Blenheim Gymnastics Club - Not fit for purpose

Blenheim Gymnastics Club seek support from the Marlborough District Council to lease a commercial property that can act as a temporary second operational site while planning occurs for a more permanent location. 

BGC also seek MDC support for a sports hub building at Horton Park. BGC would join Marlborough Cricket and Judo in building a new community hub alongside Marlborough Academy of Dance, Marcello Lopez BJJ and a few commercial health and fitness business who have expressed interest in facility sharing. This support would be to ensure the current reserve land stays available as open space zone, facilitating the establishment of a working group with interested parties and financial support to develop a schedule of spaces and preliminary design planning.

Earlier this year, Blenheim Gymnastics Club commissioned an independent feasibility study on what to do regarding the no longer fit for purpose facility on Opawa street that they have operated out of since the club began in the 1960s. With multiple health and safety issues and extremely large repairs and maintenance bills knocking at the door it was concluded that renovation was not viable and a new site for the club was needed.

The biggest driver of finding a new home is the large amount of children who are unable to participate in gymnastics due to the restraints of the building. The club already operates at capacity 7 days a week and with close to 200 children on the waitlist, a larger site with higher ceilings would allow the club to meet current community need as well as expand programming to new activities such as trampoline, tumbling and cheerleading.