Councilors Spend $24 Million Despite the Recession

The biggest news for the Timaru ratepayers last week was the decision made by the Mayor and her councilors to spend $24 million on a 10 lane 25 metre swimming pool. In the complex there will also be a leisure pool, hot water pool, sauna, steam room, health and fitness centre, child minding centre and a café. There already 7 Health and Fitness Centres in Timaru one of which belongs to the council.

Funding
We are told 2/3 of the cost will come from rates on properties and the other 1/3 will come from donations made by rate payer owned Alpine Energy, and Primeport These companies are owned by Timaru Holdings Ltd who will collect the funds on behalf of the ratepayers.
There are 5 directors controlling Timaru Holdings Ltd. The Mayor Janie Annear is the chairperson with Michael Oliver and Richard Lyons being the other councilors holding the balance of power. 
Funds will also be coming from the Timaru gamblers and the public. Councilor Dave Jack is a director and shareholder of Trust Aoraki Ltd a private company that has been set up to administer local gaming machines. His company has already donated $200,000 towards the building of the proposed swimming complex. It has never been disclosed where the donation is invested or who is earning the interest on it. 

Other Swimming Pools
 In addition to the new swimming complex the council is doing swimming pool upgrades at Pleasant Point, Temuka, Geraldine and Maori Park. The popular all weather Century Pool on state highway one will be demolished and I understand the diving wells at Maori Park will also be filled in. Caroline Bay has been a popular place to swim over the years and many prefer swimming in the many rivers. We understand that the Ashburton District Council is also planning to build a new large swimming complex. All this could not happen without ratepayers that are being forced to pay.

Oamaru
 I was in Oamaru last week and I was told the Oamaru swimming complex cost $3 million 9 years ago and they have just spent $1.5 million on their upgrade.
The rates in Oamaru are not bad one property owner told me their rates have only gone up by 60% in the last year which is an increase of $2000.
I don’t mean to frighten people but Timaru Ratepayers are still paying for the Piazza, the new Council building, Caroline Bay upgrade, the sewerage and now a new swimming complex. This is a total cost of $55 million or $2600 per rateable property. Then there is all the other important stuff like roads and footpaths and painting the Grosvenor Hotel for the new Chinese owner.

I asked the council if I could look at the plans for the proposed swimming complex but they do not have any on display in their new council building
Never mind at least the Timaru City will have a new gym and café with someone to mind the kids and that is the most important thing.

Footnote
This article was sent to the Timaru Herald for publishing but after 2 days they have still not published it. The Timaru District Council is one of the Timaru Heralds biggest advertising clients so could it be that the Editor of the Timaru Herald has been told to gag me from the freedom to speak my mind.