Best wishes for festive season

This has been a busy year for the Hutt City Council which was achieved one of the lowest average rate rises in New Zealand and received praise for its careful management of the city’s finances. We have made provision in the long term plan for infrastructure including parks and special projects to improve our environment. During the year the Hutt City Council (Graffiti Removal) Bill was approved and we continue to make gains in the removal of graffiti vandalism across the city. There has also been progress in building business confidence across the city with the government decision to retain the science innovation centres here in Lower Hutt. We have also introduced a business stimulus package to attract new business to Lower Hutt. We plan to help Lower Hutt grow into the future as a place where people wish to come and raise their families. We have a great city and council is committed to making it even better.

I would like to wish all our residents a very happy festive season and hope you keep safe and look after each other. I would also like to extend my very best wishes for 2013.

 

Local views important in governance debate

Current discussions on amalgamation are creating divisions among the city local authorities at a time of economic adversity. Writing in the “Your Shout” column of the Hutt News (Tuesday, December 18, 2012) I said it is a time when we should be working closely together for the benefit of our citizens and ratepayers.

Much of the debate has been force fed by campaigners for a super city.

As Mayor of Lower Hutt, my position is simple. There is strong community support for the status quo. If change is forced upon us, then people have told us a united Hutt Valley is the preferred option.

A super city proposal attracted just three per cent support in polls and consultation across the city.

My pursuit is the truth in all these issues and to be the flag bearer for my community and the views they have expressed. It disappoints me that some say Hutt City is doing nothing or not prepared to work with others. This is simply not true. We have one of the best working relationships with other councils in the region.

I personally chair the Local Government NZ Zone Four group of Mayors. I recently hosted a forum where all the councils in the region presented their views. I was able to encourage everyone’s voice to be heard.

We must proceed with a common bond of doing what is best for the individual cities and the region.

Lower Hutt has nothing to gain from being swallowed into a super city. We would share in the cost of everyone’s 20-year spending plans and be penalised for being prudent and keeping our own costs down by reducing debt.

I do not think that would be fair on the ratepayers and residents of Lower Hutt.

Hutt City has taken a pragmatic approach and put in place a business stimulus package. We have worked hard to retain big business, including growth in science and technology, encouraged small businesses and focused on creating a city we can all be proud of.

Across Lower Hutt, and the greater Wellington region, we have plenty of stories of people who are having a difficult time. For some businesses this year has been one of the most difficult.

These are people who deserve to have a say in how their money is spent.

Lower Hutt is strong. Our average rate rise was among the lowest in New Zealand, we have low debt, and we have good infrastructure in the city. We have great parks and open spaces.  And we have made financial provision in our long term plan to ensure our infrastructure is kept at a good standard.

We also have a share in our own council controlled water company, Capacity, which is doing very well.

If amalgamation is the game, then the three-council proposal has a real benefit for Lower Hutt and the region.

Comprising three entities – a united Hutt Valley, a united Wairarapa and Wellington-Porirua-Kapiti combined – the model would retain local democracy through efficient and effective local authorities with the potential to cooperate strongly on regional issues.

In the event of one united Hutt Valley, we have a shared heritage with Upper Hutt and a similar economic and community profile.

One united Hutt Valley can stand alone and provide for the needs of our community.

We must remember, in all this discussion, the wishes of our residents and ratepayers are important and that they are wise enough to know what is best for Lower Hutt.

Democracy is all about the people.

 

Service acknowledged in Mayoral statement to council

 Te Omanga co-founder Marion Cooper  was congratulated on being elected patron of that organisation in my Mayoral Statement to the full council meeting on 11 December 2012.

 Betty and Peter Hodgins who have been delivering meals to the elderly for 30 years and contribute to the Lower Hutt Food Bank and Kickstart breakfast programmes at St Michael’s Primary in Taita, received Wellington Local Hero medals. Scott MacKenzie, a Wainuiomata volunteer who set up a charitable karate academy also received a Hero Medal.

Mayoral Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Rod Gillespie and James Young for demonstrating business leadership in Lower Hutt.

 Education

 Secondary Schools across Lower Hutt have all completed their annual prize giving with an impressive list of academic and sporting achievements. Top scholars across the city were:

Damon Hutley, St Bernards College, Yuxuan Zhou. St Bernards College,

Hayley Markland, Wainuiomata High School, Shannon Admas, Wainuiomata High School,

Daniel Browne, Taita College, Wadza Munatswa, Taita College,  

Vicky Watson, Sacred Heart College, Barbara Parren, Sacred Heart College,

Brian Ng, Hutt Valley High School, Madhuri Shenoy, Hutt Valley High School, Sobhanya Kim, Naenae College, Courtney Brown, Naenae College,

Allie Eathorne, St Orans College, Tamra Lindsay, St Orans College,

Karen Zhang, Chilton St James, Ruth Benitez, Chilton St James.

Sport

Petone Rugby Club chairman Brian Simmons has decided to stand down from that position. He has served on the committee for 36 years which is a commendable effort.

Colourful Naenae resident Michael Stewart completed his 500^th marathon, a southern hemisphere record.

Community

 A  Chinese delegation led by the vice Mayor of Xi’an Municipal People’s Government, Li Jing, visited during the month. As one of the largest cities in China, Xi’an shares an aspiration with Lower Hutt in developing science and technology as a key focus for future growth. The on-going relationship has the potential to create opportunities in areas of tourism and education.

Three young dancers from Lower Hutt, Kia Jewell, Olivia Nash, from the Mary Rodgers Ballet Academy, and Georgia Ryan , the Children’s Dance Centre, have been selected to take part in  the regional heat of a national final for the Denee Dance challenge. This competition is run by the prestigious London-based Royal Academy of Dance.

  

Bereavements

Former All Black and Petone player Bob Scott, who played 17 tests for New Zealand, was a well-known identity who is honoured in the Walk of champions in Jackson Street,.

 Ian Atkins, former stalwart of Hutt Valley cricket and former member of the New Zealand Junior Cricket Advisory Board, who contributed to the development of Hutt Valley cricket.

 A prominent member of the Lower Hutt legal fraternity, Greg King, who established himself as a national identity through his courtroom work defending high profile cases.

 Former Hutt City Councillor Margaret Ryan, QSO.

 Lower Hutt-born Sir Stuart Macaskill CNZM, QSO, who was a former Wellington Regional Council Chairman. He served on the Upper Hutt City Council from 1971 and was deputy Mayor for six years

  

Strong community voice being heard

A strong and united community voice has opened the door for developing new facilities at Naenae’s Walter Mildenhall Park.

A reclassification proposal for the park which would have allowed building housing on the reserve will not proceed.

This issue has a history dating back to 2008 when housing on the Park was included in the North East community plan.

We have received the message loud and clear that the community wishes Walter Mildenhall Park to be preserved as a recreational hub serving community needs.

There has already been considerable activity in the area with the establishment of the Naenae computer club and the recently opened recreational area for young people Now there is the possibility of regional bowling centre with potential multiple community uses.

Chair Cr Ross Jamieson did a good job in guiding the committee. Submissions were very convincing and presented with passion in support of retaining the original purpose for Walter Mildenhall Park.

A good council listens and we have listened to the wishes of the community.

Productive year for council

Our council has had a very productive year in 2012.

I told a gathering of business and community leaders in December that our long term plan through to 2022 has a balanced work load that includes significant infrastructure work, improvements to our  parks, and a commitment to specific projects that will enhance our city.

Our average rate rise for this year is among the lowest in New Zealand and we received a very favourable financial rating which commended the council on its management of finances and debt.

During the course of this year, we have been actively engaged in making provisions for earthquake strengthening of the council administration buildings. Council has made a decision that will see the heritage aspects of the building being retained.

This has been a very thorough and robust process, as you would expect from a prudent council like ours. I would like to acknowledge the work of my deputy David Bassett and Crs Roger Styles and Chris Milne who have worked closely with our officers and consulting engineers to come up with options considered by council.

Council has also shown leadership at a national level with the passage of the Hutt City Council (Graffiti Removal) Bill which passed into law in September of this year. I personally have a strong commitment to control of graffiti vandalism and I was in the House at all stages of the Bill including the Select Committee submissions.

We have received a number of inquiries from other local authorities throughout New Zealand seeking information about how they too, could implement such a Bill. I would like to publicly thank Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard for his work in shepherding the Bill through the House.

The hard work of council is done at the committee level. That is where issues are talked through in detail and arguments for and against are the most robust.

My Chairs of Committees have done a good job in managing these issues and ensuring the voice of the community was kept to the fore in considering the best recommendations for the good of the city.

So I would like to express a universal thank you to my chairs and our councillors and officers who serve on the committees.

This year seemed to be a year of consultation with our community. The annual plan and the long term plan consultation was followed by the Representation Review of community boards, many policy and town planning issues were consulted the community, and finally the Local Government Reform was put out to public discussion. Supercity or not will be a focus for our community and council for a while to come.

But all of these processes in terms of local democracy, are important processes that must be upheld.

In the past few months, councillors have been working on an urban growth strategy for the city. We are excited about the future and what it holds for us all as a community.

Such intensification will mean additional pressure to provide additional facilities and services including recreational opportunities for inner city residents.

We are fortunate to have a number of keystone businesses which generate a lot of activity, many of them in science and technology. Government has committed to Lower Hutt as a science innovation centre by deciding to locate one of three Callaghan Innovation centres here. Technology Valley is the way to move our city forward.

There have been other successes in encouraging business to stay within Lower Hutt. We are also actively promoting a business stimulus package to encourage business to expand their operations within Lower Hutt.

We are making good progress.

This year has been an intense year, a challenging year, a year of hard work and positive results.