Letters: Council hotel deals sparks concern

John Robson is among councillors who think ratepayers will end up subsidising the hotel. Photo / John Borren

Hotel deal concerns

Councillor John Robson is correct. The Tauranga City councillors should never have been considering, let alone approving, a commercial arrangement with a private company to build a hotel on city land - the land belonging to all residents.

Councillor Larry Baldock, in my view, is wrong when he says "Ratepayers will get value over time plus economic benefit". That is his personal view - unsubstantiated by fact. Some ratepayers may win handsomely - the majority will lose their subsidy as usual.

Tourism BOP is also incorrect saying, "Tauranga wanted more accommodation etc, etc". If Tauranga needed it, private enterprise would provide it. Any venture requiring a ratepayer subsidy is doomed to be a loss because a "cost-benefit" study would prove it unviable.

Maurice O'Reilly
Tauranga

A planetary wonder

Council's recent vote regarding the provision of land for the development of an international brand hotel within the CBD (News, July 31) must rate as one of the planetary wonders of council. Good grief! No wonder the council voted behind closed doors.

Council's role and obligations for local government are very clear: that on behalf of their communities they are to provide democratic decision-making, infrastructure, services as well as applying other statutory responsibilities such as the RMA, Building and Biosecurity Acts.

None of these core function responsibilities includes cross-subsidisation of council assets for private sector gain. Factors of "positive moves by council" and "needs for international branded accommodation for visitors" by Tourism BOP Kirsten Dunne were touted as major objectives.

Surely if this is the case, then the enterprise could stand upon its own merits and rely upon its own private sector investment strategies. If councillors are concerned about council-owned land – perhaps they would be better directed to consider selling off these packets of land and proceeds given toward reducing the council debt burden.

Councillors who voted for the partnership agreement are published in the Bay of Plenty Times; they should get off their planetary orbit, and get on with delivering core responsibilities.

Richard Cross
Pyes Pa