Gymnasium Partnership Project

BNU is in the early stages of refurbishing its gymnasium in Bell Road, Brooklyn. The purpose of the project is to provide a venue for community recreation and for sport development and training and to support a sport and recreation umbrella organisation.

Gym Refurbishment

BNU has developed concept drawings and a master floor plan for the building. The features of the new facility will be:

• a 580m2 gymnasium (approx 34.5m x 16.9m, and 7.6-9m high), with a wooden floor, and small spectator gallery


• a 30-70m2 programme room (size negotiable) a 190m2 community meeting/ function space (including a catering kitchen), with views over Wellington


• changing room, toilet, and shower facilities


• reception area, office space, first aid room, and equipment stores.

Development of an Umbrella Organisation

Research shows that business-focused partnerships can provide an effective management model for today’s community-based sport and recreation organisations – and for other community organisations as well.

BNU would like to work collaboratively with other community-based organisations to establish a partnership or umbrella organisation. Partners would retain their autonomy (i.e. not amalgamate) but would achieve cost-efficiencies, effective management, support services, advice, and capacity and capability building opportunities through an umbrella organisation.

Expressions of Interest

BNU seeks Expressions of Interest from community-based organisations that would like to partner with BNU to:

• develop the club’s central Wellington gymnasium into a community recreation facility, and
  
• establish an umbrella organisation to manage this asset and provide administrative, financial, and sport development services.

For an Expression of Interest Pack please contact Heather Cotton, Property Advisor, Wellington City Council, on 499 4444 or heather.cotton@wcc.govt.

About the BNU Gym

The BNU gymnasium is owned by Brooklyn Northern United football club and located in Bell Road, Brooklyn, Wellington.

This consists of a 370m2 gymnasium (16.5m x 22.5 m, with a wooden floor); a downstairs activity or meeting room; changing rooms, toilets, and showers, and off-street parking.

There is also an upstairs function/meeting room (approximately 230m2, with potential for kitchen and toilet facilities). This area was previously the social clubrooms, is currently gutted and unusable.

The building is on land leased from the Wellington City Council, which is zoned for sporting and recreational use.

Current facilities available

The building consists of two levels. On the ground floor is the main gym which is used by various BNU football teams for winter training and by other community groups throughout the year.



The main gym is pictured here during the BNU Junior Football Club prizegiving.

Next to the main gym on the ground floor is a large room that serves as a wating area for the gym and/or as a teaching room. This room can also be used for light fitness training.

Completing the facilities available on the ground floor are mens and womens changing rooms, showers and toilet facilities.

The ground floor is available for hire to other community groups. If you are interested please contact the club at our email address: bnu@paradise.net.nz or by mail at the address above.

Facilities available in the future

On the first floor is a large room which is currently undergoing refurbishment. When complete this room will be available for hire in isolation from the main gym downstairs. This will significantly increase the opportunities available to the local community to enjoy this valuable asset.

BNU is currently exploring funding options for completing the work on the building. If you are able to assist in any way please contact the club at our email address: bnu@paradise.net.nz or at the mailing address above.

Information about Brooklyn Northern United

Brooklyn Northern United AFC (BNU) is a community-based football club in Wellington's southern suburbs. Starting out as Institute Old Boys in 1916, the Club merged with Northern United in 1972, making it one of the region's largest and oldest clubs.

In 2009, the BNU senior club has 12 senior men’s teams (including 3 Masters’ teams), 2 women’s teams, and 14 junior teams. The senior club is an incorporated society and is affiliated to the Wellington District Federation of New Zealand Soccer. It is administered by a committee of eight which is elected at the AGM each year and maintains a close relationship with the BNU junior club.

Brooklyn Northern United’s objectives are to:
· Encourage participation in the sport of football and promote the health benefits of regular physical activity
· Encourage football to be played in a friendly and sporting manner
· Be represented at the highest possible level in mens and womens football and be represented as widely as possible in social grades
· Provide excellent facilities for members at minimum cost
· Provide a positive social experience for people from all walks of life enhancing our reputation as the friendliest and best supported club in the Wellington region
· Be an asset to the community

We recognise that BNU provides our members with a significant part of their recreational activity and social interaction during the winter months (and the summer too). That is the core community service that we provide and we try to ensure that all members are treated equally and fairly and that they enjoy being involved with the club.

More information about Brooklyn Northern United is available on our website: http://www.bnu.org.nz/