Project costs may top $52m
Urban water metering, upgrading the Theatre Royal, providing a new South Canterbury Museum exhibition space and improving the Timaru District’s stormwater treatment systems could cost more than $52 million.
The council’s just-released water metering plan could cost $15.1m; upgrading the theatre could cost $11.2m; the new exhibition space could cost $11.6m and the stormwater upgrades could cost $15m.
The spend on those key projects would be spread over several years - but only if they survive the consultation and political phases of the long-term plan process. They have emerged among key issues for public consultation as the council develops its 2018/19 and 10-year budgets.
They have yet to be added to the council’s preliminary draft 10-year budget, which proposes a 4.6 per cent climb in rates for a rates draw of $49.255m excluding GST for the new financial year. The council is likely to draw $47.15m in rates this financial year. The draft budget for 2019/20 provides for a $52.165m draw.
Community boards will this week be told a public consultation document, to be released in March, will identify securing the Timaru District’s water supply as a key issue.
The preferred option is introducing urban water metering and volume-based charging as a means of encouraging responsible water use. Councillors have already been told water metering would result in a change in the charging mechanism for urban water supplies - and a charge to consumers based on consumption.
Further developing the Opihi River water source or developing new groundwater bores and treatment will also be taken to consultation. Neither has been identified as a preferred option: both have significantly higher capital and operating costs than the metering option.
The preferred Theatre Royal upgrade budget would provide for a three-year, $8.67m back-of-house upgrade and a two-year, $2.5m front-of-house upgrade. The council last year deferred a pitch for a $7m upgrade so it could be considered as part of the council’s 10-year plan. It will seek feedback as to the extent of the upgrade.
It will also ask for feedback on options to relocate the South Canterbury Museum’s exhibition space to a new, multi-purpose heritage facility near, and connected to, the theatre.
Mayor Damon Odey pitched the multi-use cultural hub idea publicly last May, when he said the council had to consider reinforcing that part of Stafford St as a ‘‘jewel in the community’’. Odey could not be reached for comment on the proposals for discussion yesterday.
The proposed addition to the long-term plan is for more than $11m to be allocated, over three years from 2020/21, for a heritage exhibition space for the museum.
The council’s need to up its game and upgrade the district’s stormwater systems to meet the Canterbury Land and Water Plan, and the national freshwater policy statement, will also go to consultation.
Its preferred option is to spend about $1m a year over 10 to 15 years. Community feedback will be sought as to how quickly such upgrading is undertaken, community boards will be told.
Other proposed additions to the 2018/19 budget include $760,000 for information technology, $200,000 for chlorination of Geraldine and Pleasant Point water, and $230,000 for the Peel Forest walkway/ cycleway.
Further out, $6m is sought for Washdyke water network improvements over the 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years.