The Carterton District Council has narrowly passed a motion to spend hundreds of thousands more upgrading a local park.
By Sue Teodoro of Local Democracy Reporting
The decision to spend an additional $900,000 on the Carrington Park upgrade project was passed at last week’s meeting by a majority of just one vote.
The amount was on top of previously approved funding of $2 million for the project.
Costs have already been cut from the major revamp of the park, including removing plans for water and sand play elements.
A statement from the council on Thursday confirmed there would not be an extra rates impact resulting from the extra funding decision.
“The funding will come entirely from the reserves contribution fund and parks and reserves depreciation reserve, meaning the project remains fully funded through existing reserves already set aside for community infrastructure,” it said.
“The decision allows the project to move forward as one complete construction programme, reducing community disruption and ensuring the redesigned play space and integrated skate area can be delivered together.”
After a lengthy debate at last week's meeting, Mayor Steve Cretney and councillors Steve Laurence, Lou Newman, Jane Burns, and Steve Gallon voted for the motion.
Deputy mayor Grace Ayling and councillors Brian Deller, Simon Casey, and Rachel Round voted against it.
Cretney said at the meeting it was important the project provided value for money.
“That is what we will have to be considering.”
Councillors considered to what extent the community itself should contribute additional funds through private fundraising.
“Do we want to start this project and get it out and get it done, or do we want to stage it,” a council officer asked.
She said the additional funding meant the project could proceed knowing what the total project costs would be, with timeframe certainty and build-ready designs.
Councillor Deller asked about community sourced funding.
“I’m disappointed in the skatepark group that said they were going to raise $200,000, and all of a sudden it’s come back to us that they’re not.
"I’d like to know how much money they have raised, and whether that will be available.”
Council chief executive Geoff Hamilton clarified that the decision to put the total project and its budget forward in one paper had been made by council officers, not a community group.
“That was not the skatepark users group saying they were no longer going to raise funding or they didn’t want to raise funding. That was our decision to put it all into the paper and just give the total cost to council.”
The council officer told the meeting a playground audit had said some of the equipment was past its end of life and needed to be repaired.
“We have had significant underinvestment in Carrington Park for quite a few years,” she said.
The last major investment had been in 2011.
A report before the meeting said to deliver the project as designed, officers needed approval for the extra funding.
“Carrington Park has not received a major capital investment in more than 15 years. The last significant upgrade – the accessible pathway around the playing field – has proven highly valued and is consistently used by community members of all ages,” it said.
“Approving this budget increase will allow the project to be completed in full and in a single construction period."
Officers would continue exploring external funding avenues for the project.
“Any successful applications will reduce the amount required from council’s reserve funds.”
Agreeing to the budget increase meant the project could move forward more rapidly, rather than a staged, lengthy exercise.
Extending the life of the project also risked increasing its cost.
“All design works are now complete, and this would enable officers to progress tendering and the build for the project.”
The report said to reduce costs, adjustments had already been made to play space, including the removal of sand and water play elements, retention of the towers (a key feature), a reduced number of play components, and reduced planting and hardscape.
Other adjustments were repurposing of the existing BBQ and seating area, removal of timber boardwalk and cost efficiencies across materials and design elements. The original play area footprint would be maintained.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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