Projects draw keen interest

NEARLY half the submissions so far received by the Manawatu District Council for the Draft Long Term Council Community Plan 2009-19 apply to the six “Nice to Have” projects that are being priority listed by the community.

Sixty submissions had been sent to council by Tuesday this week - after the plan was opened for public consultation on April 14 - with the broadband, Leisureville-Makino Park, Leisureville-Makino Aquatic Centre, Kowhai Park bird aviary, Feilding CBD redevelopment and pathway development projects all securing ready attention.
District residents were asked to select each project’s priority from “high”, “medium”, “low” or “not at all” options.

Strategic Planner, Philip Bronn, said broadband and pathway development were the two projects that drew the largest number of “high” priorities, while both Leisureville initiatives were evenly split between “high”, “medium” and “low”.
“I’m not surprised at the interest in broadband,” said Mr Bronn, “as a lot of people throughout the district recognise its importance.”

He said responses to pathway development were interesting, for though there were many selecting the “high-medium” options, quite a few submitters had marked the “not at all” box.
One submitter supported a protected cycle path between Palmerston North and Feilding as the current cycle journey between the two centres was “hazardous”.

“Protected cycle ways encourage eco-tourists, local family recreation and healthy lifestyles at a low cost that are quickly offset by the subsequent benefits,” they said.
A pathway supporter felt it was a “grand” idea – but unrealistic as it would never recoup the cost – and another that such an expense could be better used to upgrade and create cycle paths within the district’s various centres.

One person said the Leisureville concept was admirable, but felt the name unimaginative and suggestive of “backwoods America”. An alternative name, they felt, could be Pukeko Park.
Mr Bronn said the Kowhai Park aviary project had been largely classified as a “medium” priority and the Feilding CBD development more in the “low-medium” range.
Other district issues raised in the submissions included the Tangimoana Beach Road, public toilets for Rongotea, Himatangi Beach recreational facilities, a central recycling station, a medical centre and no more paving stones on Feilding’s paths.
And one submitter also noted that council should concentrate on core businesses such as roads, water and sewerage – “everything else is a ‘nice to have’ but not affordable in today’s climate”.

Submissions close on Thursday, May 14.