Hamilton Council does u-turn on Hilda Ross plaza

An artist rendition of how the Hilda Ross Plaza would look with a full renovation. Photo / Hamilton City Council

The proposed Dame Hilda Ross plaza re-naming and redevelopment will no longer receive funding from the city council after a u-turn at the March 15 council meeting.

While debating if the council should approve $50,000 funding towards the plaza, councillor Garry Mallett put an amendment to cut the amount to $25,000.

His amendment did not gather the votes needed to pass, but when the motion for $50,000 was put forward the vote also failed to pass, leaving no funding.

Former Hamilton mayor Margaret Evans, who is now with TOTI charitable trust and leading the push for the plaza to be redeveloped, said the trust is disappointed.

"It's a very run-down corner and should be high on the transport/footpath refurbishment list.

"We note that council staff said it could be funded from savings on other projects in the current financial year," Ms Evans said.

"We note in the current year there's $1.8 million for footpath replacements, plus $60,000 for street furniture, as well as the underspent $2 million on Victoria on The River development and the River Plan (as staff outlined)."

"We will try and raise the extra funds and in response to councillors' comments, we will ask WEL Networks to cover the full cost of removing the electric box — they offered half price from $30,000 down to $15,000 — plus see what Starbucks will come up with, and those supporting the Garden Place upgrade."

Ms Evans said she understood why councillors have decided to back out of the proposal with a 19 per cent rates increase in the next two years on the horizon.

"It's great that they now seem keen to check out the smaller details in their huge and complex council budget. We will be making submissions too."

On March 15, councillor Mark Bunting was the first to show support for Mr Mallett's amendment.

"We are rubbing the public noses in it and Dame Hilda Ross would not have wanted that," Mr Bunting said.

"We are asking residents to make tough choices, pay a crippling rates rise or forgo community assets."

Councillor Ryan Hamilton, called the move hypocritical as council was looking to save money at the same time.

Councillor Paula Southgate supported the $50,000 grant towards the plaza and wanted the funding to come out of bigger projects such as Garden Place or the Central City Park.

"It is frustrating because I would like to see this council focus on the bigger savings that it could focus on," Ms Southgate said.

Councillor Macpherson also supported Ms Southgate's point.

"We are worrying ourselves over small items.

"We are getting good bang for our buck here," Mr Macpherson said.

"If we do not spend that amount it is not going to reduce rates."