Gully planting faces chop in savings push

Sarah Brodley-Davies says the council's proposal to cut back on gully planting is a very short-term approach to its Long Term Plan. Photo / Christine Cornege

The Hamilton City Council-led restoration of private gullies could be pruned as it searches for ways to save $14.5 million over three years.

Services the council offers in its parks and open spaces and indoor recreation facilities are on the chopping block today amid residents' protests that it is taking a short-term view of long-term environmental benefits.

The meeting is part of a series where the council will consider reducing its operational budget. It could result in a further 9.5 jobs being lost from the two areas if all the recommendations are approved.

Under the proposed savings the number of trees being planted in parks could be halved to 500 and the number of trees planted in streets could be reduced to 200 a year.

A further $615,000 could be saved by cleaning public toilets less often, letting the lawns grow a bit longer and emptying rubbish bins less frequently.

Chedworth resident Sarah Brodley-Davies, whose 1200sq m gully section has benefited from more than 100 native trees through the programme, said it was "the pits" and a very short-term approach to saving $65,000 a year.

The programme supports private gully restoration and enables residents to apply for free native trees such as mahoe, wine berry, lace bark, totara and kauri, as well as educating owners about how to look after the trees, what to plant and where to plant them.

From May to August this year 90 residents reaped the benefits.

"There are gullies all over Hamilton. It's quite unique, Hamilton is making its mark as a destination from a marketing point of view. If it's purely about the dollar issue, they could make money by taking tours of them," said Ms Brodley-Davies. "It's a real treasure here and it's really unique."

Visitors to Hamilton Gardens could be charged for some projects by 2015 while parks and gardens fees could increase by inflation plus 5 per cent if the council accepts all the changes.

The YMCA in Pembroke St, which runs several basketball, fitness, out-of-school programmes and services, could have its funding cut by a third to $60,000 a year. Former Hamilton mayor Margaret Evans said when the agreement was first signed with the YMCA the council was told it would be self-sufficient within three years.

Continued support of the indoor recreation facility at Avalon Drive and upgrading the Te Rapa Sports Drome will be considered on October 25 when the council looks at slashing spending by $500 million during the 2012/22 Long Term Plan.

ON THE BLOCK

PARKS AND GARDENS

Gully restoration programme: save $65,000

Halve tree-planting on streets and parks: save $320,000

Reduce toilet cleaning, mowing frequencies, planting beds and rubbish bin removal: save $615,000

Increase parks fees and charges by 5 per cent: $55,000

INDOOR RECREATION

Reduce operating funding to Hamilton YMCA: save $30,000