Upgrade for reserve but cost queried
Questions have been raised how up to $20,000 of Mackenzie District Council funding will be spent on a reserve in Twizel.
The funding was approved at a meeting in Fairlie recently, but councillors and the mayor requested more detail about the cost and plans for the 3.5 hectare reserve, which borders a new subdivision on the corner of North West Arch and Ohau Rd.
Council community facilities manager Garth Nixon said the land had been left undeveloped for ‘‘quite some time’’.
Mayor Graham Smith said the council was not willing to spend $20,000 to ‘‘simply tidy the area’’.
He questioned how a figure of $20,000 arose, and Cr Anne Munro also queried the cost.
‘‘I appreciate the fact while it’s in the state that it’s in, I’m happy to see it grassed, but if you’ve spent $20,000 on grassing, I would suggest you’ve spent too much money,’’ Munro said.
Cr Chris Clarke said he felt it was more of a community board issue – ‘‘$20,000 seems like the kind of spending we should have a more formal plan for . . . it’s a big chunk of money.’’
Smith said he felt ‘‘nervous’’ due to not consulting with the community about the proposal.
He said he was concerned there was no fixed plan for the improvements.
‘‘Longer term this needs to go back to the community board to discuss how they want this land developed,’’ Smith said.
Nixon said his feeling from the community is they wanted an open grass reserve.
He said the land would be improved in line with Twizel’s other greenways. Twizel’s Green Strategy identifies improvements to greenways reserves and tree belt areas.
‘‘We don’t have a plan but I guess in the first instance we’ll get it to a stage where it’s maintainable,’’ Nixon said.
‘‘This is really simple stuff . . . It’s not actually that expensive.
‘‘I appreciate you saying you want a plan . . . I guess my main concern is that at the moment it’s an undeveloped reserve,’’ Nixon told the council.
Smith agreed the council was tasked with cleaning the area up.
The council approved spending up to $20,000 to develop the reserve.
‘‘I’d have some severe question marks if it actually reaches that figure,’’ Smith said.