Council's axe poised over $260m of community projects

Mayor Julie Hardaker. Photo / Christine Cornege

The Hamilton City Council is taking its time over a proposal from staff to scrap plans for a new swimming pool and library in Rototuna, a new indoor recreation centre and and upgrade to the Te Rapa Sportsdome.

City councillors spent yesterday picking their way through the staff proposal to cut $260 million off its capital programme. But debates on what stays will be held next Monday after the council ran out of time.

The discussion is part of the council's long-term plan aimed at making operating savings and reducing the city's growing debt.

Without any changes, the capital budget - which covers infrastructure including transport, gardens, council facilities and wastewater - would rise to more than $700 million by 2022.

Outside the meeting, councillor Dave Macpherson, said suggestions that roading projects should take precedence over community activities were misguided.

He questioned how staff had come to prioritise such projects over pedestrian paths and cycleways.

Among the $260 million projects staff proposed to be axed were the indoor recreation centre, plans for a fenced dog park and expanding the Hillcrest Library.

Meanwhile, $249 million would be spent on replacing footpaths, traffic signals, wastewater and either upgrading buildings or furnishings at the council-owned theatres, stadium, zoo, events centre, libraries, pool and cemetery.

There was also a proposal to spend $720,000 at the Claudelands Events Centre on improvements such as air conditioning in the exhibition halls and signs on the gates, which councillors were told were left off the initial budget.

Mayor Julie Hardaker was told ratepayers would be faced with another 2 per cent increase above the projected rate rise to right the council's books within three years.

Councillors spent the first part of the meeting discussing how the council had ended up with such a large debt.

The blame went to optimistic forecasts on development contributions, the $68.4 million Events Centre and the $40 million V8 Supercars event.

Winners and losers

In

*Contribute to new train platform at The Base ($325,000)2012/13
*Peacockes, Rototuna and Rotokauri road works ($6.29m)to 2016/17
*Hamilton Zoo animal enclosure renewals ($1.08m)to 2021/22
*Footpaths replacement ($20.5m)over 10 years
*Hamilton Ring Road to Cambridge Rd ($22.63m)to 2021/22

Out

*Northeast sector pool ($15.8m)to 2018/19
*New indoor recreation centre ($22.6m)to 2016/17
*Northeast library development ($12.78m)to 2017/18
*Fantasy Gardens at Hamilton Gardens ($1.045m)2021/22
*Rototuna sports park development ($12.256m to $12.26m)2021/22
Not a complete list.