Teams that have used various Tauranga City community sports fields for decades are now looking at facing increased fees to keep playing the games they love.

While sporting groups accept fees had to be introduced, some believe the costs proposed by Tauranga City Council are too high and will negatively impact community sports.

As part of Tauranga City Council’s Long Term Plan 2024-2034, it is proposed users “pay to play”.

Setting out a fee model in the LTP, council propose a training fee of $225 plus GST per hour, per field/wicket, per week, forming the total fee per season.

Then, from July 2025, council proposes the seasonal training fee increases to include a game/match fee, also set at $225 plus GST per game/match.

Finally, for community groups leasing council land, council proposes a rate of $6.05 per square metre plus GST.

“The proposed fees seek to strike a balance between the need for non-rates revenue, affordability for community sports groups and equity across the codes,” says TCC manager of spaces and places Alison Law.

Excessive and unrealistic

Waikato Bay of Plenty Football has made a submission to council, opposing council’s fee model. “WaiBOP Football accept there needs to be a fee for the usage of sports fields,” says WaiBOP chief executive Karyn Walters.

She adds that WaiBOP would accept the proposed fee model for training, granted the hourly rate is reduced and council’s wording is updated to a seasonal fee rather than per week.

“However, we strongly oppose the proposed fee model for matches and the increase on lease fees and operating expenses for clubrooms.”

Karyn believes the council’s match fees and increased lease fees are “excessive, unrealistic, and inconsistent with councils in other cities”.

She urges council to protect zero fees like in Auckland and Christchurch.

“It is rare and something to celebrate, helping keep sport participation accessible for the community.”

The Weekend sun asked if TCC believes the proposed fees in the LTP 2024-2034 are reasonable compared to other sport field user fees in New Zealand.

“Council evaluates the reasonableness of proposed sports field fees in its Long Term Plan by considering maintenance costs, community access, and benchmarks set by other councils,” says Alison.

“Feedback from stakeholders and alignment with community expectations also have informed fee-setting decisions.

'While direct comparisons with fees set by other councils across New Zealand can provide insights, the unique context, facilities, maintenance costs and local community needs must be taken into account.”

Otūmoetai Tennis Club. Photo: John Borren.

Tough on members

Brendon McHugh, who is chair of Tauranga City AFC, which has based its football club at Links Avenue in Mount Maunganui, says there’s a few things council hasn’t taken into account with the fee proposals.

“Some community groups, including some football clubs, are returning $30,000 losses [at the end of the sporting year]. And that’s doing what they do now [with zero to minimal user fees].

“Then they’re going to be planted with up to tens of thousands of dollars to try and find, just to provide community sport for adults. It’s pretty tough as it is for community sport and cost-of-living is really hard on members,” says Brendon.

Alison says: “We recognise that any increase in fees and costs could be challenging, particularly when to-date there has been zero or minimal costs associated with using our well-loved community spaces”.

Ensuring continued growth

“The drive towards a ‘user pays’ model means that it is critical to connect with all codes on affordability as to ensure the continued growth of sports and recreation activities on our reserves, and in our community,” says Alison.

Brendon says the council’s proposed fees increases – if they go ahead – will ultimately translate to increases in sport membership fees as many clubs try to stay afloat in an already-challenging economic environment.

“We’ve surveyed our senior members already and they’ve already indicated that they can’t afford it anymore.

"They’re already living on fumes at the moment with everything else going up.

"Sport is just one of those things they want to continue doing, but they’ll have to give away because they can’t afford it.”