Gallery costs
I also got a fright Mr Moles (Chronicle letters; December 9) when I read that Whanganui District Council "has agreed to underwrite any cost over-runs or shortfall in funding" for the Sarjeant Gallery redevelopment project - especially since I'm a current councillor and it was news to me!
I was further concerned when an item came to council on December 5 that contained information that, before the time limit on the Government's $10 million of December 2017, council must underwrite any residual funding shortfall and it must financially underwrite any potential cost escalation that may occur during construction of the gallery extension.
This was never mentioned in the verbal update from the director until questioned, and the paper was simply for noting to council when this is a pretty important issue.
Don't get me wrong - I congratulate the Sarjeant Gallery Trust Board, under the leadership of Nicola Williams, for getting the $10m government pledge over the line and appreciate the potential benefits of this project to our district.
I have only ever asked for transparency and cost control of every aspect from capital to operational costs as they are vital for project success and limiting ratepayer funding which, by my estimate, is about $7m.
What I can assure you, Mr Moles, is that prior to the fundraising deadline in a year's time, the fundraisers must come back to council to inform us exactly where the fundraising is at and what any potential underwriting may be. They must get a formal resolution from council around the underwriting of funding and project cost escalation.
There is still $8.42m to be raised, with $7.4m of that expected to come from major Lottery Grants Board applications - so let's all hope, pray and lobby for a 100 per cent outcome.
With a $3m contingency on the $34.985m total cost, it is expected the quantity surveyors have not under-estimated the final cost of this project.
Finally, I don't know why the Chronicle couldn't have done its job when it was at the meeting and heard the discussion of a really important issue, and reported it to the community like a transparent media outlet.
PHILIPPA BAKER-HOGAN
Whanganui District Councillor
Council on track
It was great to read in the Chronicle on Tuesday that the new boys on the district council are working in a business-like manner for the benefit of the city.
A good business approach has been lacking in council governance for many years and those who have tried have worked in vain. It is to be hoped that the various elected members now move forward and carry the required business attitude to fruition for the benefit of all ratepayers.
Unfortunately, through the democratic process at election time, some people are elected to offices which are not necessarily suited to them, but now a strong driving council team will benefit all us ratepayers.
JOHN SLADE-JONES
Whanganui
2030 progress
The advertorial from the "2030" group (Chronicle, December 13), titled "Progress report No1" raises some worrying issues:
If what this group of four councillors have to say is so newsworthy, then why aren't Chronicle reporters eagerly pursuing them for it? Something, to my mind, is not right here.
Not making any judgmental comment, but I'm curious about the group's perceived need to pay big money to reveal that, even with their large voting power at council, they still can't get their own way.
Are we to assume they know better than every other person on council? Bit of an insult to other councillors, in my humble opinion.
It is difficult to believe this group of successful business people seem not to have thought of picking up the phone to the Chronicle news office to save themselves a pile of advertising money. Or have they tried that?
Sorry 2030 guys, you would have heard of Occam's razor. It's a simpler thing to believe there is something going on "behind the scenes" to make the reality of what you're up to so uninteresting to reporters as well as unpopular to only three other councillors (all you need for a majority vote and for the mayor to at least take notice).
The mayor re-introduced the committee system (Chronicle, December 7), and appointed Alan Taylor of the "2030" group to chair the infrastructure committee. It's impossible to think of a better start our fair-minded mayor has given the 2030 group's major reason for existence, with its four votes, to engage with council's democratic processes?
My compliments to Hamish McDouall for being so willing to acknowledge a group which collectively had so much ratepayer support.
2030 guys, you are in politics now - you have to consider other opinions and can't always get your own way. It's called democracy.
You have superior collective brain power, so think about trying flexibility. It just might work and you might become newsworthy to ratepayers and Chronicle reporters and save your advertising dollars.
STAN HOOD
Aramoho
Peters' mission
I see that Winston Peters wants to be first into the Pike River mine on the rescue mission.
What can we do to help? I can offer a good helmet and I don't expect to see it come back!
DAVID BENNETT
Pacific Helmets
Whanganui
He lost an arm and a leg in a crash that killed three friends.