Kmart rumour quelled

District councillors have squashed the rumour a Kmart store is to be built on five council-owned sites in Stafford St, Timaru.

In a question only for the sitting councillors, Steve Wills, Peter Burt and Sally Parker were quizzed about the rumour at a Timaru candidates evening hosted by Grey Power on Thursday.

While planning is proceeding for a large format retail store in Ashburton, also rumoured to be Kmart, Wills, Burt and Parker were adamant it was not the case for the south end of Stafford St.

‘‘It’s very simple, no there is a not a Kmart going there, categorically no,’’ Wills said.

‘‘As councillors we did not know about the purchase of the sites, we only found out via the media.

‘‘I’ve since found out they are future proofing that area.’’

Regarding the purchase of the properties by council holdings company, Timaru District Holdings Ltd (TDHL), Wills said: ‘‘It has been a bone of contention. During some of the process we never got all the information. We elected members asked for a review of the process. I think there will be a shake up’’.

Parker also said there would not be a Kmart on Stafford St, adding ‘‘we are working with the [TDHL] review to see how we can better communicate with TDHL.’’

Burt said: ‘‘We as councillors know nothing of that rumour. Kmart doesn’t fit in that environment.’’

Mayoral candidates Kari Mohoao, Gordon Handy, Janie Annear, Shane Wilson and Nigel Bowen were asked if the community would be better served by disbanding TDHL.

Mohoao said he didn’t support disbanding TDHL. ‘‘It is good to hear there is a full review, I wouldn’t be looking at disbanding TDHL.’’

Wilson said he didn’t believe TDHL should be disbanded.

‘‘It’s good to hear TDHL is going to be reviewed, I don’t believe it should be disbanded.

‘‘There needs to be a lot more transparency with council and the public,’’ he said.

Annear said it was her who had called for a review of TDHL, and that she wanted to see all the ‘‘pros and cons’’ before a decision was made on its future.

‘‘It’s imperative the new council makes the decision and not the old council,’’ she said.

Bowen said he would not support disbanding TDHL.

‘‘I would not close down TDHL, it has millions of dollars in tax credits, the ratepayers would lose,’’ he said.

Handy said he was ‘‘personally against TDHL’’. ‘‘We need to bring some independent directors, it gives you succession planning.

Aspiring candidates – Stu Piddington and Michael Boorer were absent – were asked why voters should vote for them.

Allan Booth said Timaru could do better, listing the failed Hunter Downs irrigation scheme as an example. ‘‘It should have been looked at by council.’’

Stu Jackson said: ‘‘It seems the only way to get stuff in this town is from the inside. I believe commonsense needs to be used. One of the first things I’d try to do was fix those slippery tiles.

Hugh Perry said consultation over major projects was essential.

‘‘I see community contribution for major projects as essential.’’

Jock Anderson said rates were the most important matter, stating he wanted rises capped at 3 per cent.

‘‘The most important thing is essential services,’’ he said.

Anthony Brien said there should be a focus on bringing more people into the district.

‘‘We have skills shortages, we need more people in this district.’’

Barbara Gilchrist also supported attracting more people.

‘‘It’s absolutely imperative that we get new people to our district, we need to invest in new things to attract people to our town,’’ she said.

Karl Te Raki said Timaru needed governance. ‘‘We need to get some fresh ideas.’’

Joshua Newlove also supported bringing more people here – ‘‘we can’t do that unless we have land’’.

Ash Ronald said he supported attracting more people to Timaru through domestic tourism.

‘‘We have plenty of events that are starting to come into Timaru, we could easily have a town that is attractive to younger people.’’