partly cloudyDunedin 22 | 14
Friday, Fri, 28 FebruaryFeb 2025
Subscribe

Health funding hot topic at meeting

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse in Queenstown yesterday. Photo: supplied
Michael Woodhouse.
Funding of the Maniototo health facility rebuild was discussed, and land sales deferred, at a meeting in Ranfurly yesterday.

The $5.5 million healthcare facility project was the hot topic at a Maniototo Community Board meeting that heard public submissions to the Central Otago District Council's annual plan.

Board member Stu Duncan asked Maniototo Health Care Services Ltd chairman Stuart Paterson what would happen if the project went over budget after funding was secured.

Mr Paterson said at a meeting with Dunedin MP Michael Woodhouse it was indicated the Government could cover cost overruns in that scenario.

Hospital manager Geoff Foster said this was not ''locked in'' in writing.

Alexandra resident Gerry Eckhoff said paying for the project partly through rates set a dangerous precedent for healthcare providers in rural areas.

''That's what you pay taxes to central government for. Auckland has never been rated for healthcare.''

Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said it would be ''risky'' to gamble the healthcare of Maniototo locals by starting a fight with central government.

The health company sought $1 million in funding from the Government for the project, but was declined.

The board recommended the council provide a loan of $2 million for the project.

It also decided to defer the sale of two farms it owns, which would have helped pay back the loan, instead opting to explore all options, including

investigating how much they would be worth if developed into irrigated dairy land.

The two farms, on Wilson and Maniototo roads, have a collective area of more than 250ha and an estimated value of $1.4 million in their current undeveloped state. However, this was considered undervalued by many submitters.

Mr Cadogan said he was concerned the board was delving into property speculation.

The board members said the loan repayment should be rated across the whole district rather than just the Maniototo.

Board member Duncan Helm said people from areas such as Poolburn and St Bathans also used the hospital and rest-home.

Mr Cadogan said the council needed solid data on how many people from outside the Maniototo used the facilities before it could consider rating outside the board's area.

Mr Paterson said the board would provide the data.

Of the 194 people who submitted on the project, 77% supported land sales as a way of paying the loan.

jono.edwards@odt.co.nz

Add a Comment