John MacDonald: Orana Park can't keep relying on ratepayers

Can you believe how quick Christchurch City councillors are to throw around the cash?

Agreeing yesterday to give $1.2 million to Orana Wildlife Park, just 10 days after the park came out crying poor. Saying it was on track to run out of cash by the end of March and needs to find $4.1 million to keep paying the bills.

They said at the time that they'd be trying to raise some of the money themselves. But would also be asking our local councils for help.

And first cab off the rank is Christchurch. With councillors voting yesterday in favour of handing over $1.2 million.

What does that say about the Christchurch City Council that, within just 10 days, it does this? It tells me that it's a pushover.

The way the votes went were 13 in favour and 3 against. So a decent majority.

There were some dissenting voices around the council table, who weren't happy.

Councillor Nathaniel Herz-Jardine, who, by the way, I think is showing himself to be a very good councillor, said the council should be focusing on the basics. Such as roading, water, affordable housing and community facilities.

According to The Press, Councillor Jardine reckons that agreeing to the $1.2m will eventually see the council contributing $5 million annually. Which, over 25 years, would add up to about $125 million.

I don't know about the $125 million. But I think he's right.

Because what does the City Council agreeing in just 10 days to hand over $1.2 million say to the people running Orana Park?

It tells them that, when push comes to shove, the council will come to their rescue time and time and time again.

Before it hands over the $1.2 million, Christchurch City Council wants to see the park's half-year financial results and wants to see what it's doing to improve the finances.

But that will just be a box-ticking exercise. Orana Park knows it's got the money. And it knows there'll be more where that came from.

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