Church to get $2m from ratepayers in sale of flats
Nearly $2 million of New Plymouth ratepayers’ money has been approved to go to the Catholic Church for a block of pensioner flats in Bell Block.
The New Plymouth District Council approved funds for the Wynyard St sale when it met on Tuesday, although deputy mayor Richard Jordan did move to block it.
Jordan, who is not seeking reelection at next month’s local body elections, moved a motion to withdraw the offer and put the onus back on the church to look after the elderly tenants.
He was disappointed no-one from the Catholic Church had turned up to discuss the matter and answer questions about the sale.
‘‘This is a very poor use of $2 million of our community funds,’’ Jordan said.
The potential sale of the land first surfaced publicly in February, when it was reported by the council that the Wynyard St section, which is occupied by pensioners in nine separate flats and has been independently valued at $1.95 million, was likely to be sold by the church when the 40-year lease expires on October 31, 2024.
The council built the flats in 1984 and had been paying the church an annual rent of $1.
Instead of carrying on the lease for the council-built flats, the church offered a land swap – Wynyard St for the Powderham St car park opposite its New Plymouth cathedral – with $250,000 added on. However, council rejected that option given the scarcity of car parking spaces in New Plymouth.
Tuesday’s meeting heard the Catholic Church had already been approached by a third party about the potential of the sale of the car park land, which was viewed as a prime development site given its proximity to the town’s amenities. Councillors were also told the Wynyard St tenants would likely be evicted, and the flats demolished, if the land was not purchased out of council reserves. Mayor Neil Holdom was disappointed the church ‘‘has washed their hands’’ of the elderly tenants and had clearly taken a ‘‘commercial first’’ attitude.
He, along with a number of councillors, said they had a clear obligation to look after elderly residents, with a growing waiting list seeking accommodation.
While accepting he would lose the motion, Jordan said the elected members’ intention to look after the elderly was not reflected by actions. He said the council had not built a pensioner flat for the past 40 years, while there was no provision in the long-term budget for the next 10 years to build any.