5 days ago
Rangiora's MainPower Stadium Slammed As 'Gold-Plated Gym'
Rangiora's MainPower Stadium has been labelled ''a gold-plated gym'' by the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union.
The political lobby group has weighed in on the popular stadium, which cost $28m to build and has ongoing costs of more than $2.4m a year.
''This stadium is shaping up to be a gold-plated gym that ratepayers can't afford,'' Taxpayers' Union investigations co-ordinator Rhys Hurley said.
''Waimakariri ratepayers were sold a vision of a community facility, not a bottomless pit of costs.
''This isn't just about sport. When there has been a 22 percent rates rise over the last three years, it's time for some financial discipline.''
But Waimakariri District Council chief executive Jeff Millward said MainPower Stadium, which opened in 2021, is proving to be popular with locals and visitors to the district.
It attracts more than 25,000 visitors a year and hosted national and regional sports and community events, he said.
''We regularly hear from the community just how much they appreciate and value the stadium. I would say the enthusiasm for this facility is only growing.''
The $2.4m annual costs includes $1m to pay interest on the $28m loan, which equates to around $30 per ratepayer per year.
Operating expenses this year were nearly $400,000, which is offset by around $200,000 of revenue from the facility, while the council is funding depreciation of nearly $1m.
When the stadium was approved as part of the 2018/28 Long Term Plan process, the council said it would cost $90 per ratepayer per year to service the loan.
''MainPower Stadium is an investment in our community and provides a wealth of social and recreational benefits to our residents,'' Mr Millward said.
''It was highly supported when we asked the community if they supported the project, and this support has grown in the subsequent four years since opening.''
The council approved additional funding of $100,000 a year in this year's annual plan, as part of a new management agreement with the North Canterbury Sport and Recreation Trust, which had been running the facility at a loss, on behalf of the council.
''Sports courts and other community buildings like swimming pools don't make money, which is why ratepayers choose to fund them,'' Mr Millward said.
Even with the extra costs of maintaining MainPower Stadium, the Waimakariri District Council has one of the lowest rate rises in the country this year of 4.98%.
Earlier this year, North Canterbury Sport and Recreation Trust chief executive Michael Sharp said while professional teams like the Crusaders and the Tactix paid standard commercial rates to use the facilities, the council has set community rates to ensure the stadium is affordable.
He said given the growth in demand for the facility there has already been talk of expanding from a four-court stadium to eight-courts.
