News Briefs 10 March 2009

Mercury Bay Sports Complex Open Day.
An Open Day to show results of work to date on a proposed multi sports complex in Mercury Bay will be held on Saturday 28 March from 10am until 3pm at Taylors Mistake. Organised by Thames-Coromandel District Council and consultants Opus, the information day will include displays showing the results of studies into the needs of different sports groups in the area, the location for the facility along with what is proposed for the disposal of Whitianga’s treated wastewater. A big marquee will house these displays and staff will be available to discuss aspects of the proposal and hear residents’ views.

Hundreds give feedback on Council’s Ten Year Plan
Some 1500 submissions were received on the Council’s draft 2009-2019 Ten Year Plan after a month of consultation that included coffee sessions with the mayor around the district. Council staff are now in the process of analysing what the hundreds of feedback forms are requesting – from broad themes to specific requests. Hearings will be held in the Mercury Bay Service Centre on 1 April, Whangamata Service Centre on 2 April, Lakes Resort in Pauanui on 3 April, Coromandel Service Centre on 6 April and Council Chamber in Thames on 7 April allowing those who requested to speak to their submission to address councillors in person. The Council will then consider all the submissions made and adopt the Ten Year Plan following any amendments, by 30 June this year.

Strategic thinking on property
Elected members of Council are being asked to consider the Council’s strategy for buying, selling and managing its property assets, which is currently based on the premise of not holding property for reasons other than core business as defined under the Local Government Act. The Council owns 700 properties with a value of $145 million and roading land at a value of $300 million. TCDC Chief Executive Steve Ruru told a workshop of elected members yesterday that the vast majority of these properties were necessary for core infrastructure such as water and wastewater, but now was the time to build a policy that justified the need for buildings and land used for non ‘core’ business.
He said councillors and community board members would need to consider reviewing key policies in order to change the direction of the Council’s property management strategy. “We’re asking elected members first of all to determine what it is that we want to own as a Council and why? And to consider why else, beyond infrastructure, the Council should own property.”

Lights on at Te Puru
Residents are being advised that the Council’s contractor is doing all it can to fix a problem with street lights being left on at Te Puru. A spokesperson from Tenix has assured the Council they hope to have the lights fixed by the end of the week and delays were caused by having to wait for parts to arrive.