Survey sees most in favour of taking funds

Papaka¯ inga funding a potential priority for Better Off cash

Apotential new project has emerged from consultation on whether council should seek its share of the Government’s $2 billion ‘Better Off’ fund, with the Te Ara Wai museum being a possible benefactor.

The fund, developed alongside the Three Waters Reform Programme, can help councils which apply pay for projects that help build resilience to climate change or natural hazards, enable housing development, or support community improvements.

While Waipa¯ District Council continues to strongly oppose Three Waters reform, it can still apply to the fund and can continue to criticise the reform proposals.

A short survey asked whether or not council should apply for funding, and if so, what projects should be prioritised. Of the 92 responses, 42 people said council should apply for the $5.34 million ring-fenced for Waipa¯ .

Twenty-nine said council should reject any funding, and 21 wanted to wait until July 2024, when further funding may be made available.

Council’s Iwi Consultative Committee said council should apply for funding, and identified a new priority, not on the original list of seven.

Iwi representatives want council to apply for funding to prioritise papaka¯inga — communal living on ancestral land.

Papaka¯inga is already allowed in some parts of Waipa¯, but a change to the District Plan is required for more to be developed. There is currently no budget for this work.

Of the other projects which meet funding criteria, respondents ranked a resource recovery centre and the design and build of the Te Ara Wai land wars museum as top priorities.

Consultation results will be reported to a council workshop tomorrow, open to the public.

A final decision about whether to apply for funding, and for what projects, will be made on September 20.