Rangitikei District Council debates position of amenities build in Taihape

The Rangitikei District Council is revisiting its decision to build a single-storey amenities block on Taihape's Memorial Park. Photo / Bevan Conley

The future of a new amenities block at Taihape's Memorial Park is up in the air after Rangitikei District Council decided to get a new report on it.

This week the council voted to receive a motion that revokes its previous decision to build the new amenities block.

At the council's meeting on July 30, Taihape Heritage Trust representatives presented the council with a petition with 648 signatures asking it to build the new amenities under the historic Memorial Park Grandstand instead of near the southern end of the rugby field as the council had planned.

Spokesman Geoff Duncan said the group believed that to spend more than $1 million of ratepayers' funds on a separate ablutions block build and then leave the grandstand to flounder is "nonsense and lacks all efficiencies".

After the discussion, Rangitikei mayor Andy Watson advised councillors that a notice of motion must be made to the chief executive five days prior to a meeting to revoke a resolution.

Watson and chief executive Peter Beggs also advised councillors the new block is within the annual plan.

So far the council has spent about $12,000 on the project, which is at the concept design phase with the architect.

Following the meeting, councillors Tracey Hiroa, Gill Duncan, Jane Dunn and Fiona Dalgety submitted a notice of motion asking the council to revoke the previous decision on the amenities build.

They proposed to amend the decision and consider building the amenities under the grandstand.

At the council's monthly meeting on Thursday this week seven councillors voted to receive the notice of motion.

However, Watson said the revocation of the build now depends on a report from Beggs which will look at economic costs, opportunities and a construction timeframe of building either on the current proposed site or underneath the grandstand.

Councillor Angus Gordon said he fully supports the report being produced.

"We need to be fully informed and I think in the process since the petition has arrived here there has been a lot of misinformation."

Hiroa asked if there was still the option to engage and get feedback from the community. Watson said councillors can go back to the community if needed.

Beggs will present his report at the council meeting on September 24.