Whāingaroa Ward Councillor Lisa Thomson joined Aaron in studio to update the community on council happenings.
(listen to the podcast below:) Civil Defence Planning Lisa says that they are nearing the point where they will present their community response plan to the community to recruit individuals interested in being involved.
Lisa, along with Raglan Community Board members Dennis Amoore and Ross Wallis, are currently in the stages of finalising a civil defence planning for the Whāingaroa community with assistance from WDC staff. Right now they are adding the final touches to the plan to make sure it includes information about places in the community that could be used as a central location in case of an emergency.
Future Planning for Old Garage Site Lisa says that John Hart’s old garage site (bottom of Bow St) is situated within the Harbour Endowment area, which falls under the jurisdiction of the council and involves leasehold land. The council’s strategic property team is currently evaluating this area, which encompasses the house that is currently standing. This area also extends to Wi Neera St, incorporating the police station and adjacent properties.
Lisa says that several parties have expressed interest in this space, reaching out to discuss potential uses, such as parking and food truck setups. However, Lisa is advocating for a cautious approach, emphasising the need for careful consideration of the space’s potential uses and benefits to the community, rather than making quick decisions.
While there is also a treaty claim that is part of the site, Lisa says she is not directly engaged in discussions with any hapu groups. However, she is aware that council is working alongside hapu to manage the site and the council’s strategic property team has been involved in these discussions. As of now, she does not have information about the outcomes of these talks.
CCTV Network Upgrade Although progress has been sluggish regarding Raglan’s CCTV network upgrades, the current focus is shifting towards the management of the camera network. Lisa says that Hamilton City provides an excellent example of a robust camera management system that operates and oversees cameras 24/7 from a central office.
Lisa hopes that the Waikato District Council explore collaboration with Hamilton City to centralise the operation of their CCTV cameras once they are installed. This approach is ideal because local police stations, like the one in Huntly, lack the resources and capacity for full-time oversight of the network. Hamilton City’s system, on the other hand, offers constant surveillance, allowing them to respond promptly to any suspicious activity.
The placement of these cameras will be strategic, like having an ANPR camera at Te Uku. Establishing a working relationship between the council and Hamilton City is the next step, followed by the installation of the cameras – which has been funded through the central government’s Better Off funding scheme.
Sustainability and Wellbeing Committee Recently the committee have been working on Marae resilience for civil defence with a trial underway with a local marae to see what a partnership with council would look like.
The committee has also been engaging with communities and community boards to review their local blueprints. This process ensures that the identified priorities remain relevant to the current needs and aspirations of the communities they represent. In the case of Whāingaroa, some of the priorities include the establishment of a community space and youth hub, as well as a broader vision for sports development.
Raglan Area School Pool Upgrades The Chair of the RAS Board of Trustees has provided an update on the deteriorated condition of the school pool liner. This pool, constructed back in the 1950s, had its liner replaced several years ago due to cost considerations, as resurfacing was deemed too expensive.
The BoT are now looking at funding options in preparation for repairing the pool for next year.
Flooding at Papahua and Holiday Camp As part of their capital works program, Council has scheduled work to address flooding at Papahua by upgrading the stormwater system. The campsite presents unique challenges due to its ageing infrastructure. Fortunately, they now have a project manager from the Council collaborating with the camp manager to oversee the upgrades.
They’ve been working to create a comprehensive plan that maps out the underground infrastructure and addresses flooding issues caused by undersized stormwater pipes. These upgrades also involve improving the holding tanks and pumping capabilities to manage heavy rainfall.
There are several other ongoing projects happening at the camp, including upgrades to the kitchen and accommodation units. Recently, they bid farewell to Harry and Treza Kitiona, who had dedicated many years of service to the camp.
The Town to Surf Walkway, which received funding from the Central Government’s tourism infrastructure fund, has been completed. In addition to the walkway, new benches have been installed along Wainui Rd. Lisa also had a meeting with Kate Hayward, who was the original campaigner for the Town2Surf Walkway. They discussed plans to install a new information board that tells the original story of the campaign to extend the pathway from Raglan town to the beaches.
Lisa says that it’s a ‘feather in the cap’ for Raglan that we managed to attract all of that funding and hopes community members are able to get out and about to enjoy these new walkways and community assets. https://raglanradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RCR-lisa.jpg