Masterton Library Expansion Gets Council Tick

Thursday, 6 June 2024, 8:36 pm
Article: Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter

Masterton’s library will be upgraded and extended after a slim majority of councillors voted to support the project.

The project, which was the council’s preferred consultation option, would cost $10.75 million and would be loan-funded, with $500k from reserves.

At a council meeting on Wednesday, councillors voted 5-4 for the upgrade as part of the Long-Term Plan deliberations.

The council would take a staged approach, upgrading and expanding the library first, and then considering further expansion to accommodate the archive in the future.

The initial focus would be on essential repair work and extending the library to provide additional space for public programmes, a creative classroom, workroom, and an open-plan office space.

The library footprint would increase by 440m2.

Councillor Stella Lennox moved for the council to support this option, which was seconded by Mayor Gary Caffell.

Councillors David Holmes, Craig Bowyer, and Deputy Mayor Bex Johnson voted in support and the motion passed.

Prior to this, councillor Brent Goodwin moved for council to complete essential library repairs and maintenance only at a cost of $2.3m.

This was supported by councillors Marama Tuuta, Tom Hullena, and Tim Nelson.

Nelson signalled he had only supported this cheaper option for the library after the council had earlier voted to build a new town hall which he did not support.

Also during Wednesday’s deliberations, councillors voted unanimously to complete essential work to improve water and roading infrastructure in the town centre, with no other improvements to Queen St.

This would cost $6.48m and would be funded through depreciation reserves, rates, and NZTA subsidy.

Other changes to the LTP include reduced funding to the Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy [saving $20k], ceased funding for regional walking and cycling facilitation [saving $35k], and continued funding if $40,500 for regional positive aging strategy facilitation.

Council agreed to seek further external funding for Welcoming Communities facilitation or cease the projects and activities that are currently delivered when current funding expires in 2025.

Council also agreed to increase the Community-Led Climate Initiatives Fund from $50,000 to $100,000 rather than funding Climate Activation beyond April 2026, when external funding ends.

Council also voted to maintain existing council funding arrangements instead of switching to a model that would have resulted in all organisations contesting annually for funds.

Under the chosen option, $85,000 will be available through annual general contestable applications, and $316,300 will be available through the Long-Term Plan submissions process.

This option gives more certainty for organisations that currently have funding through the Long-Term Plan submissions process and results in less administration for the council and those organisations that currently have funding through the LTP submissions process.

These changes would be made to the LTP which is scheduled to be adopted by the council on June 26.

In the LTP Consultation Document, MDC signalled an average rates rise of 10.6 per cent, driven largely by higher costs in the roading and water activities.

After further work prior to deliberations, the average rise was signalled to be 10.2 per cent, however this is subject to change based on deliberations decisions.

For example, the council’s preferred option in the consultation document for the town hall was at a cost of $42.6m, but council have voted to proceed with a project with an overall cost of $33.7m [$8.7m for Waiata House expansion and $25m for a town hall project, including demolition].

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