The Waimate District Council has been consulting residents about refurbishing the 40-year-old sports stadium to meet modern needs and increase use.
It has decided to proceed with the project, subject to seven conditions.
Yesterday, the council heard verbal submissions, and considered written ones, before councillors worked together to get recommendations all could live with, although a proposal from Hakataramea ward representative Peter McIlraith to grant some rates relief to rural residents already paying for rural halls was opposed by urban councillors Miriam Morton and Sharyn Cain.
Cr McIlraith promoted it as a way of bringing on side rural ratepayers in remote areas who did not see why they should help pay for the stadium when they might not use it, while Crs Cain and Morton questioned whether the same should also apply to elderly residents in Waimate.
A quick poll of councillors' views by Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley before discussion started in earnest showed only one councillor with concerns - Stuart Thomson believing the development would be ''a white elephant'' until he saw figures on funding, feasibility and use.
Cr Morton said there was room to tweak the plans, Cr Tom O'Connor that fine-tuning could take place and Cr Peter Collins that the project was needed.
Mr Rowley said there was majority support for development but ''we are not saying we are going to spend the money but proceeding to the next stage''.
The next stage
The conditions imposed for the project to proceed were. -
• Final liability on the council for the build to not exceed $3.8 million.
• A minimum of 25% ($950,000) be raised from external sources other than rates.
• Staff and elected representatives work with consultants for the detailed design to fully consider options and suggestions during consultation.
• Council must approve the final design before tendering.
• Building will be deferred until about October next year to attract maximum external funding.
• The graduated targeted stadium rate be deferred until October next year.
• The Waimate stadium rate will be differentiated so Waimate district rural hall ratepayers receive a 25% remission when the full rate applies.
Because the decision to grant a remission to some ratepayers was not in the original draft proposal for consultation and affects rating policy, it will be part of next year's council long-term plan so people get a chance to comment on it.
