$40-45 Million Soccer Specific Stadium - Petone Phoenix

Any students out there with nothing to do? Perhaps we could get down there and film 24 hours of usage at Petone rec, count the number of people using it and time, and then counter these arguments with fact based on whether remaining green space would be enough to service the users needs.

The Petone Rec is a large open space where people of all ages come to play, walk, compete (sport), relax and regenerate.

A little slice of Gallifrey in NZ?

I think they mean procreate.

Shit that's a good idea. Time lapse of the rec.

and they roll in -

and they roll in -

Shit that's a good idea. Time lapse of the rec.

Greetings to Petone Planning Action Group contacts and those concerned about the Petone Arena,

Over 40 people attended the PPAG meeting on Monday 5 April which focused mainly of the Draft Annual Plan and how to make submissions. Here are some of the things that were covered:

It is important that people make submissions and this can be done up to (and a little beyond) 16 May. The questionnaire can be filled in but doesn't have to be. A submission to CEO HCC in any format that you choose (typed or handwritten) is valid. Making an actual submission to HCC is still the key way to influence what will happen.

Every member of a household can make a separate submission or fill in a separate questionnaire, including those under 18 – there isn’t an age limit.

It is important to state that you are a resident and/or a ratepayer (if you are).

Dealing with changing information from the Council and CFT about the Petone Arena.

Because additional reports or information seem to be popping up on the HCC website and the CFT Facebook page it is obvious that this proposal could keep on changing every day for weeks. So people who are opposed to the stadium/arena idea could say that they are aware that could be further information and that they are opposed on the basis of what the CFT proposed to HCC and don't or won't agree with any later versions of this proposal either. 

Questions to do with the Town and Horticultural Halls are quite misleading as it seems as if the only difference is in the cost. In fact 3E+ would see both Town and Horticultural Halls demolished. 3F would see the Town Hall retained and just the Horticultural Hall demolished. If people value the heritage of these halls then choosing 3F is the only option to save at least one of them. As the form only has a tick box beside both options it will pay to make it very clear which one you support –by either striking out the other option or writing something about your choice.

The Cross Valley Link is mentioned again but with investigation only proposed to be started in 2017-18. People felt this needed to happen long before this and that a CVL is needed regardless of what happens with a Grenada to Petone link road - any such point will need to be added at the end of the questionnaire or on a separate page or in a separate submission.

The questions to do with finances are all related and need careful attention:

·  The first question is “Do you agree with overall plans to rejuvenate Hutt City?” If you tick Yes you could be agreeing to a Petone Arena.

·  Special Project for Consultation is specifically about $25M being put into the final Annual Plan for a Petone Arena (and Don't Mind and Don't Know can be construed in many ways so not worth ticking - for this or any question)

·  The Debt limit questions - the first one gives HCC open slather to spend what it likes; the second one would potentially stop the new projects (see P 9 of summary) and funding for a Petone Arena; and in the third option with varying debt levels, anything over $80m - $100m could allow $25M for a Petone Arena to be included. 

·  Rates increase/s: A 1% per year gives HCC open slather to spend what it likes;  ticking the second box “I don’t agree with an additional rates increase…” would potentially stop

the new projects (see P 9 of summary) and funding for a Petone Arena.

Do we want a Fortress for the Phoenix (as it is described in the CFT proposal to HCC) or a much used and loved and needed community green space and community sports grounds? That is the question, and one that you can get everyone you know to respond to - and you don't have to live in the Hutt to make a submission. 

There is a website petition that can be found at www.change.org and look for Petone in search box under big red heading of Start a Petition! For this to work every person who signs needs to send the link to their friends.

For further information out today you may like to read the following: Open Letter From Petone Rugby to The Community  on why the  Petone Rugby Club is strongly against the Arena.

Please put in a submission if you haven’t already done so, either online a www.hutt.city.govt.nz/annualplan or on the form, which is available from libraries and the Council – you can return it to these places too, or freepost it.

Regards, Merran Bakker

If this means that people think they can make a difference just by signing the petition, and refrain from making a submission, I'm all for it. The only way to actually have your say is to make a submission.

FYI:

Exactly. I don't know the area but I know council assets are often massively under utilised by the public, especially in a city like Wellington where the weather's often a big barrier for using said green space.

Berhampore Golf Course is another one that irks me.

Apparently the Mornington Golf Club are against the idea of having a cycle way pass through there. It wouldn't even reduce the already significant amount of land they get to use - it would just be a pathway so that people could cycle through the golf course instead of having to risk their lives on Adelaide Road.

I wasn't there but I was told one of them said at a meeting about it "and we've already given up part of the course for the kids mountain bike track". You know - that tiny bit of land directly opposite Wakefield Park that wasn't even part of the golf course!!

Some people's sense of entitlement and lack of community spirit is amazing.

I know this is just repeating what people on here have said a million times, but the owners/club have managed the media and public relations aspects of this horribly. It shouldn't be up to a fan group to be addressing these issues.

Gareth Morgan has a "I say what I think and f*ck people who disagree" public persona but he's not the sole owner of the club, and regardless, this is quite a different issue to domestic cats chomping on native birds,  or the merits of North Korea. If the club appears to just be steamrolling through ignoring ratepayers' concerns then anyone on the fence is going to fall on the side of the poor embattled Joe Kiwi fighting the greedy professional sports (not rugby) team. There should be a concerted campaign saying these are the benefits, this is what we want to bring to Petone, and we understand people's concerns and here's how we are addressing them.

IMO, the lack of effort and money invested in the media and marketing campaign for the stadium project definitely adds weight to the argument that this is all an effort to get Westpac to give us better terms. At most it seems like the club have an attitude that they will take the new stadium if the Hutt Council do all the work but they don't particularly want to put up a fight to get it. 

As fans we can definitely do our bit to make it happen but it is really disheartening to continue to hear nothing from the club about all this.

Letting Gareth front it wasn't a great idea.  I've said before that he's not a consensus builder - which is what was needed here.  You need to bring people with you, not bowl them over.

I've gone from thinking this is the greatest thing ever to now thinking there's about 20% chance of it going through. How is that possible when you have private funders investing $30 million in a community asset?  All signs point to a cock up.

The funny thing about Gareth fronting it is that aside from the initial presser and a couple of radio rants he's been missing in action. As has anybody else from Welnix to fill that void... leaving plenty of room for conjecture, misinformation, and nimby's.

As has been said previously (ad-nauseum), this indicates either:

1. It's a negotiating "tactic" to get more/pay less at Westpac.
2. The deal is pretty well already done well behind the scenes.

I'm picking/fearing it's infinitely more likely 1.

In all seriousness, putting a cycle path through a golf course imposes huge risk and increased insurance payments due to the risk of someone getting hit by a ball, deliberately or otherwise.

Not sure ratepayers would be happy incurring this extra cost to keep some soap dodging hippies happy

Yeah, I guess there's a possibility the deal's already done behind the scenes and that Welnix have decided to keep a low profile so as not to stoke the fires too much.

I fear that might be just wishful thinking though.

In all seriousness, putting a cycle path through a golf course imposes huge risk and increased insurance payments due to the risk of someone getting hit by a ball, deliberately or otherwise.

Not sure ratepayers would be happy incurring this extra cost to keep some soap dodging hippies happy

Would you like big-city clubs like Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar to consider playing in smaller venues to generate a better atmosphere once their tenancy agreements expire?

It's a very good observation. Purpose-built stadia are a long-term goal. If you look at Major League Soccer, many clubs are moving to smaller stadia. There are a number of venues in Australia that meet that purpose. Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide is a great venue for the Reds' market, so is nib Stadium in Perth for Glory's.

We also have to accept the reality that we do share many venues with other sports and our game is one where the playing surface is very important.

But a vital part of our long-term vision is one where we can own some grounds where we can manage the surface.

Wonder why Mallard is anti the idea.

Because it is not named The Trevor Mallard Arena.