Fast-track plans for new Napier playground

The Napier War Memorial Building will close for earthquake re-strengthening

Napier children will soon have new play equipment to clamber over as the city council has brought forward its plans for a major new playground.

The facility will now be built in the coming financial year.

The council also agreed to spend more on the "destination playground" when it formally adopted its 2015-2025 Long Term Plan (LTP) yesterday.

The project, signalled in a consultation document, was one of the most favoured by submitters to the plan.

Councillors favoured increasing the budget from $1.5 million to $2.5 million, with the additional money coming from a reduction in funding set aside for property purchases.
Napier Mayor Bill Dalton said the response from the community to this LTP had been fantastic.

"I think this plan reflects that we as a council listen to what our ratepayers and residents think."

The location of the playground was yet to be confirmed.

Councillors also agreed to scrap a proposed $2.6 million Waverider wave-generating pool project.

Mr Dalton said it did not stack up financially and did not have strong public support.
Other amendments to the plan included ongoing annual costs of $20,000 for WiFi, a one off grant of $30,000 to the Council's Arts Advisory Panel in 2015/16, an extra $18,500 funding in 2015/16 for CAN (Creative Arts Napier) and a one-off grant to Eskview Tennis Club in 2015/16.

While all the above decisions are being funded from rates, there is no change to the 2.9 per cent increase in rates signalled during consultation because of the reduction in the interest costs of internal loans for projects that have been re-scheduled.

The outcome of the binding region-wide referendum on the Local Government Commission's proposal to amalgamate Hawke's Bay's councils may also affect whether these projects go ahead.

Councillors also were in agreement to bring forward a planned upgrade to the War Memorial Conference Centre to allow for earthquake strengthening.

The Napier centre will probably close for several months from April next year.
A recent seismic assessment has rated the building at 20-25 per cent of the new building standard, meaning strengthening will be needed.

A notice will go up at the centre tomorrow advising customers and users of the seismic rating.

The work and upgrade is estimated to cost $5.1 million and will probably occur from April 2016 to January 2017.