Te Awamutu Courier
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Te Awamutu CouPublished Tuesday & Thursdayurier THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2016 Your community newspaper for over 100 years EXTRA COPIES 40c Squash day Council boosts trails Te Awamutu Squash Club is hosting one of the regional ‘Have a Go Days’ on Sunday, To say Waipa District Council- May 15. lor Marcus Gower is over the The club will open its doors moon with Council’s decision to from 1pm-4pm for anyone invest $1.2 million on three separ- wanting to give squash a go. ate trails in the 2016/17 financial Those who register for the year is an understatement. “It was the best day in Council It was event go in the draw for a ever for me,” he enthused. ‘the best chance to win a free Planning work has now begun day in membership. in earnest on a series of cycleways All racquets and balls are and walkways that will link Te Council supplied. Non-marking shoes Awamutu, Kihikihi and Pirongia. ever for must be worn. On Tuesday Council approved me the $1.2 million project based on Made team the recommendations developed MARCUS’ Nikita Lyons of Pirongia by a Waipa-wide community GOWER has again been named in the stakeholder group, working along- NZ International Biology side council staff. Olympiad (NZIBO) team. Mountain to Road Cycles The Waikato Diocesan owner Callum Fawcett is one of School student scored a the stakeholders who has been bronze medal in the involved for about four years. International Biology He says in 2012 over 300 of his Olympiad (IBO) in Denmark customers signed a petition call- last year and is keen to repeat ing for more cycleways and safer or better that feat this year. cycling roads, and while it seems to have taken an age to get this far, he is pleased to see progress has What’s Hot? finally been made. Thankyou for all the great The three projects are: TC050516DT01 What’s Hot submissions (page An estimated $800,000 towards COUNCILLOR 4). We try to publish as many the construction of a 2.5 to 3 metre Marcus Gower as possible each week, but wide, 19km Te Awamutu to (back) celebrates some cannot be printed due to Pirongia cycleway. This is subject the decision to vague information, lack of to further investigation and con- invest in cycleways contact details, repititive firmation of costs. If construction with a ride into Te nature or abusive messages. of the full trail is not feasible, a Awamutu with his Others have to be shortened. section connecting Te Awamutu neighbours Micaile Just a reminder that a to Lake Ngaroto will kick off the (11), Danae (14) and contact must be supplied with project. James Pennington. submissions dropped into the A further $300,000 was Courier office. Could the approved to build a 2.5 metre, four person who delivered a What’s kilometre easy-riding trail from Hot about their Australian Te Awamutu to Kihikihi. Some of grandson with croup please that money would be used to contact Cathy Asplin (ph 871 ensure safe road crossings, includ- ing at Golf Road. cycleways and walkways across out how best to spend the money historic places, by connecting 5151 or email:cathy.asplin The remaining $100,000 has the whole of Waipa.” we have has meant we’ve come up people, towns and features. @teawamutucourier.co.nz). been tagged for investigations into Over time the council aimed to with the best outcome. “Cambridge has a very good a Te Awamutu to Pirongia trail, see a “complete connection” “This will be a staged process cycling network including includ- including the identification of a between Kihikihi to Pirongia, but and the group has thought care- ing in the Cambridge town belt. route and liaison with local land- Mr Mylchreest stressed not every- fully about where to invest the “ If we get our strategy and owners. thing could be done at once. money and when. Now it’s a case investment priorities right The money will be spent in the Local people had already of getting on with it so the district-wide, we can grow Wai- 2016/17 financial year. offered to help fundraise and add community can benefit as quickly pa’s reputation as a very good Mayor Jim Mylchreest to the $1.2 million already avail- as possible. cycling destination. stressed that while the work able. “ If there’s some initiatives “There are economic and other would follow on from projects “We know there’s a lot of around private fundraising, we’d benefits associated with that and already completed in and around support for cycleways and be thrilled about that and would Waipa is well poised to leverage Cambridge, the strategy was walkways and I understand support it in whatever way we those.” Waipa-wide. people want to see physical work could.” “This is about looking ahead start,” he said. The Mayor said over time ■ For a copy of the Waipa District and ensuring that, over time, “But taking the time to work cycleways and walkways would Cycling Trails Strategic Framework go we’ve got a fantastic network of with the community and thrash help showcase Waipa including its to www.waipadc.govt.nz CARING FOR YOUR EYES Did you know? Your eyes are more exposed to harmful sunlight between 8am & 10am, and again from 3pm & 5pm. As the days get shorter, it’s in your face - whether driving to and from work, working or playing outdoors. Come in and try our great of sunnies, or ask about prescription sunglasses. 335 Alexandra St, Te Awamutu E: [email protected] T: 07 871 7741 • F: 871 8555 2 Te Awamutu Courier Thursday, May 5, 2016 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CourierTe Awamutu Community Newspaper of the Year 2014 Water meters hard to justify Your community newspaper for over 100 years. Waipa District Council uses ation and proper public con- Yes, 10 minutes to screw in a against the law. Circulated free to 14,055 homes through Te Awamutu every excuse to justify their sultation. water meter, the same time it 2. Installing water meters reasoning behind the installa- Staff try to compare and in takes to screw over the resi- into those parts of the district and surrounding districts. tion of water meters. the future align Te Awamutu’s dents with what can only be that don’t already have them CIRCULATION 14,055* (7136 urban, 6919 rural) Why not tell the truth, it’s a water demand with that of considered as a future revenue has been formally tabled and future revenue source for Coun- Ohaupo. source for Council. approved by Council twice as We welcome letters - preferably via email. They cil to bleed residents dry, not for You cannot compare apples Time another march should part of public processes; once in should be under 300 words and must have the water conservation. for apples as multiple variables be considered. June 2012 as part of the sender’s name, address and phone number. No The process has been tainted delineate and separate us from HAYDEN WOODS 2012-2022 10-Year Plan and again pseudonyms are accepted and names will only be from the word go. a rural village to that of a fast- Editor’s note: Waipa District in June 2015 as part of the withheld in special circumstances at the discretion The decision for installation growing township. Council was asked to respond 2015-2025 10-Year Plan. of the editor. Letters are not usually acknowledged of water meters was never One variable that comes to as a number of accusations 3. The resource consent from and may be edited, abridged or discarded. tabled or approved by Council mind is Fonterra’s factory, con- have been made again by Mr the Waikato Regional Council MANAGER elect. suming about 40 per cent of Te Woods. requires water meters to be Alan Price Te Awamutu residents have Awamutu’s water. They claim the letter installed in Te Awamutu by [email protected] made 18 per cent savings on Waikato Regional Council is writer is incorrect on a num- December 3,1 2022 — not 2030. water demand, compared with used as a scapegoat, quoting it ber of counts. 4. Fonterra uses around 30 EDITORIAL the 15 per cent suggested sav- is a resource consent require- 1. In New Zealand councils per cent of Te Awamutu’s water Dean Taylor (editor) ings by installing water meters. ment. (including Waipa District Coun- and is metered. Fonterra pays [email protected] The release of Council That is only an issue by 2030, cil) by law, cannot make money for the water it uses. Cathy Asplin (journalist) figures highlights residents are due to Waikato Regional Coun- by supplying water; councils 5. The amount of water used [email protected] not consuming more than the cil weaning Te Awamutu off the can only charge what is by Fonterra has already been Colin Thorsen (journalist) average daily consumption of Pirongia supply. By that time required to cover operating factored in, allowing an ‘apples [email protected] 257 litres per day. hopefully our water supply is costs to treat, supply and with apples’ comparison to be Water metering is now an fixed as per Waipa District dispose of water and made between household water ADVERTISING Dorinda Williams item of the 10-Year Plan, again Council’s 10-Year Plan, unless wastewater. Using meters as a use in Te Awamutu and [email protected] without Council elect deliber- that is all full of leaks too. revenue source would be Ohaupo.