Splash project could sink zero rates rise

Vision Wanganui's promised zero-rates rise would be unlikely if the $4 million Splash Centre extension is given the go-ahead.
Members of the Aquatic Working Party presented the Wanganui District Council's community committee with an in-depth update on the project at a meeting on Tuesday.
Council recreation and culture co-ordinator Eric Sims said if an extension was built the current per-annum pool operating cost of $334,000 would jump to $825,000.
Currently the council gets pool funding via the community facilities charge in rates bills.
The swimming pool component now costs $29.50 per rating unit whereas the extension would up the charge to $57.25. Those figures didn't include interest on any money borrowed above the $1.5 million council had already pledged it would borrow for the project, Mr Sim said.
He said as well as the pledged $1.5 million from council the Aquatic Working Party also had $500,000 in the hand from the Powerco Trust.
There was a brief comic interlude at this point in the meeting when Cr Sue Westwood pointed out Mr Sim's accompanying PowerPoint presentation said Powerco had donated the money.
"Mr Sim, you'll need to change that. It's not Powerco, they're not that generous."
Mr Sim said the in-hand funding left another $2 million to be raised if the project was given the go ahead.
Aquatic Working Party members consulting architect Dennis McGowan and Splash Centre manager Danny Jonas also presented information.
Mr McGowan said council could either choose to confirm the next stage of the project by approving working drawings be made and tenders called for or replan the extension on a reduced basis, leaving out some of the facilities to reduce costs.
Committee members chair Sue Pepperell, deputy chair Barbara Bullock, Murray Hughes, Marty Lindsay and Sue Westwood (Mayor Michael Laws is also a committee member but left early) decided to acknowledge the presentation but defer any decisions to a strategy committee meeting next week which all councillors sat on.
The strategy committee is set to discuss council spending on capital works.
There are a number of competing projects asking for council funding including the Splash Centre upgrade, the Sarjeant extension, the waterfront development and the Heart of Wanganui project.
Mr Laws has previously indicated a referendum would be held to let Wanganui people decide which projects were given public money.
Mr McGowan outlined the history of the project which got underway 2002 when the then-council asked Sport Wanganui to form the Aquatic Working Party and look at the pool's future.
In February 2003 the party put forward a proposal for a $2 million extension but council called for further consultation and then in April of this year requested consideration of a heat recovery system and the working party went back to the drawing board.
Mr McGowan said the second proposal incorporated more features suggested in the consultation stages and included a heat recovery system.
While scheme two cost more, the energy-efficient heat recovery system would save money long term.
Possibly more exciting features for pool users are the proposed learn to swim pool, expanded aerobics pool, hot pools, a caf? and room for the future installation of a hydro slide.
Mr Jonas said studies projected a 50 percent increase in patronage with the upgrade of the centre.
"And we haven't considered any entry charge increase at this stage," Mr Jonas said.