Councillor Ria Bond - Invecargill City Council

‼️Extreme wild weather update‼️

The wild weather has arrived in force and is causing some disruption around Invercargill and Bluff.

Please note updates:

💨All Invercargill bus services are suspended until further notice.

💨The Invercargill and Bluff Transfer Stations are closed until further notice.

💨Bluff Service Centre is closed for the rest of the day.

💨All parks and reserves in Invercargill and Bluff are closed until further notice.

‼️‼️‼️Due to the severe weather conditions, multiple trees have fallen across the city and flying debris poses a serious safety risk. ‼️‼️‼️

💨For your safety, please avoid all parks and reserves until conditions improve and our teams have had a chance to assess any damage.

💨Further updates on ICC social media and Antenno as information becomes available.

🛑PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR FALLING TREES, FLYING OBJECTS, DEBRIS, POWERLINES IF DOWN.

DOWNLOAD the Antenno App if you don’t have this currently.

🫂Keep safe out there everyone and all our pets too.!

#7 The Southland Tribune questions to mayoral Candidates has been published.

In May last year, the council decided to stop spending money on Rugby Park. Following October’s election, the new council will be asked to make a decision on the future of Rugby Park. Do you believe Rugby Park is something the council should be investing in as part of the Long-Term Plan? If so why? If not, why not?

Ria Bond...

Rugby Park has been part of Invercargill for generations, yet for decades it has struggled to meet its potential as an event facility and consistently failed to deliver the return our ratepayers deserve.

The Otium Group’s 2021 review found it generated just $1.89 per person. That return on investment is an unsustainable figure that highlights the financial reality we must confront.

A lack of strategy, professional event management, and marketing has left the facility underperforming and deteriorating. In my view, this has also weakened the commercial strength of our Stags franchise, which needs facilities that can support long-term competitiveness.

The key question is simple, what can Rugby Park realistically deliver now, and how will it impact our rates in the years ahead?

Our children are engaging in a broader mix of sports, including digital recreation, while our aging population needs accessible and flexible facilities. That’s why we must consider future-focused options, whether Rugby Park remains where it is, relocates into a “sports belt” model as suggested at Surrey Park, even Turnbull Thompson Park, or its current site is repurposed for higher community priorities.

Relocating Rugby Park could free up central land for much needed elderly housing, while also enabling the expansion of Splash Palace with hydrotherapy, steam rooms, ice pools, and other facilities our community will increasingly need.

What matters most is that this decision is made openly, with full transparency and genuine community input. This is not about clinging to the past or emotion, it's about planning wisely, balancing financial responsibility with future needs, and ensuring Invercargill has facilities that deliver real value for generations to come.

Rugby Park can’t survive on emotion alone we need a smart, community led decision that delivers real value for Invercargill’s future.