Voting results now finalised

With election results declared, Waipa¯ will welcome four new councillors as published last week.

Incumbent mayor Jim Mylchreest and councillors Elwyn Andree-Wiltens, Hazel Barnes, Andrew Brown, Marcus Gower, Susan O’Regan, Clare St Pierre, Liz Stolwyk, Bruce Thomas and Grahame Webber have retained their current seats following today’s declaration of final results.

This will be Grahame’s seventh term as councillor and he has also held the position of deputy mayor for the past three terms.

Lou Brown and experienced community board members Philip Coles, Mike Pettit and Roger Gordon will take the seats vacated by exiting councillors Judy Bannon, Vern Wilson and Sue Milner, as well as an additional seat created for Cambridge following a representation review.

Chief executive Garry Dyet said a challenge for this council will be helping the community understand council services and its role in making sure Waipa¯ is a great district to live in that’s geared for growth.

“This council is going to face some real challenges, especially as we deal with climate change, rapid growth and ageing infrastructure, while keeping rates affordable,” he said.

“While councillors deal with those challenges, they’ll also be making decisions that not only impact on our daily lives, but keep our towns thriving. Maintaining safe drinking water, flushing your toilet, roads, footpaths and cycleways, public toilets, drinking fountains, recycling, playgrounds — they’re all the result of council decisionmaking,” he added.

Cambridge closed the elections with 39.19 per cent of voting papers returned, and Te Awamutu finished on 37.53 per cent.