Hamilton’s playgrounds come at a cost
Michael West and Peter Bos are two West ward councillors who see playgrounds as important for the community. But with the 2013/14 annual plan, they both have doubts about the city’s financial situation and how playgrounds fit into that.
Hamilton City Council’s annual plan calls for expenditure on playgrounds but two West Ward council candidates want to see it implemented.
Michael West, first time council candidate responded to the Waikato Independent’s report of a young Glenview mother asking for playgrounds.
West is a member of the New Direction council group, and if elected he hoped their votes in council meetings will support important issues.
“Our aim is to ensure that council delivers on the annual plan and does in fact provide what it is charging ratepayers for,” he said.
According to the 2013/14 annual plan, the council aims to respond to 97 percent of the areas where there is a high demand for playgrounds.
West said the group considers playgrounds as one thing they want to focus on.
“The New Direction council group considers parks and playgrounds to be one of the council’s core responsibilities,” he said.
He said the projected plans are not always carried out but with the group voting strategy, he hopes a stronger support for playgrounds will be created.
According to West, Hamilton’s debt was the reason for some projects that did not take place.
West said if the group were to be elected, they plan on controlling the debt.
Despite also supporting playgrounds in Hamilton, West Ward candidate, Peter Harry Bos said they come at a cost.
“The real concern is maintenance of existing playgrounds . The upgrade of playgrounds looks to be at the cost of the existing park assets budget,” he said.
He said the long term plan of 2009/19 does not show figures for replacement of parks and open spaces assets.
The projected cost for 2013/14 replacement of parks and open spaces assets is at $1.366 million.
According to the annual plan, the council annually spends around $350,000 on upgrades of the city playgrounds.
“The whole of our parks are important and maintaining existing assets is important, the building of playgrounds is special and I support this continuing. In my view a reducing maintenance budget, comes with a increased risk to the overall quality of Hamilton’s parks,” Bos said.
Safe access to playgrounds was an important issue for Bos as well.
“Speed humps can reduce the risk of injury to child pedestrians by 53 percent,” he said.
Bos said the speed humps cost around $40,000 each.
