Toilet block lifts the lid on council works

Councillor Phil Halse

A toilet sooner rather than later is being welcomed by Onerahi residents, with dusty roads at Pipiwai also up for a quick fix as Whangarei District Council announces its new plan to address budget carry-forwards and keep contractors busy.

Nick Connup, chairman of Onerahi Community Association, said he was feeling "very, very positive" that the skatepark between New World and Onerahi Primary School would be getting a new $150,000 toilet block this year, as opposed to waiting for council budgets to tick over to next year's cycle.

"Now, especially with the skatepark, it is quite a high use area, and it already was. The toilet block at the moment is on the other side of the shopping centre, which is quite a long way to go," Mr Connup said.

Concern over the number of infrastructure projects being carried over each year has prompted WDC to review what work can be done now.

In 2014/15, council planned to spend $65.3 million on its capital projects programme, $15.2 million of which ended up being brought forward to this financial year. Projects could be delayed for a number of reasons, including consenting issues, land purchase negotiations, outside funding and industry capabilities.

Councillor Phil Halse raised concerns that not fulfilling each year's budget meant uncertainty for local contractors.

The council was aiming for a steady workload and efficient local market.

It was also estimated about $10 million of work planned for this year will wait for next year. So, about $900,000 of minor projects from next year's budget would act as a band-aid to this.

These included public toilets at Onerahi skatepark and by Te Matau a Pohe bridge to the value of $320,000; setting the ball rolling on the Hikurangi wastewater network upgrade for $300,000; a $47,000 upgrade of a jetty by the Hatea Loop and strip seals in front of road dust-ravaged properties at Pipiwai.

The council had already planned to spend $220,000 sealing 100m sections in front of five properties on Wright and McCardle roads this year, but would now start work in front of an additional three properties that were booked for 2016/17, plus two particularly dangerous sections of the roads.

Infrastructure committee chairman Greg Martin said a detailed review of carry-forwards was a new approach to the council's infrastructure project planning.

"We wanted to even out work for our contractors and the more projects ready to go, the better."