Councillor Comment

Positive Aging Strategy 

In a report to Planning & Regulatory meeting on the 3^rd November, the achievements of implementing the Positive Ageing strategy over the first year were discussed.   

  The Wairarapa Positive Ageing Strategy outlines the way in which the three Wairarapa 

Councils will work together to improve and integrate their work for our older people. It is pleasing to see that: 

1. A working partnership with Age Concern Wairarapa has been developed. 
2. The three Councils are now meeting with a representative of Wairarapa DHB’s Planning and Funding committee. 
3. Connecting to St John’s Wairarapa and supporting their medical shuttle programme to grow and the development of their Caring Caller Programme 
4. Developing relationship with Nuku Ora (Sports Wellington) and the inaugural Senior Games here in the Wairarapa in March 2022. 

 It is lovely to see so much work progressing in this field to assist our older citizens. 

Spatial Plan 

On the 10^th of November Council adopted the residential section of the District’s Spatial Plan. This covered Greytown, Featherston, Martinborough and the wider district.  In Martinborough, Council approved the following lot sizes.  

• Township – minimum 400m2 and they go up from there.   
• Outer Residential – the area from Regent St, along New York Street to Todds Road and down to Dublin Street and back to Regent St, 2000m2 to 4000m2  
• Mid Residential, which includes the new development area of Ferry Road, will be, 500m2 

These will now be progressed through to the Master Planning stage which will commence in 2022 and then the result of this will form part of the submission to the Combined District Plan, which in turn will come out for public consultation. 

Council 

With the recent resignation of Councillor Ross Vickery from Council as he was moving away from the district, Council has appointed Colin Olds (subject to his acceptance) to fill the vacancy.   It will be great to have Colin as part of the team. He was a Featherston ward councillor in the last triennium and his continuing commitment to the district combined with his local government knowledge and experience will mean that he can pick up the ropes immediately. Welcome back Colin, we look forward to you being sworn in at the Council meeting on the 15^th December and to working with you again. 

Councillors have adopted a change in the meeting schedule for 2022, up to the local body elections in October.  This means that Council and committees will meet on a 6-weekly basis, rather than the current 8 weekly cycle.  The exception to this is that Finance, Audit and Risk chair will receive monthly financial reporting. 

It is only a few weeks now until Christmas is upon us, I would like to thank everyone for their input/comments/support/ideas into Council and committee meetings. This has been invaluable in helping Councillors make many of the decisions needed throughout the year. Please take the time to relax and enjoy the festive season with family and friends.  Stay safe and well. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.  Pam Colenso .