Tuesday 1 November 2011

Dunne: Earthquake strengthening should not burden ratepayers

UnitedFuture Leader and Ohariu MP Peter Dunne has rejected suggestions the Wellington City Council should burden Wellington ratepayers with the cost of earthquake strengthening privately-owned buildings.

“That would be both incredibly short-sighted and blatantly unfair on ratepayers already struggling to make ends meet,” said Mr Dunne.

“Wellington is already an expensive city to buy a home, raise a family or run a small business in, the last thing ratepayers need is to be squeezed more in this way.”

“As we know a large number of the city’s commercial and public buildings require significant strengthening work, in fact that is something that I have been on the Council’s case about for a long time. However, simply lumping the cost on ratepayers because commercial property owners can’t afford to have the work done is not a fair and just solution.”

“I believe the Council needs to think outside the square and be open to innovative and creative solutions to this problem.”

“The possibility of public private partnerships should be fully explored as well as assistance programmes that specifically help property owners meet the cost of seismic strengthening through increasing revenue streams and realising the financial potential of their buildings.”

“I am aware of one private sector scheme that will cost the Council very little to implement and will assist commercial property owners to collaborate with engineering experts and property managers to fund their own seismic strengthening projects.”

“The proposal is innovative and best of all it shields Wellington ratepayers from having to pick up the tab.”

“Wellington is an innovative and creative city. I hope the Council will approach this issue with a little more creativity and not just bill the ratepayers,” said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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