Vote goes against kayak plan

Developers will forge ahead with plans for a $60 million white-water kayaking centre in South Auckland despite Manukau City Council's decisions not to fund it.

The park is planned to sit alongside the Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre and has been backed by the Counties Manukau Pacific Trust, which runs the centre.

At a council meeting yesterday 11 councillors to five rejected the request for a $40 million council grant which would have meant ratepayers paying a $394 targeted rate.

Events centre chief executive Richard Jeffery said the lack of support didn't mean the project was dead in the water. He hoped that resource consent would be granted by the end of the month.

"That's a a big milestone in any project and we're looking forward to that."

The funding setback means that the facility won't be built in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup - with an opening date now dependent on finding funding partners, Mr Jeffery said.

He hoped the project would be an easy sell and thanked those councillors who had voted in favour of it.

"It's the gateway to Auckland, it'd be an embarrassment to have an empty paddock there forever."

Councillors Daniel Newman and Dick Quax voted against the development.

Mr Newman said in the midst of one of the worst economic recessions in generations the project couldn't have been funded by the city.

"Our residential and business ratepayers cannot afford $394 to part-fund this private commercial venture. The council's decision reflects the reality of our own constrained financial position, and the financial stress that many of our ratepayers are currently facing."

Mr Quax said thousands of submissions from sports clubs wanted resources thrown into revitalising existing netball, rugby league and other facilities.

"By rejecting the $40 million funding application, we now have the ability to provide some funding capacity to these worthy and longstanding clubs."