From the mayor

Firstly, a big ‘get well soon’ to Bruce Sullivan from Kitchener’s Dairy, who is recovering from surgery. Everyone has missed you, so looking forward to seeing you back on deck.

Conservation week will be running soon, actually with events from 30^th August to 16^th September. See the programme at https://waip2k.org.nz/conservation-week. I had an informative  presentation recently on the work being undertaken by Ducks Unlimited on wetlands around Wairarapa Moana, and encourage everyone to get involved with initiatives such as this.

The 3Waters reform is a rising issue for all residents, with the Government pushing through legislation with unseemly haste. The proposal will be the formation of a water entity that will nationalise all your water assets, and separately bill for water supply. This covers drinking water, wastewater and stormwater.

 Once we have finally received all information on the plan, we will try to engage with you as to whether you wish for this option to be accepted, if we are given the chance to do this by Minister Mahuta. Many will be delighted by the removal of water costs from your rates, which can be significant, but please research what the additional costs from a government-run entity will look like. And please challenge the assumptions made in the Government’s publicity on likely savings.

Community Policing in our district looks likely to not receive the support it has had over the past two years, which is of great concern. Martinborough and other towns have benefited from the additional resource, and I have noticed a quantifiable improvement in statistics in our district. I have written to the Minister of Police to request this be reversed and encourage everyone to do the same.

Much heated debate is being had over the Innovating Streets trial (which will be trialled over 8-12 weeks before being assessed whether it is the right solution to improve road safety round the Square.).

The Martinborough Square has been valued by locals for many years, and rightly so.

Interestingly I came across an article where Council was attempting to change the Square in the past. A hue and cry went up from locals, and a petition from a large percentage of residents was given, asking Council to leave the Square as it was.

It went to a vote the following month, and changes were passed by a majority of Councillors.

The year – 1905. The proposal – to fence and plant trees in the square. This led to the streets running through the square to be stopped, and the formation of the Square as we know it.

Thank goodness for progress.   Mayor Alex