Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board chair Ange Holt has endorsed a $500 repair and maintenance plan for 70-year-old seats at Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park.
Ange Holt
Te Awamutu War Memorial Maintenance Committee member Marc Dawson told the board seven of 13 pipe framed seats remained from the memorial’s establishment in 1953.
“They all come with a cute little story,” Dawson said.
“There were 13 original park seats, subsidised. The public were asked to contribute, brochures sent for them to be donated, a shop in town put one on display, schools were invited to make donations… they decided not to fix names of donors to fixtures in the park in general.”
Hoping to present an alternative to replacement to the cash strapped board and council, Dawson added: “I’ve got quotes for $501 to refit galvanised bolts, remove the wood parts, replace three of the panels, paint, and treat the steel frames with primers and rust inhibitors. Just $500. It think that might sound attractive to the ratepayers.”
Brad Ward
Holt replied: “It certainly sounds attractive to me, compared with spending $70,000.”
Holt’s comments come after Waipā Community Services manager Brad Ward declined the board’s request for a community led bench maintenance project.
Te Awamutu-Kihikihi councillor Lou Brown said he and board member John Wood planned to meet with the council regarding the seats.
“It was an argument that none of them were original,” he said as he promised to share Dawson’s research.
Lou Brown
“I think what’s happened is they’ve replaced the wood parts,” Dawson said.
Ward told The News, in a statement provided by the council’s communications team, that he had reiterated the council’s position at the meeting with park stakeholders.
“We have a carefully planned and budgeted maintenance and renewal programme which is carried out to a schedule, so as to make the best use of the limited resources available, and to use ratepayers’ dollars wisely,” Ward said.
“We need to replace assets that have reached the end of their useful lives, because this ensures the community’s investment in these assets is sustained and in line with best practice.
“We must ensure any maintenance is done to meet our policies and standards, and the work complies with all relevant legislative requirements, particularly regarding health and safety.
“The approach outlined at the meeting was that staff will continue to get quotes and present options for consideration at the next forum for discussion and decision.”
Te Awamutu War Memorial Maintenance Committee Marc Dawson says it makes sense to repair historic seats rather than replace them.
