John Howard,
Whakatāne Action Group chairman

Ponder this at a time when the council needs to be open and transparent

There was no public consultation on this year’s annual plan and with a rate rise of another 10 to 12 percent, I think the ratepayers deserve an explanation.

At June’s meeting of the Living Together Committee, the chairman said he was unaware of the progressed Rex Morpeth Hub redevelopment that was bought to the meeting by council staff.

There was an eventual disclosure that the $7.8m budget is from the long-term plan.

Also not disclosed was how much of that money had been spent on the Wally Sutherland building (as it was part of the plan)?

How much has been allocated to repairs and maintenance of the War Memorial Hall and how much has already been spent on repairs and maintenance.

How much has been allocated to develop the other ideas associated with the redevelopment (e.g., cycle tracks, new children’s playground, rugby park lights, market stalls) and how much to the planning governance (consultants and staff) side of council to expand the idea?

Just what is the budget allocation?

There appears to be so much non-disclosure between staff and the elected representatives and ratepayers.

Back on March 20, at a meeting, Councillor Gavin Dennis valiantly asked if the $7.8m could be better used to help reduce rates as it was non-urgent plans – could it be deferred?

Which also brings about the fact that most submitters to the long-term plan were asking for deferral. One would think that this would have been an ideal opportunity for full disclosure about where they were up to, back in March.

Our elected representatives, ratepayers and residents deserve to know more, need to know more.

We are in a time of supposedly open transparency and accountability for local government, yet this council term has possibly had more public excluded meetings than any before it.

So, will the chief executive provide the Beacon the above figures or does he not know them? If it is not known, would the chairman of the Living Together committee, ask for them to be presented at the next meeting of that committee?

■ Alexandra Pickles, Whakatāne District Council general manager community experience responds:

While the Rex Morpeth Recreation Hub has served our community well for many years, significant maintenance and upgrades are now required to meet modern health and safety standards, respond to existing and growing demand for sport and recreation, and unlock economic benefits for the wider district.

Councils are legislatively required to plan for the future, and delaying necessary upgrades or deferring future planning will inevitably result in a reduced level of service, an inability to meet current and future needs, and potential closure of key facilities.

Through the long-term plan process, which included public engagement, council elected members agreed to a two-phase approach that prioritises health and safety and functional improvements (functional upgrades) over the first four years, while incorporating a stop/go decision point in the 2027/28 Long-Term Plan for any major redevelopment.

A budget of $7,720,175 was allocated to functional upgrades over the first four years with a minor allocation within this funding envelope reserved for the development of a concept design and funding plan for a wider redevelopment of the facility.

Together, the concept design and funding plan will inform the council’s stop/go decision point for commencing Phase 2 – wider facility redevelopment.

This information is publicly available through the council’s planning documents.

To date, $152,589.67 has been spent on functional upgrades in year one, with planning underway for further upgrade works.

Phase 2 will not commence until external funding has been secured, estimated around 2029.

No funds from the Rex Morpeth Recreation Hub budget have been spent on 266 The Strand (former Wally Sutherland building).

Approximately $116,000 has been spent on deferred maintenance work to make the building fit for occupation as an arts hub. This expenditure has come from existing budgets.