Tauranga City Council unanimously approved Bay Venues Ltd.’s new, simplified pricing structure at today’s Council meeting. Bay Venues Ltd. (BVL) provided the new structure as a result of its first comprehensive review of their pricing across aquatic and indoor recreation facilities as well as community halls. As part of the agreement, the Council Controlled Organisation will engage with regular users before implementing the recommendations, resulting in price changes taking effect from 1 July 2018.
BVL’s pricing review recommendations will ensure a simplification of prices and discounts offered to all users by removing peak and off-peak pricing in indoor recreation facilities and a standardisation of discounts offered to community user groups in indoor recreation facilities of 20%.
The price review proposes new fees that are fair and reasonable considered against national benchmarking for similar venues and facilities.
Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout emphasized BVL’s role in providing sport and recreation as well as community venues and services for the benefit of Tauranga’s residents and visitors.
“The proposed price changes are consistent with the focus areas of Council’s draft Community Wellbeing Strategic Plan, such as social equity as well as healthy and active communities,” Mr Clout said.
“They are consistent or relative to other facilities that provide an alternative in our city or other facilities in neighbouring communities.
“The latest review of BVL demonstrated how successful strategies have been implemented for the benefit of Tauranga’s citizens with the organisation continuing to add further value for residents and ratepayers of Tauranga.”
Bay Venues CEO Gary Dawson said the organisation embarked on the pricing review to rationalise the complex and multi-layered pricing structure that it had inherited from the early 2000s.
“Simplification and consistency of our entry fees across our facilities is well overdue,” said Mr Dawson.
“Our current pricing model does not make it easy for customers to do business with us across multiple venues, nor does it influence customer behaviour. Our customers have clearly signalled that the level of service and overall customer experience they receive from us is more important in their decision making than off-peak pricing discounts.
“In addition to removing peak and off-peak pricing differentials, the review also recommends a standard discount of 20% for community groups across all indoor facilities.”
Examples of the impacts of the pricing changes are:
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Baywave
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The recommended general entry price is an increase of $0.40c for adult entry and $0.20c for child and senior entry.
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Greerton Pool
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The recommended general entry price is an increase of $0.30c for child entry, $0.60 for adult entry and a reduction of $0.40c for senior entry.
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Otumoetai and Memorial Pools
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The recommended general entry price is an increase of $0.30c for child entry, $0.40c for adult entry and a reduction of $0.40c for senior entry.
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Mount Hot Pools
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The recommended general entry price for residents is an increase of $0.80 for adults and $0.90c for child and senior entry.
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ASB Arena
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The recommended price for a standard adult sits between the current peak and off-peak prices. The $9.90 increase from off-peak equates to approx. $0.62c per user/per hour, based on the average user group.
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Arataki Community Centre
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The standard adult recommended price for a large meeting room is higher than the current peak and off-peak prices. The $5.30 increase from off-peak equates to approx. $0.18c per user/per hour, based on the average user group.
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Greerton Hall
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The standard adult recommended price is higher than the existing off-peak and peak price. The $4.40 increase from off-peak equates to approx. $0.22c per user/per hour, based on the average user group.
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Welcome Bay Hall
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The standard adult recommended price is higher than the current peak and off-peak prices. The $4.00 increase from off-peak equates to approx. $0.20c per user/per hour, based on the average user group.
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The Council Controlled Organisation will now engage with regular users before implementing the price changes which will take effect from 1 July 2018.