It’s all go in Marty right now! The Martinborough Access Reference Group (MARG) – being driven by Conor Kershaw – has got into the swing of things and is looking at cycle routes and enlivening the Square, amongst other subjects.
The Rural and Coastal Advisory Group (RCAG) has also begun its work and will be chaired by Jenny Boyne from Tora. This group represents the whole of the South Wairarapa District but much of our rural and coastal area is south/east of Martinborough. RCAG has had its inaugural meeting and will be looking at serious issues including roading affordability and the resilience of remote communities.
The Martinborough councillors – led by Deputy Mayor Rob Taylor – are mounting a campaign to get the Waihenga Bridge onto NZTA’s list. See more about this elsewhere in this issue of the Star. We need your help!
Cr Aidan Ellims is our walking encyclopaedia on roads and bridges and is our “go to” man for the history of practically any local issue. He’s provided much useful information about previous attempts to get the bridge replaced and recently he’s also been working hard with our staff on the wastewater treatment plant improvements.
Our third Marty Councillor, Chris Archer, has been honing our economic development focus and is working with businesses throughout the whole of Wairarapa to strengthen the network. We don’t want economic development to become an orphan in the general attention the Council puts on infrastructure.
Finally, down on the coast, residents have been amazing in providing material that we’ve used in our business case for the Cape Palliser Road. In case you’ve forgotten the details, this is currently designated as a “special purpose road” and thus funded 100% by NZTA. But that category of road has now been abolished and we need to convince NZTA and the Government that this road, built on fragile ground conditions and subject to massive ocean wave patterns, is of national importance.
We’re asking them to fund the difficult areas and (for example) want to install more eco-reef where appropriate. I’ve been keeping track of the editing of the document and am delighted with the case that the staff have put together. Now the lobbying begins!
All this work is being done in the context of the Government’s focus on driving council amalgamation. This is increasingly sucking up our energy and focus. I won’t got into detail here, but urge you to look at our website, which will be updated regularly.
We’re also holding three town hall meetings (including one in Martinborough on June 4) to provide information – as far as we have it – and receive feedback. The time frame for putting in a proposal is very short, with a 9 August deadline.
I want to finish this month by congratulating Monty and Jess Petrie whose pasta took out top honours in the Sustainable Food Awards. This pasta is fantastic (I’m a personal fan) and being recognised in these prestigious awards is a real coup. It’s a stunning endorsement of Wairarapa’s role as a food producer, with the durum wheat used for the pasta also grown in our region. Buy yours now!!
