There have been a number of consultations where the Council has asked you to provide submissions on different topics and thanks to everyone who has sent in submissions. Since August, council staff and councillors have been working on the Long Term Plan which will be consulted on early next year.
At our last Council meeting on 20 November, we received a petition signed by over 1,000 residents, as well as hearing from other residents about the impacts and concerns they have regarding the rates increases over recent years.
As a result of this meeting and petition, councillors and staff are working with folks involved in the petition to share information about the process that we are taking to work through the LTP, to show the projects and priorities we are working with, as well as focusing on reducing rates increases.
Over two years ago when I stood for election, I commented that “there will always be increases in rates, however, we need to be smart as to what is funded with those increases.”
Now, two years after that election, we know so much more about the state of our water infrastructure and the poor condition it is in than we knew in the lead-up to the 2022 election and my view has not changed.
Councillors and staff have also been working throughout the year on the Local Waters Done Well reform and we have made the decision to head towards the Wairarapa + Tararua (“Wai+T”) model rather than being involved in the Wellington regional model. Early next year we will be consulting with you all on whether the district should join Wai+T or manage our water infrastructure by ourselves.
I am really happy to see that the pedestrian crossing lighting around The Square and the other crossings in Martinborough has started and will be completed before Christmas.
Concerns about the dangers to pedestrians were first raised with the Martinborough Community Board in the last triennium and I raised the matter at council very early in this term. While the project has taken a long time to be completed, it has now occurred with significant NZTA funding – meaning that ratepayers have not paid for the whole project.
Within our community, there have been a number of significant projects occur throughout the year. Fundraising for the Martinborough Pump Track in Considine Park raised over $250,000 with donations from many residents and businesses. Construction occurred very quickly and by the time you read this, it will be open for use for all ages. Congratulations to the organisers for the hours of work you have put in over the years to see this come to fruition.
It is a great example of how a community-driven and fundraised project can get off the ground without relying on council funding and proves to other groups across South Wairarapa that it can be done.
The Martinborough Community Patrol purchased it’s new EV patrol car through community fundraising and continues to provide a great service to our residents. The Patrol has been in existence for over 30 years and has come a long way since I was first involved in 2001 when
I moved to Martinborough as the sole charge police constable in town.
The Martinborough Community Board has provided thousands of dollars of Pain Estate grant funding to a number of community organisations. This was the first funding provided for more than five years and has benefitted so many across Martinborough.
Thanks very much for the conversations I’ve had with some of you and those who have shared their ideas and opinions with me over the last year. Those chats help when I am sitting around the council table with my colleagues.
Finally, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hopefully you are all able to take a break, enjoying time relaxing with family and friends. I look forward to catching up with you in the New Year as the final year of this term starts.
