The future of the Richmond Rugby League clubrooms remains uncertain with negotiations at a stalemate.
More than 100 years of history are within the walls of the building at Grey Lynn Park and there are changes coming for the reserve. Richmond Rovers chairman Gus Fepuleai has expressed the club's interest in rebuilding the clubrooms.
Upgrades for the park include a new cycleway as part of the Greenways Plan.
JULIAN RAETHEL / FAIRFAX NZRichmond Rovers Rugby League Club chairman Gus Fepuleai knows that time is almost up for the 102-year-old clubrooms.
The Rovers own the building but lease the land from Auckland Council, which is proposing the new site be at the Elgin St end as a shared facility.
Fepuleai says this doesn't make sense as it will cause traffic chaos and it doesn't give a full view of all three fields.
He wants to see the clubrooms rebuilt on top of the new changing rooms between fields one and two - a proposal he will put to council.
Fepuleai is wary it's going to take a big effort to get a funding committee together to meet the council halfway.
He says the facilities at Richmond have been sub-standard for years with visiting sides having to use portable toilets to get changed.
"The visiting teams say it is a disgusting place to go. It's embarrassing," Fepuleai says.
Despite the lack of infrastructure, Richmond have had a magical year on the field.
However there have been issues in the past with the club receiving a number of complaints regarding noise and alcohol.The premiers won the Sharman Cup, promoting them to the Fox Memorial Premiership in 2016. This was backed up with titles to the premier reserves, senior A and under-16 teams.
Fepuleai even closed the bar last season in an attempt to sort out the problem.
Waitemata Local Board member Greg Moyle has been working with the club to strike an agreement with council.
"The community won't build new clubrooms. It's not their responsibility to do that."
Local and Sports Parks Central acting manager Mark Miller says the council is committed to finding a solution to incorporate everyone's needs.
"The newly adopted development plan for Grey Lynn Park identifies council's preference to have one new shared facility building that could provide for the Rovers, public facilities and any other codes that are interested in a partnership approach."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/70324792/richmond-rovers-struggling-for-a-home
More than 100 years of history are within the walls of the building at Grey Lynn Park and there are changes coming for the reserve. Richmond Rovers chairman Gus Fepuleai has expressed the club's interest in rebuilding the clubrooms.
Upgrades for the park include a new cycleway as part of the Greenways Plan.
JULIAN RAETHEL / FAIRFAX NZRichmond Rovers Rugby League Club chairman Gus Fepuleai knows that time is almost up for the 102-year-old clubrooms.
The Rovers own the building but lease the land from Auckland Council, which is proposing the new site be at the Elgin St end as a shared facility.
Fepuleai says this doesn't make sense as it will cause traffic chaos and it doesn't give a full view of all three fields.
He wants to see the clubrooms rebuilt on top of the new changing rooms between fields one and two - a proposal he will put to council.
Fepuleai is wary it's going to take a big effort to get a funding committee together to meet the council halfway.
He says the facilities at Richmond have been sub-standard for years with visiting sides having to use portable toilets to get changed.
"The visiting teams say it is a disgusting place to go. It's embarrassing," Fepuleai says.
Despite the lack of infrastructure, Richmond have had a magical year on the field.
However there have been issues in the past with the club receiving a number of complaints regarding noise and alcohol.The premiers won the Sharman Cup, promoting them to the Fox Memorial Premiership in 2016. This was backed up with titles to the premier reserves, senior A and under-16 teams.
Fepuleai even closed the bar last season in an attempt to sort out the problem.
Waitemata Local Board member Greg Moyle has been working with the club to strike an agreement with council.
"The community won't build new clubrooms. It's not their responsibility to do that."
Local and Sports Parks Central acting manager Mark Miller says the council is committed to finding a solution to incorporate everyone's needs.
"The newly adopted development plan for Grey Lynn Park identifies council's preference to have one new shared facility building that could provide for the Rovers, public facilities and any other codes that are interested in a partnership approach."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/70324792/richmond-rovers-struggling-for-a-home
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