SUMMER 2012/13 // CITYNEWS Every drop counts WITH FORECASTS of a hot summer ahead, Hamiltonians are being reminded Christmas in the city about the importance of water conservation. The Waikato River creates a false perception that the city and region has an endless supply of water. In reality Council has consent for a certain amount to supply residents and businesses. During the summer of 2007/08 a regional drought triggered a total sprinkler ban in Hamilton – a first for the city – which highlighted how precious the river’s resources are. This summer Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council and Waipa District Council are again joining together to promote water conservation. The Smart Water Use initiative uses a water alert level system designed to proactively manage the region’s water demand over summer and encourages people to conserve water in their day-to-day lives. The water alert level system includes varying alert levels and restrictions which can be triggered by factors including rainfall, weather predictions, water consumption levels and annual trend data. Updates on the city’s water alert level and restrictions will be available throughout summer through public notices, radio advertising, signage, Facebook updates, the Council website and by phoning 07 838 6699. • www.hamilton.co.nz/smartwateruse • www.facebook.com/ hamiltoncitycouncil Changes over FUN FESTIVITIES: Magical events are planned across the city in the lead up to Christmas this year to delight and enthrall youngsters – and the young at heart! The newly launched Hamilton Christmas City brand has become a reality, with the Hamilton Christmas City Working Group (pictured) busy working Christmas with community groups to ensure Hamilton becomes the home of festive cheer. The group has produced a handy Christmas City Map listing Christmas events which is available from Council facilities, key tourism operators, i-SITE and central retailers. New Zealand’s largest Christmas tree will be unveiled Council facility opening hours in Garden Place from 1 December and there will be a host of other family-friendly events including markets, parades, carol singing and the Temple View A NUMBER of Council facilities will close Christmas Lighting. See the What's On Hamilton section on the back page for more information. or operate on reduced hours during the • www.facebook.com/HamiltonChristmasCity and www.whatsonhamilton.co.nz Christmas/New Year period. Council’s Garden Place building will close from 3pm on 24 December 2012 and reopen at 8am on 3 January 2013. Council’s call centre (07 838 6699) will remain open A smarter, more liveable city 24 hours for general enquiries. Hamilton Zoo, Hamilton Gardens, THE CITY’S NEW DEVELOPMENT BLUEPRINT, THE PROPOSED DISTRICT PLAN, OPENS FOR FORMAL Waterworld, Gallagher Aquatic Centre and SUBMISSIONS THIS MONTH. i-SITE will close on Christmas Day and reopen for visitors for the remaining festive Covers finals.pdf 1 2 /11/12 12:48 PM period. Other facilities including Council libraries will operate on reduced hours. THE CITY’S District Plan is one of the Commissioners will hear, deliberatePLAN DISTRICT and PROPOSED most important documents for the city, make decisions on all submissions to the Visit Council’s website for more details: PROPOSED • www.hamilton.co.nz/christmashours affecting the day to day lives of all who live Proposed Plan, with hearings expected to DISTRICT PLAN take place from June 2013. and work in Hamilton. It governs how and Changes to kerbside collections where the city grows, what development can District Plan Steering Group Chair take place, and how natural and physical Councillor Pippa Mahood says: “This 1 PlanVolume Volume 1 THERE WILL be no kerbside refuse resources are used. is designed to help shape Hamilton into a and recycling collections on Tuesday, prosperous and innovative city whereC people 25 December 2012 and Tuesday, 1 January The current District Plan was written in M Y love to live. I invite all with an interestCM in our 2013 – meaning collection days will occur www.hamilton.co.nz/districtplan the late 1990s. Hamilton has changed a lot MY CY city to let us know if our approachCMY reflects one day later than usual for the rest of the since then and continues to grow. The new K what you would like to see for the Hamilton week, with Friday collections occurring on Proposed District Plan shows how the city of the future.” Saturday. Normal collections will resume will manage this and the needs of the extra Flood hazard information letters were last from 7 January 2013. 50,000 people who will be living here. month sent to 28,000 property owners in the The Hamilton Refuse Transfer Station Extensive consultation has taken place city updating them on potential hazards for will close on 25 December 2012 and 1 since 2009, and now it’s time for people to their property. Visit our website for further January 2013, and will operate on reduced formally share their views. Letters will be sent information and to view an online video hours (10am-3pm), on Sundays and other to all ratepayers with information about the about the refined flood hazard work. public holidays between 26 December 2012 Plan and how to have their say between 10 • www.hamilton.co.nz/districtplan and 2 January 2013. December and 1 March 2013. • www.hamilton.co.nz/districtplan/flood • www.hamilton.co.nz/sortitout www.hamilton.co.nz // www.facebook.com/hamiltoncitycouncil // www.twitter.com/CouncilHamilton SUMMER 2012/13 // CITYNEWS SPOTLIGHT ON YOUR COUNCIL Summer fun ahead for Youth Development team TRANSFORMING THE HEART OF THE CITY IS IN CAPABLE AND ENTHUSIASTIC HANDS AS THE COUNCIL’S GARDEN PLACE STAFF PUT THE FINAL TOUCHES ON THE POPULAR SUMMER IN GARDEN PLACE PROGRAMME. TASKED WITH boosting foot-traffic CITYDESK within the inner city space, the three-person Garden Place team is promising an exciting I’M SURE everyone is looking forward summer line-up of concerts, kids’ carnivals to celebrating Christmas and enjoying the and Christmas festivities. summer holidays. It’s that time of year Working under the guidance of when families get together and hopefully the Council’s Youth Development Team stresses and commitments of our everyday Leader Michelle Howie, the team work lives are put to one side. alongside four Youth Advisors helping As the year comes to a close it is a time to reflect on how the year has gone. It has been realise the aspirations of young people in another busy year at Council and we have the community, providing policy advice and done well. The changes in the way Council connecting young people with organisations works have continued and I am pleased with designed to support them. the progress. Many of these changes are the Garden Place Advisor Rangi Pou, 22, back room foundation stuff and are about says the challenge of “activating the space working within the budget, operating more at Garden Place” had been rewarding over efficiently and making sure your contact with his one-year tenure. TOP TEAM: Youth Development members: (clockwise from left) Youth Advisor Louise Cole, Garden us is better and more focused on you. “Ultimately I love being out in the space Place Space Assistant Bobby Nurse, Youth Advisor Mike Rarere, Garden Place Advisor Rangi Pou The Proposed District Plan, which has communicating with people,” he says. “I and Youth Advisor Ani Nock are among an eight–strong team tasked with both supporting local taken over two years to complete, has been want everyone to leave with a good image youth and activating Garden Place through the Summer in Garden Place programme. finished and the public will be able to have of Garden Place.” their say over the coming months. We’ve Place Space Assistant, Bobby says his new opened the Wairere Drive Extension from role ties in with his philosophy of helping FAST FACTS Crosby Road to Fifth Ave and our first shared “I WANT TO BRING youth grow and develop, while promoting a zone, and have implemented the Smoke Free › Garden Place is home to the VIBRANCY AND key city space. Policy. The River Plan is under way and we’ll “The potential for Garden Place to largest set of pick-up sticks be busy with that in the early part of next CHARACTER INTO draw large crowds is huge. I want the area in Hamilton year. This past year we have had cranes over GARDEN PLACE to be a safe and fun space for everyone.” the skyline all over the city, and particularly › The ice rink in Garden Place The team’s third member is in the CBD. Investment in Hamilton is at AND INSPIRE attracted more than 12,000 Stacey Ward who works part-time as a an all-time high and that is a reflection of COMMUNITY PRIDE.” people during September marketing assistant. confidence in our city and what we do here. and October Despite the challenges still facing the RANGI POU Building on the success of last year’s Budding musicians can book economy and many residents, there is a sense Summer in Garden Place programme, › Rangi said bookings in Garden Place had performance spots every Friday of renewed optimism about the future of In his own time, Rangi regularly travels grown and ranged from sausage sizzles to (see website for information) our city. We’ve achieved sporting success this the country delivering inspirational talks year, our own Kimbra is on top of the world community concerts. Now in its fourth year and concerts to church groups and is a keen Summer in Garden Place will host a Kids’ › The outdoor speakers play and the city continues to win awards for our contender on the Garden Place over-sized mainly Kiwi music with a strong transport initiatives and gardens.