It is nearing the end of a year of many milestones at TCAL including: - 'resignation” of three directors, leaky Hot Pools, rumours of leaks at Baywave, failed resource consent application, failed and withdrawn appeal, just to mention a few that have 'leaked” out to date.
The real 'leak” is not water. The escalating financial carnage continues with:- 10% more operating costs, staff costs up 12%, over 150 staff (two pools closed for the winter, another has little happening anyway). TCC has provided more money than was the case compared to the previous few years, it has increased by $455,000 only because of more rates money that is called 'income”, ratepayers have also loaned an extra $1.48m to TCAL.
Reported Hotpool redevelopment costs are $994,000 (+2010 $520,000 +2009 $437,000) being only some of the cost of the failed Consent and only to 30 June 2011, a lot of costs have been paid by TCC but no one will get to see it all. TCAL promised that the failed resource consent costs 'would not cost ratepayers” but clearly that is not the case.
It is clear a lot more hard decisions have yet to be made by Councillors about TCAL, will they!

I Stevenson, Tauranga.