Kāpiti Coast District Council have invited Kapiti Grey Power members, together with other organizations, to a presentation and Q & A session run by the Project Manager about a visitor centre for Kapiti Island. This has been discussed for many years. After completing a feasibility study with stakeholders last year, Council has now submitted an application for funding with the Provincial Growth Fund. If successful, Council still need to approve the business case and its share of the funding.
Update: This meeting has been cancelled by KCDC
Venue: Pohutukawa Room, Te Newhanga Kāpiti Community Centre, 15a Ngahina Street, Paraparaumu (near the Aquatic Centre)
Date: Friday 24 July 2020 1-2 pm.
Christopher Ruthe comments: “KCDC is sending in a spin doctor. Apparently the PGF is concerned about the level of Community support, so they are holding this meeting to say they have got it from Grey Power. People need to go and question KCDC.”
Unfortunately I cannot be at the meeting and I have been having a number of thoughts about the beach “gateway” and wondering why the heck the commercial operators and the Department of Conservation are not prepared to put a penny towards it. While from the point of view of the local people it might be a nice thing to have, who is really going to reap most benefit from it? Am I missing something?
Fair question! As Kapiti Island Eco, one the two Operators we do not want this Gateway, we did not ask for it. We will be forced to use it if it is built. It will not result in an increase in visitors as we will be charged for biosecurity, indicative cost of $20 per person. We cannot absorb this cost so the price will go up and less people will come. As a tourist operator already dealing with COVID-19, this has the potential to sink us! The council are not listening to us or anyone else who has valid reasons to oppose this. The business case is a work of fiction, with made up numbers to justify the spend. Rate payers will have to pick up the bill for decades to come. We need public support as a local business.
This is not what council rates money (or borrowed money) should be used for.
The proposed edifice is a classic example of a ‘nice to have but non-essential extravagance’ and an expensive one. The operating costs would also be high and a waste.
KCDC needs to have proper consultation with the public about this gateway/ visitor centre
A referendum even? But no this council dare not go down that path