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September 23, 2019 Regular Features, September 2019 No Comments

A few figures

In the lead-up to the local body elections I have been attempting to get some information out of SWDC so that there is a bit more transparency around the spending on some recent projects.

I want to know all the details of the build costs for the Waihinga Centre and also the operating costs and income.

No luck with the build costs –  five weeks after my OIA request the only information I was provided was-  “$5.37 M ‘including approx $1M for work to the Old Hall.” This figure has been widely stated in the media. Do you like the ‘approx $1M’ ? Careful and prudent use of public money and private donations? We cannot know.

However – We have an answer on Operating Costs. Figures provided attached.

In the six months to June 2019 a total of $156,358.00 so tracking at $312,716.00 for the year. In other words $6,000 a week.

Income from the centre’s tenants confirmed at $24,000 PA

I think the approx 1800 residents of Martinborough may be interested to know this and if they think it represents value for their money.

Karen Krogh

 

Pain Farm Land Trust

I lived in Martinborough for almost thirty years and I still have half my heart there. There should be not the current problem of fixing the two Pain Farm dwellings if you look at the amount that it received from the current lease at $66,000 a year.

I estimate that the Council will have received approximately $1,500,000 in that time, and yet there is apparently no money to make the repairs.  Since the money can only be spent on children’s projects and there has not been any major expenditure for the children of Martinborough in the last twenty five years I wonder what has happened to that money?  

I ask the Mayor, Councillors and members of the Community Board as they are the administrators of the Pain Farm Trust and the money should be in an account separate from the General Account.

Remember then guys at the  October election .

Bob Petelin

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