Tuesday 9 June 2009

Bird Aviary, community roles to stay

A large response to Clutha District Council’s draft Long Term Council Community Plan 2009-19 has led to Council deciding not to demolish the Naish Park Bird Aviary next year, and also agreeing to continue funding Community Coordinator and Museum Curator roles.

Council had planned to demolish the Bird Aviary next year due to a lack of volunteers and the large increase in costs that would have been involved in employing a contractor to maintain the facility. However, the proposal generated much public interest and resulted in a large number of submissions and a petition to the draft plan, indicating sufficient interest and offers of help in maintaining the aviary.

Council Chief Executive Charles Hakkaart said that councillors had taken on board the feedback. However, the aviary would be retained on the condition that sufficient voluntary support was forthcoming and that appropriate management practices were put in place.

Meanwhile, Council has also taken on board public support for the retention of the Community Coordinator and South Otago Museum curator roles.

Council has decided to grant an additional $20,000 to the District Development staff budget for next year for the ongoing employment of a Community Coordinator beyond 2009, while it agreed to grant $28,700 a year for the next two years, with a right of renewal of two years, to the South Otago Historical Society towards the employment of a curator for the South Otago Museum.

However, some councillors said they would like to see the curator position take on a more district-wide role, and for the Society to look at ways at increasing its own revenue stream to make itself less dependant on Council for funding.

Some other budgetary changes of note resulting from submissions include:

• $20,000 to Taieri Mouth Amenities Society towards construction of a boat ramp.
• $15,000 next year towards the Lawrence 150 Year celebrations. Council had already budgeted $15,000 towards this event in 2011/12 and this will now be brought forward to 2010/11 to better fit in with the timing of events.
• $10,000 a year for three years to the Clutha Gold Trail Charitable Trust towards the development of the Roxburgh-Lawrence Trail.
• Continued support of the Gore Women’s Refuge beyond 2009/10 ($7,650 a year).
• $4,000 in 2009/10 (reducing to $2,000 in 2010/11 and $1,000 in 2011/12) for South Otago Victim Support to bring a youth development programme to the district.
• Council confirmed an annual budget of $4,000 to fund half the cost of new campervan effluent dump sites where appropriate, and an additional $2,000 in 2009/10 to address maintenance issues. 

ENDS