Wharf Project Expected to be Completed by Christmas

 

Four years on since successfully securing funding from the Provincial Growth Fund, Whāingaroa Ward Councillor Lisa Thomson says that the Raglan Wharf project should be completed by the end of December 2023 with local artist Simon Te Wheoro producing a number of artworks as finishing touches for the newly upgraded wharf.

 

“Simon Te Wheoro is working on some installations including five stainless steel panels which will represent the environment and whakatauki (Māori proverbs). He is also creating a sculpture which will mark the beginning of where the walkway begins,” said Lisa.

The Wharf upgrade has been made possible, not through rates, but through a combination of $2.5 million in funding from MBIE and $3.2 million in funding from central government’s Better Off funding scheme.  


With the pontoon and gangway recently installed and a walkway going in on the eastern side of the wharf, Lisa also expects work to begin shortly on the western walkway, with everything set to be completed by the end of the year.


Raglan Community Board Tour Local Wastewater and  Freshwater Treatment Plants

The RCB recently toured the local Wastewater and Freshwater Treatment plants alongside council staff as plans progressed for a new land-based wastewater discharge plant.


Land investigation and testing is currently underway to look at the suitability of the soils at potential locations where the discharge plant could be based.


The wastewater ponds will continue to be used and instead of the treated wastewater being discharged into the harbour during the outgoing tide everyday, it will be discharged onto land, under the surface, to be absorbed by the ground.


The new discharge option has been requested by the Raglan Community after consultation around the wastewater discharge showed that land-based treatment was the preferred option.


“Council’s relationship with Watercare has allowed us to explore more options for the community,” said Lisa.


Lisa also confirms that a membrane bioreactor (MBR) will be installed at the Raglan wastewater plant in 2025. This specialised equipment helps to filter wastewater further and will screen out more impurities before it is discharged into the environment.


The RCB also toured the freshwater treatment plant, located past Xtreme Zero Waste on Te Hutewai Road. Raglan’s freshwater comes from a natural spring to the treatment plant where it is treated for drinking before reaching our taps. 



While freshwater in Raglan is currently not fluoridated, the council has been notified by the Ministry of Health that Raglan’s drinking water supply will need to be fluoridated in the near future as part of their legal requirements.


The Ministry of Health and Taumata Arowai (as the new economic regulator) are implementing the fluoridation of drinking water for water supplies that service over 500 people under the (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021. This includes fluoridating Raglan’s drinking water supply.


If you’re interested to find out more about Raglan and its waters, visit the council website.


New EV Fast Charger Coming To Town

Discussions around a second EV charger location are progressing with Stewart St identified as an ideal location. There is already one charge located by the Town Hall but feedback has shown the location to be popular - being the only charger in town - with queues forming on Bow St.


“We have a potential location on Stewart St, it has on-street parking for easier access and it’s less congested so we’re not putting EV users and other vehicle users in conflict with each other,” said Lisa.


CCTV for Raglan - Funding has been secured from the Government's Better Off Funding Scheme to purchase a network of CCTV and ANPR cameras for Raglan, Huntly, Tamahere and a number of other communities in the Waikato District. Local organisations are waiting for the monies to be signed off so the project can get underway.


Cr Lisa Thomson and WDC Mayor Jacqui Church took a tour around the Whāingaroa ward this week visiting communities in the ward as well as dropping by local businesses like Raglan Food Co. Dreamview Farm, Raglan Gelato and Raglan Chocolate. They also took a look at the condition of some of the rural roads following heavy rains earlier in the year. 


Lisa said that both her and the Mayor were impressed by local’s ingenuity in “taking an idea and turning that into a successful business.”


The Sustainability and Wellbeing Committee are meeting for their third hui of the term with the council’s senior advisor on climate action, Rachel Goddard, due to give a progress update to the council's climate actions. 


Emergency Management Planning is progressing but Lisa says that it is a “moving beast’ with recent heavy rainfall already changing the landscape of the response and further rain expected next week as well.


Coming up:

Whāingaroa Destination Management Organisation is planning an audit of local accommodation providers to establish the town’s capacity.


Consultation for the council's Long Term Plan statements of intent will be happening this year with Raglan's local area blueprint update.


Pre-engagement for the Freedom Camping Bylaw will be coming up in the next few months.