Water in news
Waikato Business News visited the Hamilton Waiora Water Treatment Plant and reports on why the future of water is such a crucial subject for Waikato residents this month. Waipā has opted to go into a council controlled organisation (CCO) with six other local authorities to manage drinking and wastewater while Hamilton city and Waikato district are in another CCO. wbn.co.nz
Hamilton City Council’s Rhys Stevenson in the process of cleaning out the Waiora plant intakes of Waikato River waste before the water goes through the Hamilton Treatment Station. Across the river is Hamilton Gardens. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Nearly done
Work on State Highway 3 between Rukuhia and Narrows roads near Hamilton airport will finish tomorrow (Friday). The rebuild work involved digging out the existing road layers and replacing them layer by layer. The road was then surfaced, swept and line marked. The work was completed one lane at a time.
Corrections
Councillor Mike Pettit lives in the Cambridge ward and not outside the boundary as reported in The News, 20 March. Meanwhile a line was left out of a story about bollards around the netball carpark in Te Awamutu. They will be replaced with new ones. Other bollards will close off vehicle access from Racecourse Rd into the Te Awamutu War Memorial Park.
Southern partners
Waikato Chamber of Commerce is partnering with South Waikato District Council to set up a part-time chamber staff member to provide services to local businesses. It will be an opportunity for South Waikato businesses to network with others, connect to the wider Waikato Chamber membership and access global connections for exporters through the chamber network.
Waste busters
Keen community members get stuck in planting neighbourhood gardens.
Waipā District Council has $50,000 – provided to councils from the Ministry for the Environment’s waste disposal levy – to help bring your waste-busting project to life. One project that grew as a result of the fund last year was Street Harvest, which expanded its neighbourhood gardens. The project provides worm farms where people can dispose of their food scraps, and veggie gardens for fresh produce. Thanks to the fund, the project has tripled the amount of food scraps being processed, and produced more food as a result. Project manager Elise Badger said what started out as a way to reduce waste and grow food has turned into something really special.
Express delays
There will be north and sound bound lane closures on the Cambridge section of Waikato Expressway until tomorrow (Friday) to allow contractors to reseal sections of the road prior to the onset of winter. There will be four worksites in total to be repaired – 2 northbound and 2 southbound. Following the work the lanes will be under temporary traffic management with a reduce speed limit in place.
Resource ready
Tamaki Zero Waste Hub
The transformation of part of the wastewater treatment site in Cambridge into a cutting-edge sustainability hub is officially underway, marking a major milestone in Waipā’s green future. The new resource recovery centre will offer a convenient place for people to drop off recyclable materials, purchase repurposed items and play an active role in minimising waste.
Contract extended
Waikato Regional Council has extended the contract of chief executive Chris McLay for another two years. He was originally appointed for five years from September 2020, with the option of a two-year extension if the council supported it.
Southern partnership
Waikato Chamber of Commerce is partnering with South Waikato District Council to set up a part-time chamber staff member to provide services to local businesses. It will be an opportunity for South Waikato businesses to network with others, connect to the wider Waikato Chamber membership and access global connections for exporters through the chamber network.
Creative success
This Christina Vandy photo was taken in Waihi Water Lily Gardens
Te Awamutu wedding photographer Christina Vandy won the creative division category and was named wedding creative photographer at the Icon International Photography awards in the US last month. One image was captured in 2022 at the Red Barn in Cambridge, while another was taken at Waihi Water Lily Gardens.
Red Barn in Cambridge. Photo: Christina Vandy
Give us the money
Local councils in fast-growing parts of the country are being given the opportunity to borrow more. The Local Government Funding Agency – the organisation that issues debt on behalf of councils – has created a new pathway for eligible councils to apply to have their debt limits lifted. Hamilton, Tauranga, Waipā and Queenstown Lakes councils are most likely to meet the criterion.
