Mayor faces fresh sports centre fight

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SPORTING CHANCE: The proposed 12-court centre at Cobham Park, Kilbirnie, has already been approved by the council, but opponents are continuing to resist it.

HOT SPOT: Wellington City Council plans to build a $46 million indoor sports centre on Kilbirnie's Cobham Park.

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A proposed $46 million indoor sports centre in Wellington faces fresh opposition from some councillors even before a resource consent has been obtained.

The council has already agreed to a 12-court stadium at Cobham Park, Kilbirnie, and expects to file for resource consent later this month.

The project is championed by Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast, who wants to open it in mid-2010.

But urban development and transport portfolio leader Andy Foster said the council had got it wrong when approving the centre. "I think this is the worst decision council has ever made during the 15 years I have been on the council - by a country mile."

He will try to have the centre scrapped during the council's annual plan deliberations this week. "Virtually everybody on the council thinks the location is very much second best."

The 12-court proposal for Kilbirnie followed the scrapping of moves to have the centre built on the waterfront because it would not fit on available land and would have cost up to $80 million.

Mr Foster said the real cost of the Kilbirnie facility was more than $60 million when the estimated $15 million value of Cobham Park was added.

"We could build an eight-court stadium, or something smaller, on the waterfront which would be affordable."

Councillor Bryan Pepperell said construction costs were bound to increase in the current economic climate and the Kilbirnie centre would become a burden to ratepayers.

"I also don't think the council has seriously understood the cost to people having to travel to this stadium in the eastern suburbs.

"They are going to feel it in their pockets because we haven't seen the end of the fuel price rises."

But Ms Prendergast said anything less than a 12-court centre would be a disaster for the city. "At 12 courts, it is going to be at 100 per cent capacity during peak times from the day it opens, and it will be at 85 per cent capacity for the rest of the time.

"And a big plus about the Kilbirnie site is the potential to add another three courts later."

Ms Prendergast said rising fuel prices meant that Cobham Park was a great site for a sports centre because it was on an established transport route.

A council review in mid-April said the project would stay within budget but recommended a number of design changes. A two-level car park has been dumped in favour of parking at ground level and beneath the building.

Minor changes have also been made to the proposed roof and the height of some walls.

The council has investigated the use of stormwater at the centre, with unused and surplus water being delivered back into the ground via injection wells and swales.

This could make the 12,700 square-metre building self-sufficient for all water except drinking water.

GRAND VIEW

* Sport Wellington Region calls for a centre on Westpac Stadium concourse in 2000.

* Wellington City Council buys Cobham Park off the Government for $3.7 million in 2005.

* Harbour Quays waterfront development investigated as possible site in 2006.

* Council approves a 12-court facility in Kilbirnie in June 2007.

* Resource consent application expected to be filed by end of June 2008.

* Construction expected to start by March 2009. Centre due to open mid-2010.