Blueprints
Community aspirations for the future were a focus for the Council this month, and Councillors spent time considering feedback on local area ‘blueprints’ as we move closer to developing the next Long Term Plan (LTP) 2024-34.
The LTP will set the Council’s work programmes and budgets for the next three years (from July 2024). Consultation on a draft LTP will be held early next year.
Local area blueprints were first developed between 2019 and 2022 to identify community aspirations and to prioritise initiatives to be taken by either the Council or the local community. They form part of a ‘District Blueprint’ to provide a ‘picture’ of how the district could progress over the next 30 years to address the community’s social, economic and environmental needs, and to meet the Council’s vision of ‘Liveable, Thriving and Connected Communities’. Outcomes are dependent on LTP funding decisions as well as changes to the District Plan.
In the Tamahere-Woodlands Ward, there are ‘Council-led’ blueprints for Gordonton, Matangi and Tamahere, and – following the September meeting of the Council’s Sustainability and Wellbeing Committee - these blueprints will now be updated in keeping with survey feedback received from your local community committees. More detailed feedback from Tamahere will be included as an addendum to the existing blueprint.
Congratulations to the Tauwhare Community Committee which has led a major effort to develop a Tauwhare blueprint in consultation with the community. A Council decision on whether to recognise this as a full blueprint (as urged by your local Ward councillors) has been deferred, but the community’s aspirations were acknowledged, and the document will be published on the Council’s website.
Speed limits
The Council has been asked to review District speed limits in line with the Government’s ‘Road to Zero’ road safety strategy. Proposed speed limit changes near maraes, community halls, sports fields and schools are expected to come to the October Policy & Regulatory Committee meeting for consideration for public consultation. It’s unfortunate this follows so closely on the Council’s own Speed Limit Bylaw review in 2022. Please watch out for notification to have your say.
SH1B
A proposal for the upgrade of Telephone Road to allow it to reopen has been put forward for inclusion in Waka Kotahi’s draft State Highway Investment Proposal (known as the SHIP). The draft SHIP is expected to be released shortly with the final SHIP to be confirmed early next year for inclusion in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). Funding is not guaranteed, however, as this project will be assessed and prioritised against other proposed roading projects in the region and around the country.
As the initial options for re-opening the Telephone Road railway crossing were costed at $8-11 million (compared with a permanent closure option costed at $2.5 million), Waka Kotahi and Waikato District Council are also working together to develop an alternative, cheaper option for consideration. As this would involve closing Holland Rd westbound from the intersection with Telephone Rd, Waka Kotahi and the District Council will seek community feedback to determine the feasibility of progressing this option. Please watch this space.
Please also note that Waka Kotahi intends to replace the current temporary electronic signage at the crossing with fixed signs about the closure – this is simply to allow the mobile signs to be reused elsewhere.
Recent Community meetings:
Bus trial – Waikato Regional Council is working on final details for a two-year bus trial for Tamahere/Matangi/Tauwhare Pa using a 12-seater van, and ensuring no disruption to school bus services. The District Council will fund it from a budget set at $200,000 per year.
New Tamahere Forum proposed – At its September meeting Tamahere Community Committee discussed means of re-establishing a website for sharing community news. Watch this space.
New chair elected for Newstead Residents’ Association - Congratulations to Noel Smith who was elected chair of the Newstead Resident’s Committee at its AGM on 17 September.
Community meetings coming up:
Tamahere Community Committee – 3 October, 7.30pm at Tamahere Community Centre
Tamahere-Woodlands Heritage Committee – 17 October at Council’s Tamahere office
Tauwhare Community Committee – 25 October, 7.30pm at Tauwhare Hall
Also happening:
Cherry Blossom Festival – now on in Matangi finishing Sunday 8 October. Details on their website.
Sculpture Park, Tauwhare – the Park’s Roosting Ruru Café is re-open, weekends 11am-3pm.
Contact your Tamahere-Woodlands Councillors:
Crystal Beavis, mob 0275 957 927, email
Mike Keir, mob 027 449 3012, email
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