Show time! Cup P12 puzzle gets tricky P40
Tuesday, Oct 23, 2018
Since Sept 27, 1879
Retail $1.80 Home delivered from $1.15
Roading funds get big boost
Stone creations Stone sculptors, including Steve Molloy, are bringing their creations to life in the Ashburton Domain this week.
BY SUE NEWMAN
SUE.N@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
FULL STORY FULL STORY
Enjoy peace of mind in your retirement. A reverse mortgage could let you enjoy your life to the fullest. Visit us at 224 East St or on www.seniorsfinance.co.nz Heartland Bank Limited’s lending criteria, fees and charges apply
THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
P? P2
An extra $750,000 will be spent on upgrading some of the Ashburton District’s worst condition roads this year. With the money unspent in the last financial year, district councillors last week were faced with an unusual dilemma – did they spend the money on roading this year or use it to pay off debt. The money was unspent because of several heavy rain events that saw the council forced to undertake unplanned repair work on damaged roads using money from an emergency event fund. And that meant contractors ran out of time to complete all of the unsubsidised roading work planned, said roading engineer Brian Fauth. He was keen to see the money used to pay down the loan funding requirement in this year’s budget, because roading contractors were now fully committed for the year.’ With the $850,000 already approved in the current year’s budget, that would mean $1.6 million in the unsubsidised roading budget, he said. “There is no way I can spend $1.6 million and get value for money in the district.”
Stuart Wilson didn’t agree. “You can’t tell me there aren’t contractors out there willing to pick up the extra work. If we’ve got the money, they’ll do the work. Councillors were constantly fobbing people off when they complained about the state of the district’s roads, saying there was no money for the work, he said. “It would be great PR and great for the district. This is an ideal opportunity and it doesn’t make sense to say we have money and we can’t spend it. This money’s been rated for and it’s available.” Peter Reveley agreed. The $850,000 borrowed for roading had already been approved through the long term plan process so the carry over funds should be spent, he said. “We have some abysmal roads and we could easily spend this money. Use the money.” Spending that extra money needed to start today, Neil Brown said. “We rate for it, we have the money, let’s do the work,” he said. Councillors agreed to use last year’s unspent money from the unsubsidised roading budget as part of this year’s work programme.
Ph 03 307 7900 to subscribe!