Businesses bankroll entertainment in city
Waikato businesses are stumping up with cash for entertainment in Hamilton’s new riverside park.
Victoria on the River opened on January 25 and Mayor Andrew King suggested Hamilton City Council spend $19,200 on entertainment there, such as music and movies.
That fell over when his fellow city councillors voted 8-4 against the spend.
Business think-tank and lobby Agenda Waikato wasn’t impressed, and announced yesterday that it had raised almost $20,000 within a week of the news.
The ‘‘if you build it, they will will come’’ mentality isn’t enough, Agenda Waikato chairman Graham Dwyer said in a statement.
He compared council’s move to having guests show up to a new house but ‘‘no music, conversation or refreshments to serve’’.
‘‘We don’t want to see a place we are currently proud of fall by the wayside,’’ his statement said.
Dwyer and local developer Matt Stark – who developed the building beside Victoria on the River – started the fundraising initiative.
Stark is also one of the people behind a proposed remodel of Garden Place.
Exciting entertainment could bring a steady stream of visitors to the CBD, Stark said, and Garden Place could also benefit from a coordinated programme.
‘‘The opportunity is right there,’’ Stark’s statement said.
The Waikato Chamber of Commerce and Hamilton Central Business Association agreed on the need, the statement said.
A range of businesses had been quick to offer support, it said, so this would be a business-driven initiative.
The proposal that city councillors considered was putting $19,200 on musicians, movies, a PA system, outdoor games and the like to bring more life to Victoria on the River for the rest of the summer.
King’s funding plan was for council to pay $19,200 and Schick Construction $3000.
Councillors voted 8-4 against the plan.