Let boat run on its own steam, not on handouts

You have to wonder how long the Wanganui District Council can keep throwing money at the PS Waimarie - and how much longer the ratepayers will stomach it.

Yesterday the Wanganui Chronicle revealed that the council had agreed to allow the Waimarie Operating Trust to draw down the $70,000 it had budgeted for in its 2013-14 annual plan earlier, so the trust can pay its bills.

And it's not the first time the council has had to assist the city's historic paddle steamer. Nor is it likely to be the last.

In April, it was decided the Waimarie would not sail over winter due to financial difficulties. Twelve jobs were cut as a result of that decision.

In November 2012, the trust went to the council asking for $40,000 extra funding - on top of the $70,000 in the annual plan - as it struggled to meet shortfalls. At the time, Wanganui mayor Annette Main said it was likely that ratepayer backing would continue in future years.

Earlier shortfalls in May 2012 saw the council give the trust a $30,000 bailout.

And so it goes on ...

Since 1997 the council has put nearly $390,000 into the river boat. It's not a huge amount, but where will it stop?

It's fair enough that the council puts some funding into what is considered to be one of Wanganui's prime tourist attractions - it's an attraction that the word "iconic" is often applied to.

But councillor Michael Laws hit the nail on the head when he said the Waimarie "doesn't make economic sense and never will do".

Wanganui is a small tourist market and the Waimarie won't appeal to every visitor who comes here. Its power to attract is limited by a number of things - cost, weather, its short journey to Upokongaro.

So, at what point does the council decide the value of the Waimarie as an attraction for visitors and locals alike isn't worth the money being put into it?

Perhaps that's the question that we, the ratepayers, need to answer.