Members organising conservation event

November’s Community Board covered the following items: Reports for District Growth and Civil Defence Emergency Management, and an update on Waipa¯ district plan changes. There were two applications to the discretionary fund which unfortunately were both declined due to no financial records being provided.

Amotion wasmovedto support the upcoming Rainwater and Greywater Retention Event being organised by board members Richard Hurrell and Jill Taylor on Thursday, December 3 atFarm Source.

All are welcome to attend and learnhowto save water for your garden.

The chairperson’s report highlighted the planned KihikihiSummerStroll, a possible street art project, the Christmas lights for the tree in the Rose Gardens, Memorial Park and Waste Minimisation updates.

Weconcluded the meeting with a hearing notice for the off-licence application for 461 Alexandra St which was a late item. This hearing will be taking place on November 26 and Community Board agreed Iwill attend to support our submission opposing the off-licence.

Kihikihi residents can expect to see the Community Board at Turata Reserve on Saturday, February 27 for the KihikihiSummer Stroll, an eventweare providing in conjunction with the Police House Temple Cottage Charitable Trust.

Planned heritage walks will also tie in with the library’s Heritage Month. In addition to entertainment by the Cossie Uke’s band, you can catch up with Community Boardmembers about any issues or comments you have.

With Christmas just around the cornerweare delighted to announce that the Community Board has agreed to support the installation of Christmas lights in the tree in our Rose Gardens.

This project will be reviewed annually, andwe hope that future Community Boards will continue to support this wonderful display.

DeanTaylor has been instrumental in providing the lights each year andwelook forward to working with him to insure TeAwamutu has Christmas Lights for all to enjoy.

Manyof you are waiting patiently for the outcome of the Memorial Park Concept Plan.

Wehad expected to see the recommendations on our agenda this month, however it was delayed so staff could present their recommendations to aStrategic Planning and Policy workshop first.

Staff wanted feedback from Councillors and Community Board (only Iwas able to attend) prior to submitting their final recommendations.

As a result of this workshop staff are going to conduct further investigations. They will then present to another Strategic Planning and Policy Meeting hopefully prior to Christmas.

At this stage, the concept plan recommendations will be presented to Community Board in theNewYear instead of December as wasindicated and stated in the recent TeAwamutu Courier Briefly column.

There wassome robust discussion held regarding the various options presented. These included possible options for saving the duck pond versus the merit of creating an ephemeral stream where the springs (puna) in the area are reconnected to the stream.

Recommendations to expose the puna by the semi sunken garden, replant this space and reconnect with the Mangaohoi wassupported in part. Water has never stopped running from this location, it was covered over by councilsome years back. It currently runs through a pipe out into the fernery anddownto the stream.

Awalk through the fernery along the little waterway it is worth a visit.

The friends of Memorial Park have done a sterling job of tidying this part of the park.

Itwas decided, after discussing the possible relocation of the historic mural wall that an asset check be undertaken to ascertain the health of the concrete items in the park.

This does makesense as if there is deterioration and features are not feasible to repair thenwepossibly need to rethink what is best.

Those present supported the continuation of allowing traffic through the park, with a leaning towards a one-way system and exiting the netball court carpark onto Racecourse Road.

There was quite strong support for this option voiced via the submissions as well.

Acentral spine boardwalk coming off the curved pergola was also raised.

There was somesupport for this from the submissions. I dowonder what the point iswhen the existing walkway is notmuch further. Also, a boardwalk across the fernery, that will need to allow people to walk under it so they can follow the puna to the stream, I expect will be expensive?

High priority on manypeople’s submissions was the reinstatement of the central bridge.

Garry Dyet, Chief Executive Officer, indicated there is funding available and it is looking promising that a newcentral bridge will be happening sooner than later.

To summarise the submissions roughly; there are similar numbers of the community who“Love” the concept plan, andwho“liked someof the concept plan” with approx. 60 per cent firmly in the “don’t touch it orwedo not like it” camp.

Public voice versus long term cost and sustainability of the park will be an interesting debate.

Should you wish to read the agenda please visit waipadc.govt.nz/agendasandminutes.

The next Community Board meeting will be Tuesday, December 8. Wewelcome you to participate in the public forum or simply attend.