The options for our community facilities

Pros  

• Community needs are met, and our goal of having a vibrant and welcoming city with a connected community is realised.
• Facilities are future-proofed for community needs long-term.
• Additional spaces are provided for communities to meet, host events, play sport and be together – improving social, cultural and physical wellbeing.
• A new community library hub will have benefits for Awapuni and also the rest of the city’s residents who choose to use it.
• The Awapuni Community Library Hub would provide resilience during a potential civil defence response.
• The Awapuni Community Library Hub would be able to take on additional library services and staff when the Central Library is getting seismically strengthened.
• Restore and enhance the mana and identity of Te Motu o Poutoa Anzac Park.
• Meet Rangitāne’s aspirations for Te Motu o Poutoa Anzac Park and strengthen the partnership with Council, and the community.
• Education facilities provided for children in our city to learn more about Te Motu o Poutoa Anzac Park and Rangitāne history.
• A civic marae will allow us to formally welcome dignitaries and others to our city.
• No more sunk maintenance costs in keeping Barber Hall operating long-term.
• Economic development for the city because of people using the new facilities or bringing events to the city.
• Increased revenue opportunities due to the user-pays model for some of these facilities.

Cons

• One project, Te Motu o Poutoa Anzac Park, relies on external and co-funding. If those funds cannot be found, the project would likely be delayed.
• People may prefer to see the costs used on other projects, or saved.
• Increased debt and related repayment costs
• New facilities will require new operations and maintenance budgets. 

Financial impact

• Pasifika Centre – $3.88M
• Te Pātikiki Library – $3.55M
• Central Energy Trust Arena upgrades – $36M
• New Awapuni Community Library Hub – $29.1M
• Te Motu o Poutoa Anzac Park would cost $19.1M for the roading upgrade and the construction. This project relies on Rangitāne and external funding.
• The fitting out and lease for the Manawatū Multicultural Council costs will include an additional retrofitting cost for the facility, expected to be a few hundred thousand dollars, as well as an annual lease which could be up to $100,000.

These projects would add $80.6M to Council's debt

Known operating costs in Year 1 are $366,000 increasing to $8.8M in Year 10. $6M of this relates to debt and interest payments. The other $2.8M covers costs for things like lease payments and insurance, power and rates. Every $1.3M of operating costs would add 1% to rates each year.

In this option, you can let us know what you would do differently. 

It’s important for us to know what projects you are in favour of but you’d like us to consider further. Please share feedback about why you would like to proceed with some projects, and the reasons why you’d like to see changes made to others.

Pros

Our community may provide insight and information we hadn’t thought of or considered.

Lower debt and repayment costs if scope of project was reduced, or delayed.

Cons

Depending on the project, some of the pros detailed in our preferred options may not be realised.

If the upgrades to Central Energy Trust Arena were not supported, Council would need to consider what this means for Arena 5 long term, with seismic upgrades being needed to continue operating. This could impact the city’s local economy, which is boosted by events. 

Financial impact

Would depend on the project and the changes made.  

This option means you don’t support any of the projects occurring. Please explain your reasons for this in the submission form.

Pros

Our community may provide insight and information we hadn’t thought of or considered.

We wouldn’t need to borrow money to fund these projects, which means ratepayers wouldn’t have repayment costs.

Cons

We believe there are significant impacts to not proceeding with any projects and this outcome would negatively affect the economic, social, and cultural wellbeing of our community, as none of the pros identified in option one would be realised.

If the upgrades to Central Energy Trust Arena were not supported, Council would need to consider what this means for Arena 5 long term, which needs seismic strengthening to continue operating. This could impact the city’s local economy, which is boosted by events. 

Financial impact

We wouldn’t need to borrow money to fund these projects, which means ratepayers wouldn’t have repayment costs. The money could be reallocated to another area of Council services, or it could be saved.