Mayoral candidates are divided on whether to refurbish the 12m-high Rakaia salmon statue.
Regardless, the job is going ahead after district councillors voted at their last meeting of the term last week to spend up to $297,000 plus GST on the project.
Mayoral candidate and councillor Liz McMillan led the charge on the motion that was passed 6 to 3. Incumbent mayor Neil Brown voiced his support for the project before the vote.
But among the three fellow councillors against the project were mayoral candidates Rob Mackle and Russell Ellis.
Mackle noted staff had not supplied a cost of replacing it with a new structure, which could end up being lower than the refurbishment.
Ellis said the cost “just seems astronomical” in the face of district councillors wanting to save ratepayers money.
Remaining mayoral candidate Jeff Ryan told The Ashburton Courier this week if he had of been on the district council and at that meeting, he would have voted for it.
‘‘Anything like that, once you lose it, you lose it forever,’’ Ryan said.
Although he was disappointed there had not been ‘‘more homework on costs’’ to see if these could be cut.
Who wins the mayoral race will be decided on election day on Saturday, when voting closes at noon.
The remaining district councillor who voted against at the meeting last week was Phill Hooper, while those supporting McMillan were Carolyn Cameron, Lynette Lovett, Richard Wilson, Tony Todd and Leen Braam.
Meanwhile, the salmon will be in a Christchurch studio for six to 12 weeks this coming summer while the work is done.
The statue was a Rakaia Lions initiative in 1991, costing $44,893. Its journey to Rakaia gained considerable publicity at the time, detouring through Cathedral Square for a blessing by the Christchurch Wizard.
Phil Price Sculptures, the original creator, was the only tenderer this time round, its submitted price $215,000 plus GST.
The additional $82,000 plus GST is for craning, transportation, sandblasting, cutting and welding of the support pole. However, these costs may be cut as companies have offered to help, so far with craning and transportation.
The work is expected to extend the sculpture’s life for 20 years before another refurbishment is required. Interim maintenance involves a washdown every three to four years.
The money will come from reserves contributions, so have no impact on rates.
