Civic Facility Project

The Wairarapa Times-Age is planning an article on the Civic Facility project, but a draft provided was incorrect in stating three options would be put to the public as part of the annual plan process. The following correct information was provided:

The Council resolution was that it:

Receives the Civic Facility Working Group’s report and notes the recommendations and directs staff, based on the report, to progress next steps which include:

• Investigate the recommended actions to inform decision-making, including confirming key principles and scope, the future demand profile, and updating market demand and financial analysis.
• Identifying and developing options for consultation with our community including:

1. Proceeding/not proceeding with the civic facility as provided in the LTP with estimated costs of $71.3m including contingency
2. options that better utilise Council’s existing assets, including the library, Town Hall and recreation centre
3. an option to do nothing.

This doesn’t limit options for consultation to three, nor to only those three facilities included in the article. Nor does the resolution specify how and when that consultation will take place – so stating that will be part of the Annual Plan process may be misleading.

The article was corrected.