Time to ‘Cut the Cloth’ - Council Spending and the Quest for Affordability

 

Raglan Community Board Chair Dennis Amoore joined Raglan Community Radio to discuss council spending as the Waikato District Council (WDC) prepares its 10-year spending strategy. 

 

With public engagement recently closing, Dennis highlighted the need to prioritise essential services amid rising costs. "Can we afford to fund everything from playgrounds to arts initiatives, or do we focus on essential services like roads and wastewater? We’ve got to cut the cloth to suit what people can afford,” he said.

 

Dennis also raised concerns about proposed traffic lights on Raglan’s one-lane bridge, calling the suggested $200,000 trial unnecessary and arguing that widening the bridge would be more effective than prolonging the life of the one-lane bridge with traffic lights. With the pre-engagement period now closed, the council is set to draft the long-term plan, allowing for further community feedback in the new year.

 

WDCs proposal to install traffic lights on Raglan’s bridge faced strong community opposition, with 84% of 189 respondents opposing the idea in recent Long-Term Plan (LTP) pre-engagement feedback. Chief Corporate Officer Alison Diaz acknowledged this sentiment, noting that feedback highlighted widespread concern that traffic lights on the bridge would not be a good fit for Raglan.

 

Coastal Management Challenges in Raglan

Coastal management strategies in Raglan remain contentious, with Dennis questioning the council’s ‘adaptive management’ approach amid coastal inundation. Dennis noted a lack of progress since the loss of the Surf Life Saving Club tower, stating, “We’re still at the same point... it’s just managed retreat under a new name.” 

 

Compounding these challenges are the natural cycles affecting Raglan’s coastline, where sand deposits and erosion create a complex interplay. Concerns continue to grow about sand loss near Papahua. 

“We need to get practical,” Dennis urged, referring to stockpiles of sand from stormwater works that could help reinforce vulnerable areas. However, he highlighted that securing resource consent for such projects can be costly: “You’ve got a solution that might cost $10,000, but the resource consent process costs a fortune,” he added.

 

$1.3 Million Stormwater Project at Papahua Campground Progresses

A major stormwater project is underway at Papahua to address long-standing drainage issues. Funded entirely by the campground's profits, the project is expected to cost around $1.3 million and aims to tackle stormwater problems that have plagued the area for years.

 

The work involves ‘dewatering’ by installing a drainage system from the campground's western end to the eastern side, then towards the navigation beacon in the northeast corner. A pump will be placed in a 10-metre-deep hole to move water from the campground and nearby soccer fields.

 

This system will channel water to the sea via a swale and engineers are confident it will resolve the flooding issues. Long-time residents who have seen several previous attempts to fix the problem, are cautiously optimistic. 

 

Raglan Community Board Revisits Discretionary Fund Use

The Raglan Community Board has reassessed its discretionary fund strategy amid concerns about past allocations. Dennis expressed frustration with repeatedly funding the same organisations with no tangible returns. 

 

The maximum grant has been capped at $1,000 and now focuses on startup projects. A recent grant was awarded to Raglan Naturally to hold a busking event as part of the Freedom2fly weekend and will involve closing off part of Bow St between Wyld and the library. 

 

Seed funding of $1000 was also given to the sailing club to purchase a tractor to make it easier to launch their rescue boat.

 

Another $500 was granted to RAW (Raglan Arts Weekend), who are facing a shortfall in funding. While there was initial discussion about increasing the amount, the board ultimately decided to stick with the $500 previously agreed upon. "There was a debate, but we had already passed the motion, so we stayed with that," Dennis explained.

 

These funding decisions also brought up broader discussions on the purpose and impact of the discretionary fund. Some community organisations rely on these funding avenues as they struggle to secure adequate funding. Events like Raglan Arts Weekend also bring significant economic benefits to the wider community. 

 

In response Dennis says the board aims to encourage organisations to seek funding from established entities like the Lions Foundation, Wel Energy Trust and Trust Waikato once initial seed funding is provided by the discretionary fund.

 

Structure Plan for Raglan: What’s Next?

At the recent board meeting, there was discussion about developing a Raglan structure plan or a more focused town plan, particularly as Whaingaroa experiences rapid growth similar to nearby towns. The Ngāruawāhia, Hopuhopu, and Taupiri Structure Plan, for example, has had significant investment from council already.

 

Some board members have long advocated for development planning in Raglan, arguing that the town's growth speed requires immediate action. "We need to do something and get traction on this," said Dennis. A meeting with a council planner is scheduled for the coming months to discuss Raglan's future.

 

Discussions also highlighted Raglan’s industrial and commercial growth where past projects have been pushed forward by private developers, such as Nau Mai Business Park, which proceeded without council approval. "Where is commercial growth going to be? Is it Rangatahi? Is that what's best for the community, or just best for developers?" Dennis questioned. 

 

A suggestion to potentially extend commercial zoning from Wallis Street to James Street was also tabled at the board meeting to clarify development opportunities to cope with future growth.

 

Affordable housing is another critical issue, with businesses like Raglan Rock struggling to find staff accommodation amid a broader housing crisis. While some argue that local councils should encourage developers to include affordable housing, previous submissions for such provisions in Raglan's district plan have been overlooked.

 

Suggestions included allowing for higher-density living or multi-story housing options. Some residents, like John Lawson, have even proposed a multi-story zone near the wharf to meet housing needs where it would not be visible to the rest of the town..

 

Wi Neera Walkway Update: Completion Expected in 2025

The Wi Neera Walkway is progressing steadily, with the first stage, the 'Jetty end,' now complete. Although there has been no official update from WDC, design work is reportedly underway, with construction on the remaining section - the fire station end - potentially starting in April or May 2025. This next phase faces challenges due to necessary engineering solutions and resource consent for large holes in the wall.

 

Raglan CCTV Project Progressing; Christmas Deadline Unlikely

The project to install CCTV cameras in Raglan is progressing, but completion before Christmas seems unlikely. The design phase is complete, with quotes received and a supplier ready to be engaged. Current discussions focus on the number of cameras and their locations, with seven priority areas identified in Raglan but we are yet to be advised what we have been granted.

 

Civil Defence Preparations: Dennis discussed ongoing efforts to bolster civil defence preparations in Raglan, with the next meeting scheduled at the end of the month to assign roles and provide training.

 

Natural Playground Plans: Dennis also addressed delays in the Greenslade Rd natural playground project, where $200,000 has been allocated. The council has been conducting internal workshops to support the design phase. Additionally, Sports Waikato has been brought on board through an external contract and several consultants are now involved in the project. Dennis questioned whether there would be enough budget left for the playground itself once designs are approved and has asked for an update on costs.

 

Surf Life Saving Patrols Begin This Weekend: Finally, Dennis reminded the community that surf life saving patrols will start at Ngarunui Beach over Labour Weekend and asks beachgoers to swim between the flags for safety and to support local lifeguards.