Alex Moore Park Sport and Community Inc.

Background

Johnsonville and the surrounding suburbs are experiencing a growth in population and as a direct result the demand for good quality sporting and community facilities continues to increase. Wellington City Council's Northern Reserves Management Plan, suggested implementation of high density housing and the Johnsonville Mall redevelopment are all tangible examples of this growth. This increase in housing density is likely to exacerbate these community recreation needs.

The Northern Suburbs community has limited provision of facilities that support active residents in general, and young people in particular, and there is a demonstrable need for modern, quality, sport related facilities.

Five sporting clubs (Olympic Harriers, Johnsonville Cricket, Johnsonville Softball, North Wellington Junior Football and North Wellington Senior Football) and their membership base of over 2,000 persons plus parents and supporters have worked together for more than three years with a view to combining resources and being based together in one common facility. As with many other sporting organisations in New Zealand, these clubs have experienced a common theme of rising costs, (Affiliation fees, utility bills, maintenance and repairs) inefficient building utilisation (one to two days per week and sometimes only used for part of the year as well) and generally being forced into devoting too much attention to maintaining a physical asset rather than administering the actual sport itself.

With the generous assistance from Wellington City Council in the form of two sports development grants, the 5 founding clubs have been able to carry out detailed feasibility work about how they could work towards a common, shared facility while still maintaining a level of independence over operational decision making at a club level.

The preferred concept of shared sport and community partnerships is an established New Zealand and international model, commonly referred to as "Sportville". Wellington City Council commissioned Peter Burley of Christchurch to undertake a Sportville review of this particular project and it is because of this work that the clubs were able to unite and overcome many obstacles (Refer to http://www.sportguidance.co.nz for background information and to view a SPARC sponsored study of eight other organisations around the country).

The Alex Moore Park project is one of at least five Sportville projects underway in the Wellington region at the present time.

Detailed building concept plans have been drawn up and Wellington City Council has also indicated its conditional support of the intention to build a community facility on Alex Moore Park.

The clubs also used money from the sports development grant to create a new legal entity (Alex Moore Park Sport and Community Inc.) which acts as the umbrella organisation for the clubs and will be responsible for completing the project, managing the complex and expanding on development initiatives for the benefit of the five founding clubs as well as additional clubs and community organisations who may like to join the society or use its facilities.

The Challenge

There is much work to be done to ensure that the proposed facility and any alterations to the Alex Moore Park in general will meet this community and greater Wellington's needs, including adequate parking and traffic management. Further consultation with residents is crucial, along with ensuring that other local sporting and community groups are made aware of the potential for the new facility. Although the five clubs previously mentioned are the founding members, the new facility is intended for far wider community use.

The 5 clubs are very much aware that for the project to succeed and result in one new multi purpose building, it will require removal/sale of existing club facilities and additional fundraising. The clubs have proven over the last three years that they can work cohesively as a team for the benefit of all club members and the community at large

Demographics

Alex Moore Park will serve the local community. The 2006 census tells us that Johnsonville has a population of 6717. The surrounding suburbs of Churton Park, Newlands, Grenada Village and Raroa collectively add 18,458 and the wider northern suburbs from Linden in the north to Wadestown in the south add a further 31,851 making a total of 57,026.

Alex Moore Park Sport and Community Inc. (The Society)

The society was created to allow the sporting facility to be developed to serve, primarily, the needs of the five founding clubs but also the needs of the wider community. The project’s Advisory Committee is made up of representatives from the 5 clubs. The Society now has a board consisting of three elected and five appointed members.
(see The Board

Vision, Mission and Values

Setting the Scene

The board has identified four priority areas for their efforts over the next three years. They are:

1. Good Governance and Management
   There is a need for the board to focus on governing and managing the Incorporated Society well and in line with the needs of the founding clubs as well as the local community. The board will need to develop, agree and regularly review appropriate strategies, policies, plans and processes that help to deliver the agreed vision. This will be achieved through the board as a whole and through established working groups.
2. Development of Alex Moore Park
   Especially in the first two years the society will need to design and develop a ‘fit for purpose’ building together with associated landscaping for the site. There will be a strong requirement to work very closely with the community and officers from Wellington City Council.
3. Economic Viability
   To ensure ongoing long term success the society needs to be financially secure and well managed. Grant funding and sponsorship will need to be secured.
4. Quality Community Relationships
   This Society exists to serve the interests of the founding member clubs and the wider community. In order to achieve that aim it will be essential to foster and develop sound working relationships with all stakeholders.

Goals and Actions

Within each of the priority areas, goals and actions have been determined to help plan the way ahead.

1. Good Governance and Management
   1. Goal
      • Operate Alex Moore Park Sport & Community Incorporated in accordance with best governance and management practice
   2. Actions
      Year 1
      • Establish Board and management policies and systems in accordance with best practice guidelines by 30 September 2010
      • Successfully register with the Charities Commission as a charitable trust by 30 September 2010
      • Develop a Strategic Plan for Alex Moore Park Sport & Community Incorporated by 30 September 2010
      Year 2 and beyond
      • Operate accountability processes which meet legislative requirements and the needs of members, the local community and funders
      • Review strategic plan on an annual basis
      Year 3
      • Establish appropriate employment policies and procedures
      • Appoint a Facility Manager
2. Development of Alex Moore Park
   1. Goal
      • Design, develop and build a recreational facility with associated landscaping at Alex Moore Park
   2. Actions
      Year 1
      • Establish board working group with agreed terms of reference
      • Working group to establish sound working relationships with relevant Wellington City Council staff and develop a plan to utilize those relationships to best advantage
      • Establish Project Management approach to delivering the proposed facility
      • Develop existing drawings and plans into agreed designs
      • Obtain necessary resource consents
      Year 2
      • Create and agree Asset Maintenance Plan including both routine and planned
      Year 3
      • Establish ongoing processes and procedures for building maintenance in the short, medium and long term
3. Economic Viability
   1. Goals
      • Raise sufficient funds to complete the capital build of the Alex Moore Park Sport and Community Facility
      • Run the completed Facility on an financially self sustaining basis
   2. Actions
      Year 1
      • Open bank facilities by July 2010
      • Establish finance policies, procedures and reporting mechanisms by July 2010.
      • Develop fund raising plan by 30 September 2010
      Year 2
      • Access sufficient funding to complete the capital development of the facility
      Year 3
      • Develop a sustainable funding model for the ongoing operation of the Facility
4. Quality Community Relationships
   1. Goal
      • Enhance and increase the awareness, understanding and support of the Alex Moore Park Sport and Community Facility project
   2. Actions
      Year 1
      • Ensure key messages are delivered and understood by all partners and members of our community or sectors of influence in a timely fashion
      • Complete a communication plan that:
        • Identifies key messages.
        • Prioritises our partners
        • Uses technology to inform
        • Manages and IDs risk from a communication perspective
      • Identify and involve key “events” and “people” that will support the flow of quality information
      Year 2
      • Review the Communication Plan on an annual basis
      • Update key messages in a timely fashion.
      Year 3
      • Review the Communication Plan on an annual basis
      • Update key messages in a timely fashion.

Indicative Budget

Strategic Plan Process

Strategic Analysis data