Kate Stewart: Workshops waste of time

Kate Stewart

I was so excited to read John Maslin's piece on Pensioner Housing, earlier in the week, until I actually read it.

No offence to the author, the article was impeccably written but the only thing I came away from it knowing apart from the fact [Whanganui District] Council want some other group to assume responsibility for them, was that the supposed financial burden of the housing has just been increased due to newly commissioned research.

I think that's probably code for senseless spending of ratepayer money, which in turn is code for "we don't have the balls to get on with the job, but if we fritter our funds on experts we can use them as scapegoats when our final plan (probably forecast for 2020) goes tits up."

Then there's the politically correct "workshop" aka an unnecessary funded morning tea/lunch/afternoon tea or if lucky all three, where people say and re-say what's already been said and then, having achieved bugger all, everyone goes home thinking they've done a great civic service.

Yawnfest!!!

The pensioner housing issue is not exactly a new one, it's been around for as long as some of the flats have remained empty and neglected.

Is a workshop really going to make a difference this late in the game?

I may be taking a somewhat simplistic approach to the problem but common sense tells me the issue of occupancy rates can be easily solved by amending the criteria for eligibility.

No, we clearly don't want party animals living next door to existing pensioner tenants but I'm sure Whanganui has its fair share of quiet, responsible adults, with references, in all age groups who also qualify financially.

Could it really be that easy? I think so.

As more and more people discover the affordability of our real estate, prices will begin to rise with demand and more than ever, as a traditionally low income city, rental residents of all ages will be desperately seeking rent controlled properties.

More money coming in by way of rents also means borrowing less for maintenance and upkeep. The sooner we fill the vacancies the better.

Lower the age barrier, argue age discrimination if you must but stop throwing good money after bad in pursuit of a solution to a problem that has plagued for us for years.

Clearly the pensioner demand is not there ... so broaden the search for suitable tenants, keep these valuable assets on the council books and give some deserving local residents their chance at an affordable happily ever after.

What is it about government where they just have that innate ability to make things as difficult as possible. It's as if they want to stand in their own way. Creating problems so they can then give off the illusion that they are solving them and how, no matter how poor they say they are, every solution must start with spending tens of thousands of dollars on commissioned reports, research and enquiries.

Council needs to man/woman up and just get it done. Stop hiding behind time and money wasting committees, panels and workshops and do what you're paid to do.

Kate Stewart is a politically incorrect reluctant mother of three, a staunch advocate of common sense and three-ply toilet tissue - feedback to investik8@gmail.com