Your monthly update from Hamilton City Council HAMILTON citynews October 2017 Multi-million dollar upgrades for key facilities Free parking for Two of the city’s busiest about eight months, and up to two hours a day community facilities are set timelines will be confirmed in Hamilton’s CBD is for significant repair and once a contractor has been underway, part of a plan refurbishment work. confirmed. to revitalise and boost the Work to undertake Mrs Whitehead says central city. earthquake strengthening libraries staff have been Parking in the city on the Central Library is appreciative of the support centre is free for up to two expected to begin later this from customers and hours in on-street metered year, following the Council’s understood the frustration and pay and display parks, decision to commit more than the Central Library closure between 8am and 8pm, $650,000 to the work. has caused. Monday to Saturday. This The library was closed in “Unfortunately, there isn’t could be for two hours in late 2016, when a Detailed a ‘quick fix’ for our library. It one parking space or a Seismic Assessment revealed will remain closed for several combination of short stays its New Build Standard more months while the repairs in two or more parks. (NBS) score was just 15 per are done, so we do need After the two free hours, cent. The particular issue further patience from our there’s a charge of $6 relates to a portion of the third customers for a while longer.” per hour to encourage floor staff-only area, but the Refurbishment of longer-term parkers and Council’s senior management Hamilton’s Waterworld commuters to use the felt the safety of staff and swimming complex will begin nearby parking buildings. customers was a priority and in February 2018. This will free up spaces opted to close the library as Meanwhile, the Council for shoppers, diners and a precaution, until the work will bring forward $5.7 people having meetings in could be done. million in 10-Year Plan says Community Services the central city. Rebecca Whitehead, funding to undertake a Manager Debbie Lascelles. The parking plan, which Hamilton City Libraries range of essential repairs “We’ve been carefully will be trialled until June Director, says work required and upgrades at the 40-year- managing our pool for 2018, will make use of to repair the building has old Waterworld swimming several years, and we’ve recent parking technology been scoped and tender complex. now reached the point changes in the CBD. documentation has been The total cost of the where we must fix it up to More than 1000 sensors prepared. refurbishment is $10.72 keep it running,” she says. have been installed in all “Now we have the green million. Much of the investment metered parking bays in light, we can go out to tender, Condition assessments will go into staff-only plant will still have access to the water sports stakeholders, the central city which will find contractors who can revealed numerous pieces and machinery areas of the facility’s sauna and gym. who had been advised of the provide real-time data on do the job, and arrange for of essential filtration, facility, or into assets such Hamilton Pools’ staff also significance of the planned usage of parking spaces. the work to begin,” Mrs water supply, pipes and air as lights and air conditioning plan to keep the hydrotherapy project and supported it. The sensors are also linked Whitehead says. conditioning equipment systems. The scale of the pool, hydroslides and outdoor Gallagher Aquatic Centre, to a free app, Pay My Put simply, the repair to have reached the end of their refurbishment job will require pool open while the rest of the Council’s other swimming Park, which allows users to the Central Library will see useful lives and replacement a five-month temporary the facility is refurbished. The complex, and facilities check parking availability, floor sections of the building has been identified as closure of Waterworld’s outdoor pool, traditionally which form the Partner get reminders when their strapped together using super- fundamental for the continued 25-metre, 50-metre, toddlers only open in summer, will be Pools arrangement will be parking is due to expire strong carbon fibre strips. safe operation of the pools. and dive pools. heated as needed while the available to customers when and pay for parking via The repair method has been Cosmetic issues relating Learn to Swim classes other pools are unavailable. Waterworld’s main pools are their mobile device. recommended by engineering to the facility’s flooring (in and group fitness sessions Ms Lascelles says the unavailable. experts. some areas) and ceiling have will continue during the closure will impact on hamilton.govt.nz/parking The repairs will take also been cause for concern, refurbishment, and customers customers and swimming and PAGES 6 & 7 INSIDE THE WORLD'S BEST MINIMISING ARE COMING TO HAMILTON’S WASTE TON What’s your vision? HAMIL HAVE YOUR SAY: How will Hamilton manage its waste? We’ve got four pages of information inside. 1 hamilton.govt.nz /hamiltoncitycouncil @CouncilHamilton citynews UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS Meetings are open to the public and are livestreamed A plan to define on our website, hamilton.govt.nz/livestream Elected Member Briefings are for the purposes of providing updates on various topics to Elected Members. The public are welcome to observe the Hamilton’s future briefings. On 19 October Councillors “We already know open up the areas we need for that money is ring-fenced will consider the draft 10-Year Hamilton’s rates are growth without a large impact for those projects and the Elected Member Briefing Ordinary Council Meeting Plan budget for the city and significantly lower than those on existing ratepayers. community can clearly see the (10 Year Plan) * (10-Year Plan) Tuesday, 3 October, 9.30am, Thursday, 19 October, Mayor Andrew King says of other growth councils in “Managing growth is not priorities and where the money Committee Room 1. 9.30am, Council Chamber. decisions made in coming New Zealand, and lower than just about building more is going,” Mayor King says. weeks and months will define our neighbouring Waikato houses and new infrastructure. “This process is about Elected Member Briefing * Growth & Infrastructure the future of Hamilton. councils.”Mayor King says It’s about understanding how looking at every option to Tuesday, 17 October 9.30am, Committee Meeting Population and economic Hamilton’s financial strategy growth affects the facilities make the right choices for Committee Room 1. Tuesday, 24 October, 9.30am, Council Chamber. growth in Hamilton has been was right at the time, but the and services we already have. our city. We’re doing a lot of Elected Member Briefing strong and most indicators city is in a different economic If we don’t spend wisely on work to prepare a thorough (10 Year Plan) * Community and Services of spending and investment environment. growth now it’s going to cost draft budget for councillors to Wednesday, 18 October Committee Meeting have also continued to expand. “Our previous financial us more later.” discuss. There’s no doubt the 9.30am, Committee Room 1. Tuesday, 31 October, 9.30am, Mayor King says this brings strategy was set during the Mayor King says the draft Council and our community Council Chamber. Ordinary Council Meeting challenges the city must sort global financial crisis, a time budget is being built on three have some big decisions to Wednesday, 18 October, out through the 10-Year Plan of low growth. Accelerated concepts: growth paying for make in the next few months.” 1.00pm, Council Chamber. * Not livestreamed process. growth means we need to growth, everyday costs of Following the draft budget “Investment in Hamilton is be aware of what’s changed maintaining the city being met presentation this month, bringing great opportunities in the past six years, and from everyday revenue, and further Council budget but it means we need to what new opportunities we options for funding for new meetings, community review our financial strategy. have.“The Government’s projects. consultation and hearings will Our base operating costs are Housing Infrastructure Fund is “Targeted rates for transport be held before the 10-Year underfunded by millions of an interest-free loan that could improvements and new Plan is finalised next year. dollars every year. We have save us millions of dollars community facilities are to address this,” says Mayor and I believe it’s one way, among the options we are hamilton.govt.nz/ King. probably the only way, we can looking at. This would mean 10-year-plan Chengdu an amazing experience Participating in a music hospitality, the event was an amazing experience for festival in China proved to be also a great example of an TOPA. We are truly grateful a once in a lifetime experience exchange of cultures and to have been selected to for some of Hamilton’s finest music between performers and represent our city and young musicians. attendees, said Entertainment country.” Thirty one of Hamilton’s Suite Ltd’s Dee Harrison. “It “To perform and share the most talented young musicians felt good that people were world stage with such talented travelled to China in July and excited to see ‘the Maaori and energetic people from August to represent Hamilton haka and white ball (poi)’. around the world was such at the 2017 Chengdu Sister It made us value our culture an honour for our team. We City Youth Music Festival. even more.” learnt so much and truly loved The trip was a gesture of “I liked how I could still Chengdu with its beautiful generosity from Chengdu, a communicate with others even culture, people and the sister-city of Hamilton.