Plan Positive For Peninsula
The inclusion of the former Banks Peninsula district brings an additional perspective to the City Council and this long-term plan includes $132.5m over 10 years for projects and services that reflect the Memorandum of Understanding.
This plan gives the green light to such projects as public works in support of the Lyttelton Marina development, the Akaroa Water Upgrade, Lyttelton Harbour Basin effluent disposal, the Lyttelton Inner Harbour Road and an alternative access road to the Lyttelton Port.
Bob Parker, the Councillor representing Peninsula communities, is pleased with the long-term plan process.
“Banks Peninsula communities have now been placed firmly on a sustainable funding platform to face the very real infrastructural challenges of the future,” he says. “Put simply, to maintain and improve the environmental, social and cultural values of `our place’ we urgently needed good planning resources and more public investment.
“As a result of the merger with Christchurch, key issues of roading, water and wastewater have now received a confirmed cash injection amounting to tens of millions of dollars over the next 10 years. In many cases more detailed planning is required and a timetable for this work has now been established and, importantly, the funding for the work has been allocated.
“With the ink barely dry on the merger agreement, initiatives to support existing environmental and community groups have also begun. “One example is the increased funding for the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust which is now confirmed at $50,000 a year for the next three years. In addition, over the coming months many Peninsula groups will also begin to access further funding via the community grants programme.”
The Council will also be reviewing the state of the jetties on Banks Peninsula and has recognised the need for a new landing at the Akaroa Wharf. Funding for the Akaroa Museum storage facility has been resinstated to the 2008/09 year (councillors noted that about half of the $500,000 required is expected to come from external funding sources).
Council will also support the Lyttelton Harbour Basin Green Waste Programme to the tune of $5000 a year for waste minimisation. And, from a cultural perspective, the Council is looking to include the Akaroa French Festival and Banks Peninsula’s Agricultural and Pastoral shows in its festivals strategy. |
