Island community calls for cash to stave off collapse

The cost of life on Stewart Island is driving people away. Picture / Fotopress

A Stewart Island leader has warned the island community is on the point of collapse because of unbearable living costs.

Stewart Island community board member Dil Belworthy said that a last-ditch bid for Government money needed to be made before it was too late for the dwindling island community.

"I don't think it's melodramatic to say that the community's at the point of collapse," he told a board meeting.

The board has approved an annual budget trimmed of almost $50,000 of island projects, including money that had been earmarked for urgent track maintenance and money for more public toilets.

Despite slashing the budget, the board said it still needed a 25 to 35 per cent rate increase in 2005-06.

Labour Party Invercargill candidate Wayne Harpur made an impromptu appearance at the board meeting in Oban on Monday at the request of Southland District Mayor Frana Cardno.

Board members, who have been fighting for Government funding to help meet potentially crippling infrastructure costs on the island, appealed to Mr Harpur to lobby Prime Minister Helen Clark on their behalf when she visits Invercargill tomorrow.

The Government has been sympathetic to the island's problems but has offered no specific money to stem the rising tide of costs.

Mr Belworthy said the island risked becoming another Milford Sound where there was no permanent community and workers were brought in and accommodated for the summer season - about five months of the year.

The board decided to write to Helen Clark asking for a definite response to the island's "urgent" funding need.

After the meeting, Mrs Cardno said she was sick of the Labour-Progressive Government stalling over funding.

Mr Harpur, also speaking after the meeting, said he would talk to Helen Clark about the problem.

"I certainly detected a strong sense of frustration," he said.

- NZPA