From the Mayor 

Happy New Year Martinborough. So far January has brought some highs and lows but, every new year, brings new beginnings and new hope. 

Martinborough sadly farewelled one of its most well-known citizens, Garry Jackson, at a service attended by hundreds on the 25 January. Garry served as a volunteer for the Martinborough Fire Brigade for nearly 50 years, 25 of those as Martinborough Fire Chief. Garry will be remembered as a man who loved his community and spent all his life helping people in his community. Garry was the “go-to man”, always there to lend a hand, provide some firewood and put out fires. Martinborough has lost a stalwart, he will be missed by many. Thank you, Garry, for your dedication and commitment to your community,

The town has got off to a roaring start to the year, already playing host to its first big event– Cruise Martinborough. I so enjoyed seeing all the classic and American cars shining in the sunshine, a real credit to their owners. You couldn’t fail to marvel at the cars driving about the region, while the drivers enjoyed the great sights on offer.

With more events to come throughout 2019, the town will continue to attract more visitors, and in turn more residents, as many people who visit here want to make Martinborough their home.

Due to the increased demand for residential land in the town, Council will be consulting on the proposal to re-zone sections from rural to residential on Dublin Street. This will enable further residential properties to be built to meet the need of those working and settling in the area.

This work continues in parallel with the district-wide spatial planning work, which will identify what are communities should look like, where growth should occur, and how much growth is desired.

Initial preparation for spatial planning work is underway, and this will be followed by workshops to gain input from a variety of interest groups. It is anticipated that a draft map and spatial plan discussion document will be ready for public consultation before the end of this year.

The 2019 Civic Awards is calling for nominations. The Awards recognise an individual, group or organisation that has contributed significantly to the wellbeing of the South Wairarapa District. Nomination forms, including details of conditions and guidelines, are available at swdc.govt.nz/civic-awards-2019, the Council Offices, and Featherston and Greytown Library/Service Centres. Nominations close at 5pm on Friday 7 March. Please contact Barbara Gavan if you’d like more information: 06 306 9611; barbara.gavan@swdc.govt.nz.

And finally, we look forward to hearing from you, our community, via our various community engagements and consultations that will take place this year. Of course, we welcome your feedback and ideas at any time. You can contact us via Facebook messenger ‘South Wairarapa District Council’, by email enquiries@swdc.govt.nz or via our website at swdc.govt.nz. To stay up to date on Council projects, follow us on Facebook or visit our website.

– Viv Napier