Waikato District Council news
The Waikato District Alliance, a joint venture between Waikato District Council and Downer NZ, is a finalist for the Chorus EXCELLENCE Award for Best Practice in Infrastructure at the Local Government New Zealand EXCELLENCE Awards.
The formation of the Waikato District Alliance (WDA) two years ago has resulted in much quicker response to roading issues and projects than is possible from a traditional council-contractor relationship.
This was highlighted by the response to the collapse of a culvert on Otonga Valley Road, near Raglan, in November 2016.
Resources available to the WDA enabled transportation to be provided to school students sitting national exams. A bridge deck and crane were taken to the site speedily and the road was returned to service within 20 hours of the collapse.
And Waikato District Council’s Placemaking Programme is a finalist for the Creative New Zealand EXCELLENCE Award for Best Creative Place.
The Placemaking Programme focuses on Council working with community groups in Raglan and other Waikato towns to encourage artistic and cultural idea that inspire people to work together on projects for their own communities.
The ANZAC Poppy Trees Project saw more than 4,000 poppies knitted to create public art installations on 21 trees around the district this year. Wool for 3,000 poppies was provided by the council, with the rest donated by participants.
Judges said: “This was a great project which achieved a lot on a small budget, and which connected throughout a very dispersed community of small towns.”