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Community tells Council: Get on with the hub
Sports, business, iwi and community groups turned out in force to urge councilors to find additional money needed to guarantee completion of the first stage of South Taranaki's hub project.
Twelve speakers, supported by about 70 residents, urged the Council to 'just get on' and build the $22.72 million sports, events and recreation complex at Hawera's Hicks Park. The council voted an extra $1.22 million, on top of the $13.65 million it committed last year, to cover inflation-driven cost escalation and additional design features, including larger changing rooms that have been requested by sports groups.
The Council's total $14.87m will be funded by loans and council reserve funds, and will not require any contribution from rates. Large gaming and community trusts have been asked to provide a significant portion of the $8 million external funding required, along with corporate, community and individual donations, and contributions from groups that will use the hub.
Staff said the hub project group had carefully considered which parts of the project needed to be provided as the first stage, using the Council's $14.87 million. New plans had been drawn up showing how other facilities would be provided as external funding became available.
Project Manager Bruce Hodgson of Beca said the estimates had been scientifically calculated. Escalation costs of 9% have been built into the budget estimates to account for potential increases and other contingencies. Construction is targeted to start next April and Mr Hodgson said inflation was expected to push the cost up by $100,000 a month till then, dropping to $50,000 a month during the construction phase.
Mayor Mary Bourke welcomed the decision to increase council funding and said the Hub was a relatively minor project compared to the $250 million to be spent on essential capital infrastructure upgrades in South Taranaki over the next 10 years.
"the hub is itself a key infrastructural asset that we should have been paying attention to much sooner than this," she said. "It's about improving the lifestyles, potential and pride of South Taranaki's citizens. It will assist significantly in making the district a dynamic and vital place where people want to live, work and play."
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