Mr Shadbolt takes risk

Press, 15 April 1986, Page 20

Mr Shadbolt takes risk

PA Auckland The Mayor of Waitemata, Mr Tim Shadbolt, has put himself in debt for $130,000 to help finance a west Auckland forestry project

He said he was aware of the enormous risk he was taking. He was relying on a $2 million Government grant which he hopes will arrive in the next six months, to reimburse him. If the grant did not come through and he was made bankrupt he stood to lose his mayoralty. He has put deposits on six vehicles, given a portable saw and taken responsibility for $BO,OOO in

land and barn equipment for the charitable Te Oranga Forestry Trust But time is against him. The Auckland Regional Authority has let the trust clear reserve land at Cornwallis provided the timber is milled and removed by June.

Mr Shadbolt was worried the Government grant would not be through in time for the machinery and vehicle to be bought and used. So he has risked his family home and savings by making himself responsible for the $130,000 needed to launch the project. He has paid $16,000 in

car deposits and taken financial responsibility for $BO,OOO worth of land and barn equipment which belongs to the Hula Arts Community. As well $34,000 of car repayments are in his name.

Mr Shadbolt has always had his heart in the forestry project because his grandfather had helped to plant the trees. He puts on his hard hat and visits the site every day: "It is a brilliant scheme."

A $7OOO donation from the Waitemata City Council paid for a 4km road into the forest. But this week’s general purposes

committee I meeting decided to stop further financing. of the project Te Oranga forestry project relies on volunteer labour now* that the council’s P.E.P. schemes have been wound down.

Up to 50 unemployed people are gaining forestry work experience by felling trees in the forest on public reserve land. Te Oranga Trust cannot make a profit from the timber because it is on reserve land.

Instead, timber will be given to organisations such as Riding for the Disabled, Lopdell House, and West Auckland playcentres.