Article from the WLD Informer

$100,000 for Waikato Sports Stadium gets the nod

23 January 2001

The Waipa District Council is preparing to spend $100,000 on the Waikato Sports Stadium according to Councillor James Parlane.

The Council had proposed the stadium funding for the past three years and are now preparing to give the stadium funding a major push in this years draft Annual Plan.

Mayor John Hewitt stated that on a political level, funding $100,000 for the Waikato Stadium was the right thing to do, otherwise the Council would not receive vital funding for the newly proposed Sports Hall at Karapiro.

"We haven't got the money to give them," Councillor Parlane told the special Council meeting to consider the years estimates.

The Mayor stated that the people of the district would be given a chance to comment during the Annual Plan process afterwhich Councillor Parlane asked if the Council would be bound by what the public said in their submissions.

"The Council makes the decisions," the Mayor replied. "We always have."

"So we are making the first part of the decision now," Councillor Parlane replied. "You'll warm them (the public) up, give them a say then Council make a decision later regardless of what the public think."

"Federated Farmers have told me that they do not want any money being put into the Waikato Stadium," Councillor Ron Cooper said. "They have been telling me that for years."

Regardless of the protests of Councillors Parlane, Cooper and Pat Allan, a hand vote confirmed the $100,000 figure.

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