Board to pay for road closures

The Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board will pay for road closures for Anzac Day commemorations, despite a board member's belief the Mosgiel Memorial RSA has the revenue to pay for it.

Mosgiel Memorial RSA community co-ordinator Sue Moore had sought $850 from the Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board for its 2014 Anzac Day community commemorations in Mosgiel.

The money would go towards paying for the $15-per-head luncheon for veterans and their families and for road closures in Mosgiel.

The commemorations would cost $1425 excluding GST and the shortfall would be covered by proceeds from Poppy Day sales, she said at a board meeting last week.

Board member Blackie Catlow said he was against the board giving the RSA any money for the commemorations.

''I've got a lot more knowledge than anyone around this table because I ran the RSA for six years. There is huge funding available for the RSA to run this - funds from pokie machines and Poppy Day sales and Government grants to cover the commemorations.''

The Mosgiel RSA was a financially stable business with several income streams, Mr Catlow said.

''They just spent a huge sum doing up the place [the RSA's premises] ... As a commercial operation they should be able to find this $850.''

Board member Sarah Nitis said the commemoration was a community event and moved that the board pay the $383 road closure costs from its project fund and investigate working with the Dunedin City Council to eliminate any road closure costs for future commemorations.

The only board member against the motion was Mr Catlow.

Council parks, recreation and aquatic services group manager Mick Reece, speaking at the meeting, said there was no provision in the council's events funding for Anzac commemorations in Dunedin.

Mosgiel RSA management did not respond to calls from Taieri Times on the board's decision.

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