Fresh home from a holiday in Wales, Whāingaroa Ward Councillor Lisa Thomson is back in the studio to share her regular Councillor Kōrero with the community. Lisa says her council work is never far from her mind - even when on holiday - and said that she noticed lots of parallels between Raglan and similar small towns in Wales.
Much like Aotearoa, Wales experienced British colonisation, and the Welsh language faced extinction during that period. Thanks to revitalisation efforts, including bilingual initiatives in public communication materials, Wales has witnessed a remarkable resurgence of its language.
Lisa also pointed out a contrast in parking practices between Wales and Raglan. In Wales, it's common for people to park outside the town centre and walk to their destinations. She also noticed that many residents in Wales drive compact vehicles, perfectly suited for manoeuvring through narrow streets.
(listen to the full interview below:)
Freedom Camping Bylaw Review
The council recently held the policy and regulatory hearings for the Freedom Camping Bylaw with a number of people from Raglan making submissions. The RCB made a submission on behalf of the community which outlined that instead of purely prohibiting freedom camping, there should be designated areas where camping is encouraged but that these areas should be located near amenities like public toilets.
Feedback from other community members highlighted the need for dedicated monitoring of these camping sites by a designated council staff member. There were also requests to prohibit freedom camping at the Raglan Bowling Club following ongoing issues in the area.
Lisa emphasised the importance of district bylaws aligning with central government regulations for Freedom Camping, which stipulate that all vehicles must be self-contained and equipped with proper toilets. There were also submissions concerning the duration campers can remain in a single location and the distance they should relocate after camping at a particular spot.
Deliberations to finalise amendments to the bylaw are scheduled for early October.
Long Term Plan
The Long Term Plan serves as the council's 10-year strategic roadmap, outlining the district's priorities and the allocation of funds. It undergoes a review every three years to incorporate evolving priorities. Recently, the council organised an internal workshop for its staff teams to enhance operational systems, ensuring the effectiveness of both staff and elected members in their roles.
Lisa highlights the council's substantial workforce of over 400 members and underscores the importance of elected members comprehending staff responsibilities and exercising oversight. Given recent rate increases, which indicate financial constraints for the council, challenging decisions lie ahead regarding which services to trim in order to finance others.
“To do the waste management properly, to serve our wastewater properly, those all come at a cost. Then all of the other services that we provide, they come at a cost too so we have to do that balancing act.”
Land-based Wastewater Treatment Plant
The new land-based wastewater treatment plant is generating some opposition, including a fair bit of opposition from a community member who lives near the proposed location. The proposed plant will have the capacity to treat wastewater through a land-based treatment technique, involving the underground injection of wastewater into the soil, ensuring the absence of any odours.
Lisa adds that as extreme weather patterns continue to increase, managing wastewater becomes a complex system, evidenced by the numerous wastewater overflows our community has faced in the past. Back in 2017, the council needed to implement targeted rates to fund the first phase of upgrades to the wastewater network in order to address unacceptable levels of wastewater overflows.
Those seeking additional information about the new treatment plant can access regular updates on the council's website and participate in a monthly Zoom meeting open to the public. For further details, visit the council's website.
Erosion at Papahua
A meeting was held at the campground recently to discuss erosion at Papahua. The erosion is attributed to a combination of factors, including the removal of the old bridge and the interconnected nature of various elements in our environment.
Meeting with council staff and other stakeholders, they discussed potential solutions to address the issue such as reinstalling a groyne-like structure in combination with dune planting. Lisa is conscious that these costs will need to be addressed through the LTP but that there is also a time factor that needs to be taken into consideration with an uru pā located in the vicinity.
Elections 2023
Lisa says that she recently attended the Taurikura event to get ready for the upcoming elections and she encourages all members of the community to familiarise themselves with party policies ahead of election day. She suggested the vote compass tool was helpful for her 20-year-old son to understand which party policies resonated with his values.
Advance voting starts Monday 2 October and ends on Friday 13 October. Saturday 14 October is Election day. Voting places open from 9am to 7pm Election night. Preliminary election results released progressively from 7pm on www.electionresults.govt.nz