Quite a lively projects and services committee meeting this week as some elected members tried to make mountains out of molehills.
A proposed Arataki Community Centre design and build concept came in for concern and comment.

Rick Curach expressed concern that council could have lost control over the project by virtue of the fact that there would be no political input into the design.
Council has gone to consultation with user groups, produced a required outcomes specification, gone to the market via selected tenders for a design and build and we now await the outcome and price. Budget allowance for the centre is around $3 million. Staff pointed out that it would be quite inappropriate for council to step in with design input now – that completely negates what is trying to be achieved with the design and build concept.

Best way to draw it
Rick and his Pick 6 colleagues have been supporters of design and build and it had been pointed out during discussions over the triennium that every methodology has its pluses and minuses. If you want to have control over the design then you have to produce your own design and call for tenders on that, like has been done with the new Indoor Sport and Exhibition Centre. Council will still have the final say on whether to accept or decline.
Committee members, minus Hayden Evans, who has declared an interest as a sub contractor, visited the Indoor Sport and Exhibition Centre at Baypark. It is an impressive facility, and even at this stage it’s possible to see the size of it. It will have nine indoor sports courts, three of which are up to international standard. It is also concert capable, a la Vector Arena in Auckland, with seating for about 5000. Once up and going it will cost ratepayers around $4-$5 million per year in operating subsidies. This is just another example of how your rates bill gets to where it will be and no amount of promises from anyone will change that unless the service is cut. And you can’t cut this sort of thing. It either operates or it doesn’t – given that there is prudent on site management. The way to reduce ratepayer subsidy on this and other council amenities is to increase revenue from other sources. With most operating costs fixed – loan payments for instance – opportunity exists for creative income generation. Hypothetically one Rolling Stones concert would generate a couple of year’s surpluses. Just kidding, but you get my drift.

Walking along nicely
A round up for a pound up over proposed access up the cliff beside the Sebel Hotel on Dive Crescent to Mission Cemetery. An initiative from two residents, Suzanne Franklin Gard’ner and Robert Smith, it’s been getting the old one two for a year or so now. Staff haven’t seemed keen on it and some elected members haven’t been keen to spend around $70,000 on it. Murray Guy suggested a ramp system and staff produced estimates of $75,700 for this. A stairway estimate was $76,100. No-one was keen on these numbers, when it’s only a short walk along the new footpaths to get to the cemetery. Incidentally I note in the estimates an archaeologist for 40 hours at $150 an hour. Nice work if you can get it! Murray eventually succeeded in getting a 10-1 vote with David Stewart opposing for a concrete path cut into the hillside with his estimate of $17,000 being provided from a rates funded source yet to be identified and community input in kind and/or funding making up the balance. A subcommittee comprising Murray, Catherine Stewart, Hayden Evans, the Mayor, Suzanne and Robert will put this together. I wish them every success.

Writing’s on the wall
Council’s graffiti prevention officer presented a comprehensive report on how the objectives are being met. Last financial year $270,000 was actually spent on graffiti. This year it’s down to $175,000 with 75 felons caught, 53 of them aged 17-30 and most of the rest aged 14-16. Courts ordered $9226 in reparation with $3086.92 actually collected. One conviction copped 23 months in jail. Greg Brownless says these penalties were not high enough and in his opinion courts were showing a lack of respect for ratepayers. I agree. With modern society providing “understanding” and rights with no equivalent responsibilities, no wonder the cretins are sticking their fingers up to the society that not only tolerates all forms of unacceptable behaviour, but in a lot of cases pays them a retainer too – via taxpayer funded welfare benefits.

An artist’s respect
One successful trial has been painting traffic and utility control boxes with art works. This is to be extended. It seems that the graffiti merchants don’t tag over this art work. If they do it’s covered with graffiti proof clear overcoating that allows washing off of any graffiti. The graffiti programme was an initiative of mine back in 1996 and first year we spent, from memory, around $90,000. So we’ve spent the rough end of $1 million in the interim and have stopped it taking over the city. It now seems we’re getting on top of it. The much vaunted cycle trail came to nought as government pulled its usual trick. A promised $100 million injection from government evaporated as it became apparent that locally the Ministry of Tourism allocated $3.55 million for an estimated cost of $12.8 million leaving $9.25 million to be “found”. On last Tuesday they even pulled the pin on the $3.55 million. Guess who was the ‘fallback funder’ after TECT etc. You got it right first time – ratepayers. We won’t be going any further with it is my guess.