06/12/2005

Be proud, be grateful, be happy

This is my final column before Christmas so I'd like to reflect on this first year as mayor of the Otorohanga district.
Having the luxury of being a fulltime mayor I have committed to being available to anyone, anywhere and at almost anytime. I work hard to extend the relationship between council and businesses, farmers, sports, iwi and community groups, particularly with the outer areas of the district, marae and our young people.
Establishing student leader forums, attending school sports days, productions, awards celebrations and special classroom activities, and involvement in all areas of youth development and employment are part of my challenge to provide options and opportunities for our local young people to contribute in the community.
Council has initiated regular marae committee meetings to enhance information sharing, and ongoing consultation for plan reviews and LTCCPs is proving very worthwhile for responsible decision making.
I am determined to encourage a greater understanding and appreciation of the role of council with the people we represent. While there are always challenges to be met it is a feature of this council that issues are well researched, debated and resolved respectfully, honestly and openly.
The relationship the elected representatives enjoy with council staff and the people of their wards is to be acknowledged and appreciated.
There have been many highlights over the past year.
Worthy of special mention include the opening of the Wintec Otorohanga Trade Training Centre and Beattie Recreation Centre as well as many new businesses to the area.
The Harvest Community Centre development is a project that I am very proud of as it will be another positive asset for our young people.
Council's involvement in facilitating the new Island Reserve Equestrian Centre, Westridge residential subdivision, Progress Park industrial estate, Otorohanga and Kawhia community improvements, the adopting of the district's next 10-year roading programme and so on, has been our response to your direction and support through the various consultations, workshops and hui.
I want to thank everyone for their support of Jo and I and our family in this privileged position, and to my fellow councillors especially deputy mayor Hugh Earwaker, community boards, David Hall, council staff, and the Otorohanga district residents and ratepayers.
This role is made so enjoyable, positive and productive by the generosity and goodwill of you all.
We are in a very special part of the world - beautiful, safe, vibrant, friendly and full of opportunity.
Be proud, be grateful and be happy!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Housing for Kawhia elderly on the agenda

New housing for the elderly may be constructed at Kawhia.
This comes after central government through Housing New Zealand, established a Housing Initiative Fund to encourage local bodies to be involved in social housing.
In total, $43 million is available through the scheme, with upgrades to existing facilities being 100 per cent funded and the establishment of new buildings being 50 per cent funded.
The issue was discussed at a Kawhia Community Board meeting on Thursday November 24, after a report from council community facilities officer Dave Williams.
In the report it stated consideration is being given to improving housing for the elderly in both Otorohanga and Kawhia.
However, following inspections by council and Housing New Zealand architects the general opinion was that they are unwilling to upgrade the current housing in Kawhia.
"The existing elderly housing units in Kawhia. are small and were built with cheap materials including fibre cement cladding and a complete exterior repaint is also required.
"The site is small and is becoming very congested as most tenants now have cars, not envisaged when the units were first constructed," stated the report.
"The initial improvement concept at Kawhia was to extend the front of the units to give more room in the toilet, shower and laundry area and to extend the rear by adding a covered porch.
"These improvements could be done to most of the units but because the site is so confined and sloping there would be a loss of external areas suitable for storage of items such as garden tools and uplifting concrete paving and laying new drains would also be required.
"Because of this and the likely limited remaining lives of these units it appeared worthwhile to consider the option of replacing units with new units built elsewhere," stated the report.
The board discussed the possibility of selling the current units to help fund new buildings and considered any alternative sites.
Mayor Dale Williams said that by securing funding, council would be signalling it is prepared to continue the Housing for the Elderly scheme, despite earlier intentions to end its involvement.
Deputy mayor Hugh Earwaker emphasised the first step would be to determine whether new housing was required.
With funds available until the end of the 2006 / 07 year, it was recommended a feasibility study be carried out on the project before any decisions are made.
This may include liaising with local residents and Ngati Hikairo to identify any suitable sites for the units.

Halle-loo-jah

DESPERATELY NEEDED: Kawhia's new public toilet block on Jervois St is near completion. The 12-week project by Mitchell Construction of Hamilton has cost about $190,000 and includes construction, landscaping and upgrading of the wastewater system.
Otorohanga District Council engineering manager Dave Clibbery said while there was a substantial cost to the project, a new toilet facility was desperately needed in the town. 
"Extensive investigation by council and a competitive tendering process demonstrated that such expenditure was required to provide a toilet facility appropriate to the current and likely future needs of the community."
Mr Clibbery said the facility is now in use and has already received positive feedback from both local residents and visitors.
Only a few minor tasks are yet to be completed.