Carpooling Scheme Gathers Pace
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SEPTEMBER 2012 // CITYNEWS Arts forum Carpooling scheme gathers pace appointed HAMILTONIANS AND PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY ARE CLICKING ON TO THE APPOINTMENT of 12 community WWW.LETSCARPOOL.GOVT.NZ, A SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL INITIATIVE. leaders and arts organisation representatives to the new Arts Forum is the next step in delivering on the aspirations of Hamilton’s Arts Agenda. The strategy for the arts in Hamilton covers all aspects of the arts, setting out five priority areas to be delivered through collaboration between groups, individuals and Hamilton City Council. Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker says these appointments will help take the success of local arts to the next level: “The success of the Arts Agenda will depend on the involvement and commitment of the Arts Forum members and others involved in the creative sector. It is important we grow the creative side of Hamilton and a unified approach to how our city does that is vital.” Members appointed for three years are Muriwai Ihakara (Creative New Zealand), Sarah Nathan (Creative Waikato), Margi Moore (Wintec), Ann Hardy (University of Waikato), Tipa Mahuta (Tainui), Jeremy Bell, Rupert D’Cruze, Pamela Roa, Dorothy Wakeling, Eamonn Walsh, Mayor Julie Hardaker and Lance Vervoort (Hamilton City Council, General Manager Community). Hero honoured A GALLIPOLI SOLDIER, teacher and artist who tragically died while trying to save HAPPY TRAVELS: Waikato carpoolers, from left, Deb Hardwicke, Aaron Ure and Courtney Jackson say carpooling lowers their travel costs. others in the 1922 Hamilton Hotel fire will be recognised with a city road being renamed Sapper Moore-Jones Place in his honour. HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL has joined as I saw the link. I travel a return journey commuting daily from Te Aroha to Hamilton. Hamilton City Council’s Statutory www.letscarpool.govt.nz, a special online of around 130km each day as there’s no “It’s worked out well for me: I drive only Management Committee recently agreed to facility which allows people to connect with public transport option from the South once a week so I’m saving on fuel by sharing rename Marlborough Place, off the south other commuters so they can carpool, save Waikato through to Hamilton. It’s costing rides into the city with four other people from end of Victoria St, where the former hotel on gas and relieve traffic congestion. Already around $150 each week in petrol plus extra Te Aroha, and I have made some great new stood, in honour of the noted hero. dozens of Waikato motorists have signed car maintenance costs expected for long- friends.” Horace Moore-Jones, who joined the up – among them Aaron Ure of Cambridge, distance travel, such as windscreen and tyre Councillor Daphne Bell, chair of forces for WW1 as a sapper and saw service Courtney Jackson of Te Aroha, and replacements.” the Sustainability Working Group, says at Gallipoli, is also recognised as New Putaruru’s Deb Hardwicke, who are urging Aaron, Deb and Courtney are urging carpooling is another important string to Zealand’s best known war artist, with his other commuters to “click on” to carpooling. other commuters to investigate the carpooling Council’s sustainability bow. Gallipoli series “The Man with the Donkey” “I have never carpooled before as I have option, even if they don't have immediate “I’ve been very encouraged by the most well known. always been independent and financially able success finding ride-shares. buy-in from a number of our staff, and I’d The application to have him formally to meet expenses,” says Aaron. “However, “This is a new venture for the area and it urge other commuters to explore what is an recognised in the city where he lived and with fuel costs going up so much, this offered may take time to get the word out. I figure if environmentally-friendly and cost-effective taught in the latter part of his life, was lead a viable alternative.” my name and times are in there, then it lets transport option.” by Campbell Smith, Bill McArthur and Deb says she had similar motivations. folk know I am available,” says Aaron. • www.letscarpool.govt.nz Margaret Evans. “I jumped onto the website as soon Courtney is part of a five-person carpool The Base intersection works underway THE WORK TO CHANGE THE SH1/THE BASE PARADE ROUNDABOUT TO A SIGNALISED INTERSECTION WILL BRING BENEFITS TO DRIVERS, PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS. MINOR WORKS and service relocations direction will be maintained at all times, including factoring in current and future continue around the site, with steps in place except between 9pm-6am when this will be growth in the area,” he says. “The to ensure it does not greatly impact those reduced to one lane in each direction. roundabout has served traffic well in the past, travelling through the area or visiting nearby Hamilton City Council Development but signals are now required to provide better businesses including The Base shopping Manager Andrew Parsons says moving to a traffic management and better facilities for complex. Once the main works start, the signalised intersection will improve current cyclists and pedestrians to get across a very majority of activity will be carried out at traffic flows through this busy site and enable busy road.” night outside of commuter traffic times and it to better cater to future growth. The project is being jointly funded The Base’s normal operating hours, and the “There has been extensive analysis between Tainui Group Holdings, Council current road capacity of two lanes in each of traffic flows at The Base roundabout, and the NZ Transport Agency. www.hamilton.co.nz // www.facebook.com/hamiltoncitycouncil // www.twitter.com/CouncilHamilton SEPTEMBER 2012 // CITYNEWS SPOTLIGHT ON YOUR COUNCIL ShakeOut boosts Civil Defence preparedness HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICER SHAUN LIBEAU SAYS THE NATIONWIDE SHAKEOUT CIVIL DEFENCE EXERCISE THIS MONTH WILL LAST ONLY A MINUTE, BUT WILL TEACH A LIFELONG LESSON. CITYDESK FAST FACTS CELEBRATING sporting champions has › Hamilton City Council has been the flavour of the month over past weeks. It started with the Waikato Bay of Plenty two full-time Emergency Magic, then there was the Chiefs, followed by Management Officers. the Olympians. It’s put the mighty Waikato and our city of Hamilton on the national › They are based in the Municipal and international stage – and we have loved Building, next to a newly refitted every minute of it! It’s been our chance to tell emergency response centre. others what we stand for and answer the city’s critics who have often referred to Hamilton in › ShakeOut is a nationwide a less than positive way. Now everyone wants Civil Defence exercise on to know about Hamilton and what makes 26 September. our city and the Waikato successful. Is it the water, the milk, the grass? › www.getthru.govt.nz “AN OUTSIDER’S PERCEPTION OF “A recent survey revealed 43 per cent of respondents had taken steps to prepare HAMILTON IS FAR FROM for a Civil Defence emergency after the THE FACTS, SO IT HAS Canterbury quakes. Similarly, our recent Residents Survey showed 63 per cent of BEEN GREAT TO HAVE respondents believed they could survive for AN OPPORTUNITY TO three days after a major disaster,” says Cr Mahood. SHARE OUR POSITIVE Hamilton City Council is one of five NEWS WITH THEM.” PREPARED: Emergency Management Officers Chris Hattingh (left) and Shaun Libeau say councils in the Waikato Civil Defence practicing what you'd do in an earthquake could be a life-saving move. Emergency Management area, with a newly refitted emergency response room in For us Hamiltonians, this praise has Council’s Municipal Building. been long overdue. We all know the things HAMILTONIANS are being urged to The exercise, which begins at 9.26am, “There’s an increasing amount of that make it a good place to live and do “drop, cover and hold” later this month for lasts just one minute, with schools, collaboration with our neighbouring business. An outsider’s perception of one of the biggest Civil Defence exercises in businesses and organisations urged to councils in the Waikato Regional Civil Hamilton is far from the facts, so it has been New Zealand’s history. take part. Defence Emergency Group – Waikato great to have an opportunity to share our ShakeOut on 26 September is a “Taking that minute to practice what Regional Council, and Waikato, Matamata- positive news with them – like the business nation-wide initiative encouraging you’d do in an earthquake could be a life- Piako, South Waikato, Waipa, Waitomo, investment going into the city for new awareness of what to do in an earthquake, saving move. This is important, and we Thames-Coromandel, Otorohanga, buildings and businesses. Also our investment says Emergency Management Officer want people to share information on this Hauraki and Taupo district councils,” says for the transport network and the Ultra-Fast Shaun Libeau. event, and sign up at www.getthru.govt.nz.” Mr Libeau. Broadband (UFB) rollout ensures we are a “Drop, cover and hold are the three Councillor Pippa Mahood, Council's To find out more about ShakeOut, visit modern and future-proof city. The successes key words and actions here,” he says. Civil Defence representative, says the www.getthru.govt.nz, follow @nzgetthru of our arts people on the international stage, “If an earthquake strikes, that’s what you Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 on Twitter, or check the NZ Get Thru our great schools, the beautiful Waikato do – drop to the ground, take cover if raised New Zealanders’ awareness of how Facebook page. River and Hamilton Gardens. The list you can, and hold that position until the they need to prepare for Civil Defence goes on and on.