Last Chance Saloon for plan
City councillors have given the Waikato Plan another chance but it hangs on a string.
In an October meeting, Hamilton City Council voted 11 to 1 to stick with the region’s strategic plan but councillors have slammed it as a joke and a mockery.
In June, a McGredy Winder review said the Waikato Plan was at a crossroads and should be reshaped or wound up.
Mayor Andrew King lashed out back then and, after winning a number of concessions from the Waikato Plan leadership group, lashed out again calling it a talkfest with nice food.
‘‘It’s just been a shemozzle every meeting I’ve been to,’’ King said. ‘‘Nothing has been achieved. You get nice lunches there.’’
The Waikato Plan, which cost the region about $1.35m to develop, aims to drive projects good for the region, attracting central government funding and bringing together local government, iwi and the community.
Staff recommended council continues on with the Waikato Plan despite the committee not being reduced to 12, as Hamilton had asked.
Council wanted the McGredy Winder recommendations implemented. The Waikato Plan Leadership Group will transition to a Waikato Regional Council committee and cochairs will be introduced.
Hamilton will pay nothing towards administration costs.
Executive director of council’s special projects Blair Bowcott said while little has been achieved since the plan was implemented last year, having a seat at the table was valuable. ‘‘Whilst there isn’t a lot to point to right now, there is a lot of positive feeling around how the group will go forward,’’ Bowcott said.
But Cr Garry Mallett said the Waikato Plan was like a comedy sketch.
‘‘This is absurd. Monty Python wrote this. Honestly, someone is pulling your chain,’’ Mallett said.
Cr Paula Southgate was close to the plan’s development but the implementation should have been better, she said. She wants the plan to succeed and while it ‘‘was always going to be a bit fraught,’’ council, as regional leaders, should foster relationships with it’s neighbouring councils through the plan.
‘‘We rely on having sound relationships with other councils and quite frankly, I get really disappointed with the amount of criticism we deal out to those other councils,’’ Southgate said.
Cr Martin Gallagher said confused signals would be sent to central government if Hamilton did not remain.
‘‘Whether or not we are in the room, the Waikato Plan committee will carry on,’’ Gallagher said. ‘‘I can’t figure out why we would not occupy a seat in the room, as imperfect as it may be.’’
Cr Leo Tooman said good things take time and, while frustrating, council should stick it out.
Cr Geoff Taylor said it’s ‘‘Last Chance Saloon’’ for the plan. No matter how doubtful we are at this stage, we should keep a seat at the table,’’ Taylor said.
Cr Rob Pascoe said the city’s Greater Hamilton plan, also discussed at the meeting, replicates much of what the Waikato Plan is about. He opts for a wait and see approach.
‘‘It’s exactly what we are trying to achieve by a different means,’’ Pascoe said. ‘‘We’re saying we want to sit down and talk with other local government authorities, NZTA, central government because we see a bigger picture in our region. There is an opportunity for us to stay in the tent even if it is for a short period of time to see if the structure has any legs.’’