Media Release

Councillors approve requests for additional funding

Environment Southland councillors met today and considered matters relating to the 2014/15 draft Annual Plan, including submissions.

Decisions made today included the allocation of funds to various causes that were not in the draft plan. They are:

• $100,000 for the Bluff Coastguard fundraising campaign for a replacement vessel (to come from the 2014 South Port dividend, which exceeds the budget by $610,000). Council noted that the coastguard’s public fundraising campaign had strong public support and that most submissions were in favour of the Council supporting the Coastguard’s request for funding.

• $75,000 for the economic project to support Water and Land 2020 & Beyond (to come from the South Port dividend surplus). This project will investigate the possible economic effects of managing water quality.

• $10,000 for Real Journeys (to come from the Coastal Rentals Fund). This is to supplement $45,000 already budgeted toward financing a new weather station at St Annes Point, Milford Sound.

• $5,000 for the Stewart Island Marine Radio (to come from the Coastal Rental Fund).

The only decision to affect general rates is:

• $35,725 towards two more consents officers to meet an increased workload (to come from general funds).

Staff will now amend the Annual Plan to reflect the decisions made today by the councillors. It is scheduled for adoption on 18 June.

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