All sports - not just cricket - will benefit from spending $90,000 on back fields at the Centennial Park stadium, the Waitaki District Council was told yesterday.
The council has decided to spend $30,000 from resource management contributions next financial year to develop a first-class cricket wicket when grounds 2 and 3 are levelled at Centennial Park and has set aside another $60,000 for future improvements required to establish a suitable cricket field.
The decision comes after conflict between cricket and rugby in recent years over use of the oval, each having access for six months. But expansion of the rugby season, along with the demand for pre-season Super 15 matches, had eaten into cricket's use.
Cricket agreed to shift to the back grounds if a new wicket was developed as part of ground improvements planned next year.
Cr Kevin Malcolm emphasised the project was not just for cricket's benefit, but for all users of Centennial Park.
However, Cr Hugh Perkins was concerned if some of the $60,000 set aside was used to pay for "bits and pieces" for cricket.
He felt sports should provide that sort of equipment themselves.
Recreation manager Erik van der Spek said $30,000 had already been allocated next financial year for ground improvements.
The $60,000 had not been allocated for any particular purpose and how it was spent would come back to the council for final approval.
The council will continue to start its meetings at 9am, but only after Mayor Alex Familton used a casting vote yesterday to maintain the status quo after the vote was tied at five-all.
That prompted Cr Kevin Malcolm, who wanted a change to 12.30pm, to say after the decision he was "sick and tired" of coming to meetings and "not getting things done", telling Mr Familton that from now on he would make sure councillors stuck to standing orders and its procedures.
The council and its committee of the whole meets on Tuesdays at 9am, but last month at a workshop some councillors raised the possibility of starting later to encourage more people to attend meetings or stand for council.
