Key changes to Projects and Programmes

The following changes to the Long-Term Plan were made as a result of public submissions and recent Council decisions.

City Strategic Framework: Strand A – Investing in Our People

North-east sector pool

Funding provision of $500,000 (part of the specification design stage) for the North East Sector Pool will be transferred from 2008/09 to 2011/12.

Playground equipment

Funding provision of $35,000 for playground equipment at Elliott Park will be brought forward from 2011/12 to 2007/08.

Funding provision of $35,000 for playground equipment at Wiltshire Drive Park (in the St James subdivision) will be brought forward from 2008/09 to 2006/07.

Parks and Gardens – Hamilton Gardens

Capital funding of $32,000 in 2007/08 will enable completion of the Char Bagh Garden at Hamilton Gardens.

Capital funding of $64,800 per annum from 2010/11 to 2013/14 will also be provided for the development of the Fantasy Gardens (tropical, mythological and green egg gardens) in the enclosed sector at Hamilton Gardens.

Additional funding of $108,000 in 2006/07 is provided for the Hamilton Gardens Information Centre and staff facilities project.

Funding provision of $17,900 per annum (commencing 2006/07) will be made available for Council to take over the operation and maintenance of the Permaculture Garden at Hamilton Gardens.

Council staff will investigate and report to Council by December 2006 on the feasibility and implications of charging tour groups for visiting Hamilton Gardens.

Hydrotherapy pool

Funding provision of $180,000 will be made available in 2006/07 for the design of a hydrotherapy pool to be located at Waterworld.

Council will contribute up to 33 per cent ($590,000) of the capital funding required to construct a hydrotherapy pool in 2011/12 conditional upon Waikato District Health Board at least matching Council's financial contribution. The balance of the construction costs is to be raised from other community sources.

Council will also request a financial contribution from the Waikato District Health Board towards the ongoing cost of the operation and maintenance of the hydrotherapy pool once constructed.

Swimming facilities

An 80 per cent contribution will be made to the University of Waikato Campus Pool in 2007/08 ($211,200) and 2008/09 ($182,600) to enable remedial works and upgrades. This funding is subject to the agreement that:

The facility will remain open to the community for at least a further 10 years

Council approves any increase in attendance charges.

Council declined the University of Waikato's request for funding towards a proposed indoor stadium based at the university but will review this position following Council's decision on the scope of the indoor stadium proposal for Claudelands Events Centre and an assessment of current and proposed recreational facilities in the city.

City Strategic Framework: Strand B – Creating Identity and Prosperity

The Meteor theatre renewal

Funding provision of $1.321m for The Meteor theatre development will be brought forward from 2009/10 to 2006/07. An additional $279,000 will also be made available in 2006/07 (ie, a total of $1.6m) for the development of The Meteor theatre (subject to Wintec meeting the operating costs and lease payments for the Creative Hub Incubator for the arts and culture precinct).

Events Sponsorship Fund

Funding provision for the Events Sponsorship Fund will decrease by $250,000 in 2006/07 and by $350,000 per annum between 2007/08 and 2015/16, ie, total funding provision of $21.9m over the next 10 years. This reduction in funding recognises the reduced annual costs of staging the V8 Supercars Street Race.

World Rowing Championships

Council will provide $300,000 from the Events Sponsorship Fund towards sponsorship of the World Rowing Championships to be held at Lake Karapiro in 2010.

• More information

Lugton Park Combined Sports Association Incorporated

Council will contribute $320,000 in 2006/07 towards the construction of the proposed indoor tennis facility at Lugton Park.

The funding previously made by Council ($200,000) towards construction of a new inline hockey stadium at Lugton Park (noting that the existing funding arrangement expires in June 2006) will be extended to June 2008. This will enable sufficient time for the balance of the required funds of $1.8m to be raised from other sources.

Council will provide $390,000 funding towards the construction of bowling facilities at Lugton Park subject to:

• Council receiving this amount of revenue from the sale of the existing Hillcrest Bowling Club site
• Eastlink having obtained the full funding required for its new clubrooms
• Support for the proposal from Bowls Waikato.

Claudelands Events Centre

Funding provision for the redevelopment of Claudelands Events Centre (comprising the upgrade and refurbishment of existing buildings and surrounds and the construction of an indoor stadium/major events hall) has been amended to reflect the likely construction timetable, which will see construction start in 2007/08 rather than 2006/07. Funding has been retained in 2006/07 for detailed design, resource consents and relevant levies.

Hamilton City Leisure Centre

Council will subsidise costs related to the operation of the Hamilton City Leisure Centre (and associated community programmes) commencing in 2006/07 (funding provision of $90,000 per annum for the next 10 years).

City Strategic Framework: Strand C – Protecting Our Future

Waikato Biodiversity Forum

Funding provision of $3500 per annum will be made to the Waikato Biodiversity Forum to contribute towards biodiversity work in Hamilton and the Waikato region.

Waiwhakareke Lake subdivision

Council will invest $4m (in 2006/07) in the development of five hectares of Council-owned land to create a residential subdivision adjacent to Waiwhakareke Lake that incorporates environmentally sustainable design and initiatives. Council plans to sell sections in the subdivision from 2007/08.

Temple View water supply trunkmains duplication

The water supply trunkmains duplication project for Temple View has been deferred from 2006/07 to 2008/09 ($1.07m).

Boundary Road/Fifth Avenue

Funding provision of $9.88m has been made between 2006/07 and 2010/11 for the three-laning of Boundary Road as part of the Access Hamilton strategy. This will provide relief from traffic congestion along Boundary Road during peak times.

Other Policy Changes

Council's rating policy

Council adopted the 'Rates Remission – Remission of Rates to 50% Non-Rateable Sporting and Cultural Organisations Policy'.

Note:
A remission under this policy is only available from 1 July 2007 after the increased charges have been implemented.

Funding provision of $25,000 will also be made in 2007/08 to implement the new policy.

Council's Development and Financial Contributions Policy

From 1 July 2006 the revised Development and Financial Contributions Policy will apply to all new resource and building consents and authorisations for service connections.

The policy distinguishes infill development costs (which generally related to the augmentation of existing infrastructure) from greenfield development costs (where higher costs reflect the need for new infrastructure). The development contribution rates now include the costs of reserves acquisition which was formerly funded through contributions taken under the Proposed District Plan.

Development contributions apply at each stage of development but adjustments have been made to shift the burden to the subdivision stage, reducing the impact at the building consent stage.