Mayor's year
Helen Worboys describes the moment she answered a call from council chief executive Richard Templer declaring her the new mayor of Manawatu¯ as one of the most nervous times of her life.
It came half an hour earlier than expected on the evening of October 8, 2016.
The community had developed a mood for change amid continuous rate rises, she says, and her past work with Feilding Promotion was the catalyst for their confidence in her.
Infrastructure renewals such as the $25 million reconstruction of the Feilding wastewater treatment plant and $6m refurbishment of the Makino Aquatic Centre, signed off by previous councils, drove the cost of rates to an all-time high.
As expected, the rates debate and council’s borrowing levels took centre stage during the election campaign, with many ratepayers questioning where their money was going.
One year on, Worboys’ council has Manawatu¯ residents looking at their lowest rates rise in five years – an overall increase of 3.6 per cent.
Originally forecasted for a 4.5 per cent rise, the 2017/18 Annual Plan reduced the overall increase to 3.6 per cent. It’s a step in the right direction for a council that has averaged a 5 per cent hike each year since 2013, Worboys says.
‘‘We sent a very clear message you can’t keep hammering the ratepayers,’’ she says.
While the community has voiced several issues in her first 12 months at the helm – including the proposed demolition of the town’s aviaries, village stormwater issues and pedestrian safety – Worboys says she has led a more cohesive and vocal council.
A public outcry that saw Feilding retain its exotic aviaries was a ‘‘really good example of democracy working’’, she says. ‘‘What I really admire about the community is they said it wasn’t acceptable, but they also gave us some solutions.’’
In its Annual Plan, Worboys’ council originally proposed closing both aviaries at Kowhai Park, but was forced to consider other options after an overwhelming number of submissions disputed that move.
Her work to combat the recent synthetic drug crisis plaguing the Manawatu¯ town has involved a public discussion, consultation with law and health professionals, a drive to install confronting billboards and in-school education talks to deter young people from the damaging drug.
This isn’t an issue that affects the council directly, but Worboys has used her position to a community-driven response focusing on results.
Together with Templer, Worboys says she has also led a proactive council for the business community, aiming to take action against the town’s earthquakeprone buildings. This has involved creating focus groups and holding public meetings.
This will determine whether Feilding will retain a ‘‘vibrant, albeit potentially different’’ looking town centre into the future.
‘‘I go to all the community committee meetings each month and, from what I hear, that’s not something that happened before,’’ Worboys says.
‘‘I accept every speaking engagement I’ve been offered and I relish that. Anyone who wants to see the mayor sees the mayor.
‘‘If you don’t bring the community with you, how do you expect the community to take part in consultation and decision making if they haven’t been brought up-to-date along the way?’’ ‘‘We go out as a team.’’ And it’s paying dividends – the Annual Plan process earlier this year had the most responses ever, she says.