|
Some of you may be aware the lease for the land that Brooklyn’s Bell Road gym sits on is up for renewal next year.
The building is becoming increasingly run-down and it is unlikely the Council will renew the lease without a plan to improve the building.
As a Club we need to assess our options and make a decision about the building. We would like your input as this is an important decision that will affect the Club now and in the future. Specifically, we would like to know what you think we should do with the gym and how we can achieve this.
You can have your say by filling in the survey (download below) and returning it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or Brooklyn Northern United AFC, P.O. Box 9627, Marion Square, Wellington by 5 August 2007.
If you have any questions please get in touch with any of the committee. We will update you on progress at the AGM in November 2007.
CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE SURVEY ONLINE
or download the survey here:
 bnu - bell road survey 34.50 Kb
Please consider this information about the gym and its operation in your decision:
Bell Road Factsheet
Background information
The lease for the Bell Road land where Brooklyn’s gym is situated needs to be renewed with the Wellington City Council by April 2008.
The Club owns the building outright (no mortgage). It is becoming increasingly run-down and it is unlikely the Council will renew the lease without a plan to improve it. The land is zoned for sporting and recreational use and cannot be used for any other purpose.
Usage
BNU mainly uses the gym in winter as an indoor training venue. When wet the gym may be used Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights.
The gym’s total availability (3 hours a night, 5 nights a week) is approximately 750 hours per annum. BNU's current utilization of the gym is less than 10 % of its night time availability and 1-2 % its total (day, night, and weekend) availability. This is based on the assumption that the BNU uses the gym for 60-70 hours per annum (half of our current training nights over winter).
The building has not been used as a venue for after match drinks or functions since the mid-1990s. It does not currently have a bar or liquor license. This type of activity has proved uneconomic in the past and this is unlikely to change in the future.
Outside groups generally do not use the gym. Exceptions are the BNU junior club, which uses the facility occasionally and an intermittent indoor soccer league.
The current condition of the gym and management systems restricts its potential for outside group usage. There is some community interest in an up-graded facility.
Cost
The gym’s current operating costs are approximately $6,000 per annum. These are based on a low level of usage and virtually no maintenance. Costs are largely funded by the New Zealand Community Trust with the balance being funded through subs.
BNU members who use the gym are not charged directly for the privilege. Without community trust funding BNU team subs need to rise by approximately $500 per team per annum or gym users would need to pay around $100 per hour.
Revenue from additional third party usage could off-set operating costs. To achieve this, the facility would have to be upgraded and managed differently. Additional usage would also increase maintenance costs, however, these could be recaptured in rental fees.
The biggest problem for BNU is maintenance costs. The building has been slowly deteriorating and needs significant work. Ongoing security issues and vandalism at the gym are increasing maintenance costs. The cost of remedial work is so high it is not realistic to ask club members to pay; community trust funding is the only viable option. Community Trust funding is not guaranteed and must be applied for.
The only maintenance performed in recent years is the replacement of the roof in 2001 ($35,000) and the replacement of the gym floor in 2004 ($70,000). Both of these were funded by the New Zealand Community Trust. $90,000 was also spent in 2005 reinstating part of the ground floor after a fire (which was covered by insurance).
More information
More information about Bell Road can be found at: http://www.bnugym.blogspot.com
|
