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Friday 11 June 2010 Council supports Clutha Recreation Centre
Clutha District Council has agreed to provide an extra $1.3 million to the Clutha Recreation Centre, lifting its total contribution to $2.5 million (a maximum of 50% of the total project cost).
Council has also decided to change how the ratepayer contribution to the Recreation Centre is funded, moving to a system in which ratepayers in different electoral wards will pay a uniform amount based on their proximity to the Centre.
These amendments to the Long Term Plan 2009-19 were made as Council finalises its Annual Plan 2010/11, and follow extensive consultation and feedback from the public.
Council received over 200 responses relating to the Recreation Centre during a month-long consultation period. Eighty-two percent of respondents were in favour of Council increasing its contribution to the centre, and 79% favoured the electoral ward-based funding method to fund the ratepayer contribution.
Several councillors commented that the Recreation Centre would be a great asset for the whole district, and would help to attract more people to the area.
Cr Jeff Seymour said the way the ratepayer contribution was structured meant that people would pay a relatively small amount over a long period of time. Under the new rating method, Balclutha ratepayers would still be paying half the total contribution cost, while ratepayers in the West Otago Ward would be paying considerably less than under the previous method despite Council’s contribution increasing from $1.2 million to $2.5 million.
Cr Hamish Anderson said Council had to take some leadership on the issue and that without such projects as the Recreation Centre, the Clutha District would be left in the wilderness.
Council will begin rating for the Recreation Centre from 1 July 2011. The contribution will be about $38 a year for Balclutha Ward ratepayers, $29 for Clutha Valley and Kaitangata-Matau Wards, $19 for Clinton and The Catlins, $11.50 for Lawrence-Tuapeka and Bruce Wards, and about $4 for West Otago.
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