Investment needs protecting

Amalgamation fear raised

With amalgamation imminent, the fear of losing the community’s $25 million investment fund could be a possibility.

South Waikato District Council is looking at protecting the money for the district when amalgamation happens.

The interest from the money has been used to subsidise a number of projects.

‘‘We used it to subsidise rates, we used it to part fund community and economic development projects. and we gave . . . $800,000 to the river trails, we gave $600,000 to the Timber Museum. We put . . . $2.4 million to the Sports and Events Centre.’’

Deputy Mayor Jenny Shattock said the council planned to use the money for more economic development in the future.

The council is looking at different avenues to retain the money for the South Waikato.

A member of the public asked at the meeting if the council had lost part of $25 million.

‘‘There was some doubt as to whether it was actually fraudulent right at the time if I recall correctly,’’ he said.

Mrs Shattock said she did not know about any fraud.

‘‘And I have been around all that time, but it was just market movement at that time and everybody lost a lot, but it’s all come back.’’

The council has a number of options to consider, including retaining control itself. However, if it is kept in the council and amalgamation happens the new council can redirect the money into other areas.

Another option is to give control of that money to a trust, a body separate from the council, with the money liable to tax.

Third option is spending the money now on worthwhile projects for the community.

If you would like to have your say on any proposal in the draft annual plan you can pick up a form from the South Waikato District Council offices, Torphin Cres, Tokoroa. Local Government elections in October this year could well be the last under the auspices of the South Waikato District Council.

Changes to the Local Government Act make it easier for South Waikato to become part of a larger council.

At the draft annual plan meeting in Tokoroa last week, attended by 15 members of the public, Deputy Mayor Jenny Shattock said these changes were ‘‘likely’’.

‘‘It’s possible and even likely in the foreseeable future. One good thing however, is that there has to be demonstrable community support for amalgamation.’’

If a proposal is sent to the Local Government Commission to incorporate the South Waikato, the community only has 60 days to respond.

‘‘That’s scary in my book,’’ Mrs Shattock said.

As I write this article my heart goes out to the family and friends of George Taiaroa, the road worker slain in Atiamuri.

To have someone taken in this manner from within our community is a tragedy which impacts upon each and every one of us.

Life is our most precious gift and it is at times like this we are reminded of just how quickly and unexpectedly it can be taken from us. Please enjoy life and share that enjoyment with others.

Thanks to all that took the time to drop in on our mobile Community Policing team as they set up in Tokoroa last month. Jax, Brian and Emma got to meet a large number of people and learnt a great deal about what makes our communities feel safe and what makes them feel unsafe. They also provided information and advice on how to improve community safety.

An excellent Police Community communication forum and one we will be repeating.

April and May are very busy times of the year for Police.

It is hunting time with the ‘‘roar’’ in full swing and the beginning of the duck shooting season. It is also a time when things cool down, roads get slippery and it gets a whole lot darker.

If you are a hunter with your heart and mind set on that trophy stag, self included, can I please ask you to stop and consider a couple of things each time you enter that secret, or not so secret, hunting area. The roar is a crazy time, stags do crazy things and sadly so do many hunters. Firstly think about who else could be in the area. Don’t for one minute trust that you are the only one there.

Most importantly always fully identify your target. Until proven otherwise, assume that what you are looking at is another person. A rustle in the bush, a ginger flash, a grunt or a roar is not a target. Always remember that once the trigger has been pulled it is too late. Is missing a half baked shot worth the risk of killing someone? Some say that guns kill people, I say people kill people, and while this is not always intentional more often than not it can be avoided by putting safety first. If you obey the NZ Mountain Safety Councils’ 7 Golden Rules of firearms’ safety at all times, then it is not physically possible to kill someone unintentionally. It is as simple as that.

It goes without saying that poachers or trespassers increase the danger tenfold. Genuine hunters do not expect them and if disturbed they will be trying to leave the area without being detected. This is a huge risk for everyone in the forest and for me we should be narking up as many as possible. You know who they are so let us or Forest Security know. It’s about safety, yours and mine.

Duck shooters have all of the above risks with an added bonus of alcohol, the trusty hipflask. For these gents, and ladies, I ask that you leave the tots till home time when the guns are safely in bed. Guns and grog do not make a safe cocktail, in fact they should not even be in the same mug.

As Autumn closes and Winter sets in, our roads become a significant risk, frosts, icy roads, rain, fog and unexpected sun strike. All of these things contribute to crashes and when you add speed to this it is a recipe for tragedy. Please slow down this winter and most importantly always drive to the conditions.

In closing, if you feel that hunting in the roar is a little too risky then let me know your secret hunting spot and I will keep it safe for you, promise I will not tell anyone else and that I will keep your trophy stag intact. Call me.

Hunt safe and drive safe, always. FUNDS RAISED: Thanks to the efforts of the Tokoroa District Lions the Cancer Society will receive a healthy donation.

The Lions participated in the Relay For Life in Tauranga recently with a team of 12 walkers one of which has to be on the track over the time period.

Many sponsors were from the Tokoroa Community and because of the generosity of the community were able to donate more than $2500 to the Cancer Society. This is the fourth year Tokoroa District Lions have entered this event, other destinations being Hamilton and Rotorua. she said anyone can go to the Local Government Commission and put forward a proposal for amalgamation.

‘‘So somebody from the community can go to the Local Government Commission and say we want amalgamation or a community organisation can say we don’t like the South Waikato as it is any more, we want to amalgamate with our neighbour Matamata/Piako. That starts the ball rolling,’’ she said. Mrs Shattock said she would not like to be governed by Hamilton. ‘‘That could be the option; I would see us as very much the poor relation if we were governed by Hamilton . . . Our council believes that local democracy is paramount and I believe in local solutions for local problems for local people.’’

To have a say on any draft annual plan proposals, pick up a form from the South Waikato District Council offices on Torphin Cres, Tokoroa.