Library tops community board's LTP submission

April 22nd, 2015
[by David Armstrong]

The Motueka Community Board has made a detailed submission to TDC's Long Term Plan (LTP) hearing, with a range of requests led by a plea to lock in money for a new library.

Council has proposed just over $2 million be allocated in the LTP for a new or expanded library to be built in 2021, provided the Motueka community provide some of the funding.

In its submission, the Community Board supports the allocation but asks that the $2m be made available immediately so tht community fundraising through alternative sources can commence.

It asks "that Council commit and include an immediate $2 million contribution, for a library build to take place, within the LTP, allowing fundraising to commence from identified sources".

"It is expected that locally raised funds would add a further $1.5 - 2 million. Council commitment needs to be made urgently, preferably within the next year (not the projected 2020 inclusion within the draft).

"This will show funding bodies that there is indeed Council recognition of the proposal, as well as support and commitment."

The submission points out that "after initially having requests for a replacement library complex deleted from past Council Plans, a Community Board focus group was formed to develop strategies to see this project become reality".

"This group has tirelessly worked behind the scenes and has come up with several funding models. To progress to the next phase of funding, we need Council commitment."

Other items in the Community Board's submission included:

Reconsider the usage/ spending of money accumulating in the Motueka Harbour and Coastal Fund to include Capital expenditure and maintenance Harbour and Coastal facilities e.g. Historic Wharf repairs and Jetties, such as the Riwaka jetty.
Council allocate a further $50,000 to the restoration of the original Motueka Quay historic wharf, to be accessed from the Motueka Harbour & Coastal Works Account, to see this "long planned and anxiously awaited" project commence.
Council allocate a new site for the Motueka Rural Fire Service at the Motueka aerodrome, next to the Motueka Aviation College, and contribute $60,000 towards construction of a new, replacement, purpose built storage and training facility, "allowing such a necessary organisation to function at the level of professionalism required".
Council to consider raising the existing $5.00 Special Project rate to $10.00 per rateable property, allowing more upgrade work and project work to be funded locally and improve our local environments.
Council allocates sufficient funding contributions to Network Tasman's second phase of the overhead wire undergrounding project, from the Clock Tower corner to Whakarewa Street.
A major upgrade within the next five years to straighten and widen the Riwaka-Kaiteriteri Road.
Council continue to advocate for the Motueka River bridge widening project to proceed with urgency.
Extension of a footpath from the existing pathway alongside the bus stop, on the northern boundary of Wallace Street, linking alongside the Decks Reserve siding and the Kiyosato Gardens, continuing down to meet with the Wilkinson Street, Wallace Street intersection.
With the demise of the Motueka stop bank refurbishment, Council should develop a systematic plan, with designated time frames, and allocate funding within the LTP to carry out remedial maintenance of the Motueka River path, to increase the flow rates and subsequent water dispersal.
The Aerodrome management committee should be consulted and a works programme be developed for better maintenance work. Money from the Aerodrome works account, should be allocated, on a priority basis, to improve infrastructure. This maintenance work should be set within a specific time frame.
Council re-address costings for the $13 million Richmond Queen Street upgrade project and further investigate cheaper options of attaining the levels of repairs/replacement required.
Council meet the full cost of seismic repair of Riwaka Hall and Motueka Museum.
Council recognise and amend the census figures it is using in its planning documents to those of the latest census, as the use of outdated figures can impact on future studies and work projections by the Council and other organisations, e.g. NZ Transport Agency.

View the full submission here

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