At the 4th June 2025 Council Meeting, there was a decision not to proceed into negotiations on leasing land next to Maidstone Park, and to re-look at options in the next council term.
As a family with a long-standing history with the club, it was sad to see, and we understand this decision is disappointing for the bowling club. At the meeting on the 21st May we congratulated them but have made no bones we have been concerned both for the financial viability for the Bowling Club, our community, and the process in which we believe was not followed.
We believe that the Mayor (Club Patron) has not declared a conflict of interest (UHCC Standing Orders 20.7/20.8) as we believe he should have. But waited till much later in the process. The two links are below. The first is where we believe the Mayor should not have voted, taken part in discussions, or even been present at the table.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDWzcvf7eZI – Full Meeting.
Here are some parts where Cr Carson is in action… 22.30 mins in CR Carson 30.20mins in Cr Carson 1.18 hour Cr Carson packs up and leaves the meeting before it has ended.
Or just Snippets
https://video.wixstatic.com/video/c29daf_6d5a192872394ee9855195f288429e3c/1080p/mp4/file.mp4
https://video.wixstatic.com/video/c29daf_92a214c4301f4fa68b401928d978f41d/1080p/mp4/file.mp4
https://video.wixstatic.com/video/c29daf_af808813407f46499572ab7a43a2594d/1080p/mp4/file.mp4
Our stance still stays the same that we are worried about the process and the fact that the Mayor and Cr Carson (Treasurer) had conflicts, and the question about the most prudent use of this land, financial or other (e.g. Recreation).
For those that don’t have time to watch…the outcome in regard to the Maidstone Tce lease and its use has been deferred at this stage. The Upper Hutt Bowling Club can re submit at a later date, as can others.
AGENDA
UPDATED AGENDA ITEM AT THE 11TH HOUR. (Came out about an hours before the meeting was to start, Cr Carson was concerned that the Bowling Club members were not given a chance to submit, with the additional item. Yet the protocol is that you must register to speak before midday the day before the meeting.)
https://www.upperhutt.govt.nz/files/assets/public/v/1/your-council/meetings/2025/cycle-3/late-item-for-agenda-%E2%80%93-proposed-use-of-the-land-adjacent-to-maidstone-park.pdf
What the public/community may like to know is the loss of revenue the above article speaks of is being lost around $2700 per year.
Even though we understand the lease for a club is not supposed to be a large revenue gathering activity, however as this land is zoned for High Density Residential and could be returning more to the council and community we believe it should be at least investigated.
In the reports from Council, they state it would be approx. $2700 incl GST per year for the lease, fixed for the 33 years (approx. $89,000 for the lease of 33 years).
This would equate to around 0.16c per rateable dwelling per year, a grand total of $5.28c over the 33 years lease that was proposed as potential revenue per household at today’s dwelling numbers. This lease fee would not increase no does it appear to include any rates.
The Sports Hub next door for example, one of the rooms is hired out for $129.99 per hour which the lease of the land would equate to approx. 21 hrs or 2.6 days of hire. Which as of recently was pretty much scraping to be hired out appearing to be causing concern for the Council.
In September 2024 Council went out for EOI for the land where Ammu and Longhorn used to be. They state on page 3 of this EOI, “The intent is to leverage commercial opportunities in Upper Hutt and to provide a financial return to Council in order to reduce financial strain on rate payers, especially considering the current economic environment.”. This land still remains vacant.
In the last day or 2 we have seen a financial statement from the UH Bowls incorporated society which shows they have made a loss of $54-$67k per year over each of the last 3 years. With funds on hand that would potentially see them in dire straits in the next 3-5 years if this trend continued. In the proposal supporting documents we have not seen in council records that this has presented to Council to help make a decision.
Clubs Registered 2024 Financial Statement: (Page 5)
https://app.businessregisters.govt.nz/sber-businesses/viewInstance/view.html?id=229a78e05307b6d8bf1b29667f00cb17efd02a05b7af79b8&_timestamp=6908360376338701
A “thank you” to NZ Empowered for sending this letter to The Upper Hutt Connection.
09/06/25
The Upper Hutt Connection 