Raglandic folk recently received a glossy brochure from the Waikato Council asking the question, “How old will you be in ten years from now?”
The document is actually not the Council being concerned about your birthday in ten-year’s time but an explanation of what they have in their ten year plan (The Long Term Plan).
The Council says we’re coming to a community near you. Come and join us, have your say. Unfortunately the link listing a series of public meetings excludes Raglan. With Council’s enthusiasm for growth at Pokeno they have overlooked Raglan.
We asked the Waikato Council to confirm that this page correctly shows that there will be no Long Term Plan meeting for Raglan. i.e Council has no plan to have a meeting in Raglan.
A spokesperson for the Council said, “We have asked the team co-ordinating the Community Engagement Programme to provide you with an updated schedule for your information.”
Alan Vink, the recently appointed Chair of the Raglan Community Board, said, “Tony (WDC GM Tony Whittaker) and I currently working on finalising a date for Raglan.”
So there may yet be a meeting in Raglan!
Yes, I should hope there’s a meeting in Raglan! About a dozen Raglan people spoke to their submissions in the meeting held at the bowling club last May, when the WDC kindly allowed me to speak to a late submission from over 30 Raglan residents on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and the threat it poses to local procurement, local jobs and environmental standards. Council members didn’t appear to have even heard of the TPP then. I’m hoping that as many as possible of the people concerned about the TPP will be able to attend an LTP Council meeting in Raglan to show support for our democracy and environment in the face of this threat posed by the mighty multinationals dictating the investment and trade agenda for their own benefit. (If anyone reading this comment wants to know more, please take a look at the website of Its Our Future: http://www.itsourfuture.org.nz . I would also be happy to chat, or to talk to a group about the TPP and its implications, or to find another speaker. Email joanhavemann@gmail.com or phone 825 6503.)
Please keep in mind that the meeting on the 14th April @ 6.30pm is about the LTP NOT the TTPA.
So are you saying the LTP shouldn’t be about local procurement, local jobs and environmental standards?
Although the LTP discussion doesn’t mention them, the WDC has 9 Community Outcomes and 4 Community Wellbeings that are its objectives. I’ve pasted them in below.
The LTP should contain actions which achieve these Outcomings and Wellbeings.
I learned at the weekend that WDC have awrded the tree maintenance contract for the entire Waikato to an Auckland company. The local businesses throughout the District that have done this work for years have been cut out. Hardly consistent with THRIVING WAIKATO.
ACCESSIBLE WAIKATO – A district where the community’s access to infrastructure, transport and technology meets its needs.
ACTIVE WAIKATO – A district that provides a variety of recreation and leisure options for the community.
EDUCATED WAIKATO – A district where education options are varied, and allow our community to be skilled for work and life.
GREEN WAIKATO – A district where our natural resources are protected, developed and enhanced for future generations.
SAFE WAIKATO – A district where people feel safe and supported within their communities, and where crime is under control.
SUSTAINABLE WAIKATO – A district where growth is effectively managed.
THRIVING WAIKATO – A district where business and industry are encouraged and supported and employment contributes to a successful local economy.
VIBRANT WAIKATO – A district where our heritage and culture are recognised, protected and celebrated.
WELL WAIKATO – A district where people can access quality community health and care services.
COMMUNITY WELBEINGS
SOCIAL – The Royal Commission on Social Policy defined ‘social well being’ as concerned with ensuring people have ‘a voice in their future, choice in their lives, and a sense of belonging that affirms their dignity and identity’.
ECONOMIC
Examples of the types of impacts and activities include:
• the allowable use of land through the District Plan
• the provision of infrastructure and regulation of certain activities
• the establishment of, and support for, a regional tourism organisation
CULTURAL – For the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, cultural well-being is defined as: The vitality that communities and individuals enjoy through:
• participation in recreation, creative and cultural activities; and the freedom to retain, interpret and express their arts, history, heritage and traditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL – Environmental wellbeing under the LGA is defined by what environmental outcomes your community wants to achieve, and how they prioritise the actions to achieve them.