Annual Plan Equals Transformation
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June 2014 ISSUE 10 LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION HEARINGS ON THE PROPOSAL TO CREATE ONE HAWKE’S BAY COUNCIL WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE WAR MEMORIAL HALL ON THURSDAY, JUNE 12 FROM 9.30AM Annual Plan COUNCIL MEETINGS equals 10 June 8 July 12 August transformation 9 September 14 October 11 November 9 December Transformation and emphasised the point that the environmental management COUNCIL FORUM investment in the community Draft Annual Plan underlines experience - perfect for a 24 June are the key themes behind the fact that Wairoa must district such as ours,” he said. 29 July the Draft Annual Plan 2014- invest in its own future. Public consultation on the 26 August 2015. “We can’t carry on doing Draft Annual Plan closes 23 September Chief Executive Officer things the same old way at noon on Thursday, June 28 October Fergus Power said the plan that we have for the past 12, and has so far attracted 25 November represents the reboot this 20 years or so. That way a significant number of community needs to turn has clearly failed. The submissions from individuals MAORI STANDING around the decades of community has voted in and organisations. COMMITTEE population decline and loss a Council with a strong Every submission will be 27 June 2014 of prosperity. emphasis on strengthening analysed and taken into 25 July “The Mayor and Councillors economic development account by the Mayor and 29 August have worked hard, alongside and strengthening the Councillors, who will also 26 September staff, to produce a plan that community. In turn, we have listen to hearings later this 31 October reflects the desire of the just recently recruited a new month. 28 November community to energise this Chief Executive who has The end result will be a district,” he said. strong local government, final plan to guide council Meetings and Forums are Mayor Craig Little commercial law and operations over the next year. held at the Queen Street office council chambers, and are open to the public Wairoa tipped as top place to live unless otherwise specified. It’s official – Wairoa is a great place to live! A total of 200 residents were interviewed over Results from the annual Communitrak survey the phone by Communitrak, an independent • 2013 Ross Shield team show 95 percent of Wairoa residents take a firm specialising in local government surveys. positive view on their quality of life here in the Quota sampling ensured an even balance district. of male and female, as well as proportional The WDC-commissioned survey also ethnic group quotas. revealed 90 percent rated the community The survey also covered different aspects of spirit in a positive light, while 74 percent were Council operations and governance to provide Wairoa District Council Queen St, Wairoa positive about how our natural environment a picture of strengths and weaknesses. Results [email protected] is being preserved and sustained for future will be analysed and added to ongoing work to www.wairoadc.govt.nz generations. improve and build on the work of WDC. (06) 838 7309 Costly damage darkens sewer • Plastic bags and large animal bones retrieved from the public sewer Thousands of dollars of ratepayer money is being flushed after the flush, but for some WDC staff the task of ensuring down the drain by the thoughtless dumping by a nameless the 35km of underground pipe that makes up the town’s few into the town sewer system. sewer reticulation system is top priority. In April of this year alone, staff responded to a record 24 Depending on where you live, effluent drains by gravity into blockages caused by many types of material, including three main pump stations at North Clyde, Alexandra Park plastic bags and other large objects that have no place in the and Kopu Road, as well as a smaller one at Rutherford Street. system. It is then transferred along a main sewer pipe under McLean One case involved large animal bones that can only have Street to a final pump station at Fitzroy Street, then onto the been dumped into the sewer via one of the manholes. Waste Water Treatment Plant at Pilot Hill. Utilities Engineer Don Smith said this particular blockage, The plant consists of a forced aeration pond and a retention between Sydney Street and McLean Street, caused problems oxidation pond where the wastewater goes through the for several days and eventually required assistance from a treatment process. The final stage is discharging of the specialist drain operator from Hastings at a cost of around treated waste water to the river estuary on an outgoing $3000. evening tide. “The bills for these dumping acts are being footed by our Maintaining the aging town sewer is not without its community, and it’s simply not necessary,” he said. challenges – not helped by those who use it as their personal According to the Council by-law, interfering with the free rubbish hole. flow of the sewage system can result in a fine of up to WDC are asking the public to assist in ensuring the $20,000. The Local Government Act inflicts a heftier penalty community’s sewage system is looked after and to please call of up to $200,000 for damage to local authority property. (06) 838 7309 if they suspect it has been tampered with. Most of us don’t give a second thought to what happens YOUR SPOT Whakatauki/ PROVERB The unmistakable view of the Ka whakarērea te first glimpse of the Wairoa puha, ka whai ki te River when travelling in from matariki. the south. This image was sent in by WJ Carswell, who Inferior toetoe is discarded while that of captured a beautiful autumn high quality is sought day. after. Wairoa District Council supports the goal of becoming If you have a photo or artwork that reflects the Wairoa community, we’d love to print it. an official bi-lingual district Email [email protected] or post to PO Box 54, Wairoa 4160 by 2040. Wairoa District Council: Queen St, Wairoa • [email protected] • wairoadc.govt.nz • (06) 838 7309 Road repair challenge met • Plastic bags and large animal bones retrieved from the public sewer • QRS Ltd Project Supervisor Jared Olsen and WDC Project Engineer Pune Brown after the flush, but for some WDC staff the task of ensuring the 35km of underground pipe that makes up the town’s A combination of modern compacted grass verge. Over time, the site sewer reticulation system is top priority. technology and sustainable “The idea is to leave will disappear into the Depending on where you live, effluent drains by gravity into engineering techniques each site tidy, safe and landscape, assisted by the three main pump stations at North Clyde, Alexandra Park are resulting in some functional,” Mr Brown said. final woollen ‘blanket’ that COUNCIL ONLINE and Kopu Road, as well as a smaller one at Rutherford Street. progressive flood damage The main construction site overlays the structure to Council’s online presence is It is then transferred along a main sewer pipe under McLean work to our rural roading is perched alongside the encourage picking up with the launch of Street to a final pump station at Fitzroy Street, then onto the network. Ruakituri River, famed for vegetation growth. a new facebook page. Waste Water Treatment Plant at Pilot Hill. A major project up the its picture postcard looks Once the vegetation has Social media is playing an The plant consists of a forced aeration pond and a retention Ruakituri Valley is an and bountiful trout. taken hold, the wool breaks important role in all aspects oxidation pond where the wastewater goes through the example of this cutting- The QRS Ltd contractors down and disappears. of life, including sharing the treatment process. The final stage is discharging of the edge work, involving the carrying out the work agree “The whole project happenings of what your treated waste water to the river estuary on an outgoing construction of a large there could be worse places really combines modern local government are up to. evening tide. retaining wall to shore to spend their working day. technology with traditional The library also has a Maintaining the aging town sewer is not without its up the road after it was State-of-the-art materials techniques. It’s a beautiful popular facebook page. challenges – not helped by those who use it as their personal extensively damaged by are being used to create the balance,” Mr Brown said. The WDC website is proving rubbish hole. flooding. Geomesh reinforced earth The Ruakituri project is popular, with an almost 40 WDC are asking the public to assist in ensuring the Project Engineer Pune retaining wall – products one of several taking place percent increase in visits community’s sewage system is looked after and to please call Brown said the project was QRS Ltd have become around the district to repair over the past year, bringing (06) 838 7309 if they suspect it has been tampered with. one of several throughout experts at handling through flood damage. the total up to 24,603. the district, and was several years of use over The physical work on the Most visitors are New particularly noteworthy due many projects. ground is preceded by Zealand based, with to the location of the site in The complicated many months of detailed Auckland taking the lead in relation to a good supply of construction is designed to assessment, design and audience cities. Whakatauki/ natural resources. stand the test of time, with tendering. Head to www.wairoadc. PROVERB “The soil available for drainage systems in place Government funding govt.nz to discover all the construction use is high to cope with any further contributes heavily to the information and tools you Ka whakarērea te quality and close by, which flood conditions.