Selwyn Times: August 26, 2020

SELWYN TIMES Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Wednesday August 26 2020 9
Division over community centre
Hororata was badly
affected by the
September 4, 2010,
earthquake and a
community group
is trying to revitalise
the township, but not
everyone agrees a new
community centre is
the right way forward.
Devon Bolger reports
DISTRICT COUNCIL staff
are recommending a review
be undertaken on the cost
to upgrade the Hororata
Hall following feedback on a
proposal for a new $4.6 million
community centre.
Group manager Douglas
Marshall said they have reviewed
the responses from public meetings
held in Hororata in July as
well as a number of comments
received as part of consultation
on the Hororata Reserve Master
Plan.
“These comments indicated
continued support among the
community for the proposed
new community centre, but also
asked the council to take into
account retaining the existing
community hall due to its lower
upgrade cost.”
Marshall said all plans for the
facility will be reviewed and consulted
on as part of the 2021-2031
Long-Term Plan.
The plans for the community
centre appears to be dividing the
township.
On one side of the fence are
those who think the proposed
$4.6 million facility will be
under-used and a financial
burden on the 1000 or so people
who live in the Hororata area.
On the other side are those
who say the community centre
will help revitalise the area and
attract people.
Hororata suffered badly in the
September 4, 2010, earthquake.
Its well-known pub, a favourite
stopover for skiers on the way
to Mt Hutt was destroyed, the
historic church went and the
area slumped.
Some people liked it that way;
others saw the need to get the
area back on its feet.
The Hororata Community
Trust was set up in 2011 and has
had outstanding success with
the annual Highland Games,
attracting a crowd of 10,000, and
more recently the Night Glow
hot ballooning – which draws in
14,000.
They have become an integral
part of Hororata, self-funding
and not a drain on the community.
But many are worried the
$4.6 million community centre
will.
Go Hororata is behind the plan
for the community centre.
The group is made up of representatives
from the Hororata
Reserve Committee, citizens
committee, tennis club, Scouts,
rifle club, play centre, Hororata
Primary School, the Hororata
Parish and Hororata Community
Trust and three independent
members elected at a public
meeting.
But the plan for the new facility
is a touchy subject.
Some people mistakenly
think the cost of the community
centre will fall directly on those
who live in the area. But that is
H
Bob Mugford
not the case.
The $4.6 million cost will be
funded by $2 million from the
Hororata Community Trust,
$624,000 reserve development
funds, $576,000 from the district
council and $400,000 from the
sale of the existing hall and
land.
The remaining $1 million will
come from a district council loan
paid back through rates across
the Selwyn district.
A community meeting was
held late last month to discuss
the concerns of residents with
about 60 people in attendance.
A ballot conducted at the
meeting showed attendees are
largely in opposition of the development.
The results were 75.92
per cent in favour of
upgrading the existing
hall and 24.08 per cent
in favour of the new
community centre.
The current hall needs
modernising but is not
expected to need any
seismic strengthening if
it is to be retained.
Malvern Ward councillor Bob
Mugford said he is not convinced
the results of the ballot accurately
represent the views of the
community.
“Honestly, I don’t know, it
depends on who turns up on the
night. There are more people opposed
to it than I thought there
would be.
“We had several earlier
meetings and I honestly
thought the whole
community wanted this
development.”
The district council
has not yet started formal
consultation on the
plans for the community
centre.
A possible site for
the facility was merely included
in the draft development plans
for the Hororata Domain so
DEVELOP:
The Hororata
Domain Master
Plan with the
proposed
location of a
new community
centre which
is marked
as H. Many
residents say it
is unnecessary
and there are
fears it would
reduce the size
of the race track
(below).
it matches with what is in the
Long-Term Plan.
But getting people to commit
to what they think about the
community centre is tricky.
Go Hororata Chairman Craig
Blackburn refused to answer
questions by the Selwyn Times.
“At this point in time I don’t
want to put anything to press.
That is probably the best way
of putting it. There is a council
process in place and at the time
the results of that survey will
be presented in the appropriate
manner. “
So what are his views on
the feeling of the community?
Blackburn said he would not
comment.
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