Michael’s Column –  Stratford Press
2 July 2009


Swimming Complex

I have received a few questions relating to the swimming complex upgrade.

The Council’s Policy and Services Meeting in June decided to recommend to Council that now is not the time to form a fundraising group due to the existing economic conditions. Council will consider that recommendation in July. Council did receive briefings from both the TSB Community Trust and TET in recent times.

The answer to the question of whether Council still supports the project in principle is yes.

The answer to the question of what a typical fundraising plan could look like is:

Six million dollars required, made up of
-    three $1 million supporters, likely to be funding trusts;
-    ten individuals and businesses giving $100,000 each;
-    twenty individuals and businesses giving $50,000 each;
-    the remaining $1 million from smaller community support.

Readers will be able to judge as well as anyone whether they think such businesses and individuals exist in the Stratford community at present. Of course, there are many other combinations of numbers that are also possible.

The answer to the question of user-pays is that to borrow the money via loan over a 25 year period and pay off via user pays would mean the 55,000 swims per annum would pay an additional $8.40 each at the door per visit. Readers can judge for themselves whether 55,000 swims per annum would continue at such a fee level.

The answer to the question of does the community really support the project – who knows? Council received 206 submissions to its LTCCP, not all of which expressed an opinion on the pool complex. This is from a population of 8,992 and 4,500 individual rating properties. In addition to submissions, elected members also rely on their own information gathering techniques and their personal judgements.

The answer to the question of why not a ratepayer poll? – a poll can be run, but the best time would be in October 2010 in conjunction with the next local elections, otherwise the cost of the poll is around $20,000.


Radio Update

You can catch the Stratford District Council update every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:05am on the 1557AM Coast Breakfast Programme.

Remember you can contact us if you have any issues or feedback – we want to hear from you. You can phone us on 06 7656099 or email me at ceo@stratford.govt.nz

Michael