Motueka Library study gets nod
Backers of a proposed development of Motueka Library are rejoicing after the first stage of the project was given the green light.
Agreement to carry out a feasibility study on the development in the next financial year came on Thursday, just moments before Tasman District councillors adopted the Annual Plan 2017-18.
The feasibility study will look at the options of redeveloping the library on its existing Pah St site or relocating it beside Decks Reserve, possibly incorporating other services such as the TDC office.
Along with the agreement to carry out the feasibility study in 2017-18, the council on Thursday committed to additional funding of up to $50,000 from the 2016-17 operating surplus, which is expected to exceed $10 million.
Community development manager Susan Edwards said there was about $25,000 in the Motueka Reserve Financial Contributions account, which could go towards the feasibility study. The $50,000 would be extra.
Vision Motueka has long been calling for council action over Motueka Library. Chairman David Armstrong said he was pleased the feasibility study was on the agenda for 2017-18. ‘‘It’s been a long grind.’’ The idea of a multipurpose development incorporating the library beside Decks Reserve was first presented to the council in 2013, Armstrong said.
It was believed by many people that the feasibility study would appear in the first three years of the council’s Long Term Plan 2015-25. However, the project was ‘‘bumped down the track’’ to 2019-20, leaving many people shocked, he said.
Motueka Ward councillor Paul Hawkes on Thursday told his fellow councillors the main reason for bringing forward the feasibility study was to allow the community to go out and seek funding for the project.
‘‘We need to think ahead of the eight ball because a lot of the funding institutes are working 18 months ahead with their allocation of funding,’’ Hawkes said.
Cr Stuart Bryant raised concerns about ‘‘starting to dive into the surplus’’ before a discussion about the full amount ‘‘and what we’ll do with that – whether we use that the repay debt or other priorities rather than starting to have a bit of a lolly scramble’’.
After the meeting, Motueka Ward councillor Peter Canton said the feasibility study would seek input from members of the community about the best location for the library and what the development should include.
The future of Laura Ingram Kindergarten is also linked to the library development. Horrified parents were shocked in April to learn the kindy, which is located behind the library, may be bowled to make way for parking if the library is extended on its existing site. A petition calling for the kindy to remain and supporting the relocation of the library attracted more than 1000 signatures.
Meanwhile, the adoption of the Annual Plan 2017-18 means a total rates rise of 0.63 per cent, well below the forecast of 2.16 per cent contained in the Long Term Plan.
Mayor Richard Kempthorne said it was ‘‘very encouraging to see how we have kept our rate increase as low as possible’’.