Council balks at shabby sign bill

BY CLAIRE CONNELL

"Flashy" signs in need of repair at Marlborough Ridge are creating outrage among Marlborough district councillors, who say an estimated $40,000 repair bill should be paid for by residents, not ratepayers.

But one developer says the council have already collected $800,000 from developers and this money should be used to fund the signs and other maintenance.

The issue was raised at yesterday's assets and services committee after Marlborough Roads received a request by Greg Smith, a landholder in the area, to repair the dilapidated signs.

Because the signs are on a legal road and were approved by the council at the subdivision stage, the council is required to maintain them.

It will cost an estimated $30,000 to $40,000 to repair the plaster work on the seven signs around the area.

Mr Smith, managing director of the main developer, MRD Holdings, suggested money accumulated in the council's reserve fund, totalling $800,000, for parks and reserves in the Marlborough Ridge area should be used to fund the repairs.

Because there was no park in the area, hardly any of that money had been put back into Marlborough Ridge, he said.

"The council are happy to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars (from developers) but not happy to invest it back."

But the council said reserve fund contributions could only be used for capital improvements, not repairs.

Mr Smith said rates were extremely high in the area, with one 3374 square metre section being charged $2151 in rates per year.

The issue generated heated debate at yesterday's council meeting.

Councillor Gerald Hope said there was "absolutely no justification" for spending money on the signs, while Peter Jerram said it was merely a "flashy developer monument" that served no purpose to the general public.

"It's not the job of the council to deal with these things," Mr Jerram said.

Councillors Nigel Weetman, Cliff Bowers, Tom Harrison and Warwick Brice also opposed the idea ratepayers should foot the bill.

But a Marlborough Ridge resident, who did not wish to be named, said on several occasions the residents went down to water the grass or maintain the trees, only to be told by the council they were not allowed to.

"We are paying the highest rates in Blenheim and we get absolutely nothing, not even rubbish collection."

The resident said they would not mind contributing a small amount to repair the signs, "if it meant keeping it nice".

"Everybody wants to see a certain standard kept."

The council will now plan a consultation meeting with Marlborough Ridge residents.

- The Marlborough Express