With fellow Mayoral candidate Ron Bishop starting a campaign to keep Century Pool open, it's an opportune time to review the Timaru District's operational expenditure on Recreation and Leisure. The first chart shows the planned expenditure for the 2009/2010 financial year alongside the planned operational expenditure for the 2012/2013 financial year. The 2012/2013 financial year will be the first year in which the new Aquatic Centre will be in full operation. For Swimming Pools, the difference of $3.8 million between 2009/2010 ($1.5 million) and 2012/2013 ($5.3 million) results from both the projected $4 million running costs of the new Aquatic Centre and the closing of Century Pool.

Chart 1: Timaru District Council planned Recreation and Leisure expenditure. Note that Other includes the Art Gallery, Museum, Theatre Royal, Halls and Community Centres, Motor Camps, Fishing Huts and Forestry.

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This letter was published in the Timaru Herald:

A recent item in the Timaru Herald reported that some funding information for the proposed Aquatic Centre was likely to be given to councillors confidentially because not all benefactors wished their financial involvement to be made public.

I question the wisdom of this move as it could lead to a perceived impartiality in the awarding of contracts for the construction of the Centre. If one were to ask why councillors need to know who these anonymous benefactors were, then two answers present themselves. Either they don't need to know at all or the councillors would like to know so that can show thanks to the benefactors.

Where it's possible that anonymous benefactors could also be tendering for the construction of the Centre, I would suggest that the councillors only be provided with the details of those benefactors that are happy for their contributions to be made public.

Links:

Timaru Herald: Aquatic Centre Decision Looms

The following letter was published in the Timaru Herald:

It is disappointing to see that the Timaru District Council have decided on a wood fired boiler for the heating of the proposed aquatic centre. I see it as a sign of the Council lacking initiative, expertise and a working relationship with the Canterbury Regional Council. More...

The following letter was published in the Timaru Herald:

Several readers have suggested that building the proposed aquatic centre would be beneficial for Timaru's economy during the recession. The reality is that building the aquatic centre will result in an increased cost of living for Timaru District residents, more expensive swimming fees and an increased commercial risk for the Council. More...