Reserve levy finally set

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 238, 5 April 1988, Page 1

Reserve levy finally set

Wmstone Pulp Industries Ltd are to be billed $39,200 as a reserves contribution to the Waimarino County Council.

Setting the amount was one of the last decisions made by the Waimarino County Council, at their meeting of March 22. The figure represents a

reserves contribution of 0.4 per cent of the value of the mill extensions estimated by Winstone Pulp Industries to be $9.8 million. The extensions were

completed almost three years ago. The maximum the council could levy the company for the reserves contribution is 0.5 per cent of the value of the work.

Councillors debated the percentage to set as the levy with sofne councillors arguing for the maximum and others calling for a lesser amount. Turn P.4

Reserve levy set

From p. 1 Cr David Griffiths moved that they be charged 0.5 per cent. Cr Doug Bennett said he was not happy with that, suggesting a rate of 0.3 per cent. "I wonder if it might be political to say to them that we are empowered to charge them the 0.5, and in some ways we feel obliged to," said Cr Gavin Jones, "but because of their consideration to donations and that type of thing to the district that we levy a lesser amount." "My feeling is that one reason that it's gone on for several

years is that Winstones have not been forthcoming in negotiations with council as far as reserves contributions and I feel that we have had to assess the value taking their word which has obviously been contentious before hand," said Cr Griffiths. Chairman Con Heinold: "Their argument has been that they contributed to the Pipiriki Road and that was going to be the contribution. Council has never ever agreed to that. That was entirely separate." "If we drop it to 0.4 per cent it will just

bring it off the top a little and perhaps make them a little less anti," said Chairman Heinold. The councillors then went into a discussion on whether it was appropriate for this debate to take place in an opcn meeting. Cr Bennett then suggested a figure of 0.3 per cent. He also said he felt that once a figure was set it should not be negotiable. "I think we should set a realistic figure that we can justify and that's it," said Cr Bennett. Council finally voted in favour of the 0.4 percent levy, which represents $39,200.