Councillor Korero: Wharf Upgrade, Bow Street Jetty and Māori Wards on the Agenda

With the final details falling into place for the much-anticipated Raglan Wharf Upgrade Project, Whaingaroa Ward Councillor Lisa Thomson provides some essential updates. Joining us in the studio before she heads off to the karakia, she gives us an update on council happenings.

Raglan Wharf Project

The Raglan Wharf Project was originally funded through central Government’s Provincial Growth Fund in 2019 with the final round of funding coming from the Government’s Better Off Fund. Most of the work has now been completed, culminating in the public unveiling scheduled for 10am today (Friday).

During the karakia Lisa expects to see the unveiling of a sculpture entitled "Pa Kahawai" by local artist Simon te Wheoro, positioned just before the silos on the northwestern side along the walkway. Lisa clarifies that while the wharf project is nearing completion, certain aspects, such as planting of pohutukawa trees, and some upgrades to railings and walkways, will be finalised at a later date. 

“It's been a long time in the making. I'm really proud of it because it has been a collaboration between the community, the community board, the contractors and our staff.”

Bow Street Jetty

The Bow Street Jetty Project has recently kicked off, with construction spanning from the Bow Street Jetty to the walkbridge leading to Papahua, prompting the closure of pedestrian access to this area. This eagerly anticipated initiative focuses on installing railings and expanding the footpath to enhance safety measures.

The project is anticipated to be completed around August 2024, although there are currently no plans to extend renovations to the southern part of the walkway due to budget limitations.

Draft Annual Plan 24/25

Lisa said that submissions for feedback on the Council's Draft Annual Plan for 24/25 have now closed. These submissions come as councillors grapple with concerns over the council's budget limitations for future projects.

Lisa drew attention to the community's escalating expectations for expanded services, despite the challenges posed by limited funding options. She stressed the importance of engaging in discussions with communities to discern priorities and differentiate between essential needs and discretionary wants, especially in light of the current economic and demographic landscape.

“If we want a better level of service for our gravel roads, for example, are we prepared to pay more for that?”

There is also the larger question of whether the council funding model needs to be reformed. New Zealand still has a relatively small population to service the infrastructure that spans the length of the country which brings into question whether the ratings system is sufficient.

Hearings for Draft Annual Plan 24/25 submissions will commence shortly and councillors will deliberate once all submissions have been heard.

Māori Wards

In 2021, a bill was introduced to let councils create Māori wards without requiring a binding referendum, aiming to tackle concerns about unfair representation. This change came after recognising that the prior poll requirement disadvantaged Māori participation in local government due to their minority status. As a result, 45 councils across New Zealand, including the Waikato District Council, opted to set up Māori wards based on population data from representation reviews.

In April, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to bring back binding referendums on decisions regarding Māori wards. This applies to wards established without prior resident polling. Councils failing to hold public referendums on introducing Māori wards will need to scrap them before the 2025 local body elections.

Lisa criticised the government's stance on these plans, challenging their belief that Māori seats grant special rights. Most councils typically have around 12-13 seats plus a Mayor, with just one or two of these being Māori seats.

"It brings diversity, different thinking, and a Māori voice into decision-making. Our Māori wards contribute to decision-making through diversity," Lisa highlighted the benefits of representation.

Lisa hopes to see the Waikato District Council follow the lead of councils like Waipa District Council, Northland District Council, and Wellington City Council in denouncing the government's move.

Draft Transport Strategy

At the last community board meeting, it was discussed that staff will conduct a workshop with the community board in July to finalise details of the transport strategy for Raglan. This draft will be completed for the community board's review. The focus will be on the urban area of Raglan rather than the rural area, with topics including bypass roads and long-term planning. However, it's uncertain if public transport will be included in the strategy. Once finalised the strategy will go out to the community for feedback.

Over on Te Hutewai road, the most recent update has seen the road smoothed out but it will require some work on drainage and resurfacing - Lisa expects some more funding to be allocated after July.

Water Reservoir Tower Restoration Project

The Whaingaroa Destination management Organisation (WDMO) is leading the public art restoration project for the water reservoir tower and Lisa says that project lead Jacqueline Anderson has been working with a dynamic panel to facilitate the project. She says that with artists submissions closing, a media release is scheduled for today to mark an exciting development in the project.

Water Tower Overflow

The water tower recently experienced an overflow, prompting concerns about potential damage. A local resident promptly reported the issue using the council’s online service request form, leading to swift action by staff to address the problem. The volume of water overflow was described as significant, with small holes at the top spouting water. 

Council staff reported there was a blown fuse on the water control valve mechanism that meant the water flow didn’t stop when it should have. The quick resolution by staff, is a reminder for residents to use the service request system for reporting issues promptly. Various methods, including phone calls and the council Antenno app, are available for reporting, although response times may vary depending on the nature of the request.