Trust wants more money

Press, 9 May 1984, Page 9

Trust wants more money

The Ferrymead Trust will take action to try to get Christchurch local authorities to give more money than the $lO,OOO recommended by the Metropolitan Grants Committee. The trust had sought $lOO,OOO to start a five-year development programme aimed at making the Ferrymead Historic Park selfsupporting. Four local body representatives on the trust board met the trust board executive last evening to discuss fund-raising. Mr D. R. Muir, the trust’s director, said after the meeting that the trust would now approach Mayors and council chairmen to discuss their grants and the possibility of

alternative funding methods. When the trust went directly to councils last year it raised $22,000. The grants committee was being “very shortsighted” in its thinking, said Mr Muir. If places such as Orana Park and Ferrymead were developed they would become big tourist attractions. Even if tourists were encouraged to stay only one extra night in Christchurch to visit such attractions, the financial benefit would be considerable, he said. Many people gave their services voluntarily to Ferrymead, said Mr Muir, and finance was largely

from Government subsidies, and in the form of job creation schemes. The committee’s recommendation was very low in real terms, and represented a contribution of about 11.5 c a ratepayer, said Mr Muir. The trust’s request of $100,090 represented $1.12 a ratepayer.