Subsidies benefit district projects

THE Himatangi Beach sewerage and Rongotea water supply projects have benefited considerably from the Government’s decision last week to approve nearly $25 million of subsidies for such works at small communities throughout New Zealand.

Manawatu District Council has been informed that a $3.3 million Ministry of Health subsidy (59 percent) has been set aside for the Himatangi Beach scheme, estimated to cost $5.6 million, and a $2.06 million subsidy (80 percent) confirmed for the Rongotea supply, which has a capital cost estimate of $2.5 million.

Assets Group Manager, Richard Kirby, said the result was “extremely pleasing”, with the subsidies providing “significant savings”.

“We basically got everything we asked for which is very helpful,” he said, “and it will certainly go a long way in assisting the communities to get the schemes in if they wish to proceed.”

Mr Kirby said council would now go back to the communities with the figures and undertake further consultation so the ratepayers could make a decision as to future plans.

He hoped that consultation may be held over the Christmas-New Year period so decisions could be reached by February-March next year.