District Silver or New harbour Crossing

Submitted by Vince on Thu, 08/07/2010 - 8:29pm

It has been commented to me that the Whangarei District Council is selling the Districts Silver (land) to pay for a new harbour crossing?

Facts so far...

Council has set up a Property committee (2 councillors and the Mayor) to decide on which properties could be sold.  Land that has no further perceived value to the District.

Council will be getting a premium for the properties that they decided to sell. It is estimated that it will be 30% more than GV or recent valuation.

Lease Hold hand down Port road has been deemed as the first lots to be looked at for sale.  This land previously had a requirement that if sold had to go into harbour improvements.

Council has been given permission by the present government that if the land is sold then the money received does not need to go into harbour improvements any more.

The New harbour crossing (4th bridge), which council decided last year would be positioned between the Old Boys Rugby Club and Pohe Island.

The Crossing was determined that it will cost no more than $34million, with approx. $14million paid by the government.  That means approx $20million dollars needs to be raised by the Local Council to pay for the bridge.

It is estimated that over the next 10 years 8000 vehicles per day will be benefiting from the new crossing.

To me this all adds up to: sell land to build bridge.  You decide.

Vince

Comments

Wayne D (not verified)

Sat, 17/07/2010 - 2:22am

Exactly!

But it's even worse than that. The mayor claims "I have kept the debt down" and hasn't. It is already about $140 million $10 million over his self imposed limit before any of these sales. Why? "Because the Okara land hasn't been sold yet". Hello. More asset sales to fund the mayor's folly. And why is it even as low as $140 million?

Rhetorical question - more asset sales. By my reckoning council has already sold $10 million net of assets to keep it as low as $140 million without these sales it would be touching $150 million.

Is $140 million sustainable or reasonable? Who would know? But the mayor did say $130 million was his top limit.

And, Vince, isn't the CEO part of this little property cabal?

Just a small pat on the back for you re the bridge. As you raised in the council meeting "Surely there are better ways to spend $20 million to ease traffic congestion in Whangarei"