Crunch time for funding wishlist
South Taranaki district councillors will spend today wading through more than $2 million worth of funding requests while trying to keep their ‘‘prudent and conservative’’ plan for a 4.7 per cent rates rise next year.
The verbal submissions on the draft 2012-22 long-term plan are scheduled for just over six hours.
As well as the large push from the Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust, Opunake groups figure prominently among those asking for either one-off grants or funding over the next decade.
Coastal Care Health Trust will table further plans for the major combined healthcare facility in the township, with total establishment costs forecast to be just over $2 million.
The trust is requesting STDC to make its ownership of the land on Napier and King streets available to them and turn three titles into one for the new building.
Council is also being asked to incorporate the proposed public toilets, as well as funding for them, into the building.
Everybody’s Theatre requests assistance with upgrading the building. Structural strengthening is estimated to cost $197,000 plus $25,000 for toilet reconstruction, while the inside refurbishment could be between $100,000-$150,000.
Sandfords Event Centre would like $45,000 a year for 10 years.
From Patea, Aotea Utanganui, Museum of South Taranaki, has asked for $200,000 in either the 2013-14 or 2014-15 financial year for stage two of their plans to redevelop their building.
The museum’s trust asked for $100,000 from Taranaki Regional Council in their LTP earlier but were knocked back.
Paepae in the Park would like a $20,000 grant to assist with their annual Waitangi Day music festival, which will have its 10th anniversary in 2013.
Mayor Ross Dunlop said the ‘‘prudent and conservative approach’’ for STDC is largely about consolidation and maintenance. ‘‘In an effort to keep a tight rein on expenditure we are proposing to reduce some previously budgeted expenditure, increase our level of debt repayments and trial new technology at Hawera wastewater treatment ponds which may save $3 million.’’