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Kincardine okays rugby field in Tiverton By Liz Dadson |
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Kincardine council has approved a proposed rugby field in front of the Tiverton Sports Centre which is where the Bruce County Barbarians Rugby Football Club had started building it last fall. Back then, council called foul and halted the project because the municipality had not approved it. The club believed it was okayed through the recreation committee. At the Dec. 20, 2010, council meeting, the issue was handed over to the recreation director to do a parking allocation study at the site. In committee-of-the-whole last night (April 6), recreation director Karen Kieffer brought forward the land-use report/mapping exercise of the area around the Tiverton Sports Centre. In her report, she pointed out that land currently being used for parking equals 2.98 acres which accommodates 500 cars; land being used for recreational activities equals 18.54 acres and supports activities ranging from baseball and soccer to the fairgrounds; and land not being used and available for growth equals 6.38 acres. She said based on that report the 2.5 acres required for a general sports field with uses such as rugby, soccer and other field activities, should come from the amount allocated for future growth. A map shows the proposed 144-metre-by-90-metre rugby field is enclosed in the property directly south and east of the Tiverton Sports Centre, which is where the rugby club had begun building it last fall. Kieffer recommended the rugby club be allowed to proceed with the construction and financing of the sports field. The project will require a site plan, drainage plan, costing details, insurance and must meet the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board requirements. The municipality will also draw up a five-year land-use agreement with the rugby club.
Rugby club president Tim Cook
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Rugby club president Tim Cook apologized for all the difficulties that occurred due to miscommunication between the club and the municipality. "We just signed up our 150th member," he said. "Now we want this sports field to become our home." He added the club hopes the municipality would continue to cut the grass on the sports field and provide a couple of garbage cans. Councillor Randy Roppel admitted he was not happy when the field was under way last fall. In fact, at the Dec. 20 meeting, he described the club as "over-zealous individuals (who) thought they had permission to create a rugby field. They committed the ultimate sin. They had no permission to do this. ... This is not acceptable. If we do nothing, it means anybody can build on municipal land." Last night, Roppel's comments were less damning since he now understands the whole picture.He said a young woman asked him to meet with the rugby club and discuss the concerns regarding the field. "After meeting with them, most of my issues have been addressed," he said. "I wasn't aware of the whole site. "There was fault on both sides and lessons learned. It's good to provide another sport for youth to consider, and rugby is a growing sport in this area." He supported the recreation director's report for the field to proceed. Cook said the area, outlined in the report, is sufficient for the club. However, he would like to discuss with council the opportunity to use the change rooms and washrooms at the sports centre, in the future, during practices and games. Final council approval of the sports field will come forward at the April 20 meeting. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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