Letters: 'We need housing in Whanganui more than the velodrome'

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It's time, councillors. I share Trevor Stratton's misgivings (Letters, April 7) about the district council's preferred option for a $20 million velodrome roofing project.

I suspect many councillors were uneasy about giving that option the tick but chose what they saw as the line of least resistance, after enduring years of fierce lobbying by what became the Regional Velodrome Development Trust.

The squeakiest wheel of all has been councillor Philippa Baker-Hogan who, after years of velodrome lobbying, went all out in her 2019 campaign for a fifth term as the sole bearer of the "Velodrome Events Centre" banner.

Her share of the vote fell from 2016 and she came in 4000 votes shy of top dog Josh Chandulal-MacKay.

The events centre was a last-minute idea and, at an estimated $36.4m, is the most expensive of three options put forward as part of the current Long-Term Plan consultation.

Ratepayers, current and future, cannot afford either the risky capital investment or annual operating costs of Options 2 and 3.

I urge you all to opt for Option 1, decommissioning, in your submissions and to consider Trevor's proposal to use the velodrome land for housing.

I'll go further and suggest a well-publicised design competition to start the ball rolling with ideas for a model eco-village comprising mixed housing, to be developed in a profitable partnership between the council, co-funders like the Government, and a developer with a record in truly sustainable building.

Talk about putting Whanganui on the map while addressing our chronic housing shortage … It's time, councillors. [Abridged]

CAROL WEBB
Whanganui

A library to be proud of

I was interested to read Steve Baron's letter about the velodrome (Chronicle, April 3).

Now that the council's long-term consultation document is out, I am sure there will be a lot of discussion around the use of ratepayers' money.

I realise that a roof over the cycle track could bring extra business to the city's hoteliers, eateries and the like, and pleasure to some sportspeople, but the council's obligation is to the population as a whole.

One of the projects outlined in the 10-year plan is an extension to the Davis Library at a comparatively modest sum, per household, compared to the velodrome.

The Davis Library is possibly the most frequently used of all council facilities. I have never seen it empty, and often it is difficult to find space to sit. Currently certain shelves high and low are difficult to access.

The extension, as described in Option 1 of the proposal, would enhance the setting and rectify these current problems, as well as catering for our increasing population.

The location of the public library is one of the first questions newcomers ask. Let's make the Davis a library to be proud of.

JOAN ROSIER-JONES
Whanganui East

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