15/02/2005

Otorohanga people asked to save water

Otorohanga residents are being asked to use water sparingly to avoid water shortages in the future.
The request comes after a period of hot, dry weather across the North King Country, which has caused water supplies to decrease and water consumption to increase.
Otorohanga District Council recently revealed the water supply systems in Otorohanga and Kawhia are currently operating at near full capacity in order to cope with high level of demand.
Otorohanga District Council engineering manageer Ian Gooden said while both communities have been given the same warning, they are for different reasons.
While in Otorohanga it is not possible to treat enough water, in Kawhia they are unable to draw enough water from the ground to keep up with increasing demands.
With the hot dry weather expected to continue for at least several more weeks, Mr Gooden said residents are being given a friendly reminder to use water carefully in order to avoid the need for formal water restrictions later on.
He said simple steps like limiting the use of garden sprinklers, fixing leaking taps and using buckets rather than hoses when washing cars will help to prevent water shortages in the future.
This follows a similar request from the Waitomo District Council last week.

Pilot trades training puts Oto in spotlight

Other rural communities are keeping a watchful eye on Otorohanga's Trades Training Centre.
The centre, which will offer courses in mechanical and engineering trades next month, is
being considered a pilot scheme, with other towns around the country following its progress with great interest.
If the Turongo St centre is a success, it is likely similar schemes will be introduced in other areas.
wintec Te Kuiti campus manager Marlene Perry said the training Centre was an exciting
project that has only happened because of the community's determination.
"It is quite rare to get any particular course of this worth and significance in a rural town because usually smaller communities cannot afford it," she said.
Otorohanga mayor Dale Williams believes the centre will be a great asset to the community.
He said not only would it enable students to get an education in their own town, but it
world also benefit local businesses by providing a continual stream of qualified and competent tradespeople.
By encouraging young people to stay in the area, it is hoped Otorohanga district will be assured a bright future, and ODC is keen to encourage another generation of residents and ratepayers.
Mr Williams described the centre as incredibly exciting, and said it could be a revolution in this type of training.
He said it is important the enthusiasm that has been shown is ongoing if the centre is to continue to long-term.
"This is more than just a year-long project," he said.
The next step for the local community is to think carefully about scholarships, which Mr
Williams sees as the key to attracting a continual stream of students.
He hopes local businesses and industries will show their support for the training centre by establishing scholarships to take some of the financial burden out of studying for the centre's students.
"If there is money out there to help them then that is something really significant," he said.
Accommodation will also be a priority in attracting young people to study and remain in
Otorohanga, and Mr Williams hopes the local community will also assist in that area.
Potential students from rural and coastal areas have already expressed a need for affordable accommodation in town.
Mr Williams said with Otorohanga College's Hostel full, he hoped residents would consider offering board or rental opportunities to the centre's students.