RANGITIKEI LINE BULLETIN
Taihape Pool contract awarded
The contract to undertake the upgrade work needed for filtration and heating at the Taihape Pool has been awarded to Ian Coombes Ltd. The work is expected to be completed by November this year, before the start of the swimming season.
Annual Plan for 2017/18 adopted
At its meeting on Thursday, 25 May Council adopted the 2017/18 Annual Plan. With the approved final adjustments, the average rate increase will be 1.63%; this is lower than the forecasted rate of 3.41% in the 2015-25 Long Term Plan. 325 submissions were received during the consultation phase. Everyone who submitted will receive a reply shortly, outlining Council’s decisions (and the reasons for them). Key decisions include: • Council has agreed to go to the next stage of the Bulls Community Centre project which is the preparation of detailed plans, specifications and design. This is necessary to allow Council to call for tenders. • The next stage in the Marton Civic Centre project is to develop costed concept designs for both retaining facades of the Cobbler/ Davenport/Abraham & Williams Buildings and building new behind them; and for demolishing the three existing buildings and erecting an entirely new building. As a reference point, costings will be obtained for a fit-for-purpose upgrade of Council’s buildings on the Marton Library and Marton Administration sites in High Street. • With a steering group comprising the three Taihape Ward Councillors and the Mayor, Council will look at viable options for community (amenities/grandstand/ recreational) facilities on Taihape Memorial Park. The objective is to have a concept design and preferred site for Council’s consideration at its December 2017 meeting. The budget provision in 2016/17 for this project has been retained for 2017/18.
Applications now open - Event Sponsorship Scheme and the Community Initiatives Fund
On Monday 29 May applications opened to Council’s Event Sponsorship Scheme and the Community Initiatives Fund. Applications close on Friday 30 June; decisions will be made on Thursday 27 July.
Invitation to attend briefing on property valuation process
Quotable Value (QV) will attend the next Finance/ Performance Committee meeting on Thursday, 29 June, at 10.30 am, to outline the process and timing for the next three yearly rating valuation process, due to start later this year. This meeting is open to the public so anyone is welcome to attend this briefing.
Accelerated programme for installing LEDs
Council will accept the offer from the New Zealand Transport Agency to fund 85% of the cost for installing LED streetlights in urban areas. The objective is to complete the upgrade no later than 31 December 2018, except for sodium lights on the main routes in Marton. These will be dealt with during 2018/19.
Mangaweka Bridge replacement
Alongside three public meetings, work has been done on the indicative business case for the replacement of the bridge, now over 100 years old, and with severely restricted weight loadings. Informal indications are that this will be favourably received, allowing the more detailed case to be prepared during 2017/18.
Civil Defence capability
Council will enter into a further agreement with Horizons to provide civil defence support from 1 July 2017 – but on the basis that this is a full-time role rather than part-time as has been the case for the last few years.