Councillor Comment

Well Easter and the school holidays are behind us and we are heading into Autumn.  It is fantastic seeing the autumn colours on both the trees and grape vines around the district before the winds come and blow these away.  I have included a picture taken from Lake Ferry of a recent sunset – the colours in the evening sky over the last couple of weeks has been spectacular and a joy to watch.

Consultation over the Long-Term Plan and Spatial Plan has finished and submissions closed on the 30^th April and I want to acknowledge the amount of time and effort and consultation taken by officers and staff to ensure the best outcomes for our community. Councillors will be deliberating those submissions on the 25^th and 26^th May and I am personally looking forward to hearing what everyone has to say and the discussion around these.

The Māori Standing Committee, which is a committee of Council, recently endorsed the appointment of Gillies Baker and Michele Elliott to be Pāpāwai Marae’s representatives.  Members of the Māori Standing Committee advise on tangata whenua and Māori interests in the Council’s areas of activity and we have welcomed the committee members’ advice and input throughout the Long Term and Spatial Plan workshops and consultation hui.

Recently you will have seen some work being done to the fence beside the museum and the public toilets, this is to make room for new rubbish and recycling bins for public use.  These are great as it will enable us to be able to separate the items able to be recycled from everyday rubbish.  Over the long term this will reduce the amount of rubbish going into our landfill which is one of council’s priorities.

It is fantastic to see that the old seat in Huangarua Park and the rubbish bin have both been replaced with lovely new and more modern varieties. This park is very popular on Fair Days but most other days families use this to picnic or just play games.  Green spaces within our town are essential for our wellbeing and enjoyment.

Please stay safe, well and enjoy life to the fullest.

Pam Colenso  0274414892