Hello Hilton, goodbye lunchtime sport
9/01/2006 12:00:00 a.m.
SPORTY Wellingtonians are gearing up to fight for their venue.
Shed One, which has become a popular indoor sports venue, will go when the Hilton Hotel is built on the outer T at Queen’s Wharf.
Save our Sport (SOS) is a group formed to retain Shed One as an indoor sports venue. It’s survey of the 2000 people using the shed each week suggests many won’t continue with indoor sport when Shed One closes.
SOS has started a petition, intends lobbying the council and plans to try and enlist local businesses in the fight to keep the venue.
"Playing sport is good for your health, which makes it good for the company, as is staff bonding at sport," says spokesperson Ralph Highnam.
Sport Wellington CEO Paul Cameron says he was unaware that the proposed Hilton Hotel would take out an indoor sports venue.
"I was aware of the Hilton going up on the waterfront but I wasn’t sure where it would be.
"I would be disappointed to see the demise of any facility. We’re not over-endowed with indoor facilities. If it was to close I would hope provisions would be made somewhere near by for a similar venue."
SOS shouldn’t expect Sport Wellington to swing in behind their campaign to save Shed One.
"Part of me sees the wider perspective, to want Wellington to advance in terms of leading facilities in a whole range of things. Sometimes you have to concede some things in terms of the wider benefit," Cameron says.
"Not to diminish the value of the facility, for things to go forward in the city you have to look at the bigger picture. We want Wellington city to be the best, not just for sport."
Despite its run down condition and the lack of showers, there is no shortage of people taking advantage of Shed One’s temporary indoor sports facilities. The two soccer fields are in use from 11am to 2pm and from 5pm to 9.30pm, Monday to Thursday.
Mayor Kerry Prendergast says anybody using Shed One has known that it was a temporary site for indoor sports and that it will probably be two years before the venue closes. By then it’s hoped alternatives will be available.
"We have been looking into the proposed indoor sports stadium and the results of that will be available at the end of the month," says Prendergast.
Proposals exist for a large facility near the Cake Tin and smaller venues at Waitangi Park but Higham says these options are too from the CBD for many working sportspeople.
"Both of those are too far away," he says. "In a one-hour lunch break you have a five minute walk to Shed One, half an hour of sport, walk back, have a shower and that’s your lunch over.
"I timed walking to Waitangi Park and Westpac Stadium from the CBD and it’s 15 minutes each way."
