This could be interesting - TRI v NPDC

[Chimbu]

New Plymouth racing club fights plans to build in the centre of its raceway

Helen Harvey05:00, Apr 01 2021

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ANDY JACKSON/STUFF

Taranaki Racing Inc is prepared to take legal action to stop a proposed multi-sport stadium being built in the middle of the New Plymouth Raceway.

Taranaki Racing Inc is preparing to put its lawyers under starters orders as it saddles up to fight plans for an indoor sports stadium in the middle of the New Plymouth Raceway.

While Taranaki Racing Inc (TRI) supports sharing its site with a multi-sports hub, chairman Vaughan Watson has told New Plymouth District Council his members will not sit back and allow the building in the middle of the racecourse.

SUPPLIED

The master plan for a proposed multi sport hub in New Plymouth show the stadium, in white, in the centre.

TRI says the hub would ruin view lines from the racecourse's main area and reflections from the building would be a hazard for jockeys and horses.

It backs having sports fields in the centre of the track and the indoor stadium adjacent to the nearby TSB Stadium.

 

Sport Taranaki, which is spearheading the proposed multi-sports hub, has plans for such an alternative design but will not release them.

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‘’We wouldn’t have this level of anxiety if everyone out there had the option of seeing there are other options with the stadium adjacent to the (TSB) stadium,’’ TRI chief executive Carey Hobbs said.

The issue has come to a head as the New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) is currently calling for submissions on whether $40million for the proposed multi-sports hub should be included in the Long Term Plan, and when during the 10-year cycle building should begin.

NPDC’s website, where submissions are made, has a large picture of plans showing the indoor stadium in the centre of the racetrack.

This has upset TRI, which says the multi-sport hub is being ‘’very poorly represented’’ by suggesting the current design is the only option.

HELEN HARVEY/STUFF

Taranaki Racing Inc chief executive Carey Hobbs, horse owner Cliff Erb, and TRI chairman Vaughan Watson are adamant there will be no large stadium built in the middle of the New Plymouth racecourse.

To complicate matters TRI is in the middle of an 8-year wrangle with NPDC over its lease.

NPDC wants to offer a lease for up to 33 years with rights to extend.

But TRI maintains it has historical rights to occupy the land and should maintain a perpetual lease.

Both parties have agreed to park the lease discussions until May 19.

But Taranaki Racing chairman Vaughan Watson said they have told the council TRI will not have a building in the middle of the racecourse.

‘’We’ve served notice we will be contesting (the disputed lease agreement) legally if they go ahead with that building, but we are very open to consultation around a building being outside the bounds of the racecourse.

‘’There’s a lot of information going out from the councillors and council staff members that it’s basically a fait accompli that there’s going to be a sports hub building in the middle of the racecourse.

“And we state that we absolutely don’t support that and that there are other options. People are being misled.’’

Horse owner Cliff Erb said owners and trainers were very concerned that people thought the design with the indoor stadium in the middle of the track was going to happen.

‘’It wouldn’t work in the centre. The less activity in middle the better. But they have to be realistic that the land has to be well utilised.’’

TRI believes there are at least six different sets of plans, two of which have the stadium outside the racecourse with sports fields inside.

But Sport Taranaki boss Michael Carr would not make them available when Stuff (print: Daily News) spoke to him this week.

The design that has been released is a master plan, Carr said.

The number one thing is to make sure that all the components needed will fit on the site.

‘’The master plan is the preferred option. However, this is a community asset and through the submission process people can have their say.

“The racing people can say they want it out of the centre and other people can say they like it in the centre.’’

As facilitators, Sport Taranaki have to take all stakeholders into consideration, he said.

The most important thing is to get the hub into the long-term plan and then sort out the details later, he said.

In an emailed statement NPDC Group Manager Community and Customer Services Teresa Turner said the design they are showing during the submission process is the draft plan submitted by Sport Taranaki.

‘’We are currently getting feedback on the role we should play in developing the hub as part of our draft 10-Year Plan.

“No decisions have been made and the Mayor and councillors will make any decisions later this year.’’