Tamahere-Woodlands Councillors’ update November 2024 – Feedback on a number of issues, Rates for the buses and the Mayoral Awards.

Record community feedback on Council survey

More than 800 people provided nearly 2,000 responses to the Council’s survey on its Long Term Plan for 2025-2034. The survey, which gathered feedback on services and activities from libraries to property, and from roading to waste management, closed late last month.

Prior to delaying the LTP for a year in order to gain greater certainty on our approach to 3 Waters, the work programmes and budgets first developed for the 10-year plan indicated the need for a general rate increase of 13.75% this year and 6% for the next two years.

Instead, the Council managed to cut the general rate increase from 13.75% to 11.9% this year, but is now grappling with a major loss of NZTA funding support for its roading (a shortfall of nearly $35m for new works and $1.9m for maintenance), and rising costs across other services. So your survey feedback will help the Council focus on key areas for further investigation, considering the impact on rates, debt, and levels of service.

Your opinion is also sought on:

Speed limits – The Council is developing a new Speed Limit Plan to conform with speed limit rules introduced by the Government this year reversing changes made by the previous Government. The new plan will take the place of our Speed Limit Bylaw 2011. Let us know what you think about the speed limit changes in your Ward by 27 November.

How we consult – We’re updating the Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy which establishes how we should consult with our community, and on what subjects. The policy determines the ‘significance’ of Council’s decisions and proposals, and how the Council will engage with the community on different types of proposals – depending on their ‘significance’. Tell us what you think by 11 November.

Alcohol bans in public places – The Council’s Alcohol Control Bylaw is a tool that helps NZ Police manage alcohol related harm in public places. Changes to bans operating in Raglan, Huntly, Tuakau, Pookeno, Mercer and Taupiri are being considered and consultation on this bylaw is open until 8 December. For this and other

Have your say: For all these matters go towww.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/say-it.

WRC transport rates re-think – Waikato Regional Council has presented to Waikato District Council on some new options for rating for public transport expected to be developed for community consultation early next year. One option, assessed favourably for its fit with principles including fairness, and representing only moderate change, was a “Greater Wellington Approach” which would divide the Waikato region into three rating zones – city, central area, and regional. The central area would include the southern half of Waikato District, as well as Waipa District and part of Matamata-Piako District. Estimates (illustrative only) of uniform charges for residential properties that might apply for the central area ranged from $26-$28 to $55-$77 (depending on the model chosen). An option to set rates based on property CVs has not yet been modelled for this approach. A recording of the October 8 presentation is available on the Waikato District Council website on its ‘Agendas, reports and minutes’ page.

District Plan milestone – Decisions on ‘Variation 3 – Enabling Housing Supply’, have introduced a new medium density residential zone (allowing three houses of up to three stories) in our main towns, Ngaruawahia, Huntly, Pookeno and Tuakau. The decisions have been notified and made operarive through the Proposed District Plan (PDP). These provisions are not applicable anywhere in the Tamahere-Woodlands Ward. However, as appeals on the PDP are progressively settled, more sections of the PDP are expected to be made operative early next year.

Mayoral Awards –

Congratulations to all Mayoral Award recipients for outstanding community contribution. Tamahere-Woodlands Ward recipients were: former Eureka Councillor Rob McGuire and Jill McGuire; long-standing Tauwhare and Matangi Hall Committee chairs Lockie Verner and Ian Wallace; and Jane Manson of St Stephen’s Tamahere, convenor of the Tamahere Country Market since it started in 2004. Jane was represented at the ceremony by her daughter, Alex.

Sadly, Rob McGuire passed away before the awards were presented. This photo is of Rob at his last community meeting with Tauwhare Community Committee in 2022.