Pay rise likely for mayor, councillors Big plans as Hockey SC looks to $2.6m upgrade
Timaru District councillors could receive a minimum of $45,000 annually thanks to an expanded funding pool from the Remuneration Authority.
Traditionally, the authority sets an amount based on population, total operating expenditure, total assets, and the socioeconomic deprivation index.
However, recent changes mean the authority assigns an annual pool of $451,584 for Timaru District councillors, with a minimum amount for each councillor of $39,613.
The councillors have submitted a proposed remuneration of $63,380 for the deputy mayor Steve Wills, and $51,496 for committee chairpersons Crs Peter Burt, Barbara Gilchrist, Richard Lyon, and Sally Parker.
Crs Stu Piddington, Paddy O’Reilly, Allan Booth and Gavin Oliver, who all have deputy chairmanships, will receive $45,555.
Mayor Nigel Bowen will receive $132,000 per year, up from $120,000.
Previously, the deputy mayor received $52,377, a committee chairperson $46,767, a deputy committee chairperson $39,285 and a councillor with no additional responsibilities $37,414.
If the changes are approved, councillors will be backpaid the difference following the confirmation of the determination in March.
Earlier this year, the authority decided to change the arrangement of remuneration from set funding for positions to a ‘‘bulk funded’’ approach.
At the time, Remuneration Authority chair Fran Wilde said this would give councils more freedom in how they distributed the funding.
A discussion document presented to councillors says due to the increase in remuneration to be paid overall as determined by the authority, ‘‘all councillors will receive an increase in the remuneration’’.
‘‘It cannot be directly compared to the previous remuneration approach as the system has changed,’’ the document says.
New $2.6 million hockey facilities for Timaru are projected to be complete by 2024, in a project Hockey South Canterbury are calling the most significant since the installation of the water-based surface.
‘‘The lighting project that we’re currently involved with will be of benefit not just to the players but to the whole community by reducing the light spill to our immediate neighbours and reducing the amount of power we draw from the area by installing LEDs, providing a better experience for our players and more cost efficient lighting,’’ Hockey South Canterbury operations manager Amanda Everett said.
The four-stage project will include LED lighting upgrades to the two turfs at Aorangi Park on Morgans Rd, converting the sand turf to a water-based turf, replacing the Trust Aoraki turf carpet and building a new ‘‘Hockey Hub’’ facility designed to fit into the environment.
Everett said there are no toilets or changing rooms at the grounds – facilities the community needs, and which will allow them to host high level matches.
‘‘We already host a lot of tournaments but Hockey New Zealand are in the process of changing the way they do tournaments and quite a few of the smaller ones will be going so [these facilities] will allow us to be in the running for the big ones which would be a big benefit for the area.
‘‘We’re hoping to put in some sort of cafe/bar, as well, as part of that which will be of benefit to the whole community, it wouldn’t just be for our hockey players.’’
Hockey South Canterbury has about 1200 affiliated members but there are countless more people such as supporters and umpires enjoying the club grounds, Everett said.
She said fundraising plans for the project are being developed and they are mindful of spacing out activity so as not to detract from other recreational groups.