Ange Holt
Transparency, accountability, being prepared to listen and take community feedback are core values of the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community board. We are not always going to get everything across the line but we assure you we are doing our best to have your voices heard.
Over the year we have made a number of requests on your behalf. We keep a record through the Chairperson’s report that is available for the public to read. This is where we are currently at:
You may recall we have asked if the main streets could be given a good clean and spruce up. Part of this work included the removal of the pots so something more appropriate could be added at a later date. Staff have advised that Council’s contractor is planning this work to remove the heavy pots and reinstate with soil and mulch.
We requested to see the service levels for street cleaning, and storm water drains. Staff have advised that they will provide an update on the current contracted levels of service for street cleaning at the board’s December meeting.
We asked that moss and weeds across all median strips and crossings to be cleaned, weeded and sprayed. Council has sprayed and its street cleaning contractor is trialling different street sweeping equipment capable of dislodging and cleaning away the dead moss.
We contacted Waka Kotahi to get the chevrons on Sloane St roundabout fixed along with the smashed sign. This has been done. It will be interesting to see how long they stay intact as the big trucks have trouble getting around that roundabout.
Due to the ongoing nature and cost of this problem we are hoping that Waka Kotahi will be keen to upgrade this roundabout sooner than later.
At our May board meeting we had a report from staff regarding the state of the heritage signs around town. There were lots missing and many are so faded or damaged that they are hard to read. Staff were looking into updating, adding a few new ones and getting this costed so we can get it into the long term plan.
We have been advised that other work priorities have caused a delay in finalising the update for the board, and staff hope to present to the board on this in the new year.
We moved at the September meeting for the Te Awamutu War Memorial Park work to be put on hold. We have been informed by staff that this will go to the Strategic Planning and Policy Meeting in February for consideration.
Our battery recycling collection station at Te Awamutu Pak’n Save is exceeding expectations with over $400 worth of batteries being removed just in the last month. We allocated $2500 towards this project and if we run out of funding, we will provide a paying alternative through Urban Miners by way of a pre-paid sticker. In the meantime, we need your help please. Can you not leave I-Pads, cell phones or devices with batteries inside at the battery stand? The stand is just for batteries only.
Finally, a heads up that the next Urban Miners Event will be at the end of January as our Te Awamutu Christmas Parade will be held on the first Sunday of December this year.
