Lansdowne Park Feasibility Report User Group Consultation Report Marlborough District Council - Completed by: Parks and Recreation Infrastructure ...
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Lansdowne Park Feasibility Report
User Group Consultation Report
Marlborough District Council
Completed by:
Parks and Recreation Infrastructure Consultants Limited
April 2013
Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................. 3 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 3 BACKGROUND............................................................................................... 5 FEEDBACK FROM CODES ............................................................................ 7 TOUCH ........................................................................................................... 7 SOFTBALL....................................................................................................... 8 ATHLETICS ..................................................................................................... 9 VOLLEYBALL ................................................................................................. 10 NETBALL ...................................................................................................... 10 RUGBY ......................................................................................................... 11 CRICKET....................................................................................................... 12 Author: Andrew Rutledge Copyright © 2013. This work is the copyright of Parks and Recreation Infrastructure Consultants Limited (PRI). Apart from any use as permitted under the New Zealand Copyright Act 1994, no part may be reproduced by any person or entity without written prior permission from the author. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to Parks and Recreation Infrastructure Consultants Limited (PRI).. Restrictions This report has been prepared solely for use by Marlborough District Council and may not be copied or distributed to third parties without our prior written consent. Parks and Recreation Infrastructure Consultants Limited (PRI) will not accept responsibility to any party unless specifically stated to the contrary by us in writing. We will accept no responsibility for any reliance that may be placed on this report should it be used for any purpose other than for which it was originally prepared. Any person who is not an addressee of this report is not authorised to have access to this report other than that required by applicable law or regulation. Lansdowne Park Feasibility – User Group Consultation Report. Marlborough District Council. 2
Executive Summary
In 2012 Council resolved to progress with the extension of Lansdowne Park
into an area directly to the north of the existing reserve. This extension was a
recommendation from Marlborough District Council’s Outdoor Sports Facilities
Plan, aimed at upgrading both the quantity and quality of facilities, and
therefore improving the usage capacity at Lansdowne Park.
Potential arrangement of fields and facilities at Lansdowne Park were drawn
up by council and were presented to key sports stakeholders for input and
feedback. The results of this consultation are presented within this report and
have lead to the following recommendations.
• No alteration to the plan is required to accommodate touch rugby.
• Consideration is given to indicating a second diamond in the area
currently covered by the tree nursery. This can also accommodate
potential future demand for baseball.
• The plan is altered to indicate the potential location of public
convenience immediately to the north of the car park labelled # 13.
• The plan is altered to remove the cricket wicket as shown in the
summer plan.
• Minor alteration to the plan is required to accommodate athletics
realigning and accommodating throwing and jumping disciplines.
• No alteration to the plan is required to accommodate beach volleyball.
• No alteration to the plan is required at this time to accommodate netball.
• Future iterations of the plan for the proposed netball site should be
developed with direct input from netball representatives.
• No alteration to the plan is required to accommodate rugby.
• Remove the artificial cricket pitch indicated in the summer use plan
accommodating softball requirements.
Introduction
In 2011 Marlborough District Council produced the “Marlborough District
Council Outdoor Sports Facilities Plan”. The key aim of this plan was to guide
investment initiatives in parks infrastructure that would enable the core
objectives of wellbeing through active participation in sport to be achieved.
The plan found that one of the key factors impacting on community sport in
Marlborough is the lack of all weather facilities. The vast majority of winter
codes play on soil-based fields with limited carrying capacity. In addition to
field carrying capacity, code clashes and code growth demands are impacting
on sports participation in Marlborough. The plan recommended the
consideration of upgrading both the quantity and the quality of the facilities at
Lansdowne Park, to provide for an improved capacity of use.
It was recommended to evaluate the viability of Lansdowne Park to
accommodate a wider range of codes in the expanded and improved facility.
The recommended codes for consideration included, but were not limited too;
Softball
Athletics
Netball
Lansdowne Park Feasibility – User Group Consultation Report. Marlborough District Council. 3The opportunity to increase the use of Lansdowne Park is, to a large degree, reliant on the ability to extend the community sport use into an area to the north of the existing park. In 2012 Council resolved to move ahead with the extension of Lansdowne Park into the area directly to the North of the existing reserve as recommended. As a consequence of recommending the future extension, Council have undertaken to conduct a further round of consultation with the stakeholders associated to the proposal. This report details the result of this consultation process. Lansdowne Park Feasibility – User Group Consultation Report. Marlborough District Council. 4
Background In 2012 Marlborough District Council conducted a feasibility report examining a variety of options for the introduction of additional sporting code facilities at Lansdowne Park. Following consideration of the various layouts, the versions below, depicting both winter and summer layouts, were adopted as the preferred scheme for consultation with the relevant sporting organisations. It should be noted that whilst the plans show fields that are code specific, activities such as events, marching and kiwi cricket would always have access to the park. This document outlines the preference for layout from the stakeholders. Greater detail of facilities is documented in the outdoor sports facility plan. Summer Winter Lansdowne Park Feasibility – User Group Consultation Report. Marlborough District Council. 5
These stakeholders included:
- Rugby
- Netball
- Touch
- Beach Volleyball
- Softball
- Cricket
- Athletics.
Lansdowne Park Feasibility – User Group Consultation Report. Marlborough District Council. 6Feedback from Codes
The following feedback was minuted during a series of face to face meetings
with the relevant codes.
Touch
The interests of the touch code were represented by Anne Taylor.
Matters Raised
The softball configuration and fencing of the extension area to the north may
limit overall use. A question regarding the viability of retaining the open creek
was raised, as well as whether or not the fields would be sand or soil. It was
advised that these fields would most likely remain soil, as it would be more
appropriate to upgrade the existing fields within the Lansdowne complex
initially.
Touch were generally supportive of the overall long term vision, including the
installation of an all code 3g artificial turf that could be utilised by all codes.
This would provide an opportunity to host early season training without
impacting on other codes and possibly winter touch underlights. Access to
toilets remains an issue for touch and extension into the northern area would
need to accommodate access to public convenience in that area.
Other comments that have no material bearing on the structure of the plan are
as follows:
- Area next to number 1 (field 2) needs redevelopment.
- Access for Sky TV needs to be formalised.
- Existing light towers limit the useable space.
- Would like to see the central car park done before field development.
- An annual timetable of programmed use by all codes would be required.
- Plan B – without netball courts is regarded as a good layout.
- Plan A – great for juniors.
- Develop the western rectangular shape in the extension early in
process.
- The layout allows for 6 fulltime touch fields, which is good. This will
accommodate growth.
Touch also provided a view-point on the long term proposal for a centralised
community sports administration hub. They felt that it could be a positive
initiative, so long as the management structure was well established and it
had the engagement of Sport Tasman.
Overall, the touch code representative was happy with the proposed layout
and could see the benefits of a multi-code facility.
Recommendation
1. No alteration to the plan is required to accommodate touch.
Lansdowne Park Feasibility – User Group Consultation Report. Marlborough District Council. 7Softball
Softball were represented by Joe Kelly, Anthea Stringer and Graeme de-Boo.
Softball began the session by explaining that they had changed their point of
veiw with regard to a potential establishement of a dedicated facility at
Lansdowne Park, and instead they would like to be established in a more
permanent manner at the Show Grounds. Council staff then explained the
implications of this on the overall Outdoor Sports Facilities Plan and the
“knock on” effect that this would have in regard to the Council’s ability to
manage pressure on existing facilities. Council also explained that if softball
had changed their point of view and reversed their decision in regards to the
opportunity to move to Lansdowne park, they would need to relitgate this with
Council.
Softball expressed concern about being “over the back” and “hidden”,
potentially having a detrimental effect on numbers.
Softball representatives indicated that to move from the Showgrounds to
Lansdowne Park the following facilities would be required:
- Guaranteed all space for diamonds - 3 full size diamonds and four-tee
ball at any one time.
- Secure storage.
- Office space.
- Flood lighting of the diamond.
- No cricket.
- Softball noted that baseball is a growing sport in New Zealand and that
due consideration is given to space allocation for future demand.
- Prefer to not over the back.
- Club rooms with a view over the diamond.
- 2nd skin diamonds.
Council staff explained that operating softball in the northern (to be
developed) area of Lansdowne Park provides an opportunity to have a stand
alone venue dedicated to the code during the summer months. This would be
able to accommodate both senior and tee-ball development grades in one
location.
Tee ball would be able to spill into the western side of the existing park. This
would require the plan to be amended to remove the artificial cricket wicket
indicated on the plan in the summer version of the preffered plan. Softball
indicated that they believe the access road and carpark will be required before
they wil be able to operate effectively.
Other comments that have no material bearing on the overall structure of the
plan are as follows;
- Concern at distance of toilets.
- Want a clubroom so people can watch.
- Lighting.
- Confusion with touch lines / teeball lines across fields.
- Sharing fields – moving / removal of backstops.
Lansdowne Park Feasibility – User Group Consultation Report. Marlborough District Council. 8- Also space (close to car park and diamonds) to operate a shop, to sell
water, soft drinks and to have a BBQ. The space needs secure and
lockable with a power point. Sales from this shop are for fundraising.
Many of the issues expressed by softball representatives can be
accomodated within the existing plan. Elements for consideration currently
not indicated on the plan include:
- Public conveniences and clubrooms.
Recommendation
1. Consideration is given to indicating a second diamond in the area
currently covered by the tree nursery. This can also accommodate
potential future demand for baseball.
2. The plan is altered to indicate the potential location of public
convenience immediately to the north of the car park labelled # 13.
3. The plan is altered to remove the cricket wicket as shown in the
summer plan.
Athletics
Athletics were represented by Paula Fitzpatrick and Nicki Lawson
representing children’s athletics who are the main participants in athletics in
Marlborough.
Children’s Athletics representatives indicated that they would consider co-
habitation, although programming is a concern. Children’s Athletics would
use the sports house / community sport administration hub, highlighting that
they are run by volunteers 100%, however they would utilise a resource
centre if it existed.
Children’s athletics requirements, if they were to relocate to Lansdowne Park
include;
- Storage (equivalent of 2 x 20ft containers)
- A double pit ended long jump pit / high jump to be added.
Representatives also suggested turning the javelin area around and indicate
areas for other throwing disciplines.
Other comments that have no material bearing on the overall structure of the
plan are as follows;
- Safety concerns regarding athletics on the same night as touch
- Happy with the fact that this is a long term proposition (10+ years) and
subject to funding long term.
Council staff indicated that when the extension area to the north of the current
site is developed then there would be no clash with touch. Also programming
would accommodate these summer uses. Council also pointed out that
Lansdowne Park Feasibility – User Group Consultation Report. Marlborough District Council. 9Athletics could potentially move onto a grass track at Lansdowne once the
extension is completed to socialise the move over time.
Recommendation
1. Minor alteration to the plan is required to accommodate athletics
realigning and accommodating throwing and jumping disciplines.
Volleyball
Volleyball was representated by Karen Hartshore and Alveyn Micklejohn.
The volleyball representatives were happy with the plan, however, they would
be unable to fund the relocation and as the sport is new to Marlborough they
would like to have double the amount of courts to accommodate future
growth.
Volleyball representatives expressed concerns about the effects of wind and
trees. They felt that the fence currently around the courts is necessary
prevent stop vandalism and to keep out animals, e.g. dogs. They also
indicated that they felt any relocation should cater for growth of the sport.
Recommendation
1. No alteration to the plan is required to accommodate Beach Volleyball.
Netball
Netball was representated by Dianne Woolf and Lynette Rayner.
Netball representatives were concerned about how the courts could be
covered and suggested turning the courts so they are configured east-west for
4 - 5 courts.
They considered that car parking could be a potential issue that would need to
be resolved via further detailed analysis. Council response was to point out
that the planning detail to date (at a conceptual level) included increasing the
car parking from approximately 250 (excludung the existing central Rugby
Club area) to 500 effectively doubling the capacity. This also includes
seperating the demand to specific usage areas.
Note: The total car parking capacity would increase to 668 carparks,
accomodating 2,672 persons under Council planning rules.
Netball questioned what the relocation would cost the codes, how would it be
rolled out and would there be a cost to play.
Council pointed out that no planning on the detailed logistics plan had
occurred and the approprite time to do this would be once the overall format
of the plan is adopted.
Lansdowne Park Feasibility – User Group Consultation Report. Marlborough District Council. 10For the concept of cohabitation and sharing of resources to work, Netball
would ideally require provision of the following in the shared administration
operations spaces:
- Gym
- Medical
- Administration Office.
Other comments that have no material bearing on the overall structure of the
plan are as follows;
- If netball courts relocation is 5+ years away, work will need to be done
at Horton Park because current facilities are of a poor standard.
- Netball would like to be involved in the design and layout of the courts
to ensure they can maximise the opportunity in regard to court
numbers and future covering of courts. Current booking issues at
stadium means indoor courts are often unavailable.
Post the meeting with council, netball discussed the options within thier
fraternity and provided feedback, that there was strong support for a move to
an upgraded multi sport facility at Lansdowne Park in the future.
Recommendations
1. No alteration to the plan is required at this time to accommodate
netball.
2. Future iterations of the plan for the proposed netball site should be
developed with direct input from netball representatives.
Rugby
Rugby was represented by Murray Hunt, Gareth Waldron and Dave
McCormick.
The rugby representatives were happy with the plan and recognised the
benefits of shared facilities. They questioned whether it would be a council or
community led initiative, how the sports house/administration centre/gym
would operate and be funded, and expressed a desire to see a staged
approach to the redevelopment.
Rugby representatives expressed concerns about car parking congestion and
felt the sports grounds were too close. Andrew Ruteldge clarified that spacing
between fields was 5 metres and the minimum standard was 3 metres.
Consideration of the perception of carparking issues is discussed within the
netball section of this report.
Rugby representitives expressed a strong desire to see the No 1 field
developed to a full sand carpet status as a matter of priority. It was also
mentioned that both the existing eastern grandstand and the current
administration facilities are at a stage where significant investment would be
Lansdowne Park Feasibility – User Group Consultation Report. Marlborough District Council. 11required to bring them up to standard, and that any future investment should
go towards the new complex suggested in the plan.
Rugby representatives assume a new lighting plan would be required to
accommodate the changes. Council agreed that this was the case as
different stages of the plan were implemented.
Recommendation
1. No alteration to the plan is required to accommodate rugby.
Cricket
Cricket was representated by Ed Gilhooly and Ed Stretch.
Cricket representatives did not feel that senior cricket would fit in at
Lansdowne Park, given the other summer codes proposed for the site. Kiwi
Cricket is currently played at Lansdowne Park in summer, but can be played
elsewhere, so cricket representatives were happy for it to be removed from
the concept plans. This will accommodate the wishes of the softball fraternity.
Cricket representatives expressed a desire to stay at Horton Park and
described the long term plans to upgrade the venue.
Other comments that have no material bearing on the overall structure of the
Lansdowne Park plan, but related to the wider MDC Outdoor Sports Facilities
Plan are as follows;
- If netball stay at Horton park, Cricket would work with them to try to
intergarte their needs into the wider plan. Note: Cricket wish to
develop an indoor centre over the current area used by courts -
possibly remove car park from plan and netball could be here.
- Working with Marlborough Boys College on upgrading cricket facilities
on front field.
- Possibility of one cricket strip at College Park. If cricket were to move
from Oliver Park would need 2 more.
- Three cricket grounds and practice nets are needed at Oliver Park,
however, Marlborough Cricket do not see Oliver Park as a necessity to
Marlborough Cricket as long as facilities were somewhere else.
Recommendation
1. Remove the artificial cricket pitch indicated in the summer use plan
accommodating softball requirements.
Lansdowne Park Feasibility – User Group Consultation Report. Marlborough District Council. 12You can also read
