$11M to go on parks, recreation

Press, 9 May 1984, Page 9

$11M to go on parks, recreation

The Christchurch City Council will spend about $ll million in the next financial year on parks and recreation. The annual plan and subbudget presented to the parks and recreation committee yesterday estimated the total expenditure as $11,361,451. Of that $5,912,491 would be required from rates. This represented an 8.88 per cent increase on last year’s requirement. The total budget included $2,238,965 for departmental management, $3,773,811 for parks and horticulture, $848,910 for the Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park, $2,618,405 for recreation, and $1,881,360 for forestry. The sub-budget will go before the council’s budget

committee. Last year the parks and recreation budget was underspent by more than $1 million. The under-expendi-ture was made up of loans, $130,710, Government work schemes $702,975, capital works, $349,276, and salaries and wages $129,100. The main aim of the parks and recreation department last year was to maintain existing facilities and services. The parks and horticulture budget for 1984-85 reflected development of new reserves and upgrading of existing reserves and street and intersection improvements. The main items were additional wages for maintenance staff, new vehicles and materials.