Waikato moving on multiple fronts
Waikato Regional Council spends more than $120 million a year on the likes of environmental and flood protection, economic growth, public transport and the health of our communities.
A range of recent reports and briefings shows that, working with others, we’re making progress towards boosting our performance on a variety of fronts.
The regional transport committee has just toured major projects that are helping or will help our region move forward.
We took in the site of a planned new bridge across the Waikato River to support Hamilton’s Peakcockes development, the inland port planned for Horotiu, and expressway-related developments at Huntly and the historic Rangiriri Pa site, the latter in collaboration with iwi.
A visit to Pukekohe railway station gave us a chance to look at possible passenger rail to Auckland. A recommendation to do a strategic business case on Auckland-waikato connections is due to be put to the committee next month.
In the meantime, regional council-funded buses are providing valuable services in our main city and other centres, as well as helping ease congestion in rapidly growing Hamilton, where there’s been a steady measurable increase in traffic.
Another big area is our huge regional flood protection network. We have more than $500 million worth of infrastructure and flood protection assets. Without that investment, for example, large parts of the Hauraki Plains couldn’t be farmed successfully.
We’re being advised we’ll have to carefully manage the operation and maintenance of these schemes in the face of challenges such as major weather events, climate change and sea level rise, ageing assets, increased environmental protection expectations, affordability questions and the protection of transport infrastructure and economic performance.
An upcoming review of our infrastructure strategy will give us a great chance to look at these issues and any extra costs going forward.
Meanwhile, we’ve been working with others to boost the economy through the Waikato Means Business strategy. It’s been excellent to see business really stepping up to drive this. The Waikato Mayoral Forum is shortly due to hear of new plans to move things further ahead.
On water quality, the national debate over how to best manage fresh water has been bubbling along ahead of the general election.
Ideas in our recently released freshwater strategy – such as more tools for pricing of water and contamination charges – are part of that ongoing big picture discussion, and we intend to keep playing a full part in the search for solutions.
Nice to see two water protection projects we’re involved in getting a $1.64 million boost from the Government.
These projects at Lake Whangape and the Pu¯ niu River are great examples of communitydriven projects making real improvements.
Great also to hear that a council-assisted project to return kokako to Mt Pirongia has already re-located the 20 birds due there this year, meaning more of a chance in future to hear the distinctive call of this iconic bird there.
Look out for ongoing successes like this in various areas as our region increasingly sings from the same song sheet.
Alan Livingston is chair of Waikato Regional Council. The views are his own.
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