Actually this is two questions:
1. Where do you stand on the issue of the proposed Rolleston Swimming Pool complex?
2. Do you think the council paid a fair price for the land purchased from the Fosters?
Bob
Candidate Answers
Candidate
Answer
Hello Bob,
Thank you for your questions
Swimming Pool I am a supporter of the Selwyn Aquatic Facility. It is a facility that the whole district will be proud of and it is a facility for the district, not just one township.
I have been the Selwyn Central Community Board representative on the Project Committee. In that role I have tried to make sure that there is something for everyone in the facility. A toddlers area, leisure pool, lazy river, separate learn to swim pool, 8-laned pool deep enough for aqua jogging, a warm water (mid 30\'s) pool with spa area suitable for rehab and hydrotherapy.
Note: There aren\'t hydroslides in the first stage - these were felt to be nice if rather than must have item. The ability to add hydroslides later wiill be designed in to the pool hall with some pipe work installed as the building is built. At peak leisure demand times inflatable slides etc can be added to the main laned pool to provide a variety of entertainment. The lazy river can be used for exercise (walk against the current) at off peak times.
Foster Land Purchase - Yes I am happy with the purchase for the reasons/discussion below.
There are two parts to this issue - was the process fair (did the Fosters get any advantage above any other seller would) and was the price paid fair?
The process of the purchase was fair and transparent - except for commercial sentivities which meant discussions regarding price and conditions had to be done outside the public arena. Cr. Foster was not involved in any of the council discussions regarding the purchase. Cr. Foster is a lady of the highest integrity and she (and the council) made sure that the process was above board.
Like most council land purchases the vendor (Fosters) and council each obtained independent land valuations for the land in question and then both parties negotiated an agreed price and conditions on the basis of willing seller and willing buyer. From what I know the council drove a hard bargain. The discussion in the media around price paid versus the land valuation was misleading. The land valuation was based on the land being used for farming. Since the valuation the planning rules for the area are being changed and the underlying use of the land is now residential which changes the land\'s value. The use of independent valuations and subsequent negotiations give assurance that a fair price was paid.
The land in question will be central to Rolleston as it grows and offers a unique opportunity to develop a recreation area that will be ideally located in the enlarged Rolleston.
Thanks again for the questions. If you have any other questions on these or other topics you can phone me on 347-6393 or 027-221-7348
Yours sincerely
Mark Alexander
1.A swimming pool is a great idea; however it should match the area’s needs and ability of funding.
I’m all for long term planning, yet in a manageable way.
Matching the NEEDS and CURRENT funds, with keeping the planning options in a long term view so as to easily lap to further development of the site when use and funds justify doing so.
2.I have not seen any documentation regarding this transaction, however by the limited information provided by the media a something doesnt look right ,leaving a gap in lack of information.
it seems to me that more transparency (which is so much needed in so many other issues) would have made things much clearer to you bob and to all of us.
Hi Bob and thanks for the opportunity to let you know what I think on these important issues. I believe that Selwyn needs a year-round swimming facility and that Rolleston is the most appropriate place to site it. The questions then become, how big should it be and how much should it cost? Not having been privy to the work that went into those two issues, I can only say that it appears that the complex has been future-proofed in much the same way as the Rolleston Community Centre was. It will be big enough to cater for foreseeable district needs. The cost appears comparable to that of the recent Dudley Park Aquatic Centre in Rangiora and to those at Jellie Park and Caroline Bay.
It is obviously necessary for the Council to purchase land to accommodate not only the pool complex but also the other elements of the Recreation Precinct (Rolleston Structure Plan). The land can also be used to site a new high school which is urgently needed in this part of the district. The question of the purchase price of the Foster Block is really beyond my expertise to comment on except that I do know it is located right on the boundary of existing residential land. If subdivided for that purpose, I am informed that it would fetch well in excess of the money that the Fosters received. The Fosters actually chose this method of disposal, I\'m told, because they are not developers and because our district needs such a quantum of land close to the town centre for the purposes outlined in the RSP.
Unfortunately, the initial selling, to the ratepayers, of the pool complex concept and the method of paying for it was not done well and the rate increases to cover the cost was amended following protest. Never a good start! If we bear in mind that half of the build cost is being sourced from an existing (reserve?) fund and fundraising for the other half can still be done, the matter may not arise. We should also bear in mind that no such swimming/aquatic complex will ever be a commercial success unless prohibitive and unaffordable fees are charged. This will be a community facility for the use of the district\'s community and, with the advent of the planned intra-district transport system, it will be in easy reach of most ratepayers. I would expect, and strongly advocate as a Councillor, that once $12mil is paid off the targeted pool rate will be reviewed.
Rest assured, Bob, that I will brook no shonky or underhand practices on Council and I do believe that this has not happened in the areas that you question. What the Council is culpable for is an appalling lack of respect for the public\'s right to know what they\'re doing with our money. You will find a much more open council with better communication with, greater accountability to and respect for, their bosses, the ratepayers. I can only assure you of this, of course, if I am elected on Saturday.
Thanks again for the questions
Peter Hill
I am a supporter of the pool. As a father of a young family this will be a great facility for us and all the community. As the children of the District grow up we need to keep them occupied - as the old saying goes \"Kids in Sport keeps them out of Court!\" We also need our children to be safe and confident in the water. Rolleston needs to become a destination, not just a commuter town for Christchurch.
The process for the purchase of the Foster land was transparent and fair. I believe this process was also reviewed by my former employer, the Controller & Auditor-General, who also found no issue with the process or outcome of the Foster land purchase.
Hi Bob
Two questions are just fine, especially since they\'re related.
1. I have been chairperson of the Aquatic Facilities Working Party since it was set up about a year ago to move forward with an indoor heated pool facility in Rolleston during the 2009 annual budget, following extensive community consultation. I support the decision the council has made (23 June 2010) to build an all year round indoor facility in Rolleston, work with the existing pool committees to improve the standard and funding model for the outdoor pools the council is currently involved with and to determine whether and how school/community pools can be assisted.
2. The price paid for the Foster house and land was based on market valuations requested by both the vendor and the purchaser. I believe the price paid was a good price, particularly since the Fosters had gone through the court process at considerable expense to themselves to have the Christchurch International Airport noise contours changed (to the benefit of all of Rolleston), allowing this site to be used for residential sections. They also had the ability to undertake this subdivision themselves or to sell it to another developer, which would have provided a much bigger sale price than that paid by the council. To have this land as predominantly open space so close to the town centre incorporating sports fields and facilities, the indoor pool and passive reserve (Rolleston\'s equivalent of South Hagley park) will, I think, be greatly appreciated in years to come. Council staff have also been in discussion with the Ministry of Education as to the best location for a high school on this site, which will be another important facility in Rolleston\'s development for many reasons.
I was very disappointed with the inaccurate and misleading potrayal of this purchase in the Selwyn Times, including the impact this has had on the Fosters.
There will be an opportunity for community input into the design of the recreation precinct, along with the town centre development in the near future, but the current council made the decision to delay the consultation process until after the election for several reasons. A new process will be determined by the incoming council and will probably include information being delivered to each household along with a series of open days/nights.
Regards,
Sarah
