Great Community Interest Helps Fine Tune Kaipara's Annual Plan

Kaipara’s Mayor is delighted with the public interest in this year’s Annual Plan and the number of projects the Council has been able to support as a result of submissions and discussion with the community.

This has been achieved with only a very small increase in rates which will now rise by 4.27 per cent compared to the 3.99 per cent increase proposed when the Draft Annual Plan was published.

“Council is extremely pleased that so many people took the time and effort to be involved and make a difference in their community,” says Mayor Neil Tiller.

“It gives us very valuable feedback and information of what the community wants for their district.”

The Draft Annual Plan produced a record 917 submissions, with many submitters taking the opportunity to personally present their views to the full Council at meetings in Mangawhai, Maungaturoto and Dargaville. Other people made suggestions at open forums around the district.

Almost half the submissions were in support of skateboard parks in Mangawhai and Dargaville and Council has allocated $20,000 to each area to establish project groups to work through issues, locations and designs. The funding will come from Reserves Contribution Funds established from levies on development projects.

Groups in both areas have been working hard to establish skateboard parks and say interest in skating is growing rapidly. There is an urgent need for facilities for young people, especially those aged 12 years and older.

Recycling and rubbish attracted 17 submissions with many concerned at the lack of recycling opportunities. Acknowledging the strong community desire for recycling Council has allocated $20,000 toward this. It has also agreed to support a waste minimisation education programme in schools.

Following the success of rubbish cages in tidying rural collection points and requests for more, $6,000 has been set aside for these.

$7,000 has been approved to connect a house on Council property in Moir Street, Mangawhai to the Mangawhai Domain Society’s wastewater system so it can be used by community organisations. Local Councillors and Council staff will work with groups interested in using the building.

$10,000 has been allocated to prepare and prioritise an inventory of coastal facilities together with a further $10,000 to assist the Tinopai community upgrade their boat ramp and wharf.

Environs Holdings Limited has been allocated $5,000 towards the preparation of an Integrated Management Plan for Kaipara Harbour which will be facilitated by an inter agency group involving iwi, central and local government, crown research institutions and local environmental community groups.

Requests for more picnic tables have been answered with $7,200 being allocated for four new tables, of which Maungaturoto will receive one.

$5,000 has been allocated to repair erosion at Paparoa’s Landing, $2,500 for planting in the Matakohe Domain and $5,000 for foreshore planting.

The allocation for mowing and maintaining Mangawhai Domain has been increased from $10,000 to $14,000 in recognition of additional property being incorporated.

Grants include an additional $5,000 to Northern Surf Lifesaving - conditional on providing three weeks service at Baylys Beach, $2,000 to the Hakaru Pony Club for fencing, $500 towards maintaining Dargaville’s historic post office clock, $2,000 to help develop a BMX track in Te Kopuru, $1,000 to the Kellys Bay Improvement Society for concrete, and $3,000 to Dargaville Outreach.

A number of other issues raised in submissions will be addressed during the year. A major one includes working with the Northland Field Days to improve access to the site in response to Transit New Zealand concerns. This must be accomplished by Christmas and will be done within existing budgets.

Twenty three footpath requests will be addressed during preparation of a footpath development programme which will hopefully attract funding from Transit New Zealand. Councillors and staff will work with the Maungaturoto community to prepare a long term improvement plan and requests for parking changes will be discussed with submitters.

Council has also agreed to support an initiative to encourage Smoke Free playgrounds in Kaipara.

A number of submissions like the four received on dogs and the 11 concerning District Plan issues have been referred to specific reviews on these subjects.