Apart from a proposal to relocate the Manu Bay boat ramp to restore the length of the surf break, it was business as usual at the Waikato District’s Long Term Plan Hearing on the afternoon of Tuesday 19th. The usual suspects of Sheryl Hart, Shane Gold, Charlie Young, John Lawson, Rodger Gallagher, Bob MacLeod and Federated Farmers were there. Newcomers included Community Board candidate Lisa Thomson, Melissa Janson, Jose Borrero, Para Kore (Marae Recycling) and Creative Waikato (the rebranded Hamilton Community Arts Council).
The Councillors and Council staff listened patiently to the submissions, made an occasional comment and asked the odd question.
First up was Charlie Young on behalf of the Raglan Chamber of Commerce supported Council’s grant to Hamilton Waikato Tourism. He also asked for a small grant increase to cover the cost of running the Raglan Sunday bus on public holidays that were now ‘Mondayised’.
Federated Farmers reps Glyn Morgan and Bruce Cameron supported all Council proposals that reduced rates for farmers. The pair struggled to understand that as the way that the UAGC percentage had changed, then the arithmetic value had changed but not anything else. They asked for a secret Council letter about this to be provided. CEO Gavin Ion said he would consider the request.
Jose Borrero, a Raglan based civil engineer, proposed that the Raglan Domain skate park be upgraded to a world-class facility, that a bike/ walk lane be built, in stages to Manu Bay and that the Manu Bay boat ramp should be moved around the corner. This last proposal would restore the length of the surf break by about 150 metres.
Patrick Day asked for the Council’s grant to the Raglan Museum to be continued. He also supported the submission made by the Waikato District heritage group. Mayor Allan Sanson complemented the Raglan Museum Society on what it had achieved. The Mayor said he had visited the museum in the morning and saw a large group of high school students from Hamilton in the museum.
Rodger Gallagher then spoke asking for library cards to be replaced at no cost if after fair wear and tear they became broken. He also covered the Raglan Community Arts Council’s request for rates relief and thanked the Councillors for their support of the work of the Raglan Arts Council.
Public Transport was the main topic covered by John Lawson in his presentation. He presented a number of graphs to prove his point that if more bus services were provided than people would use them. John asked the Councillors to approve redoing a survey on bus usage last conducted in 2002. He pointed out that the bus contract expires in 2017 and it is important to get the needs right before the contract is relet.
The presentations were then paused while the Councillors considered the Chief Executive’s submission. Some time was spent discussing two houses in Pokeno that the Council owns. A decision needed to be made on connecting them to storm water or disposing of the properties. The CEO had asked for budget to do 24 months of road design in 18 months. He then made another submission saying this wasn’t necessary as the road design work was now one month ahead. The CEO also said that there were issues with Council’s Workplace Safety Management and due to this the Council no longer received a $20,000 ACC discount. He asked for approval to hire another staff member to get the plan right. This was provisionally approved. The Councillors also approved $140,000 to be spent over four years for education on rain water tanks. The Councillors debated whether this should come from the general rate, the water rate or the storm water rate. Mayor Sanson urged them to make a decision and they did, with $20,000 to be charged each year to the general rate and the remaining $15,000 to the water rate.
Melissa Janson, a Masters student at Waikato University gave a submission supporting more commuter buses and asked that WDC change its submission to WRC on buses. There seemed to be a demand for an earlier commuter bus service.
Next up was Bob MacLeod speaking on behalf of the Raglan Community Board. Chair Alan Vink had given his apologies and asked for Bob to present on behalf of the Board. Bob made the point that the Waikato District Council had overlooked the top 5 priority list that RCB had supplied to the Council and also the next 5 on the list. Because of this Bob said, “The Board feels that it has been left out of the Long Term Plan process.”
Bob then covered his own personal submission reading out in full his 2004 submission to the LTP about Opotoru Rd. He made the point that nothing he had requested eleven years ago had been done.
Lisa Thomson then spoke on behalf of the Raglan Swimming Club asking for a public swimming pool to be built in Raglan. The Mayor confirmed that if a Raglan group initiated and drove a swimming pool project that the Council would work with the group. Councillor Graeme Tait pointed out that in Huntly a targeted rate of $20 a year was needed to fund the running costs of the pool there.
Para Kore was up next with Jacqui Forbes asking for an annual grant of $5,000 for waste minimisation work on marae in the Waikato District.
Later Sheryl Hart and Shane Gold from the Raglan Fishing Club spoke about the need for the Raglan Wharf boat ramp to be reconcreted and for boat trailer parking at the wharf to be policed.
The hearings will continue today Wednesday 20th in Ngaruawahia in the Council Chambers, from 2pm to 8.30pm.