Group to fight $6m centre

A ginger group in Carterton is rallying opposition to the $6 million price tag for a planned community centre in the town.
Carterton District Residents and Ratepayers Association spokeswoman Johanna de Schot said there are still opportunities to influence the Carterton District Council decision to go ahead with a community facility as the proposal, which relies on fundraising for half the cost, has yet to go through the submission process for the Long-Term Council Community Plan and Annual Plan.
Carterton Mayor Gary McPhee said last week the multi-purpose community centre "is set to become a reality" and would be built in Holloway Street with detailed plans now being drawn up and fundraising about to begin.
The complex will be built on council land, taking in the existing historic library building and Scout hall with the working title of Carterton Events Centre, he said.
Carterton District Council last year committed to funding up to half of the $6 million project and a new trust was formed to raise the $3 million funding shortfall.
"The essence of this issue is that a ratepayer base of 4200 people should not be asked or required to sustain a $6 million project," Ms de Schot said.
"Options that are within the means of this community must be considered and presented by council.
"Ratepayers have not been made sufficiently aware of alternative options."
Ms de Schot said the council "does not appear to be aware of the depth of feeling in the community against the building of the "community facility" as planned.
"The CDRRA, while not a single-issue group, were formed on the back of this depth of feeling as shown by the very large turnout to the first meeting called to gauge public opinion on this matter," she said.
"Carterton Mayor Gary McPhee says 'we have done our homework', but this homework has not been communicated effectively to the community.
"Minutes published on the CDC website from the Hearts of Carterton committee meetings give very little information and there is no business plan available.
"Statements in the media about council's 'wide consultation with the community' and 'utilising survey results to improve the concept plan' cloud the facts that we do know," she said.
Ms de Schot said the National Research Bureau Survey of June 2008 found that of 44 per cent of the 201 residents who disapproved of an action, decision or management strategy made by council there were 21 per cent who indicated the 'community facility' was an issue.
"The petition of Bill Knowles that basically requested council to reconsider the concept plan and ask the community what they wanted garnered 849 signatures 28.7 per cent of households and 20.2 per cent of ratepayers.
"The petition had the largest number of respondents and its message was lost on council," Ms de Schot said.
The annual meeting is to be held at Carterton School on April 16 from 7.30pm, she said.