Smaller district council projects to be brought forward
A handful of smaller projects in Whanga¯rei have been brought forward in an effort to ensure the annual budget is still being spent.
Delays in the progress of some Whanga¯rei District Council projects which are spread across more than one financial year mean some of the budget allocated for these projects for the 2018-19 financial year will be carried over into the following year.
They include $4.1 million for the Whau Valley Water Treatment Plant, $1.5m for recycling bin purchase, $1.2m for Pohe Island Bike Hub Carpark and $800,000 for Ruaka¯ka¯ Sports Field construction.
As of the end of September, the carry-forward of the capital expenditure budget of $62.6m is forecast at $8m but expected to rise to between $13m and $18m.
To balance this, some projects planned for the future which can be progressed this financial year have been brought forward.
These include $200,000 for investigation and design work for odour control at the Whanga¯rei Wastewater Treatment Plant and $430,000 for construction on Takahe St wastewater overflow pipes.
A combined $856,000 will go towards a skate-park upgrade and carpark at Pohe Island, while $40,000 is for early investigations for a duplicate main sewer line at Parua Bay.
A total of $5.327m for the Kamo Shared Path and $2.084m for the Porowini-Maunu intersection has been brought forward to match the available NZTA subsidy and potential enhanced subsidy.
Another $80,000 will be used to demolish the old childcare building at Dent St and reinstate the grass and $150,000 will be used to replace the public toilets at Parakao.