Tauranga City AFC are urging the football community to challenge proposals by their local council to raise annual fees by $136,450 for the use of fields and facilities.
The new fees are floated in the Tauranga City Council’s 10-Year Long Term Plan.
The club says the proposed costs from July 2024 would add the following costs to its members:
- Increased facility charges to $107,070 a year (a 2600% increase to current costs).
- New field charges per game (from 2025). $225+ GST per game. About $27,000 a year.
- New field charges for training use. About $6,300 a year.
The council-owned Links Ave ground is home to Tauranga City, and the club also has use of nearby Macville Park.
Main photo: Tauranga City’s home at Links Ave.
Other football clubs using fields and facilities provided by the Tauranga City Council are Otumoetai (Fergusson Park), Papamoa (Gordon Spratt Reserve), Tauranga Blue Rovers (Pemberton Park) and Waipuna FC (Waipuna Park).
In its message to members, Tauranga City says: “Without increased funding and sponsorship, membership fees will need to be increased to contribute towards these additional costs. This could be up to $145 in addition to what is charged currently.”
Tauranga City’s current subscriptions include $275 for senior men and women, and $150 for Saturday junior and youth players (ages 7-19).
“We will be submitting our concerns on behalf of the club. However, more voices will have a larger impact,” the club says.
The club asks members and supporters to submit their concerns about the proposed increases through online submissions.
Council: ‘We think it’s fairer …’
The proposed increases are in a section of the council’s plan headed: ‘Sports fields and boat ramps. Should users pay to play?’
The council says it can either “continue to dip into our income from general ratepayers to cover the increasing running costs, or we could increase some user fees and charges.
“We think it’s fairer that those who directly generate a need for, and gain the highest benefit from a service, pay a larger share of the running costs of that service. ”
Public submissions on the council’s plan close on December 15, 2023.
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