Injection of funding for Council

The Waimate District Council has signed the contract to receive its share of the Three Waters “Better Off Funding”.

Council initially declined to accept tranche 1 of the funding from the Department of Internal Affairs due to its absolute opposition to the Three Waters Reform and the understanding that if the Three Waters Reform were to proceed Council would then have access to the combined tranches 1 and 2 funding package.

In May, Council reversed its earlier decision due to the Government’s cancellation of tranche 2 of the funding. Therefore, the only available option to ensure the community was not denied funding, was to accept the $2.42 million on offer.

The following projects have been approved for funding:

• $130,000 for a Learn2Ride area which provides a safe place for children to learn to cycle.
• $183,100 for the Waimate urban overland flow and flood mitigation initiative that will identify and protect overland flow paths and reduce the number of homes susceptible to funding.
• $48,658 for the installation of an emergency generator for the Local Government Centre/Library.
• $448,800 for new public toilets in Glenavy and St Andrews.
• $5,500 for a comprehensive analysis of Council’s greenhouse gas emissions.
• $218,992 to re-roof community housing in Kennedy Crescent which will reduce heating costs and modernise the buildings.
• $18,000 for native tree planting throughout the reserves in Waimate.
• $177,953 for footpath extensions in the Waimate urban areas to improve pedestrian safety.
• $221,560 for sealing the intersection/hill section of Centrewood Park Road to improve access to the White Horse Monument.
• $67,437 to produce a district promotional video to attract visitors and support businesses to attract employees to the area.
• $900,000 towards the Library extension and Council Chamber upgrade which will also include relocating the Information Centre to the Library.

Waimate District Council Mayor Craig Rowley said it was great that the money had been secured.

“This will be a huge benefit to our community and will enable the Council to proceed with projects that either would not have occurred or had to be funded through rates,” he said.

“I look forward to the upgrades and benefits that this will bring.”