Pathways, cycleway to take a back seat

‘‘We have to draw a line in the sand.’’ Councillor Phil Marsh

New footpaths and a popular cycleway are not in the Manawatu¯ District Council’s 10-year plan.

The council released its draft Long-term Plan for public consultation this week.

It proposes to save money by backing down on plans to build footpaths that aren’t subsidised and putting the Palmerston North to Feilding cycleway on the backburner.

It also proposes to limit renewal programmes to water and wastewater plants.

Other major projects being cut back or cancelled are developments at Kitchener Park, the Feilding Little Theatre, Feilding Library and Feilding Civic Centre.

Instead, the money will go toward new stormwater networks, worth $5.6 million, in Cheltenham, Tangimoana, Himatangi Beach and Halcombe.

Leftover cash will build reserves and repay debt after severe wether events over the past few years forced the council to fund repairs by borrowing money.

Due to unbudgeted repairs, since 2015, the roading reserve faces a deficit of $2.4m.

Although a significant portion of those costs are funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency, the council is still required to fund a share.

Without building these reserves, it would limit the council’s response to future emergency situations, strategic planning and policy committee chairman Phil Marsh said .

Replenishing the reserves would improve the council’s financial resilience, he said.

Although, it will cost ratepayers new roads and footpaths, worth $6m.

The plan explains the council won’t build non-subsidised footpaths, urban upgrades or seal extensions. Only projects subsidised by the transport agency will be given the green light.

Footpaths will still be maintained and the plan stated that no immediate roading deterioration was expected.

Plans to build the $1.2m cycleway between Feilding and Palmerston North have also been declined.

The proposed thoroughfare to connect the two centres has been on the table since 2007, but it is a low priority, according to the plan.

The plan has also removed $10m for water- and wastewater-renewal programmes, signalling a shift from a proactive approach to reactive, Marsh said.

That meant maintenance costs could rise if there were breakdowns, but it was impossible to determine how much because it depended on what type of equipment failed.

Mayor Helen Worboys said the risk was acceptable given the considerable investment in water- and wastewater-renewals over the past six years.

Assets were in good condition and could continue to operate without interruption, she said.

‘‘We have to draw a line in the sand,’’ Marsh said.