Local Bodies To Hold Talks On “Mona Vale”

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31564, 29 December 1967, Page 1

Local Bodies To Hold Talks On “Mona Vale”

Although the money to buy “Mona Vale” is assured, it will be some time before the details of the transaction are worked out, and payment made to the owners, the Mormon Church.

The City Council has written to the Regional Planning Authority, and the Riccarton Borough Council, suggesting that a joint meeting should be held to discuss details. No date has been fixed.

The citizens’ appeal committee, which has raised more than $75,000 net towards the cost, has been told by the council that it will be ap-

proached after the local bodies have settled the details. The council’s finance committee has not yet indicated where the city’s estimated contribution of 544.505 will come from to fulfil the council’s decision to “meet 50 per cent of the purchase price provided the balance is contributed elsewhere.”

A possible source is a credit balance of about $50,000 in the Halswell quarry account, and there is also a usable balance in the council’s land sales account.

Money received from land subdivisions could not be applied to “Mona Vale” without ministerial authority, as the property is outside the city boundary. From the practical standpoint, these balances are used

to keep the council’s overdraft down until the rates are in, and substantial rates payments cannot be expected to start until the third week in January. There will be consultations with the council’s lawyers as to the exact way in which the council’s decision to contribute will be applied, and it may be that the lawyers will be represented at the meeting with the other local bodies.

The legal aspects of the other council decision on “Mona Vale” are also being studied. This was the agreement to buy an additional 1 acre 9.6 perches of the “Mona Vale” block for $15,000, provided $lO,OOO is paid by the Riccarton Borough Council, and $5OOO by the city.