Selwyn_Times: February 21, 2024

Selwyn Times Wednesday February 21 2024
4
NEWS
• From page 1
Mauger said Selwyn and
Waimakariri were chosen
because they are direct
neighbours to Christchurch.
“Their level of interest will be
crucial in any discussion, including
any potential discussion at a
regional level,” Mauger said.
“This is only a very early first
step on formal discussions and
does not preclude any other
discussions.”
Mauger is yet to respond to
Broughton’s letter.
No specific numbers are given
in the letter, but 2019 estimates
show without any contribution
from surrounding councils,
Christchurch ratepayers would
be paying $144 on their rates
each year.
Mauger is proposing a joint
funding model similar to the
one for the Canterbury Museum,
which costs Selwyn ratepayers
$37 on their rates bill annually.
Currently, Selwyn ratepayers
are looking at a 16 per cent rates
rise this year, and doubledigit
rates rises for the next
three years.
When Selwyn Times
asked readers in January
for their opinions on
contributing towards the
stadium there were mixed
views, with some supporting
it and others against it.
Rolleston Residents Association
chair Mark Alexander said
his personal view, which does
not reflect the association’s, was
the city has not been a good
neighbour.
“If Christchurch
wants to talk about
facility funding on a
regional basis, that’s fine
but we (Selwyn) also
operate facilities that
Christchurch residents
use.”
Alexander said
Christchurch residents
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
No funds set aside for Te Kaha – Broughton
TE KAHA: Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger has written a
letter asking for Selwyn, Waimakariri and ECan’s help with
operational costs of the new stadium.
Mark
Alexander
are not charged extra to use
the Selwyn Aquatics Centre,
while people who live outside of
Christchurch are charged extra
to use the He Puna Taimoana
Hot Pools in New Brighton.
“That’s not being a good neighbour,
that’s not being a friend.”
Alexander said the residents’
association had not discussed the
issue.
Last year Mauger and city
councillor Sam MacDonald
suggested a levy could be placed
on users of the stadium from
outside of the city.
Peter Scott
HAVE YOUR SAY: Should
all of Canterbury help pay
for the stadium? Send your
views in 200 words or less
to daniel.alvey@starmedia.
kiwi
Broughton said he was open
to receiving the conversational
proposal, but has not committed
to funding it.
“We do not have any funds
currently set aside and have no
plans in our future budgets to
start contributing.”
He said any funding assistance
would be consulted on with
residents.
“Any future decision
to contribute or not also
needs to be put to the
community through
proper consultation to
understand their desire
and ability to pay. This has
been my commitment to
the Selwyn community
which I have reinforced
every time I have been asked
about the topic,” Broughton said.
Mauger said Te Kaha is expected
to open in mid-2026, and
operational costs are forecast
to start in the 2026-27 financial
year.
A Waimakariri District Council
spokesperson confirmed the
letter had been received, and the
council would meet in the coming
weeks to consider it.
“Currently, there is no funding
put aside or anticipated in our
Long Term Plan for this. Any
potential contribution from
Waimakariri District would
need to be subject to full community
consultation before any
decision was made,” they said.
Scott had received Mauger’s
letter and said staff were
currently considering it.
“We are waiting for
staff advice to come
through,” Scott said.
“We’re not quite sure
they need us to be the
mechanism to collect the
rate. How far out does
that push? Is it to Kaikoura,
Waimate, Waitaki?
We don’t know.”
Scott agreed with Broughton
about having a regional discussion.
“I think he’s probably right,
that’s a reasonable view on that.
But what I would say also is where
it’s happened in other areas it has
been capital regionally rather than
operating expenditure.”
At this stage, all Mauger said
all he is asking for is whether the
councils will receive a funding
proposal.
“This is not asking you to
make a binding decision, only
whether you would be willing to
look at options further.”
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