LAST DAY FOR SUBMISSIONS! Petone Arena/HCC Annual Plan Submission

Great effort LG. Sounds like you made a good impression. 

I sincerely hope so. Id like this stadium to go ahead and when I am being serious, I hope I didnt embarrass myself or the club or my fellow fans. But those in attendance seemed pleasantly surprised and happy. I appreciated the Mayors comments. Also thanking me for travelling a long way to make my submission and wishing me a safe trip home. Was very nice of Ray Wallace. 

Shame Mallard wasn't present, I'd have loved to have given him a serve. Something like the Petone Trevor Mallard Arena and see if it would change his mind, like the Auckland waterfront proposal before the last Rugby World Cup.

They should be welcoming us getting drunk in Petone bars, surely we're more profit than trouble?

But we're all hooligans, aren't we?

Yellow Army Ultras

Well done LG, sorry I couldn't be there to support you.

Great stuff LG, manned up big time, impressed

I wonder if the Hutt News will mention it. There were two reporters there at their desk........

Good afternoon to you all.

My Name Is _________, I reside in Upper Hutt and have lived in Upper Hutt for the best part of 52years.

In the submission I sent via the internet I made references to the various economic positives that this proposal has that could or would benefit the local Petone and wider Hutt Valley area.

The proposed stadium and site build has the potential to be an economic boost for the local area. Petone has been over time not just a working mans residential area but also an area of industrial development. the former Ajax factory just down the road at the far end of Jackson Street.

To rebuild the area locally known as the “Petone Rec” is going to require investment. The  Council have been asked for a large amount of investment. Welnix and other interested parties will front up with the rest. You are getting a complete sports ground overhaul for half the price it would cost to redo on your own and what is more important is that you are going to have groups such as the Welling Phoenix paying you for the privilege of residing there. But they are not the only group. Rugby and other local sports will also have the opportunity to use the new facilities.

The groundwork for the project: People will be paid wages during this process, engineers, architects employed, various consultants for water, power, and other utilities. This is money that will be coming into Petone and the Hutt in general. Those involved will also be requiring such things as lunches, coffee, tea, petrol etc. Money coming into the local infrastructure. The money machine has started to roll over. Income.

Then when the actual project starts being assembled and built, there will be jobs created albeit on a temporary scale, labourers, builders, plumbers, electricians, concrete mixers, communications experts. All will be getting paid, some will be very local and almost all will be spending fresh money into the local economy. Money that will be an increase on what currently is a resurging local economy.

Then once the stadium and associated facilities have been built and signed off, the next wave of income kicks off. On going income. Welnix are committed to this new venture. But not just by putting money towards the construction but those employees of Welnix will also require feeding and drinking spending money in the local cafes etc. Then you have the various user groups. The Football aspect is only one part of it. They too will be of course spending money on food and drink in the local cafes. Not to mention the petrol stations, the bus services and the rail links. All new money coming in to the local community. Not forgetting match day for any code involved in the facility. Fans spending money. Income into Petone. Opportunities not to be missed.

The stand has already been identified as an earthquake risk. What is the problem with replacing it and extending to incorporate the Rec as a whole and leaving behind a 21st century recreational facility that will benefit many not just Football.

Something that is not there just for today’s generation but the succeeding generations too. Sometimes we have to think of outside of the square and think of others, not just ourselves. Some call it progress. I am sure you will agree that the landscape of Petone in general has changed a fair few times since the 1800’s. There used to be a prison near the foreshore. No one complained about that did they?

When it comes down to it, it is all “about the Benjaman’s” to coin an American phrase. Do we want to stay with the current financial future or do we wish to improve and increase it. Increase local employment, local income, local progress.

Posted above.

Well written Lonegunman, but I fear we are becoming a lost voice in the crowd.

Local paper again has two negative articles against the stadium including one on the front page from a former councillor/park boss and another from Petone Rugby again. http://huttnews.realviewdigital.com/?email-analytics=Hutt%20News#folio=1

What doesn't help also is the lack of noise from Welnix. Starting to get a bit pessimistic about the whole thing to be honest.

Well, we did our bit and Smithy. At least we stood up to be counted.

I spoke with an active opponent over the weekend and wow - talk about rabbid. It was all Gareth Morgan this, Morgan that... wants us to fund his project, they don't even have a license to keep playing beyond 201...., there will only be 2 fields left to play on for everyone else, the local bars don't want extra patronage because they are already full blah blah blah....... They have a 700 signature petition or something - against it.

Local bars are already full? hahaha. 

Firemans arms closed down recently. Guess they were making too much money. 

Four different places have tried in behind Hell and Subway and none of them have made a go of it.

More mis-information from Nimbytown.

I noticed behind the working mens club there is a humungous green area that would take a few sports fields. And Petone Rec is actually a lot bigger than some are making out.

The no fields to play on thing is also exaggerated.

Plus the whole "they don't even have a licence" just shows their ignorance to any information put out there as one of the conditions of building the arena is that the Phoenix have a 10 year licence in place with the FFA. 

I hope you managed to get enough of a word in to shoot them down on all fronts. 

Has the Wgtn Regional Council made any comment on this or any alternate stadium.

Cheers, I know what you are saying. What did surprise me was how positive the committees response was to my submission. I just got the feeling that most of the submissions were made from an emotional aspect where I think I was drawing their attention to the possible Income coming in to Petone and the wider Hutt.

What I cant understand is the lack of support from the various Hutt football clubs. Insteadit came off a tad selfish on their part. Surely it would be a dream to have a small but Intimate stadium right on your door step. Good grief, talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth. Well ok, the Hutt people would have had to contribute 50% which I pointed out is a lot less than 100%.

Should this proposed stadia get knocked back, it will be interesting to see if and who pays for a replacement stand where the current earthquake risk stand. Then listen with amusement as they all sqwark and squabble over the cost.

Edited to fix the spelling mistakes. Typing on a Tablet = Grrrrrrrrrr.