Boards weigh in on 10-year plan

Inglewood is fine with water meters and Waitara isn’t, while Clifton wants a new boat ramp at Tongapo¯rutu and Kaitake is chasing more money for its water networks.

Submissions have closed on the New Plymouth District Council’s draft long-term plan and the district’s four community boards have all contributed their thoughts in writing.

Whether their lists of wants and suggestions is heeded by the council will not be known until the end of June, when the 10-yearspending plan is signed off.

In Inglewood the board has agreed to proposals that include fixing the water pipes and installing water meters, but they have called for more action on a pedestrian crossing and their muchloved Windsor Walkway.

‘‘Currently there is signage that indicates the Windsor Walkway exists but the project has never been completed,’’ the board wrote. The plan puts aside $120,000 in year two for the walkway, but that was not enough, the board said.

‘‘In 2020, the Inglewood Community Board sought feedback from the Inglewood community as to the use and friendliness of the Windsor Walkway.

‘‘Of the 466 responses received, 74 per cent wanted to see improvements made to safety and accessibility.’’

If it cannot be completed to a safe level, the signs have to go, they said.

The call for a pedestrian crossing on Rata St, (State Highway 3) was also raised in the board’s submission, with the request that council ‘‘pursues all lines of negotiation with NZTA/Waka Kotahi with the aim of resolving the public concerns’’.

The Waitara Community Board, on the other hand, said no to water meters and to the proposed sports and community hub, arguing there were underutilised facilities and the sports themselves should pay for venues. The board said that water meters do not prevent droughts, and there was a lack of detail around the charging mechanism. It raised concerns about the impact on low-income families.

The Coastal Walkway extension to Waitara has been pushed back too many times, the board said. ‘‘We want our community to be able to use the walkway to cycle into New Plymouth in a safe manner. Too many people are being killed on our state highway.’’

The Kaitake board is asking for improvements in each of its towns – Omata, Oakura and Okato – including roading and water network fixes.

The Clifton board said the Tongapo¯ rutu boat ramp was originally scheduled for replacement this year but had now been moved out of the long-term plan, and it wants it back in.

‘‘This boat ramp is required for launching of boats for rescue purposes and there is a need to have it repaired sooner rather than later. A recent rescue operation where a lady was found just north of Tongapo¯ rutu is confirmation of this need,’’ the board said.

Submissions on the draft longterm plan were initially underwhelming, leading the council to publicly ‘‘tease’’ its ratepayers they must be happy with the significant rates increases proposed within it.

The final number of submissions is not yet available.

Some of the plan’s more controversial proposals include installing water meters at a cost of $18 million, building a multisport hub at New Plymouth’s raceway and a double digit rates increase this year followed by an average 6 per cent increase in the following years. Councillors will hear submissions on the draft plan ahead of final changes and sign off by the end of June.