Candidates discuss issues at Feds meeting
on rates were the mandates from Government that weren’t funded, meaning ratepayers had to pay extra, and those that paid the most rates had to wear the biggest increases.
Jim said the Te Ara Wai project was high on his agenda because it was good for Waipā and would create more tourism and business.
There was further discussion about Te Ara Wai, with support from Susan and an explanation of the funding streams that would be accessed.
Bernard said he thought it was simply too expansive and not value for money and Chris said more emphasis on partnership funding and less on ratepayer funding would be employed.
The group was asked whether amalgamation of Waipā with nearby councils was on the cards.
Barry and Stu thought the Future Proof Plan that Waipā was part of would ensure councils would be able to keep their autonomy, while working together when the scale of economy made it viable.
Judith thought some mergers might take place, but more likely in the King Country than involving Waipā.
Chris believed there would be pressure to merge with Hamilton City as we grew closer, so we would have to push back, while Bernard believed in six years time local bodies would look very different.
Susan and Jim believed there would be pressure, but Waipā was better off self governing, and had the resources. Susan said some depopulating areas might be forced to merge, but not us.
The last question was whether
councils could help people be safe from boy racers.
Barry said when he was at National Fieldays a burnout pad was built at Mystery Creek, but red tape meant it wasn’t able to be the answer to keep them off the streets.
Susan said council was ‘beefing up’ some of its bylaws that would help give police more teeth to deal with the gatherings.
Chris thought providing somewhere for them to go was the answer, and Judith agreed they would go somewhere, so a legal location might be of use. In contrast, Jim said to him they were criminals and he didn’t want to spend ratepayer money for their likes.
Bernard agreed we shouldn’t provide free amenities for an illegal activity. He said boy racers were well organised and could monitor police and escape before they were caught. He believes police should use digital communications and avoid the monitoring to be more effective.