Amalgamation report arrives this week
Waitomo and Otorohanga district councils will soon. receive the Local Government Commission's draft report on amalgamation, if they have not already received it.
LGC chief executive Donald Reizebos said on Friday the report would be sent to the councils in the next few days.
The councils will be invited to make comments on the report.
LGC consultants will then review those comments and a final report will be prepared.
Regarding expectations that the draft report might have been completed earlier this year, Mr Reizebos said the process had started later than expected.
Kiwiana claims lack of support
Otorohanga's Project Kiwiana claimed a lack of support from civic leaders when the organisation's secretary came before Otorohanga Community Board on Monday.
Marion Loveridge, speaking on behalf of the volunteers who have worked to promote the town for more than two years, asked the board whether the towns leaders were with the organisation or not.
The Project Kiwiana committee had been left in the dark concerning a number of recent decisions affecting the promotion of the town, Mrs Loveridge said.
"Things have been going on. There's a feeling in town that not everyone is with Project Kiwiana. Things happen that we don't know anything about," she said.
Mrs Loveridge said the committee had been granted money for a brochure promoting the town, but not been informed of the significant changes before items of tourist interest moved.
“Are our city fathers with us or against us? Think about that."
Board member Liz Cowan, a founding member of Project Kiwiana, expanded on the suggestion and voiced concern for the future of the Project Kiwiana murals painted on the wall of the former Four Square building last year.
"We have a new business looking at moving there, where there are three significant Project Kiwiana murals," said Mrs Cowan. "We signed an agreement with Foodstuffs Auckland that they would stay there for five years and the building's owner agreed to that. We need to make sure that everyone appreciates this," she said.
Graham Wilshier, who is also a member of Project Kiwiana's parent organisation Otorohanga District Development Board, did his best to reassure Mrs Loveridge.
"I don't think that the town fathers are against Project Kiwiana and it staggers me that that's out there. If there is that perception it's imperative that it is turned around. It worries me that there's an underlying doubt about that."
Don Burton, Otorohanga District Council's representative on the community board, said he admired the Project Kiwiana committee for its drive and enthusiasm, but did not think the council or community board had a direct line to the Project Kiwiana committee.
"I can see hundreds of benefits, but I don't know if some of my fellow members can. We have got to have someone in control of social events in the town."
Community board chairman Dale Williams, who is also a district council member, is probably Project Kiwiana's newest member.
"I don't want Project Kiwiana to think that there is not complete support from the civic leaders but things never happen fast enough.” he said.
"The New Zealand Kiwiana Festival, in two years time, is going to be the attraction that brings Kiwiana and Otorohanga together forever."
Mrs Cowan said the Kiwi House remained pivotal to the Project Kiwiana vision.
Plastics part of zero?
It is very pleasing to read the Otorohanga District Council has adopted a zero waste policy. Like most people I am eager to support this plan.
How shall we deal with the many plastic containers which are recyclable but not accepted either through kerbside collection or at the Recycle Centre?
I'm referring to the numerous food containers for yoghurt, semisoft butter and other dairy products, jams, spreads, vinegars, oils and biscuit trays for example; also the eco bottles of household cleaners, bleach, shampoo, liquid soap, fabric softeners - to mention a few. Then there are the polystyrene containers and trays.
All these items are marked with the recycle symbol.
They are not biodegradable, however, and if they go out in our green rubbish bags to become landfill, these plastics will still be polluting the earth 200 years from now.
I'm sure this is not the intention of the Zero Waste policy.
What then shall we do with all these plastic containers?
Ruve Wallace Otorohanga
(If you can drink from it, it's recyclable in the North Icing Country -- ie milk, juice and softdrink containers. These must be washed, squashed and put in a supermarket bag according to staff at Supa Bins. ODC spokesman David Williams said the district is too small to recycle all plastics - but "council is working on more ways of disposal". At present the containers you mention have to go out in the green bags. In other words, at present the economics don't stack up. - Ed.)
Otorohanga plea to keep full Sport Waikato funding
Otorohanga's Sport Waikato co-ordinator Robbie Matthews made an impassioned plea to the Otorohanga Community Board asking for her $50,000 a year council funding to remain.
The plea came after Otorohanga District Council revealed plans to cut Sport Waikato funding in half in its Annual Plan, forcing Ms Matthews to work part time rather than full time.
The threat of a funding cut, said Ms Matthews, had initially caused her to worry about the security of her employment but then she evaluated exactly what she did.
"What I have achieved is being able to make a difference. When I sat down and looked at what we are doing it fired me up."
She said Sport Waikato was about far more than sport.
"We are offering more services and can make a difference in the community because of all those people we have working for us. My role is to fit into the community and to make sure that all the needs are met."'
Concerned that reducing the position to part time would make the role reactive rather than proactive, Ms Matthews raised concerns about the ever increasing rate of obesity in children.
She claimed if schools and sports clubs had to pay for services offered by Sport Waikato they would never happen.
“It's about having a person in Otorohanga snaking a difference for Otorohanga people.” Sport Waikato programmes manager Mike MacGuire supported Ms Matthews in her representation, handing community board members a 12-page document outlining the work she does. Community board chairman bale Williams, also a member of Otorohanga District Council., defended the Annul Plan. "Mayor Eric Tait has been quoted as saying that t this decision is no reflection on the work that Robbie Matthews or Sport Waikato does.
''The people we represent feel taxed to the limit and the council and community boards were faced with significant rate rises. "The council must provide the maximum services for the minimum costs and had to identify what we are legally responsible for and what we are morally responsible for. It's cutting the cloth to reflect the difficulties of our rural ratepayers."
He told Ms Matthews her speech was so good that she should be in the chair.
The rest of the board did not agree with the chairman.
Graham Wilshier said: "I -think it's short-sighted. It's disappointing funding will be reduced by a half. If they want to maintain the service, they cant have that thrust on there overnight, as $25,000 is sweet Fanny Adams."
Andrew Ormsby agreed, saying the cut would only save ratepayers $2 each, "It's a minimal amount of money. Robbie Matthews does an excellent job.”
Liz Cowan said the community could not afford to lose Ms Matthews.
"She has done a lot of good work and is tremendously valuable."
Sue Blackler could see both sides of the argument, supporting Mr Williams by saying that the Fonterra payout decrease of a third, would affect farmer's ability to pay, before suggesting the money come out of the annual general charge.
Mr Wilshier proposed the community board make a representation to keep full funding, which Mrs Cowan seconded.
Kiwiana eyes station
Otorohanga's Project Kiwiana committee has got its eyes on the historic Otorohanga Railway station.
Project Kiwiana secretary Marion Loveridge asked Otorohanga Community Board to consider approving the organisation's lease of the building once renovations are completed later in the year.
"The Project Kiwiana committee wishes to register its interest in taking on management of the railway station once renovations have been completed later this year."
The station could be used as a one-stop shop for Project Kiwiana meetings as well as storage, the Project Kiwiana committee hoped.
"It would be a real benefit in making the New Zealand Kiwiana Festival a success in promoting Otorohanga in 2004."
Graham Wilshier backed the idea. "I think it's an excellent idea, bringing the outside of that building up to an acceptable standard of presentation. There is not a tenant for it and we have got to look very seriously at a local organisation prepared to stand up and say let's have a shot at this."
Board chairman Dale Williams, himself a member of Project Kiwiana, suggested the idea be discussed when the station was nearer to completion.
Status quo for SH3
Transit New Zealand's final decision concerning the rerouting of SH3 around Otorohanga is to retain the status quo rather than defer the decision.
Otorohanga District Council engineering manager Ian Gooden told the community board on Monday, that Transit had ditched plans to bypass Maniapoto St in favour of Huiputea Drive. "It is pleasing to note that, following a variety of submissions from business people and others on the draft document, Transit New Zealand has significantly rewritten key points from the submissions section to take into account the points made," Mr Gooden said.
“Transit's final decision is to retain the status quo until at least the next review.”
Support house supports Sport Waikato
Otorohanga Support House is encouraging residents to have their say on Otorohanga District Council’s plans to cut Sport Waikato funding by half.
The organisation's May issue includes an a article explaining the proposed cut from $50,000, and offers submission forms.
Modules to be highlighted
Otorohanga's Project Kiwiana plans to make its innovative Kiwiana modules more visible to tourists with the addition of a banner at the shops with a module. The Project Kiwiana committee has written to module holders the length of Maniapoto St suggesting the banner, to be attached on the exterior of each shop wall, will be erected at the committee's cost. The modules celebrate any of the many collectibles redolent of New Zealand life and culture such as kiwi merchandise, the buzzy bee and New Zealand Marmite.