A proposed place and cost of community use tennis courts at Omokoroa are being discussed at the Western Bay Plenty District Council's 2014/2015 annual plan hearings this week.

Omokoroa Tennis Club's steering committee photographed in October last year in support of the courts at the Western Ave ground.

Speaking at the first day of hearings on Monday, Omokoroa Point School Board of Trustees spokesperson Peter Presland says the new courts should be at the school, through an upgrade of existing facilities.

This goes against plans to situate new tennis courts at the Western Ave sportsground - part of WBOPDC's newly reviewed reserve plan for the grounds.

In this plan, four proposed tennis courts would be built for about $220,000, with WBOPDC recreation planner John Raupatu last October telling SunLive this is council's responsibility 'and we have $190,000”.

But Peter believes development of the tennis courts can be done at Omokoroa Point School.

'We believe there is opportunity to get a good return on investment on upgrading the facilities at OPS, plus develop an additional court.”

In his written submission, Peter says council's decision to build four new tennis courts at Western Ave with no guarantee any other recreation facilities will be developed in the future does not reflect the dynamics of the demographic on the peninsula.

'While tennis courts per se may make the area a better place to live and play for some, it will not for the majority; indeed on a user pay's basis, the courts would not be fair use of ratepayer monies.”

Peter says OPS' Board of Trustees aims to increase the school roll from 200 to 250 in the next three years, but says to attract new families to the peninsula, multi-use recreation facilities are needed.

'If there is a need for tennis courts, then upgrade the facilities that already exist,” says Peter, who believes the courts could be used after-hours in a similar key-holder fashion as the school pool.

OPS principal Vicki Knell supported Peter's stance, telling council the 21-year-old asphalt courts could be upgraded for about $40,000.

By placing lines on them for six different sports they will be 'more than big enough to be multipurpose”, Vicki told council.

'We are keen to make sure this community facility is to the best of standards,” says Vicki.

Omokoroa Community Board deputy chairperson John Palmer told councillors the wrong calculations for the proposed courts at Western Ave are recorded in the annual plan.

'The figure in the annual plan of $105,000 being available per year is incorrect; it doesn't tie in with the other information in council documents.

'On council's website it says $290,000 is available; and if you take the carpark and toilet block, which have been deferred, out of this equation it leaves $185,000,” says John.

'[This is because] the long term plan provides $307,000 for the development of the Omokoroa Sportsgrounds [at Western Ave].”

John says there is a high level of expectation in the community sufficient funding will be provided in the annual plan this year for the courts and playground to proceed at Western Ave.

Fellow community board member Chris Woods admitted spending the money on one sport did seem 'a bit one-eyed”.

'But I believe for us, if it can be done without deferment of other activities – fine.”

John also added he'd like to see the courts installed in one year – rather than two.

'If you're going to do it, do it in one year and get it done.”