I’d like to start by saying how humble and privileged I am to be representing the Martinborough ward on the South Wairarapa District Council along with our local Councillors, Kaye McAulay and Pip Maynard.
I would also like to thank both Pam Colenso and Brian “Jeppy” Jephson for their service on Council representing Martinborough residents and ratepayers. In last months Martinborough Star, Pam outlined her 21 years on both our Community Board and Council, detailing many changes which have occurred in that time across the town and district.
Jeppy has served at least 12 years on Council, the last 3 years as Chair of the Assets and Services Committee and told me that one of his achievements 10 years ago was to push for the establishment of the Rural Roading Fund. This has been crucial in the last year to fund work on the Hinakura access track to reconnect the Hinakura District with Martinborough.
Thank you both for your long and dedicated service to Martinborough and the wider South Wairarapa District. Nga mihi nui.
On Wednesday, 26th October our new Council and Community Boards were sworn in at Papawai Marae in Greytown. It was a special day for our first Council meeting and ceremony to be held at Papawai, where the first Maori Parliament in 1897 sat.
At this first meeting, Mayor Martin Connolly announced the formation and membership of Council Committees which are a change from the previous Committee structure. Mayor Connolly has asked Councillor Maynard to Chair the Climate Change and Environment Committee, Councillor Kaye McAuley to Chair the CEO Employment Committee, while I have been asked to Chair the Infrastructure Committee. I am looking forward to working with ratepayers/residents and Council staff to understand our infrastructure issues, (in addition to the roading issues), the contracts and budgets etc to work out the priorities and strategies to deal with all of the challenges our communities face. A challenge I’m looking forward to.
Another decision at our first meeting was to discuss extending funding of the Hinakura access track which had unfortunately gone over budget. After presentations from Don McCreary, Jack Cameron, (Hinakura farmers) and Sarah Donaldson from East Coast Rural Support Trust, Councillors voted unanimously to approve the extra $40,000 which as mentioned earlier has come from the Rural Roading Fund. Council is working with Engineers on planning the new road over the Hinakura hill which will take some time before it is constructed and open, so the access created by Don McCreary is crucial for the Hinakura community to remain connected to Martinborough. Thanks again to Don, the Hancocks and members of the Hinakura and Martinborough communities for their hard work over the last few months.
Finally the next few months will see all Councillors and Community Board members carrying out induction sessions to upskill and obtain the knowledge required to be involved in governing and representing our communities around the table. It’s going to be a busy few months learning and then making decisions on a lot of issues our communities will be facing in the coming years.
If you wish to contact me and discuss any issues, please email me on aidan.ellims@swdc.govt.nz
