Te Awamutu CouPublished Tuesday & Thursdayurier TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016 Your community newspaper for over 100 years EXTRA COPIES 40c Waipa cool on CCO Doing what’s best for the district most important Waipa councillors look less likely to support a proposal to Light up for transfer Waipa’s water and wastewater assets into a Christmas Tree ratepayer-owned company. Waipa is not Instead they may try to con- Weather permitting, the Te vince Hamilton City Council and Awamutu Alive Christmas Tree anti-change — Waikato District Council to take in the Rose Gardens will be lit up what they say is a far more ‘ this Friday at 9pm. ‘prudent and risk-averse’ we simply want Wet weather has held up the approach to managing water and arborists booked to complete wastewater across the three maintenance on the tree and to ensure that districts, especially now that one install some extra features for partner has announced extra this year. costs since discussions began. any change we That will take place during Earlier this year all three Friday and the tree will be councils agreed to consult their turned on at night. make is the communities on an agreement to Everyone is invited to the form an asset-owning council- light up and are encouraged to controlled organisation (CCO). right one for visit the Christmas Tree over The CCO would be responsible coming weeks. for managing all water oper- us. Residents are reminded this ations, on behalf of each council. is a community funded project Waipa still intends consulting Waipa mayor and are asked not to climb the on that proposal, but it now Jim Mylchreest tree, and to ask visitors also not wants the other two councils to to climb the tree, as damage to also consider an option which the lights is expensive and spoils ’ wouldn’t require each council to the spectacle. transfer its assets into a separate into something that would be company. hard to get out of.” Miss TA 2016 A water company would still He says from the beginning, Miss Te Awamutu 2016 will be formed, funded by the his council had taken a prudent be held at the Peach and Porker councils and responsible for all and cautious approach to the bar on Thursday, December 8, water activities, but councils, if CCO proposal. from 5pm. they chose to, could retain While neither Hamilton or Contestants aged 16 — 24 ownership of their own assets. Waikato had yet affirmed their will compete for Miss Te Waipa mayor Jim Mylchreest positions, he believes Hamilton Awamutu and contestants aged says there are big financial and will want to change the agree- 9 — 15 will compete for Miss other advantages to be gained ment around water meters. Junior Te Awamutu. Come from the three councils joining He also noted that, since the along to vote for your favourite. together to manage water and agreement was made, Waikato There will be prizes up for wastewater more efficiently. District Council has advised it offer, shared platters, wine- But he does not believe that needs to spend millions more on tasting and a performance from moving straight to an asset- its waste water network. Ben Lummis. Tickets are $20. owning CCO as recommended by “This was not factored into a range of independent consult- the original financial analysis,” Shops open late ants is the right option for Wai- he says. pa. Mr Mylchreest says Waipa for Christmas “That might be a very good was not walking away from Make the most of your option for Hamilton and Wai- TC061216DT01 discussions and would like to see Christmas shopping this year as kato, but my job is to focus on WAIPA mayor Jim Mylchreest checks progress at the Taylor’s Hill the mixed model option also put a good selection of shops on the what’s right for our district,” bore test site. to the community to consider. main street stay open until says Mr Mylchreest. “In the end it has to be better 7pm on Thursdays leading up “Waipa is not anti-change — staged process which could be ation because it’s prudent and and more cost effective for Wai- to Christmas. we simply want to ensure that ‘tested and proven’. mitigates much of the risk,” says pa, and at present I don’t believe Some shops will also any change we make is the right The staff report is supported Mr Mylchreest. it would be,” says Mr have extended opening one for us.” by an independent analysis from “We believe it would deliver Mylchreest. hours on weekends before At today’s Council meeting a Wellington-based consultants, the bulk of the benefits to rate- ■ Christmas. report will be considered which Morrison Low. payers, including many of those For more information about the recommends Waipa asks the “We would favour the mixed offered by an asset-owning proposal to form a waters CCO go to other two councils to consider a model of management and oper- model, but doesn’t lock Waipa www.waterstudywaikato.org.nz DOES YOUR Binoculars BIKE NEED From A SERVICE? Then you need to see us! Yahoo!!! Happy Birthday to Us With an expert team of mechanics, we service all makes $99 and models incl Road, Off Road, Farm and MX One year young in Te Awamutu SAVE $65 Going from Strength to Strength Thanks for all your SupportSupport.. BINOCULARS SPOTTING SCOPES RIFLE SCOPES RANGE FINDERS Waikato’s best fishing & hunting store 2 Kihikihi Road, Te Awamutu P 07 871 3069 E [email protected] 121 Sloane Street, Te Awamutu (beside Countdown) W www.wilkspenny.co.nz 07 871 5857 | 0275 050 220 | [email protected] FINANCE 2 Te Awamutu Courier Tuesday, December 6, 2016 SALT WATER LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SPORTS FISHING KAWHIA HIGH TIDES Say thanks to community’s volunteers Add fi ve minutes for Raglan Harbour Tuesday 2.57am 3.30pm There is so much happening in our tary and very unrecognised. people who just want to live a healthier, Wednesday 3.51am 4.29pm communities that wouldn’t happen if it This week, as we celebrate Interna- happier life. Thursday 5.02am 5.29pm weren’t for volunteers. tional Volunteer Day (December 5), it is As you go about your daily routines this Friday 6.15am 6.36pm They provide drivers to run your worth considering how these community week think about the people you come in Saturday 7.19am 7.45pm community transport vehicle, advice on contributors can be thanked — because contact with who are voluntarily making Sunday 8.19am 8.47pm consumer issues, tutor digital technology often they won’t be. your community a better place to live in. Monday 9.19am 9.43pm classes and help keep vital emergency Imagine your community without its Please take the time to say thank you services running. volunteers and you’ll find a pretty bleak and acknowledge that without their contri- Volunteers run street collections, do picture. bution, freely and willingly given, your Fishing For A working bees at marae, coach sport teams Volunteers are providing services that community wouldn’t be what it is today. and visit the elderly. bring comfort and assistance to people in If you would like to volunteer — visit Christmas Gift? Behind most of these volunteers and times of need — they support and improve www.volunteeringwaikato.org.nz organisations is a board of trustees or the quality of life of all folk and also work CHRIS ATKINSON Check out our new committee that is also completely volun- hard to change, influence and advocate for Volunteering Waikato gift lines instore! Choose computer Famous visitor to North Wales games with care Has the Courier ever been couriered as far as this before? Hopefully Dennis Howell’s words of My son is working on a wisdom will be heeded regarding the dairy farm near Pirongia giving of presents. and the occasional hard He says “When choosing computer copy does find its way here. games, or helping your children choose, Wales and New Zealand this is particularly important.” are bonded in many ways. I can only add — parents and others, The photo, early 1950s, is of monitor and analyse what your children a group of men based in the are viewing on television and the games Pen y Gwryd Hotel, that they may be playing. Snowdonia, training for a Currently, children can view forthcoming special expedi- Pokemon on one of our New Zealand TV tion in the Himalayas FFrFrom clocks to platters to wall art,art, channels. which became a ‘first’. mats and so much more! This seemingly innocuous viewing is Here’s a clue. Methinks the entry level violence which begins at the man — and I stand to be corrected — indeed is the whole of North Wales of this ChristmasC IS coming....don’tn’tt very low levels and works on up. fifth from right with the broad grin and claim to fame. The history of Pokemon is both inter- black hair is the renowned Kiwi moun- KEVIN ROBERTS miss out - Layby Availablele esting and alarming. taineer Sir Edmund Hillary. Tremeirchion BARBARA LINTON Very proud is the Pen y Gwryd Hotel as Wales We welcome your letters - preferably via email. Letters should be under 300 words and must have the sender’s name, address and phone number included. The letter will be published with the writer’s name (no pseudonyms accepted) and names will only be withheld in special circumstances at the discretion of the editor. 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