Te Awamutu Courier
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where are we? Te Awamutu 1585 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu what do we do? Panel and paint specialists and Insurance approved repairs for cars, trucks & machinery - courtesy cars available Published Tuesday & Thursday THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017 Couurier PH 871 6780 Your community newspaper for over 100 years EXTRA COPIES 40c Your view Value of JPs free service Guest speaker at next Wednesday’s Continuing Education group is Te Awamutu Justice of the on access Peace branch secretary/ treasurer Norris Hall JP. Mr Hall will talk about the history of JPs and the Making Waipa accessible valuable, but free, service they offer their community. The community is urged to gathered during the audit will See public notices for have their say on how Waipa help inform current and future details. could be more accessible, par- work programmes to improve ticularly for disabled people and accessibility in main centres. Tens Rugby the elderly. CCS Disability Action Estab- Waipa District Council and lishment manager — Journeying kicks off CCS Disability Action are under- Together Amanda Banks said The Resene Waipa Tens taking a street accessibility audit working together with council starts next Wednesday night , to look at how the pedestrian shows the joint commitment to February 15, at Albert Park. network — footpaths, road making accessible environments Eight teams will play over crossings, intersections, pedes- for disabled people to move three Wednesday nights with trian crossings and mobility around the community with the finals on March 1. parking spaces, as well as access ease. First game kicks off at points into some reserves and “This work also has wider 6.20pm. community facilities can be benefit. We know that when we made more accessible. make our streets good for dis- Community The audit will include on-site abled people, we make them assessments and a series of com- great for all.” groups share munity meetings to hear about The first audit is being the issues people face getting undertaken in Kihikihi and the fruits around our towns. Pirongia, with Te Awamutu and For council’s road mainten- Cambridge to follow. The Kihi- Serenda’s community fruit ance team leader Cedric Crow kihi and Pirongia community and veg stand at Te Awamutu the audit supports council’s com- meeting to gather feedback is at Sports carpark has been mitment to building a commun- the Te Awamutu Library on running four months and so ity that is inclusive for all. Friday, February 24 from 10am to far distributed funds to three TC090217CA01 “We want this to be a col- noon. worthwhile community FLASHBACK: In 2009 chairman of the Te Awamutu Community laborative project. groups. Board, editor Dean Taylor, took a harrowing, fully blindfolded two- “Community input is really ■ Those who cannot make the Donations have been hour walk around Te Awamutu’s CBD with Mark Kay-Smith to get a important in making sure our meeting but still wish to offer made to Plunket ($100), Te feel for the plight of the blind to make recommendations on district is suitable for the needs feedback can visit Awamutu Fire Brigade ($200) disability access. Another group of community board members of our entire community.” www.waipadc.govt.nz/haveyoursay and St John’s Ambulance also went out with mobility scooter users. Crow said all information to complete an online form. ($132). The stand was set up for people to donate excess produce which can be Surplus used to reduce next year’s rates purchased for a donation. Waipa District Councillors per cent increase. “It’s really just business as a very strong view within Coun- have agreed to use a cash surplus Mayor Jim Mylchreest said usual. There are some reason- cil that we should proactively from the last financial year to the smaller-than-expected rates ably minor changes proposed to seek feedback from the commun- reduce the impact on next year’s increase will not necessarily the timing of some capital pro- ity before making decisions and rates. mitigate the impact of independ- jects,” says Mr Mylchreest. locking in next year’s budget,” At Tuesday’s Strategic Plan- ent property valuations, particu- “But there’s not a lot of differ- says Mr Mylchreest. ning and Policy Committee meet- larly for high-value residential ence to what we discussed with “If people have any projects ing, Councillors agreed to use properties, residential proper- the community when consulting they want considered or want to $570,000 of $891,000 cash to reduce ties with multiple dwellings or on our 10-Year Plan. make any comment, we will have district-wide rates for 2017/18. properties that were extensively “Given that, the Council had a mechanism in place to do that. It means the Council will go to developed last year. decided to actively seek com- So people will still be able to the public by March with a Apart from the proposed rates munity feedback in a less formal raise any issues and put forward proposed two per cent rate in- reduction, very few changes are way. We aren’t required to their ideas and all that will go crease for the next financial proposed to what was always formally consult on next year’s into the mix before final year, compared to a planned 3.1 planned for next year. work programme, but there was decisions are made.” Paying to heat water you are not using? For the smartest hot water economy talk to us about a Paloma ENDLESS SUPPLY ENERGY EFFICIENT SPACE SAVING From $1399 The divisions of 2 Te Awamutu Courier Thursday, February 9, 2017 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CourierTe Awamutu Community Newspaper of the Year 2014 Making housing truly affordable Your community newspaper for over 100 years. The article denoting Coun- Any development, whether • It is assuming that based on surrounding properties. Circulated free to 14,055 homes through Te Awamutu cil’s purchase of a piece of land it be considered for affordable/ the terrain that many have or In summary the principle on Cambridge Road sounds pensioner housing, has many can still afford transportation, is sound. and surrounding districts. good in principle. issues to consider in the early or are mobile enough to negoti- Based on past Council pro- CIRCULATION 14,055* (7136 urban, 6919 rural) While any development is planning stages: ate the terrain to access the so- jects, let’s hope that this de- far from becoming reality, we • At time of completion will the called services they reference velopment deviates from We welcome letters - preferably via email. They have to be mindful of the affordable/ pensioner housing as there is no mention of a previous controversies and should be under 300 words and must have the current lack of affordable ac- be affordable? public transport system. that the execution and deliv- sender’s name, address and phone number. No commodation and sub- • On a heavily-used street, • Any development involves at ery for this proposed develop- pseudonyms are accepted and names will only be standard council pensioner what will the impact of addi- minimum, consultation from ment is unlike many and is withheld in special circumstances at the discretion housing to this district in these tional traffic have? immediate neighbouring pro- fair and just minimising any of the editor. Letters are not usually acknowledged tough economic times. • Will the development have perties, so as to agree the impact to existing ratepayers and may be edited, abridged or discarded. What is being done in the any impact on existing rate- development maintains a com- — ultimately taking into con- interim to prop this up whilst payers and would they be plimentary landscaping and sideration the people not MANAGER this development is being con- expected to contribute to the aesthetic so as to not detract council. Alan Price sidered? development? from the outlook and value of HAYDEN WOODS [email protected] EDITORIAL Dean Taylor (editor) Rights for animals Sewage disposal an issue [email protected] Colin Thorsen (journalist) In response to the let- these animals feel pain. I have experienced three occa- the bush walk on the west side of [email protected] ters regarding rodeos, I Perhaps things would be sions where the Waipa District the lake. Council was notified on Bethany Tiddy (journalist) have to agree and can’t different if it was an ‘eye Council have used local landfill December 228 — the waste was [email protected] understand why there’s for an eye’. for disposal of butchers’ liquid found by me at 6am that day. ADVERTISING still rodeos in New Zea- Animals, like any liv- waste, for example excess blood Christmas is a great time for Dorinda Williams land, or anywhere. ing creature, feel pain. which ran across that ground for this to happen. As of February 1 [email protected] It seems there are For those that disagree, years. Council now seems to be oper- Ange Holt some animals rights for how much pain can you Secondly, prior to the Events ational and two reports have been [email protected] one, but not the other? tolerate without a voice Centre being built, this area was a called for by separate managers. Bookings It’s not hard to see to protect you? large animal saleyard. This waste I don’t believe they were [email protected] that that’s not the way to Animals need to be was washed into the Mangahoe involved in the installation of the treat animals. respected. For those of Stream for years (out of sight, out present system. CLASSIFIEDS So how is it that were you that inflict pain on of mind).