Now for some good news! Over the last year councillors and Council staff have heard feedback from both the community and
Community Board on Pain Estate and the plans from the resource consent granted in 2015 about disposing treated effluent onto Pain Farm.
Council has been looking for a solution and we are now negotiating to purchase an alternate block of land which will mean that Pain Estate will no longer be needed to dispose of treated effluent. This is a huge win for both the community and Council.
By the time you read this, councillors will have adopted the Long Term Plan, setting rates for the coming year. While residents may not be happy with parts of the plan, please keep in mind that councillors have had to consider the whole District, all 11,000-plus residents and 7,000-plus ratepayers during deliberations.
One of the questions in the Long Term Plan, was should Council fund 100% of roading improvements after NZTA removed the “Low Risk Low Cost” budget. Due to feedback, councillors decided to fund this and as a result the following projects around the Martinborough area will occur, rather being deferred to later years:
bridge strengthening assessments – $450,000;
Gluepot stability – $750,000;
East Coast stability planting – $130,000;
Ponatahi Road delineation improvements – $100,000;
Rock supply for coastal protection, Cape Palliser Road – $600,000;
EcoReef extension, Cape Palliser Road – $1,990,000.
This work will occur across the districts roads in the next two years.
On the water side, earlier this year councillors decided to take all Capital projects off Wellington Water as at 30 June this year. This means Council will plan, manage and oversee these projects in the future to ensure that Council and ratepayers get better value.
Recently, Council staff directed Wellington Water to re-tender two capital projects in a competitive manner which resulted in over $600,000 of savings, compared to what was originally priced by the approved contractor panel. These reduced costs will benefit ratepayers.
Wellington Water will remain contracted to Council to operate the water treatment and waste water plants as these are critical for the District.
They will also continue to carry out repairs to leaks and install new connections until the new Wai+T water entity is established.
Desludging of the wastewater treatment ponds is progressing with approximately 490 tonnes removed so far, with still more to remove. The sludge has been placed in Geotech bags which will allow it to dry and decrease in weight over the next 12 to 18 months before being disposed.
Wellington Water has supplied council staff with the “Martinborough Growth Study” which will provide direction as to what other work needs to occur to ensure that the treatment plant operates within it’s consent and we can start to connect properties up to the sewage network.
I, alongside many other residents will want to know what the next steps are so that we can start building and growing Martinborough.
If you are interested in being an elected member and want to contribute to the community, either on Martinborough Community Board, Council or as the Mayor, please get your nomination into the Council offices by 1 August.
Last election there were only four candidates for Martinborough Community Board, so there was no election for the positions. I encourage you to talk with friends/neighbours and if you or someone you know want to be part of the Community Board/Council, to be involved and contribute to the community, please nominate them.
Finally, I want to wish all candidates over the next few months good luck campaigning. For all other residents and ratepayers, please get involved, ask questions and attend candidates meetings in the lead-up to the election. Best of luck everyone.
To contact me to discuss any issues, email: aidan.ellims@swdc.govt.nz
