Busy time preparing for Long Term Plan

The April Community Board Meeting included the presentation of the Long Term Plan (LTP) to Community Board, Water Services Quarterly Report, Community Board Code of Conduct, our submissions for approval to the LTP, a commemorative plaque request and a letter from the residents of Habitat for Humanity. There were no applications for the discretionary fund.

The public forum included a number concerned about changes to the War Memorial Park, with Peter Fletcher speaking passionately about why he felt the new changes were still a step too far.

We had Bea Schiller, manager of the i-Site raising concerns about the illegal parking on Selwyn Park and safety concerns around that area.

Lois Titchener also spoke on the work the committee do at the Kihikihi Police House and Temple Cottage with a request to support their submission to the LTP.

Luke East spoke informatively about his proposal for a royal commemorative plaque to be placed on the wall of the old post office to celebrate the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and now remembrance of Prince Philip. Community Board were all supportive of this acknowledgement and look forward to seeing this project come to fruition.

Community Board have by in large supported the Council’s recommendations in the LTP.

Rates are needed to run our district and while none of us want rate increases they are necessary if we want infrastructure improved or at least maintained.

We continue to support upgrades of our core infrastructure services.

We do have concerns, which we have raised, around the urban mobility plan.

These included adding cycleways to already narrow streets, proposed routes crossing some nasty intersections and the fact we are a rural town where people drive from afar so we need car parks!

Community Board have also shown their support for some community/sporting group requests such as the upgrade of the stadium toilets, funding for the Kihikihi Police House and Temple Cottage, additional CCTV cameras and the improvement of existing ones so they are fit for purpose.

We have also raised two projects we have been supporting for many years and they are the upgrade of the George St carpark and the town entrances. So please, if you care about your town and want to comment on the direction our district is going then do a submission to the Long Term Plan.

It is not hard. Council Staff simplify the process by providing you with enough information to decide without overloading you with detail.

This includes two or three different options to select per topic. You can choose one of the suggested options or not. If not, you can provide your own comment instead.

You can also write your own submission about something you think is important and not in the plan.

Encourage other people to do a submission and remember it is theirs, not your opportunity to harangue them into doing what you want!

If you have not done your submission for the LTP then I urge you act. Do it now.

The Long Term Plan closes Tuesday, April 27 at 5pm. You can do an online submission at whatsnextwaipa. nz.

Alternatively, you can get a paper copy from the Council Office or email info@waipadc.govt.nz with “Long Term Plan Submission” in the subject line.

Attention Rural Residents, Community Board are going to be conducting our first Rural Tour with the Mayor and a few councillors in tow.

This will take place on Saturday, May 22 and Saturday, May 29.

Times and venues will be advised in due course. We look forward to meeting those who come along and hearing what you have to say.