It just worries me this could be a revolving door that could be going on for years and years — if it were just for a year, I would support this deal, but I can't support it for three years." Cr Steve Walker said basketball was in a "lucky" position and there were more important needs for "our constrained dollar". Cr Bill Acklin did not believe it was council's role to rescue professional sports teams. Mayor Jules Radich said this funding would provide aspiration — "there would be a clear pathway for professional sport in Dunedin." "This is not an endless supply of money — it's only for three years to get them started again." Cr Lucas said this was a commitment from the city to ensure the licence would remain here, and a signal to the National Basketball League that the franchise could be trusted financially. The motion was passed nine votes to five.
Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
DCC lifts the lid on $15m plan for Edgar Centre roof
A new roof could be coming for Dunedin's leaky Edgar Centre complex at a cost of more than $15 million. Replacement of the roof was yesterday added to the Dunedin City Council's planned capital expenditure programme for the next nine years after sports bodies and users of the facility advocated for comprehensive action to be taken. They had warned of injury risks, reputational harm and the city continuing to miss out on hosting tournaments unless problems with leaks and condensation were fixed. Councillors have begun deliberations on the council's 2025-34 long-term plan, and they agreed yesterday they had to find the money for replacing the Edgar Centre roof. They included $360,000 in 2025-26 for detailed design, then $3m for the project in 2026-27 and $12m in 2027-28. The allocation is not quite final, but no councillor voted against it. The call was led by deputy mayor Cherry Lucas, who listed an array of sports that used the centre, as well as noting it was a venue for conferences, weddings, trade shows and Otago Polyfest. It was a mass-use facility but could be "treacherous" at times, she said. Fixing the centre was a priority spend for people who wanted rates rises kept in check, she said. Cr Lucas said there had also been significant public fundraising in the past, as well as financial support from the Edgar family. In 2023, the council decided to continue with a largely reactive approach to leaks. A report at the time said leaks and condensation created risks for facility users because the water could pool on the courts and cause players to slip. Condensation was particularly evident during winter. The complex was described as "dynamic", as the centre was on shifting and sinking ground beside Otago Harbour. The council faced strong calls this year to act. Edgar Centre manager Blair Crawford said in his long-term plan submission the estimated $15m cost was good value for money compared with building a new facility. The Edgar Centre submission was supported by numerous sporting organisations, including Sport Otago, Dunedin Netball, Basketball Otago, Volleyball Otago and Football South. Cr Steve Walker said sports facilities were vital for adults and particularly important for the health of children. Cr Lee Vandervis said the Edgar Centre was the "best-value facility we have". He did not support other parts of the council's proposed $1.9b, nine-year capital expenditure programme. Cr Jim O'Malley said fixing the problems there was part of building and maintaining a modern city. Cr Christine Garey noted the high level of councillor support and said she hoped to also see that when it came to discussing what should be done regarding venues for performing arts.
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Nine city councillors confirm intention to seek re-election
Photo: ODT files Most Dunedin city councillors are hoping to return to the fray come October. Nine of the 15 Dunedin City Council members have said they will stand for re-election in this year's local government elections. Deputy mayor Cherry Lucas said she would stand as an independent candidate after first being elected to council in 2022. "I believe that this first term is like an apprenticeship," she said. "Even though I had previously worked for DCC many years ago, it takes a long time to get over [or] fully come up to speed on so many diverse areas. "I've invested a lot in council as it has in me and I think I owe it to the city to put my hand up again." For the moment, she said her focus was on the council's long-term-plan process. Cr Andrew Whiley also said he would run for council again as an independent candidate and thought it would be an "interesting and challenging election period". "I am deeply concerned about the level of toxicity already coming through on social media," he said. Cr Steve Walker said he planned to stand for council again and, "despite being constantly asked", would not contest the mayoralty. He and his fellow candidate, University of Otago student Jett Groshinski, had been endorsed by the Labour Party. "Running as a Labour-endorsed candidate gives the voting public a clear, unambiguous understanding of the values I bring to the table, rather than hiding those values under the opaque mask of 'independence'," Cr Walker said. Crs Christine Garey and Bill Acklin both said they would be running for council as independents. As well as standing for council, Crs Mandy Mayhem and Lee Vandervis said they would have a tilt at the mayoralty, as will incumbent mayor Jules Radich. Though widely expected to join the mayoral race, Cr Sophie Barker said she would not make a decision until the long-term-plan process was complete. In January, Cr Carmen Houlahan said she would run for council as an independent. Nominations open on July 4 and close August 1. The election will be held on October 11.
