Support for better harbour boating facilities
Putting some money aside in future budgets
to support the development in Lyttelton of a
safe and useful launching and mooring place for
the region’s boaties is being supported by the
City Council. Its draft Annual Plan, now open for public
comment, includes putting aside $1 million a
year for three years to help provide, “public
access facilities in association with a breakwater
for the (Lyttelton) marina project”. The allocation of money is a departure for
the Council because Lyttelton is outside its
boundaries. The port town is in Banks
Peninsula District Council. The Council, however, believes most of those
who launch their power boats and trailer-yachts
at Lyttelton are city residents. It is proposing that
its “investment” in public facilities at Lyttelton
produce a return of at least 5 per cent a year. And before any of this money is spent, the
Councillors want to see and debate a full
report about the project. Council staff have
been asked to identify priorities and their costs,
to show how much each option would cost to
maintain, and to look for other sources of
outside funding or finance. Mayor Garry Moore told last month’s Annual
Plan Council meeting that the building of a
marina is a commercial operation, not one for
the Council, but he hoped that by “showing
willing to provide some public facilities around
it, it will be a spur for someone to get on and
build the marina” A question on this funding for boating
facilities in Lyttelton is included in the opinion
survey on Page 9 of this edition of City Scene. |