Council’s system hurdles leave local club in confusion

An Auckland baseball club wants to upgrade its diamond at Lloyd Elsmore Park but the plans are being stalled by council rules.

The Howick Pakuranga Baseball Club’s private funding proposal of approximately $315,000 would improve drainage and install floodlights.

The proposal has been stalled by Auckland Council due to planning requirements and council costs.

The baseball club says its field lacks adequate drainage, leaving its members to miss 30 to 40 training nights or game days a year due to rain.

The club's offer of $315,000, which the council says is generous, would go towards drainage and lights.

The issue has remained unresolved for more than two years.

The council says it has not heard from the club since January last year but also hasn’t budgeted for an investigation into lighting needs.

“When the council receives offers of private funding from organisations or individuals, each is unique and assessed on merit and feasibility.

“In this case, the council would need to consider [and budget for] the ongoing electricity and maintenance costs of the lights.”

Club president Mike Bongiovanni says he never received an email from the council in January last year but is still in contact with it over the matter.

He says a club member went to the mayor directly wanting to make a donation to the project.

Bongiovanni says there is confusion over the issue.

“No real fault of the council’s, the reality seems as if they don’t know how to accept the money.

“What are we supposed to do? Where are we supposed to go? How are we supposed to get this done?” he says.

In a statement, the council told the HPBC that a long list of requirements needed to be completed for its proposal to be further processed.

These requirements included potential adverse effects on neighbouring residential properties due to the heights of the lights and lighting lux-level, “which would have to be addressed through the resource content process”.

“[Application timeframes] vary dramatically based on application complexity, completeness, notification requirements, and council workloads”, Auckland Council says.

The club understands these are requirements and are ready to get the process underway.