Fraser Park Community Trust submission to the Timaru District

Council Stimulus Fund June 2020

Phillipa GuerinRedevelopment Project Manager

Table of contents

Introduction 1-3

The Project 4-5

Financial situation 6-7

SCRFU CEO comments (Current tenant) 8-10

SWOT Analysis 11

Summary 12

Memorandum of Understanding Appendix A

Concept Designs Appendix B

Letters of Support Appendix C

Introduction

Fraser Park Community Trust (FPCT) wish to apply to the Timaru District Council Stimulus Fund requesting a financial contribution towards the redevelopment of ‘Fraser Park’.

Fraser Park Redevelopment is a significant project and we feel it is large enough to help stimulate the economic wellbeing of the Timaru and South Canterbury economy while also catering to the community’s social wellbeing and morale. The construction project will assist the Timaru District to rebound from the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis providing in excess of 40,000 hours being made up of onsite construction, local sub trades and off-site fabrication (pre-cast/aluminium joinery). We anticipate upon completion the essentially new Fraser Park multisport facility will generate further employment opportunities within the Timaru community while also supporting South Canterbury’s evolving growth in regional sports. There will be many downstream effects generated from this facility onto our local Timaru CBD, Restaurants/Cafes, Accommodation providers from within the local community and visitors traveling to these new and improved grounds whether that be for sporting tournaments, club games or special events.

This project will create a facility that Timaru and its surrounding South Canterbury communities will be proud to say is theirs while also being an all-encompassing facility where the social, cultural and environmental wellbeing’s of its citizens are truly respected and amplified. We promise you the provision of this new facility will be the envy of the rest of Rural New Zealand.

We have undertaken extensive community consultation with feasibility studies completed by Opus international, RDT Pacific and Sport Canterbury (Spaces and Places 2018). FPCT has developed a clear vision of the benefits of the redevelopment and what that will provide for our Timaru city, the wider South Canterbury communities and beyond. We have not included these reports given their significant size. They are available on request. We have letters of support from those with a clear love and vested interest in South Canterbury including Sport Canterbury, Softball South Canterbury, Football South, Timaru District Mayor, NZ Rugby and the Crusaders, Timaru Chamber of Commerce, Parliamentarians, and The Principal of a leading Girls school.

The economic impact of this project is all encompassing for Timaru and its wider community, providing immediate employment prospects within the region while creating a new facility to attract the whole community to a variety of sports which are easily

accessible in one central location. The redevelopment will future proof this significant multipurpose facility for the next 50 years.

To be able to provide this facility in the Timaru District will be a game changer and a jewel in the crown of Timaru. This redevelopment will enable a Friday night league for Women’s football under lights, cater to the growth of Women’s rugby (this has seen a 42% increase in the last three years) and provides the opportunity to grow other sporting codes.

The National bodies of both Rugby and Football have also advised that this facility will be used for National tournaments, which will create a significant economic spinoff for our region, adding value through supporting and growing domestic tourism. None of this would be possible at the current venue given its age and continued deterioration.

FPCT are very aware of their environmental responsibility so have included aspects of sustainability throughout the design such as the roof of the new Pavilion being designed in line with a North facing aspect to receive Solar panels in the future, Cross Laminated Timber is to be used as the mid floor, and local Precast concrete panels will form the structures envelope.

All drainage to the facility is to be upgraded and strengthened to meet local and regional environmental requirements. The development has also been designed with the community’s visual amenity in mind.

FPCT have appointed Rooney Group Limited (RGL) as the Head Contractor of this project redevelopment. RGL are a local South Canterbury company nationally recognised through many similar infrastructure projects. RGL have subcontracted Thompsons Construction to the project. Thompsons are a local South Canterbury company based in Timaru who have substantial experience working with RGL on similar community projects. The value and experience that RGL have provided and brings to this project, provides FPCT with a very local, calibrated, robust, competitive and fast project deliverable.

This project at $7,535,332.86 will provide real stimulus to the local Timaru and South Canterbury economy.

We are now well beyond the design concept phase. Existing use rights have been secured from the Timaru District Council and we are all set to go, with the lodging of building consent pending. The project is shovel ready.

We are aware there are many other community projects that may require funding assistance so we are therefore requesting a financial contribution of $1 million (under 15%) from the Timaru District Council Stimulus Fund to enable this project to proceed. It is important to note that our NZ Lotteries Communities Facilities Fund Advisor has indicated that one of the criteria for FPCT applying to NZ Lotteries is they must have a significant financial contribution commitment from the Timaru District Council prior to lodging our NZ Lotteries application to the July/August 2020 funding application round.

The Project

FPCT own the 3.8 hectare centrally located site to be redeveloped in Timaru, South Canterbury. The grounds have been the home of sports (predominantly Rugby Union) in South Canterbury since 1888. Fraser Park draws users from the Rangitata to the Waitaki and to the Mackenzie in the West. The Spaces and Places Report (2018), consulted with various sporting groups and the local community. The result is that FPCT acknowledges we must cater for a wider range of sports and events including Softball, Cricket, YMCA youth holiday programmes, Woman’s football, League, Rugby Union, and provide Tournament grounds. The redeveloped site will see optimal facilities for outdoor events, and create something very special for the future of multisport in Timaru and for South Canterbury.

The redevelopment is long overdue with the costs of maintaining the existing facility escalating. Fraser Park in its current state has inadequate drainage (In 2017 the site was unavailable 11 weeks out of 28 weeks due to drainage issues, and in 2019 was unavailable 5 weeks out of 28 weeks), infrastructure which restricts usage, the changing rooms are very dated and only cater for men, one stand is condemned awaiting demolition, the other stand has only 40% structural integrity and administration is operated from a decaying 1960’s prefab acquired from a local primary school in the 1990’s.

The redevelopment of Fraser Park includes a new pavilion incorporating eight gender neutral changing rooms, administration space, clubrooms/community space, referees lounge, rehabilitation gym, new hybrid playing field, new sand-based playing field, upgrade of all infrastructure, great accessibility, parking, fencing and superior spectator viewing whether indoors or out.

Mr Gary Rooney, of RGL is committed to the redevelopment of Fraser Park for the greater good of the community. Mr Rooney through his company RGL has unparalleled experience locally in project delivery, having facilitated, managed and enabled the development of many multi-million dollar projects such as the Waimate Events Centre, Craighead Diocesan School Gymnasium, classroom and sports field development, the new Waimate Medical Centre, The Waimate Kitchen and Bar (redevelopment of The Waimate Hotel), and many other crucial community focussed projects. RGL is also involved in many other projects of regional and South Island significance. Our whole community, including Fraser Park’s Neighbours with whom we met in

November 2019, are on board with this redevelopment. We have letters of support not just from sporting groups but from business leaders, the CEO of the Chamber of commerce, Sport Canterbury and the Principals of leading schools. This redevelopment will ensure the social, cultural, and economic well-being of a vast range of people within our community, more so than ever before. We truly believe this project will be the catalyst within our District to create employment opportunities and assist with the impetus for economic stimulus to get our region back on its feet following the impacts of COVID-19.

Financial Situation

The cost of this redevelopment is $7,535,332.86. Please find below an outline of our funding avenues:

Funding Entity Amount ($)

Trust Aoraki 500,000 ConfirmedCommunity Trust of Mid/South Canty Inc

400,000 (300,000 TBC)

SCRFU 250,000 ConfirmedLoans 2,300,000 ConfirmedTDC 1,000,000 TBCNZ Lotteries 1,000,000 TBCPub Charities 250,000 TBCProvincial Growth Fund 1,000,000 TBCAlpine Energy Ltd 250,000 TBC

6,950,000.00

We have had strong communication with The Community Trust of Mid/South Canty Inc and will be submitting a further application for $300,000 in October 2020.

We were unsuccessful with the NZ Lotteries Fund at the end of last year and following support and advice from our advisor will be submitting a further funding application for deadline 26 August 2020. NZ Lotteries advised our three areas of weakness were: lack of a Timaru District Council capital contribution, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) from future users and donations from a public fundraising campaign. We are hopeful of receiving a Timaru District Council financial contribution and now have a signed MOU. We are to begin a community fundraising campaign, targeting $1 million and are currently working on a strategy in this post COVID-19 environment.

We have had discussions with Mr Martin Cheer of Pub Charities who has committed to assisting.

We applied to the Government ‘Shovel Ready’ Infrastructure Partnership Project Fund, meeting all the criteria, however as our project was under the $20 million threshold we were referred through to ‘The Provincial Growth Fund’. We are

awaiting a reply to our funding request of $1 million and have local Parliamentarians Jo Luxton and Andrew Falloon advocating for us.

Alpine Energy Ltd have been a supporter in the past. We have approached them for assistance at the $250,000.00 level. Their sponsorship meeting was held just prior to the lockdown, and they have a follow up in August. They have advised they wish to continue to be involved with the redevelopment and will confirm their commitment in August.

We have had workshops with Mr Steve Bramley (SGL Group) a successful fundraiser and project advisor and we remain in contact with him. He was involved in the CBAY project in Timaru, where the community gave $8 million to a $23 million Aquatic/Gym facility undertaken by the Timaru District Council.

We have very prudent financial management systems in place for maintenance and the repayment of debt. Affiliation fees have been doubled and these funds will be set aside for maintenance of the facility.

Incorporated in the design is blade signage aligning the avenue between the two sports fields. This signage will provide the financial means to repay debt through advertising. The signs are being contracted to corporate sponsors on a five year right of renewal contract. There are twenty signs, contracted at $15,000.00 each per year.

FRASER PARK MAINTENANCE POSITION

The South Canterbury Rugby Football Union (SCRFU) currently occupies, maintains and services the grounds and facilities contained at Fraser Park.

Our current position: Challenges

We have a decaying asset and our maintenance program is based on a reactive band-aid patch-up approach, nothing we are doing at present is permanent or sustainable in the long-term. We are facing several major existing and future concerns as detailed below:

The Church Street Boundary fence-line partly collapsed in winds in 2019 due to the age and condition of the timber, the fastenings and rusted iron.

The eastern stand has been condemned, it is structurally unsafe, 30% of the seating boards/timber are unusable.

The 2018 Opus Seismic Assessment Report clearly highlighted that the older eastern proportion of the grandstand was rated at only 40% NBS and is considered a potential earthquake risk. This area needs to be strengthened or removed.

Part of the main grandstand (western) structure is rusting; we are currently on a temporary basis cleaning and rust proofing some of the structure.

In the winter months after moderate rainfall the grounds are unusable due to existing drainage issues. This has a major impact on trainings, night rugby particularly for girls/schools and competition rugby. The drainage on the main ground has not been upgraded or touched in over 25 years.

The SCRFU administration offices have major structural issues, all weatherboards need replacing as does the roof that leaks severely in the Winter months. There is significant damp and the working conditions for staff are compromised. The administration buildings are a patched up 1960’s school rooms.

There is not enough hot water for teams when all grounds are being played on. The water system needs replacing.

The Lounge area severely leaks. There are no internal Women’s changing/shower/toilet facilities. The changing rooms are all in all challenging.

Current Maintenance:The SCRFU currently employees a Part time (20 hours) Grounds person/Handyman. Their role is to maintain the grounds/embankments, mow and upkeep the fields, and general maintenance duties which are ongoing.

Previously Midland Contracting serviced our grounds, we have since purchased our own mower.Maintenance Budget/Expenditure: Current  2019

Repairs & Maintenance: Buildings$15,93

8

Repairs & Maintenance: Grounds$29,48

2Repairs & Maintenance: Equipment $2,974

Wages$25,88

0Sundry Costs: Fuel, Fert, other $3,500

$79,792

This budget is funded by club’s affiliation fees, and local business sponsorships, no grant money.

Maintenance Budget/Expenditure: Future

  2021Repairs & Maintenance: Buildings $8,000

Repairs & Maintenance: Grounds$15,00

0 Includes 5 Fertiliser spreads: 7500Repairs & Maintenance: Equipment $3,000

Wages$28,00

0Sundry Costs: Fuel $4,000

Capital Replacement$25,00

0 12/15-year replacement of Hybrid Carpet$85,02

1

The expert advice we received from Sport Turf Services, is that a Hybrid playing surface requires a very strict maintenance program. Included in this program is the requirement to fertilize at least 4 to 5 times a year.

It is noted that the Hybrid base (carpet) will require replacing every 12 to 15 years, the estimated cost of this is in the regions of $600,000 to $750,000. All clubs have committed to increase their affiliation fees to meet 50% of this replacement cost.

SWOT Analysis

STRENGTHS Providing a show piece facility in South Canterbury, the central South Island Supported thorough background investigations/studies and due diligence Existing Use rights are in place Efficient project team with proven track record Never a cheaper time to build Prudent financial management is in place Long term Tenants in place Promoting immediate employment

WEAKNESSES Obtaining funding Global virus threat (Covid-19) promoting economic uncertainty

OPPORTUNITIES To use this as a tournament ground/events facility for South Canterbury/South

Island Promote domestic tourism Update a deteriorated asset for the next generation of users Encourage increased sport participation with a modern facility To initiate a Women’s Football competition To initiate a teenage softball competition centrally located Providing grounds that are more accessible for children after school at one

central location

THREATS If not undertaken Timaru will be limited in the ability to host sport and community

events such as Crusaders/Highlanders games, Women’s football games with the

required changing rooms, teenage softball centrally located, Nitro-Circus, Concerts and Expo events

Rugby is the largest participant sport in South Canterbury and without this redevelopment the ability to host as many club, interprovincial and representative games will diminish

The ability to maintain and utilise Fraser Park will disappear very quickly

Summary

Section 5 of the Local Government Act (2002) describes ‘significance’ as the degree of importance of any issue, proposal, decision, or matter, as assessed by the local authority, in terms of its likely impact on, and likely consequences for:

The district or region Anyone likely to be particularly affected or interested The capacity of the local authority to perform its role, and the financial and other

costs of doing so.Section 5 also describes “significant” as any issue, proposal, decision, or other matter having a “high degree of significance, that is:

Significant or material variations/departures from the financial statements or funding statement in the long-term plan

Significant spending proposals, and the associated costs, or Substantial delays to, or cancellation of, significant projects, and associated

implications

We firmly believe that this project is significant in terms of Section 5 of the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act).

The Fraser Park Community Trust are asking the Timaru District Council to please enable this project. Show your support, and confidence in the economic, social and cultural well-being of our community, and the future of this multi-sport facility in Timaru and South Canterbury.

We thank you very much for the opportunity to make this submission and look forward to your questions on the 23 June 2020.

Please find attached the MOU, concept designs of the redevelopment, and letters of support for your perusal. All other reports, pricing and financials are available upon request.