The council decided to add $1500 to the Oamaru township maintenance budget for the gardens along Itchen and Thames St at St Luke’s Anglican Church. Cr Jim Hopkins was the only councillor to vote against the decision this week.
He questioned whether the council would entertain cleaning the Reed St catholic cathedral, St Patrick’s Basilica.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said the gardens were "very public" and often tourists could be seen to "hop off buses" and photograph the 1865 church and its gardens.
Cr Peter Garvan said the church attracted about 4000 visitors a year.
The gardens were becoming difficult to maintain for an ageing congregation. At the council’s final meeting to add or remove projects to its 2018-28 long-term plan, on Tuesday, the council also agreed to increase the maintenance budget for the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail to $150,000 a year.
Council chief financial officer Paul Hope said the previous level of funding, $100,000, was set before the council had a "good understanding" of what was required in track maintenance.
The council agreed to $20,000 "seed funding" for a downhill mountain bike jump track and pump track proposed by Mountain Biking North Otago.
Because, the funding would come from the RMA financial contribution reserve, Mr Kircher said the council would have to see a "suitable plan" before approving the money.The mountain biking club also received an increase of its grant for spraying of its Cape Wanbrow tracks to $15,000.
The council agreed to extend a $70,000 10-year interest-free loan to the Waitaki Community Recreation Centre for repairs.
