WESTPORT - West Coast local authorities will sign heads of agreement with the Government tomorrow for the $120 million development package.
In announcing this, the Grey District Council chief executive, Paul Pretorius, said yesterday that the Government had removed two clauses objected to by the authorities.
One clause would have given the Government the right to decide what body would administer the $120 million fund if the councils could not agree by August 1, and the other would have made the fund emphasise business promotion.
Mr Pretorius said the body to manage the fund would instead be decided in collaboration with the Government.
Coast councils would receive $7 million each from the package within five days of signing the heads of agreement. The remaining $92 million would be paid once the administering body was set up.
The signing is expected to take place at the Grey District Council offices about noon tomorrow between council heads, Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton.
It will be Dr Cullen's first visit to the coast since being pelted with eggs and having his car attacked before the election because of Labour's policy to end native logging on crown-owned land.
- NZPA
Coast at loggerheads no more
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