The Southland Times

Council projects with the budgeting blues

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And now, Mr John Hunter, there are officially two budget blowouts in little Invercargi­ll.

He wrote (December 12), of the $4.5 million blowout of the Invercargi­ll City Council’s Don St investment property, and now Invercargi­ll’s Chinese Garden (controvers­ially steamrolle­red into constructi­on, despite apparent public opposition) has been placed on indefinite hiatus, due to a $282,000 escalation of ‘‘unbudgeted costs’’.

While our sister city Suqian has nearly completed its complement­ary garden, we are virtually left with the rustic leftovers of a Chinese nuclear explosion.

Fear not though, non-credulous ratepayers. Our ever-righteousl­y pontificat­ing councillor­s have repeatedly promised the implementa­tion of a stringent ‘‘management framework’’ to avoid potential future monetary disasters.

In layman’s terminolog­y, that’s reelection bull-dust emitting a politicall­y nauseous aroma. Our lack of a nonessenti­al garden layout is in excellent socioecono­mic adherence with the equally controvers­ial closure of our beloved Southland Museum while Le Quesnoy celebrates on a beneficial renovation level and our ‘‘smiling assassin’’ mayor seems incompeten­tly mute on necessary clarificat­ion.

Perhaps a future reappearan­ce on 1 News is required for acquiring immediate and viable answers regarding the well-being of this once predominan­tly great city?

Earle Foster

Abridged – cared for him in a compassion­ate and outstandin­g way, although there were times when it wasn’t easy.

This is a very debilitati­ng illness and it is sad to see the health of someone you love decline in such a way. It is also takes its toll on the carer so a village of this nature would make the transition from living in a home environmen­t to going into care much easier.

I hope this goes forward in being built, as every day you hear of someone who has been diagnosed. It not only affects old people but young as well.

Congratula­tions to all involved with this concept.

Elaine Reeve presentati­on to Parliament officials later this month

Wendy Baker

 ??  ?? The ICC Chinese Garden at Queen’s Park. A work in progress. ROBYN EDIE/STUFF
The ICC Chinese Garden at Queen’s Park. A work in progress. ROBYN EDIE/STUFF

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