Costs associated with relocating Cromwell's visitor centre have been questioned by members of the Central Otago District Council's district development committee.
Council visitor information centres manager Ingrid Temple prepared a report to the committee recommending $60,000 be allocated, as an overspend from the council's general development account, to fund concept plans for the centre.
She also recommended the estimated $3 million centre be situated on the corner of Murray Tce and Barry Ave, considered a more high profile site than the existing centre's position within the Cromwell Mall.
Committee members yesterday refused to move both recommendations, after lengthy arguments were raised in opposition to the expenditure.
Instead, a resolution was drafted and approved requesting more information about possible funding partners for the centre and how such a development would impact on rates throughout the district.
In September 2007, a related resolution was made to support, in principle, a relocation, and $5000 was allocated at the time to investigate its feasibility.
Committee members said the initial resolution had not been fully carried out, and therefore it would be irresponsible to allocate funding when there were unknown factors.
"We can't make a right or wrong decision today because we don't have all the information," Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson said.
Cr Tony Lepper vehemently opposed spending more on tourism and visitor information, which he said was responsible for 4.4% of the district's GDP.
"Central Otago is a really small place and we can't afford to have four large information centres.
I am not keen to spend $3 million on a relocated Cromwell centre, when we could spend the $60,000 expanding the town's existing centre.
"I think we spend enough as it is on tourism and visitor information in the district, and the community should not be expected to pay even more.
"I will not vote for any recommendation which will greatly impact the tourism funds as they are, because we are forgetting about the real wealth makers in the district," Cr Lepper said.
Cr Graeme Bell also said he would not support spending money to support a centre if it was likely to lead to the council forking out a further $3 million.
Cromwell Community Board chairman and committee member Neil Gillespie agreed, saying he was unsure whether the council had $60,000 to spend on plans, let alone $3 million which might result from approval of concepts.
Council chief executive officer John Cooney said there had been early interest from potential funding partners for the relocated centre, although when asked by Cr Lepper to identify them he said none had been confirmed.
Cr Gordon Stewart suggested the Department of Conservation could be a major funding partner.
