Community
Update
Article from Evening Standard
By Jessica Sutton
A controversial $2.6 million "gateway" project in Sanson
has been put on the backburner.
Manawatu District Council has poured almost $100,000 into planning
a development for Sanson's Junction Hotel site, which was purchased
by the council in 2008, but it has decided to put the project
aside until next year.
The council dubbed the project as the "Gateway to the Manawatu"
and ideas for the site included a visitor centre and retail outlets.
It bought the site, on the intersection of state highways 1 and
3, for $590,000 in August 2008 because of its proximity to Ohakea
Air Force Base, its high volume of traffic and its commercial
development possibilities. The Junction Hotel closed down when
the council took over the property.
The majority of submissions received to the council's draft annual
plan 2011-12 were strongly against the idea, claiming Sanson was
the gateway to "nowhere".
Manawatu District Mayor Ian McKelvie said councillors opted to
put the project on hold because of the cost involved and other
projects in the area. He said the $2.6m plan was not "entirely
sustainable".
"With all due respect to submitters we didn't make our decision
purely based on submissions," he said.
"They assisted us in our decision, but there was some uncertainty
about some issues. What's going on around Ohakea is something
we need to look at."
He said it was likely to proceed with the project next year after
the Long Term Community Council Plan discussions.
"I think its futuristic. Once the council gets its head
around it, it will proceed.
"The council thinks it's important. It is a town that has
got significant upside to it."
Mr McKelvie said some of the work that had been done on the project
may need to be re-jigged next year.
Sanson resident Sylvia Hencke said spending millions of dollars
worth of ratepayers' money was a "complete waste".
"Sanson is the gateway to nowhere – people stop here
for the Sunday market and very little else."
She was pleased to see the project had been put on hold, but
was worried at the thought it would proceed next year.
"I'm not saying I don't want anything there [at the site],
it's just not the place for an i-Site. They [council] should just
think very, very carefully about spending ratepayers' money. It's
a lot of money for the Manawatu district and we're going to have
to wear it."
Kevin Nesdale said the project was nothing but a "dangerous
dream".
"We do not believe [the] council should be allowed to gamble
with ratepayers' money without prior consent. Prudent business
people do not buy something and then decide what to do with it
later."
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Resident LeAnne Blakelock said she did not believe it was council's
core business to be creating i-Sites.
- Manawatu Standard