Sports facilities may cost more

Press, 3 February 1982, Page 6

Sports facilities may cost more

Christchurch City Council charges for sports grounds and facilities may rise by 20.7 per cent from April 1. The council, may also look at progressively narrowing the gap between charges for men and women. Under, the present system, outdoor female sports charges are based on 80 per cent of the male rates.

Councillors said yesterday that they might consider reducing the gap by. 25 per cent over the next four years.

Parks and recreation committee members said that the cost per game for using council grounds and facilities was still very reasonable. Rising maintenance costs had forced increases over past years, although charges were frozen from 1977 to 1979.

“The basic facility is the

cheapest part of their participation.” said Cr Rex Lester. “Sports bodies often overlook that. Unfortunately, this charge comes all at once."

This year, the council has produced a chart which shows the estimated cost a game for an individual under present and proposed charges, based on 16 games a season for each ground. For a male rugby player, the new charge would be 37c a game, compared with the present 30c. For a male soccer player, it would be 50c a game (41c).

For cricket played on a prepared wicket, the new charge would be $1.31 a match ($1.09). The hourly cost of indoor sports for individuals would be 63c for basketball (53c), 48c for badminton (40c) and 33c for vollevball (28c).

"That is good value for money.” said Cr A. J. Graham.

Swimming pool admission charges would remain unchanged. but equipment hire charges at the pools would rise under the new schedule.

Pool charges — and charges for schools hiring indoor facilities for school activities — would be effective from October 1 for pools and from the beginning of the second school term for schools.

Sports charges are generally based on the exclusive use of fields for activities. No charge is made for schools which play during the week unless a ground has been specifically set aside. Sports associations can use fields on Sundays at no charge when Saturday competitions are cancelled because ground conditions are unsuitable.