Waikato District Council held an emergency workshop this morning following the release of Hamilton City Council's 3-waters plan. Hamilton City announced yesterday that they’re rejecting a plan for 3-waters that had been put together collectively by the region’s councils in favour of one where they appear to have full control.
Their intention is to form their own waters company and then let other council’s join in afterwards. This is a particular problem for our district Waikato which has been told they’re no longer wanted as a customer of Watercare (which is Auckland Council’s water company). Because of this Hamilton has offered Waikato District a chance to join their scheme early but it is clear that they expect to have a level of control that reflects their dominance of the region.
The reason this is such a big deal is that wastewater costs are the largest individual item on our rates bill and the government is forcing councils to pay for future upgrades to their networks while at the same time raising the standard required.
The Raglan Community Board met at theTe Uku Hall this week as part of their plan to get out to the rural communities that became part of the board area at the last election. Unfortunately there were no locals present, so the board, which was missing half its members as well just got on with business, including:
A report that the council is not going to do anything about the Manu Bay Breakwall that has been a source of discontent for about 8 years. According to the council they couldn’t get agreement between stakeholders about a solution so they won’t be making any changes to the current structure, although did say they would increase maintenance to deal with the hazard caused by boulders washing onto the ramp.
Council has been criticised by Community Board Chair Dennis Amoore for failing to make a decision, pointing out that the stakeholders were never going to agree as the needs of boaties conflict with the needs of surfers in the area.
Given that the Raglan Sport Fishing Club has brought legal action against the council over this issue in the past, all eyes are on them to see how they respond to the decision.
Plans for an internal bus service in Raglan have been trashed by the government who have cancelled all bus service trials in favour of building more motorways. Raglan had been waiting for 3 years for the internal bus service trial to start with plans for it to run from the wharf out to Whale Bay.
The Regional Council has announced some improvements to the bus service though with the number of weekend bus runs to Hamilton going up from 2 to 3 and a promise that the bus will visit Whale Bay more often than it does now.
The community board was also told that an artist has been chosen to repaint a new design on the water tower and that most of the cost of this project will not be borne by ratepayers because it has come from Department of Internal Affairs and sponsorship.
Elsewhere Liquid Laundromats, a 120 site New Zealand wide chain has just opened its doors at 35 Bow Street (former $2 Plus Shop and before that NZ Post).
Instead of cash Liquid Laundromats uses a TOP UP card which can be purchased at the laundromat. Top ups are done in $10 increments.