Volunteer awareness
Te Awamutu Citizens’ Advice Bureau is observing Volunteer Awareness Week, which runs to Saturday, by celebrating the work of its team. “We’re a small team of 25 at the Te Awamutu CAB, and we are proud of the difference we are making in our community with over 6500 people supported in some way over the past 11 months,” manager Jessica Brown said.
Security steps
A security guard and bag checking protocols were in place at this week’s Waipā District Council Service Development committee for the controversial Cambridge Connections paper and ongoing alleged threats to mayor Susan O’Regan.
Karāpiro contract
Lake Karapiro Domain.
The budget for the Karāpiro Domain management contract was increased by $282,000 in November last year – to reflect the increase in costs – as part of the public excluded section of Waipa District Council’s Finance and Corporate committee.
Details released to The News this week showed GL Events Ltd, owned by deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk and husband Andrew Reymer – who have managed the reserve for 20 years – secured a new $4,247,500 contract for five years.
The contract cost of $849,500 a year – previously $544,223 – included a rights renewal for a further five plus five years.
The level of service had significantly increased and includes costs to service and managing a busy events calendar and site facilities, administrative costs, camping facilities, general maintenance, landscaping, and security, the council said.
Waipa District Council said the current market has also changed since 2018, and the increase reflected the change in minimum wage, cost of supplies, and costs to help deliver safe and successful events.
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- The online version of this brief has changed to make it clear the cost was not over budget by $282,000 – the increase was approved by council resolution in public excluded at the November 2023 Finance and Corporate committee meeting.
Scottish trip
Peter Nation. Photo: Christine Cornege.
Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation is representing the National Agricultural Fieldays Society at the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth’s biennial conference in Edinburgh from today. He will visit the Royal Highland Show which draws more than 200,000 people over three days every year.
Ellison appointed
Shane Ellison (Ngāi Tahu, Te Atiawa, Ngāti Mutunga, and Ngāti Ruanui) has been appointed for a three-year term on the Waipā Networks board. Ellison has over a decade of experience on boards with established governance credentials and his CV includes appointments to the boards of Dunedin International Airport Limited and Auckland Light Rail Limited.
Let’s play
Swarbrick Playground
Another $560,571 has been approved for the district’s play spaces renewal and development contract taking it from $5.51 million to $6.112 million. The extra money is needed to maintain the existing playground assets and in line with Waipā councillors’ mandate not to decrease services during the cost of living challenges.
Fluoride update
Independent consultants used by the Ministry of Health are no longer working with Waipā District Council on the fluoridation project for Cambridge’s water supply following public service cuts. The council is still working through design and is waiting for the ministry to approve the design and confirm funding. Once done, the council has nine months to add fluoride to the supply.
