Community Board members have been told “we don’t have magic pots of money,” by Waipā District Council strategy manager Melissa Russo.
Extreme Zero Waste co-founder Rick Thorpe, pictured with Para Kore general manager Jacqui Forbes, explains the benefits of the resource recovery centre. Photo: Benjamin Wilson
See: Resource recovery centre showcased
Russo was responding to a short list of projects shared by Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board board chair Ange Holt and deputy chair Kane Titchener at the board’s September meeting.
Russo had detailed recent work on the 2025-34 Long Term Plan which was focused on the council’s financial strategy, budget and key projects.
Kane Titchener
Titchener asked about plans for a Resource Recovery Centre.
“We’re taking a bit of time to get this resource centre committee together. This is something we want to consider and it’s on the radar. Do you want me to flick you an email and say this is something that is a priority for the community board?”
“That’s not something that’s currently on our radar,” Russo said.
“We have put it on our radar,” Titchener replied. “Where is a place to flag it to you, so that you can note we have put it on our radar?”
Russo said the formal process was through the Long Term Plan consultation process in March and April 2025.
Jill Taylor
“It’s not entirely a surprise to us that this is something on the board’s radar,” she said.
Board member Jill Taylor asked Transportation Manager Bryan Hudson how long it would be before the council would open a resource recovery centre in Te Awamutu at the June meeting and Hudson couldn’t say.
“There is work going on to investigate suitable land sites in Te Awamutu for a range of council activities into the future, so there is potential that a Te Awamutu facility could fit onto that site as well,” he said in June.
Holt asked Russo about “zhuzhing up” Alexandra Street, a project she had previously asked to be included in the Long Term Plan, as well as fixing a retaining wall and installing a footpath in George Street Car Park.
Ange Holt
Russo said she had sent some emails about those projects to other council staff but couldn’t remember their replies.
Holt was concerned about understanding process.
“It’s just trying to get some process in place so that as a community board we can make sure we get these things to you with the correct information so that you can make an informed decision, just so we know what to do, when to do it,” Holt said.
Russo said it would be helpful if the board was consistent in its strategic priorities.
The council will hold a financial strategy workshop on October 16.
