Mercury Bay shuttle bus service gets extra Council funding

New planter boxes for Albert St also get the nod.

 Changes in the way shuttle bus services are to be provided between Hahei and Cathedral Cove and Ferry Landing, Hahei and Hot Water Beach have resulted in a request by the Mercury Bay Community Board for $24,000 more funding from the Thames-Coromandel District Council.  

Councillors were told that the loss of voluntary parking warden assistance for the coming season had pushed costs up and as Council had agreed to fund a three year trial it needed the extra funding to meet this commitment.

Mayor Glenn Leach said that while Council would honour its commitment this year a clear signal needed to be sent to the Mercury Bay Community Board that the shuttle service may not be subsidised in future years.

Council also agreed to provide $40,000 for new planter boxes for Whitianga's main street in recognition of the fact that the proposed town centre upgrade is not scheduled to proceed until 2015/16.