19/07/2005

Pat yourselves on the back

Otorohanga and Kawhia Community Boards are currently undertaking their respective Landscape Plan reviews, focusing on reserves, gardens and plantings, pedestrian and traffic flows, business development areas, public facilities, waterfront areas and so on.
This process is an extension of the original landscape plans that were created back in 1998 by council and the communities, and reflects the needs and expectations of those with a stake in the central business and residential areas of each township.
Obviously so much has changed and progressed since then, and the community boards want to make sure their planning and work programmes will also incorporate the present and future communities' needs.
It is an opportunity for all types of issues to be wider community consultation processes that local government must perform on your behalf.
Recently, Otorohanga District Council farewelled engineering manager Ian Gooden after nine years of valuable service to the district.
Ian originally came to council with little local government experience and soon developed into a highly respected and competent manager during a time of significant progress and development for council.
I am a believer that timing is very important, and we have certainly benefited from Ian's ability, flexibility and discipline in his role and extend on behalf of you all our best wishes to him and his family.
We are very pleased to welcome Dave Clibbery to the engineering manager's position.
Dave, Maree and their family are already well known to locals as Dave is council's highly qualified services manager, Maree is Otorohanga College's librarian, and their children attend Otorohanga South School.
Dave has earned a reputation of quality performance for council, and has an excellent rapport with staff, elected members and all sectors of the communities and district.
It is very pleasing to be able to promote our own people to key positions and that they can outperform other candidates - most satisfying is that Otorohanga District Council employment opportunities are held in such high regard by the job market.
On a further positive note, as mayor I am constantly amazed at the level of interest in our district from businesses seeking to relocate here, new commercial and industrial expressions of interest, investor demand, and residential, farming and lifestyle activity.
Actually no, I am not amazed because to be amazed implies that this is all by accident or unexpected - Otorohanga is exactly where it is right now by design, thanks to the people you elect, the people who contribute, and the people who make up our communities and district - so pat yourselves on the back, it's a team effort and you have much to be proud of!

These issues were discussed at an Otorohanga Community Board meeting last Monday.

Harvest Centre

Mayor Dale Williams informed the board that work on Otorohanga's new youth centre The Harvest Centre, was well underway.
He said anyone interested in helping out with the project were welcome to attend the Saturday working bees at 8.30am.
When asked how long construction was expected to complete Mr Williams said it was hoped it would take about 12 months.
"If we are open by this time next year we will be happy."

Kiwiana maintenance

Board member Liz Cowan raised the issue of maintenance of Otorohanga kiwiana features, including modules, streetlight icons and banners.
Mrs Cowan said although the features are the property of Project Kiwiana, she hoped the council would take on the responsibility of their maintenance.
She said duties such as cleaning and repairing the features were often a strain on volunteers.
"We don't have anything formalised as to who owns these things and who is going to be responsible," she said. Community board chairperson Graham Wilshier said he believed the main problem with project Kiwiana taking care of the maintenance of the features was that the members did not have the same contacts as council staff.
"The difficulty project Kiwiana has is getting someone to do the repairs, whereas council staff have these connections," said Mr Wilshier.
He suggested if council organise someone to carry out repairs, Project Kiwiana could be responsible for paying the costs.
Mrs Cowan said she did not believe Project Kiwiana would oppose this suggestion, however believes that eventually someone would have to take over ownership of the Kiwiana features.
"We all know volunteers do not stick around forever," she said.
"For better or worse we are now known as Kiwiana Town.
"We either have to maintain that to a high standard or flag it. Sooner or later as a community we have to decide what we are going to go with this."
It was agreed that the board would run a six-month trial with council staff responsible for maintenance and Project Kiwiana covering the costs.
The issue will then be revisited.