General election poll update

Latest poll results with 12 days till the election:

Candidate vote (64 votes total)

Jill Pettis - Labour 59% (38 votes)
Chester Borrows - National 27% (17 votes)
Debbie Lucas - Progressive 3% (2 votes)
John Milnes - Greens 6% (4 votes)
Undecided - 0% (0 votes)
Won't vote - 3% (2 votes)
In Te Tai Hauauru - 2% (1 vote)

Party vote (56 votes total)

99 MP Party - 0% (0 votes)
ACT New Zealand - 0% (0 votes)
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party - 0% (0 votes)
Christian Heritage New Zealand - 0% (0 votes)
Destiny New Zealand - 2% (1 vote)
Direct Democracy Party - 4% (2 votes)
Jim Anderton's Progressive - 0% (0 votes)
Libertarianz - 4% (2 votes)
Mâori Party - 5% (3 votes)
New Zealand Family Rights Protection Party - 0% (0 votes)
New Zealand First Party - 2% (1 vote)
New Zealand Labour Party - 50% (28 votes)
One New Zealand Party - 0% (0 votes)
Outdoor Recreation NZ - 0% (0 votes)
The Alliance - 7% (4 votes)
The Greens, The Green Party of Aotearoa/New Zealand - 20% (11 votes)
The New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit - 0% (0 votes)
The New Zealand National Party - 7% (4 votes)
The Republic of New Zealand Party - 0% (0 votes)
United Future New Zealand - 0% (0 votes)

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Deluged with Splash

Well we did ask for it. In fact there's so much information, we'll present it without (much) comment. Most unlike us, we know. It's worth reading through all this waffle, because it answers a lot of questions that have been arising in comments. The highlighting in what follows is ours:

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ANNUAL PLAN

The Splash extension and the riverfront development will be funded from the sale of nonperforming Council assets. The footpath upgrade will be funded from rates.

The capital funding allocated in the LTCCP for 2005/06 for the Splash Centre extension has been excluded from this Annual Plan, as it will be funded from the sale of non-performing or under-performing Council assets (land and property).

The Council intends to fund the Splash Centre extension and the city waterfront development from the sale of non-performing or under-performing Council assets (land and property). These properties were advertised concurrently with the annual plan.

The Splash Centre and riverfront development will be funded from future asset sales. Neither the asset sale proceeds nor the capital costs are included in this Annual Plan.

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DECEMBER 7 COMMUNITY COMMITTEE MINUTES

Discussion

The Chairman welcomed Denis McGowan, Danny Jonas and Eric Sim to the meeting and invited them to present their information on the Splash Centre Extension project. Mr McGowan tabled a report providing drawings, a history of the extension project, information on the project team and the current status of the project. Mr Sim then elaborated on the operating costs for the current Splash Centre and costs forecast for an extended Splash Centre. The overall operating cost if the proposed development proceeded, would be 147% of the current cost leading to a projected community facility’s charge for each ratepayer under Swimming Pools of $57.25. Mr Sim addressed funding issues. $500,000 was in hand received from the Powerco Community Trust. Wanganui District Council had identified $1.5 million of borrowing for the project. The outstanding balance of $2 million would be raised from the community through sponsorships or borrowing.

Mr Jonas addressed the Sport Wanganui contract which managed the Splash Centre. He said that through extending the facilities it was expected patronage would increase by 50% but it was fairly certain that costs would increase by 100%. A customer survey undertaken in 2003 suggested 65% of current users would use an extended Splash Centre more often. The preferred family reason for using the Splash Centre was recreation. At present there was low satisfaction with recreational facilities available and ‘personal water space’ at the Splash Centre.

In summary Mr McGowan said the current status for the project was that as of December 2004, the design in programme was now established and the level of expenditure now required confirmation. There were two options:

• Confirm the project to this stage and confirm the next stage to working drawings and tenders. This would allow corporate and community fundraiser to occur with confidence, or:
• Replan the extensions to the Splash Centre on a reduced basis.

Mr McGowan thanked the Council for its support of the project to date.

In response to a Councillor’s questions Mr Hindson said that the Splash Centre extension project would be further considered by the Strategy Committee at its meeting to be held on 15 December 2004. He said that the Council could commission McGowan Associates to develop a staged response programme and costings to enable the project to proceed to public consultation.

Strategy - Splash Centre Extension Update

Eric Sim, Recreation and Culture Co-ordinator, reported as follows:

“Following a presentation on the Splash Centre Extension project (Ref A) to the Community Committee meeting held on Tuesday 7 December 2004, it was recommended that the Splash Centre Update be forwarded to the next meeting of the Strategy Committee for discussion.

History
An Aquatic Working Party was formed in 2002 to look at the future swimming needs for the community, in terms of facilities.

The Working Party developed an initial concept plan and presented it to the Council in February 2003, this resulted in the concept going to the community for consultation. Following the public consultation exercise, a revised concept plan was prepared in July 2004 that included a number of extra facilities at the Splash Centre, which the community had identified as priorities. A quantity surveyor costed this plan in October 2004 and Significance Policy Statement – The decision required as a result of this report is not considered significant in terms of the Significance Policy, however funding issues have the potential to become significant but will be addressed through the 2005/06 Annual Plan process.

Activity: Swimming Pools File Ref: 5/22/5G
Officer: Eric Sim LTCCP Ref: PP77 - 80
Designation: Recreation and Culture Co-ordinator
Date Written: 15 December 2004 WDC Minutes
Report back: Yes

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COUNCIL, DECEMBER 2004 MINUTES Page 279
Strategy Committee 15 December 2004

Strategy Committee provided an initial estimate of $4,000,000, all inclusive. These costings have been peer reviewed and the reviewer is comfortable with the figures.

Operational Cost to Council

The current cost to the Council for the Splash Centre is $334,000 per annum. This includes the management contract, repairs and maintenance, associated property costs and interest payments etc. The forecast cost to the Council to operate the original pool and new extension in today’s dollars is $825,000. This includes $100,000 of interest repayments on the $1,500,000 capital funding identified in the Long-term Council Community Plan (LTCCP), a doubling of the property and maintenance costs as the facility will double in size. The management contract would rise from the current $243,000 to $556,000. The interest repayments for the Splash Extension have been included in the LTCCP starting in the 2006/07 year. An allowance has been included in the LTCCP for increases in operational expenditure in 2006/07, however there is still a shortfall of $329,000 which needs to be addressed.

Patronage

The projected increase in patronage is 50%. However, Sport and Recreation Wanganui are targeting a 100% to 120% increase in patronage as new markets become available. It must be noted that these forecasts are based on the existing entry fees. Increases in entry charges have not been considered at this stage, but it is a decision the Council may need to consider in the future as means of reducing the Council contribution towards the operational cost of the facility.

It is interesting to note that respondents to a public survey in 2003 undertaken by Sport and Recreation Wanganui indicated that 65% would use an extended Splash complex more often.

Discussion

The current concept plan for the Splash Centre extension is the result of extensive public consultation, which resulted in the community identifying what facilities should be included in the Splash complex extension. This resulted in the anticipated cost rising from $2,000,000 to $4,000,000. At present there is a $2,000,000 shortfall in funding which will need to be raised before work can be commenced.

The timeframe for the project is six months for finalising the design and 12 months for the physical works until the doors are officially opened to the public. Whilst the management contract appears to have more than doubled, this needs to be taken in the context that with a complex twice the current size, logically the expenditure will also double but the anticipated increase in patronage is only 50%. The current contractual arrangement is that the contractor retains all patronage revenue to supplement the Councils contribution, but there is a shortfall between a 100% increase in operating costs and a 50% increase in patronage. The management contract figure would reduce should the entrance charges be increased.

COUNCIL, DECEMBER 2004 MINUTES Page 280

Review of Capital Expenditure

The Mayor has stated that all non-essential capital expenditure will be subject to a public referendum. It is anticipated that this review will form part of the Councils 2005/06 annual plan process. That being the case, subject to the community confirming the Splash extension as their first preference, the Council will be in a position to commission the working drawings in July 2005. This will mean that the extension should open its doors circa January 2007 subject to all the funding being in place.

There is a feeling that the community want the extension to be opened as soon as possible. To progress matters, the Council may wish to commission the working drawings concurrently with the referenda. Subject to the Community confirming the Splash extension as their first preference and all the funding being in place, the Council will be in a position to accept the lowest tender from July 2005 and the extension should open its doors as early as July 2006.

There is a risk associated with commissioning the working drawings concurrently with the annual plan process in that the Community may say that either its too expensive, its not their first choice or not all the funding is in place. If it is too expensive the Council will have to instruct the architect to redesign the pool to suit the budget constraints. This will cost the Council up to an additional $100,000 and set the opening back some six months to January 2007.

If the community decide its not their first priority or all the funding is not in place. This will mean that the architect will have to retender the work when the project is either next in line for commissioning or when the funding is in place. The cost to the Council will be an additional $2,000 - $3,000 with corresponding delays in the opening.

Summary

Given the information on the capital and operational costs the Council needs to decide whether it wishes to commission, ahead of the referenda, the next stage of the process, that being to develop working drawings and tender documents or to await the outcome of the referenda. The benefits of proceeding now is that an accurate cost will be gained from the market place which will in turn allow corporate and community fundraising to occur with confidence, this can reduce the project timeline by up to six months.

If the $4,000,000 overall project budget is an issue, an option is to revisit the plans for the extension with a view to reduce the number of facilities available for the public. While this sounds simple, it will take some time and may not achieve the anticipated savings.”

The Chairman welcomed Mr Denis McGowan and Mr Danny Jonas, members of the Aquatic Working Party, in attendance to clarify any issues for Councillors.

COUNCIL, DECEMBER 2004 MINUTES Page 281

Mr McGowan tabled a proposed floor plan for the Splash Centre additions.

Discussion

In response to a question Mr Jonas confirmed that Sport Wanganui’s contract for managing the Splash Centre expired in June 2006, prior to the projected date for commissioning the Splash Centre Extension.

Denis McGowan reiterated his comments made at the Community Committee’s meeting held on 7 December 2004. In discussion it was noted that the public had been consulted and that a very informative Strategy Report had been presented to the Council during its previous term. Cr Westwood commented that the updated estimate of $4M was considerably more than the $2.3M established as the cost of the extension in the Long-term Council Community Plan. She believed that the public needed to be clear about this capital expenditure requirement for the Splash Centre Extension.

Committee’s Recommendations

Proposed by Mayor Laws, seconded by Cr McGregor:
THAT detailed working drawings are finalised and final costing estimates sought for the Splash Centre Extension
AND THAT the Council’s financial commitment to the Splash Centre Extension be referred to the 2005/06 Annual Plan process.
CARRIED
ACTION: Keith Hindson/Eric Sim

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29 APRIL EMAIL, written on instructions of the Mayor

In response to your specific enquiry re operating expenditure the following is provided:

"Mayor Michael Laws says that the information provided is sufficient. The additional operating expenses of the two major projects (i.e. the Sarjeant Gallery and Splash Centre Extensions) would need to be borne by the organisations responsible for running the facilities and not by the Council.

Council's contribution is the capital funding and proponents of some projects may need to cut their cloth as a consequence".

Ian McGowan
Deputy CEO

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So, it seems clear that:

• The cost of capital works has risen from $2.3 million to $4 million - and the shortfall of $2 million will need to be found from sponsorships or borrowing.
• It's Council's intention to fund capital expenditure on the Splash Centre from the sale of non-performing or under-performing Council assets (land and property).
• If the $4 million figure proves to be too expensive, the architect will have to redesign the pool to suit the budget constraints. This will cost up to an additional $100,000.
• Operational expenditure will double but the anticipated increase in patronage is only 50 percent (though Sport Wanganui think that, somehow, patronage will magically increase by 120 percent, despite only 65 percent of people indicating they would use an extended Splash complex "more often" (and just how often is more often?)).
• The operating cost would be 147% of the current cost, leading to an increased community facility charge for each ratepayer of $57.25.
• Update (8.25 pm) Oh yes, and - while not on the immediate agenda - increases in entry charges may need to be considered in the future as means of reducing the Council contribution.

Meanwhile in this article from our friends at River City Press (1.26Mb pdf file) the man in charge of the project, John Unsworth, sounds incredibly optimistic that there's a way through this financial miasma (but then, it is the Good News paper):

Discussing funding, John said the Powerco Community Trust’s contribution of $500,000 had been a tremendous start, and the Wanganui District Council had committed $2.5 million over two years, with $1.25 million available from July 1. So he hoped the project would be kicked into life this year.

The extension was a council asset and project and the Wanganui Splash Centre Development Committee would work with council to find the necessary funding. Work on the extension could begin by the end of the year, John said, “and by 2007, hopefully, it will be operational."

"Kicked into life"? Interesting choice of words, John. While we've been accused by one very odd commenter of having a horse fixation, we can't but wonder if "kicking into life" is what one may try to do with a deceased member of the equine species.

Now that the post-referendum euphoria has worn off, and promises made under its influence are starting to look distinctly silly three months down the track, perhaps Mr Unsworth might like to answer these questions (we'll email him a copy, in case he's one of the few Wanganui-ites who don't visit the blog):

You were quoted in the River City Press on June 9 saying the WDC had committed $2.5 million to the Splash Centre project, with $1.25m by July 1.

1. On what basis did you make that claim?
2. Can you confirm that that money has not been made available to the project?
3. How much money is actually in hand at this point?
4. What is your understanding about the sourcing of funds for the (a) capital works involved and (b) the ongoing increased running costs?
5. How do you see your role and that of your fellow “promoters”?
6. Is the project running to the schedule you envisaged when you made your comments in June?
7. Do you feel you have been misled about the nature and timing of council funding?

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Not waving, drowning

So, who'd be in Winston's Italian leather brogues right now? The Green Parrot Emperor is on a hiding to nothing in Tauranga, the Winston First party vote is looking like the Whanganui mudflats at low tide (so that's where the "man for a change" billboard pictures were shot), and his only hope for a coalition partner fast disappearing into the sunset.

But wait, Winnie, all is not lost. Far from giddy political heights of a late night at Bellamy's and even farther from the excitement of blue rinse bridge clubs of Tauranga, the spirit of Winston First thrives in Wanganui, World Capital of Direct Dumbocracy.

This loyal adherence to a policy no one wants puts us in mind of Hiroo Onoda - the valiant but misguided Japanese soldier who took more than 29 years of splendid solitude on a godforsaken island called Luban to finally accept that the Sun God Emperor had become a white dwarf and the Greater Winston Co-Prosperity Sphere was a dead Peking Duck.

Just a kamikaze flight from those Whanganui mudflats, the Diva of the Ditch proudly but misguidedly flies the Winston First ensign, looking for all the world like a latter day Onoda shouting "Direct Democracy for All" and "We shall never surrender".

Then suddenly, amid the flax bushes and miniature chilli plants camouflaging Mount Guyton there fluttered last week the flag of victory and hope, planted in reckless disregard of their personal safety by those two fearless soldiers for the anti-imperial cause, Lieutenants McGregor and Dahya.

As the flag of Direct Dumbocracy fell still, a new breeze stirred among the chilli plants and a new cry was heard, one to which the Boy King appeared to have no answer. Why not ask the people of the Empire whether they really want to have an Emperor at all?, called the brave Lieutenants of the people's army.

So, 60 years and a few days since the formal surrender of Japan on September 2 1945 the loyal and not-so-loyal subjects of the Boy King await the answer to this most apt and vexing question.

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Illusions shattered

The Watchers' ceaseless vigilance doesn't stop with keeping tabs on the Diva and his fellow council members and staff. Aware of the treasure trove of late modernist civic architecture of which Wanganui rightly boasts, LawsWatch today starts a series of occasional pieces examining how these important buildings are faring under the Diva's regime.

We've always particularly admired 101 Guyton Street, built in the style of those other architectural treasures the Memorial Hall and Wanganui Gas offices - and with the trademark concrete grid intended, no doubt, to add to the sense of drama and intrigue about the daily lives of our chosen leaders and their staff.

So it was with mounting alarm that our team of Civic Building Watchers found a distinct modification to the facade of the building, behind the grid and in the front glass wall of that most important of all rooms ... (no not the dunny) the Mayoral Office.

We wonder if the Historic Places Trust was consulted before a large-ish sheet of MDF board was put across part of the glass pane?

What could have brought about this modification? A touching gesture of empathy with the residents of the Pepper Block over at Wanganui East? Or the start of the diVision-promised public artworks programme?

Note to Sam Hoyle: There's a theory of law'n'order known as "Fixing Broken Windows". It worked very well in New York under Rudy Giuliani, and we're sure the Diva would want you to consider it's introduction locally. In essence, it holds that people who go round doing naughty things such as breaking windows are likely to go on to commit far worse indiscretions, so you've got to crack down on them, hard, as soon as the first window is broken. We leave it in your able hands.

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The Great Property Sale

From the agenda for yesterday's Community Development meeting (less than ably chaired by a particularly Diva-devoted Nicki Higgie, as reported over at CouncilWatch) comes this little gem - the minutes of the Tupoho Working Party meeting on June 15.

We wonder if it should even have been included in the public copies of the Community Development agenda because the agenda for the working party notes that the "Sale of Council Properties" item was "taken in confidence for protection of information" (which, by the way, is not a legitimate reason for secrecy under the LGOIMA - a reason for protecting the information must be stated).

There seems no doubt that the Diva wants to flog off around 90 properties and that finding the $2.5m promised to his splash centre mates is getting desperate.

About 60 of the properties potentially for the chop are either Harbour or City Endowment and this report says the proceeds of any sales of those properties have to be reinvested in more property.

So why is Kevin Ross saying (in the second-to-last paragraph) that "some [presumably harbour endowment] sites have a river view and council may be put under pressure to sell"? Pressure from whom? Perhaps the same source that Nicki told artists was applying "some push from within Council" to sell "a little bit" of the Sarjeant's collection.

Of the remaining 30 or so properties that are not endowment it seems there's a fair number of reserves. The Diva's meister plan is no doubt to drive all the sporting bodies into the Springvale sports stadium so he can flog off the likes of Wembley Park and the Gonville hockey grounds. But the reserves are one of the features that make Wanganui so attractive.

Has someone told Winston of his mentor's plans? NZ First policy is to "actively discourage local councils from selling off key strategic assets". Instead, public assets should be "commercially managed in the public interest and ownership". He's even going to specifically "review the process of local government sales of infrastructure assets". Hey Winston, how about starting that review in Wanganui?!

Interesting also that Ken Mair apparently wants further meetings "to discuss concepts Iwi may wish to process further and to look at each property individually". Ken has made clear the Iwi are not amused by the Diva wanting to flog off properties under treaty claim (pdf file).

And since there's also trouble brewing over his aversion to a Maori ward (and his tactic of putting it on the referendum, thus letting the racists have a field day) and the H in Whanganui, it seems unlikely the Iwi will be keen to see a Great Property Sale. So interesting times lie ahead.

Still, given that property developers are renowned for their aesthetic sensibility, we're sure the infill housing on previously publicly-owned land will look just lovely.

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Shaken, not stirred

Arts terrorism today struck the sleepy hamlet of Wanga-vague-as.

Townsfolk awoke to find pamphlets had been strewn on the Diva's front lawn. In a move calculated to strike fear into the heart of peace-loving people everywhere, pieces of crudely printed paper were carelessly dumped around the St Johns Hill pied-a-terre with absolutely no thought to the danger.

"If it had rained overnight, we could have had a mulch situation," said the head of Wanga-vague-asses quickly formed crack anti-terrorism unit, Bill Scroggins. "But luckily I was here with my Council broom and wheelie bin before anything too serious happened. What? A policeman? No I'm not a bloody policeman you twerp, they're busy downtown cordoning off the streets in case any more office equipment becomes airborne." And, donning his bright orange protective clothing, Mr Scroggins bravely wheeled his bin toward the mess.

"That's the kind of loyalty that deserves reward," a clearly distressed and sensitive Diva said, between mouthfuls of the raw meat he usually consumes for breakfast. "I may order R.. err I mean the new CEO whose name I can't disclose to take him off the staff retrenchment list". Obviously shaken, the Diva momentarily stopped recreationally poking his caged wolverine to raise a delicate finger skywards. For a moment LawsWatch thought it was the Diva's familiar farewell. "I could have got a paper cut," he said, clearly unable to contemplate the implications of having his favourite gesture marred by an ugly band-aid.

Vowing to bravely continue the fight against "anyone who looks, you know, kind of aesthetic", the obviously distraught civic leader backed his mayoral grunt-car over a couple of onlookers. Crying "get back to Raetihi, you genetic deficients!", the delicate and sensitive mayor burned rubber as he headed to a top secret, invitation-only meeting on open and accountable governance.


Meanwhile, LawsWatch has been able to obtain an exclusive interview with the group responsible. "We're the popular front for the... ahhh... the... errr...," said a man whom we'll call "Terry" because that's what his friends kept calling him, to which he'd reply "Shut up man! What did we say about names?!".

"The uhhh... liberation fighters for...," "Terry" continued, adding "look, can we just leave it till I've had another cone, man? I'm like all inspired out for the day after that lawn thing, you know?"

Asked for the group's motivation, Terry focused on this reporter (well, he gave it a good try) and his anger was clearly evident. "What is it with this 'motivation' c**p man?" he asked. "Like, our lecturers and stuff at U... I mean the secret terrorist training camp... are always telling us we need motivation. Well let me tell you, man, motivation isn't easy," he said, rolling another curious cigarette. "Only the other day the fascist forces of totalitarianism made me fill in a form just to get my student grant continued."

Asked about the location of the terrorists' secret training camp, Terry took a long drag and claimed never to be able to find his way there, before greedily consuming three Moro bars and falling asleep.

LawsWatch has been unable to confirm earlier stories that the terrorist's first target was what they thought to be a garden gnome on the Diva's lawn, only to have to return it later when they realised they'd kidnapped Nygllhuw Morris.

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