In this final Martinborough Star for the year, I would like to thank those across the district who voted for me to represent you around the Council table again for another three years. I am humbled to have your support again. Thank you very much.
I would also like to thank all of the other candidates who stood, wanting to represent your community. You ensured there was plenty of debate in the lead up to the election which was great. And I would like to thank our district, each and every one of you for voting. 64.47% of residents in the Martinborough Ward voted which is an amazing result. South Wairarapa as a district had a voter return of 59.13% which is outstanding compared with other Councils across New Zealand.
Since the election, elected members and Council staff have been working together on topics such as strategy and direction for the coming three years. There is a desire from both Councillor’s and staff to change gear and get runs on the board.
Over the last couple of years, there has been much discussion around our Wastewater plant and the limitations on connections. Previous Councillors and staff have worked through and priced options, such as allowing houses to install their own septic tank on their residential section or allow a small number of houses to connect to a large storage tank in a street for waste water that would then be pumped into a sucker truck and transported to another Waste Water plant for treatment and disposal.
Firstly, the option for houses to install their own septic tank was not achievable due to the requirement for a drainage field for the liquid effluent. Our residential sections are too small for that drainage field. The option for having a storage tank to collect wastewater from a small number of houses was expensive as sucker trucks would be carting the effluent many times a week. Houses connected to this system would be charged a targeted rate and the feeling was that the cost would be prohibitive.
While desludging of the wastewater ponds is stage 1 in getting our Wastewater Treatment Plant back to compliance, work still needs to occur installing screens and filtration to reduce the levels of nitrate in the treated effluent. The nitrate levels were of concern to Greater Wellington Regional Council who monitor our resource consent and can prosecute Council if we breach the consent. Our Council staff and specifically Peter Trafford our Water Engineer have been working hard to design solutions for these issues and a report will be tabled before Christmas for Councillors to make decisions on the next stages.
I along with businesses and everyone else
in Martinborough want this to be resolved as soon
as possible.
Another piece of work that Council is working on, is changing the Huangarua Bridge at the end of Princess Street and the start of the Ponatahi Road from a two way bridge into a one lane bridge to make it safer for traffic. The consultation period is open to 10am on Monday, 15th December, so please check the information available on haveyoursay@swdc.govt.nz and provide a submission.
Finally, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Hopefully you can all enjoy a break with family and friends over the holiday period and relax before 2026 kicks off.
If you wish to contact me to discuss any issues, please email me on aidan.ellims@swdc.govt.nz
