If the mayor of New Plymouth gets his way the district will continue to host top-level domestic cricket and the future of its much-loved zoo would be secure.

Neil Holdom has made 34 recommendations ahead of deliberations on the council’s long-term plan next week.

They include spending $8 million to build a new Bellringer Pavilion at Pukekura Park and a $9m upgrade of Brooklands Zoo, which had been threatened with closure.

Holdom’s recommendation on the cricket pavilion would see its budget slashed compared to that included in the draft long-term plan.

“It’s about half of what we proposed to build I think it is a 700 or 800sqm facility that will ensure we can retain first class cricket in Taranaki at Pukekura Park, but saying if you want to spend anymore go and find the money elsewhere. Potentially New Zealand Cricket.”

The council received 3222 submissions on its draft long-term plan and held five days of hearings.

The proposal for replacing the existing Bellringer Pavilion enjoyed 77 percent support, meanwhile an upgrade of Brooklands Zoo enjoyed 82 percent backing.

“I’m proposing we spend $9 million to make sure we keep the zoo open, but also improve the facilities and the customer experience for people who go there. We know people love it. It’s very popular with young families and the feedback was keep the zoo.”

Holdom couldn’t say whether the zoo’s otters would have to be displayed at eye-level or not, which had been the subject of debate during the consultation process.

“Whether they are at eye-level or slightly lower they’re cute and cuddly and we want to look after them and we want to do a good job we’ve just got to balance that with our ability to fund it.”

An Artist’s impression of the proposed new $16.3m pavilion at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth.
Photo: Supplied

The draft plan included a rates rise of 9.9 percent, but Holdom said interest rate rises and inflation had pushed that out to 14 percent before further council savings reined that back to 11 percent.

Additional spending not included in the draft – but included in Holdom’s recommendations – accounts for the remainder.

One example, is half a million dollar project to provide a chlorinated but non-fluoridated water supply from a bore at the New Plymouth Racecourse.

“It would also be a back up emergency supply if we lose our water treatment. The driver behind that is the TSB Stadium is our local civil defence hub and this would be a place in town where people could go and get water.”

Holdom said the Ministry of Health had no objection to people who wanted non-fluoridated water getting water at the racecourse as long as the town supply was fluoridated.

An additional $300,000 over three years was also included in the mayor’s recommendations to facilitate the managed retreat of about half a dozen coastal properties on Māori land at the Rohutu Block in Waitara.

“When the Waitara River is in flood and a high tide comes in with an onshore breeze there are about six properties that are at risk of basically being destroyed and we are going to co-found with a local community trust – Toi Foundation – the removal of those properties before the sea takes them.”

Holdom said there was also an additional $150,000 for a speed camera at a notorious Northgate to Lemon Street accident blackspot which the Transport Agency wouldn’t fund.

And there was good news in the recommendations for Tarata residents who had baulked at a proposal in the draft LTP to return Tarata Road to gravel instead of repairing damage from heavy trucks.

That decision was now being reviewed.

Another new item was a proposal – in conjunction with Pride Taranaki and Ngāti Te Whiti – to rename the Boat Shed Lawn in Pukekura Park where a plaque commemorates the lives those who have died of AIDs in Taranaki and beyond.

Council will deliberated on the long-term plan next week before it comes into force in June.