Waipa may seek $5.24 million from government
Waipā District Council has opted to take the first step towards applying for $5.24 million in government funding linked to three waters reform.
But not before a split council decision which saw some elected members voting to snub the funding offer.
Government has developed a $2 billion ‘Better Off ‘ fund to help councils pay for community improvement projects. Projects must help build resilience to climate change or natural hazards, enable housing development and growth or support community improvements.
Waipā chief executive Garry Dyet said while the Better Off fund had been developed as part of Three Waters reform, applying for money did not signal Council supported reform of water, wastewater and stormwater services. At Tuesday’s Council meeting, Council reiterated its strong opposition to the reforms and asked that the Water Services Entities Bill be withdrawn, he said.
“These are entirely different issues. The government has put money on the table for community improvement and the majority view around the table was that Waipā ratepayers have just as much right to that money as anyone else,” he said.
“If we can secure $5.24 million in funding for our district from central government, that’s substantial money we don’t have to find elsewhere, including from our own ratepayers. From a purely financial point of view, it makes sense to apply for the money.”
Council has short-listed seven potential projects for funding; the design and build of the Te Ara Wai Land Wars museum in Te Awamutu; the development of a resource recovery centre, implementing cycling/walking projects across the district; the Te Awamutu/Ngā Roto/Pirongia cycle trail; a management plan for Lake Nga Roto; a feasibility study for a new Cambridge library and street lighting improvements in urban areas. Most projects are already included in Waipā’s Long-term Plan.
Further work will now be done by staff to define costs and engage with mana whenua and iwi, as well as the wider community, about the funding offer and proposed priorities.
Staff will bring more detailed proposals back to the Service Delivery Committee in September for a final decision before any applications are submitted to government. If the projects are accepted, Council will enter into formal funding agreements with the first round of funds to be spent by 2027.
A further round of Better Off funding, including $15.73 million already ring-fenced for Waipā projects, has yet to open. Council has yet to decide whether or not it will be involved in that second funding round.
