Mayor shares take on 2018
Stratford mayor Neil Volzke’s answer to how the past 12 months have been is indicative of his straightforward and uncomplicated leadership style.
‘‘2018 has been a bit of a slog honest,’’ he said.
Faced with a review of the district plan, the Long Term Plan was also finished off this year, something he described as a ‘‘very challenging process’’.
But with the work done,
Volzke said he was happy with the outcome and he was looking forward to what
2019 had in store for the district where he had served close to four terms as mayor.
One major piece of work will be the continued progress regarding Stratford District Council’s $4.7 million subdivision development, which will create 33 sections for sale in the town.
The subdivision, which did not enjoy the full backing of the council when it was put to the vote, was designed to meet the demand for housing sections and Volzke said it was not intended to be a moneymaker for the organisation but rather a ‘‘cost-neutral’’ project.
Also in the work plan will be to kickstart the process to build a new community swimming pool, which comes with a price tag of $15m – with construction due to get under way in 2020.
He also hoped to get some positive news from the New Zealand Transport Agency about roading improvements to State Highway 43, or the Forgotten World Highway.
Stratford residents can also expect a children’s bike park to be built in the next
12 months, along with construction of a walkway trail through the town.
Looking back on the last 12 months, Volzke listed his highlights as being the roll-out of ultra-fast broadband across the Stratford township, the Topp Twins concert in February, which was the headline act of the Summer Nights Concert and the
2018 Romeo Awards, which celebrate the best and brightest in the business sector.
Volzke said some of the challenges the district faced in 2018 related to the impending effect the Coalition Government’s announcement to end the issuing of permits for offshore oil and gas exploration would have. Another concern he had was the ongoing damage done to rural roads in the district, which he said was the result of weather events along with the heavy logging trucks which travelled on them.
Volzke was yet to commit to having another tilt at the mayoralty but admitted the enjoyment factor was still strong after more than a decade in the job. He hoped to make an official announcement in March. to be