Funding for the design of a new radiology unit for Nelson and help for Council to meet the cost of infrastructure for new housing are the two of the most significant sections for our city in this year’s tight Government Budget.
The biggest increases in funding were for health but with an ageing population, it takes billions just to keep up with the demand for services. The good news locally was $5 million for the planning for three new radiology clinics including one for Nelson.
We have been advocating for this step-up in our local oncology services for several years and it’s the next logical step after we get our hospital upgrade completed, which was funded in last year’s Budget with $500 million. This lack of local radiotherapy was highlighted in the clinical review of our hospital last year. It would make a huge difference for Nelson cancer patients to be able to get access to a linear accelerator machine locally rather than travelling back and forth to Christchurch.
This funding is only for planning, design and the business case. The bigger challenge will be getting the tens of millions to build and staff the new facility. The significance of the announcement is that the need has been recognised, and we have our foot in the door.
The Government also announced a new Incentives for Growth Fund that encourages Councils to make it easier for new homes to be built. This $400 million over four years is to be distributed to Councils such as Nelson City Council with the first payment next April based on how many homes we consent this year.
Council’s main job is infrastructure provision and the cost of the new roads, pipes, cycleways and parks for new housing is many millions. We recover a good portion from developers in levies, but ratepayers always end up bearing part of the cost. Nelson could expect to receive about a $1 million in total from the new fund. The more houses get built, the bigger share we get.
Government’s budgets, like Council’s and households, are under huge pressure. This new funding will take a little pressure off rates and will encourage us to make house building easier.
