Take the best of local government and make it work

Our Hutt City Council unanimously supported a Local Government Reorganisation alternative application which proposes two new options that will provide a real alternative to a single council supercity.

We have asked the Local Government Commission to stay connected with the will of ratepayers in the Wellington region and to push for cost efficient management.

The application calls for an enhanced status quo that maintains current boundaries but merges the region’s transport and water management  under a jointly owned business; or four unitary authorities and regional transport and water management.

Our council’s submission is the only viable option for fixing the real problems facing the region – it is a call for common sense and pragmatism

We propose tackling the big issues of transport and water management across the region which require the region to speak and act with one voice.

Anything else is just expensive window dressing, I believe.

The Local Government Commission will be embarking on a mission impossible if it tries to launch a total regional amalgamation which has been firmly rejected across the majority of residents and ratepayers.

Our voice reflects the mood of our community who do not wish to see their hard earned money wasted on the creation of a single city.

We undertook to listen to our ratepayers. They supported an enhanced status quo and merging of transport and water management with a further option of four unitary authorities if more change is proposed by the commission.

An enhanced status quo is the most democratic and economically efficient model for our city and the region.

Mayor Wallace says his council directly opposes the application from the Greater Wellington Regional Council Council, which was formulated and submitted without being truly tested by the public.

Under the enhanced status quo we would be taking the best and making it work for the region as a whole.

The TDB report which supports our Hutt City Council application recommended no boundary changes, but region-wide Council-controlled organisations for transport and water. It says the second-best boundary option was creating four unitary authorities. The report also suggests a supercity is not the best option for the Wellington region

ENDS

Hutt City Council Alternate Application to Local Government Commission

Lower Hutt on track for future growth

Future growth of Hutt City is assured through a new Urban Growth Strategy adopted by the Community Development Committee.

The strategy which provides new residential development in greenfield areas and infill housing  will go to full council next month (August)

Work will then begin on changing the district plan to include provisions for the changes suggested within the strategy.

The changes will set our city on a growth path into the future.

We estimate our population will grow to around 110,000 in the next 20 years and the new provisions in the urban strategy will accommodate the 6000 new houses expected to be built during that period.

The Urban Growth Strategy drew more than 400 submissions during an intensive round of consultation and council listened carefully to views of people affected by the initial proposals.

Officers have done a good job in developing the strategy which took many months to prepare and engage with the communities affected by the proposals.

A draft planning change will go out to the community for comment and will include owners and occupiers of land and property affected by the proposed change.

This matter is likely to be a priority for the new council in the next triennium,” he says.

Mayor Wallace says no council can give a binding commitment beyond 10 years but the decision has put Lower Hutt on track to accommodate growth into the future.

Secret Cafe gives top training to young people

 

Secret Level has successfully completed barista training  for six young students who have been training on the job in the Secret Café in Queen’s Arcade. Pictured here hard at work, from left, are Journey Kahukuranui and Shyron Blake. This has been an amazing pilot programme with the students all becoming proficient in a skill which has already led to one graduate being offered a job. Congratulations to Ginz Sinclair and Matt Gell from Secret Level for making this possible together with sponsors among them Ripe Coffee and Gellisimo Gelato, Taita College, Naenae College, Hutt Valley High School and Te Kura Correspondence, About Space and the Youthwise Trust.  

Boost in business confidence within Lower Hutt

Lower Hutt is a city we all love.

There is so much to enjoy – great education opportunities, sporting codes for every interest, and a robust business base that is showing Lower Hutt’s economy is on the rise.

During the past six months $250 million in new developments have been slotted into the pipeline – this is more than we have seen in the past five years.

This is a clear sign that economic activity is on the move.

The new developments will provide a boost to our local economy bringing much needed jobs.

We have one of the lowest rates rises in the country at an average of less than one per cent and our new Urban Growth Strategy is targeting an increase in our population to 110,000 over the next 20 years.

Large national developers are interested in doing business here with plans for two new rest homes. A third, being built by the Masonic Trust, is already under way.

AF Logistics re located from Porirua to Port Road and Owens Transport has re occupied their premises at Seaview. Masterpet is also planning a new development in that area.

Further signs of business confidence in Lower Hutt include the decision by the Japanese-owned Cable Price group to consolidate its headquarters here in Lower Hutt which opened earlier this year. This decision represented a significant investment of $10 million.

New developments coming into the city have been helped by our council business stimulus package which was intrdouced for the first time last year. We have been very pleased with the response and the package will be offered again in the current financial year.

 Development of Lower Hutt as a Technology Valley is also rapidly becoming a reality.

Callaghan Innovation has a significant presence in Lower Hutt and has announced it will create an innovative centre as a hub for science and business interests to create new products and services for the benefit of New Zealand business. There are already 800 companies in Lower Hutt linked to science and with this announcement we would expect this number to increase.

Lower Hutt is a great place to live with parks and a sea foreshore surrounded by hills and bush, and it is a city with a sound economic heart.

This growth in business confidence has happened in just three short years setting up our city for growth and prosperity as we move with a positive step into the future.

Petone Winter Carnival a must do event

The annual Petone Winter Carnival set down for Saturday, 3 August, is fast approaching.

This has been a major attraction on the Petone foreshore drawing thousands of people to the beachfront over many years.

It will be action-packed day with a whole range of activities including the ever-popular Polar Plunge at noon , market stalls, performances, food fair, public art and the finale of the Pelorus Trust Fireshow display at 7.30pm.

The Rotary Club of Hutt City Fire Sculptures will again light up the foreshore in spectacular fashion leading in to the fireshow. 

Beautiful, giant pieces of art are created on the foreshore from 9am, erected, and then burnt one by one with an amazing fireworks finale. Six groups are scheduled to participate this year.

Hutt city Council organises the event with support from the Pelorus Trust which has done a fantastic job in helping to make the winter festival a truly spectacular evening.

Facts about the night can be found at a new Petone Winter Carnival www.petonecarnival.co.nz

Make sure you come along and make it a great family event.

Cheaper parking positive move

Shoppers and business people will be pleased to see parking rates have been reduced.

There is still a cost, but it is very minimal.

The big advantage of this move is the amount of time shoppers now have – they get double the time for the same price.

Prior to this latest move, shoppers would pay $2 for the first hour and $3 for the second hour. Now they are getting a full hour for a $1.50 and if they go over the river bank car park, the price is only 70c.

There have been questions about free parking.

My argument is that there is still a need for time limited parking to ensure everyone has the opportunity to park alongside their favourite shops.

Our research showed that people come to town because of what is on offer at the shops, or because they have special errands or a wish to pick up specific items.  There is little evidence that free parking encourages people to come to town just for the sake of it.

I believe the parking fee reduction is a good move and will encourage shoppers to spend more time in the Central Business District.

Further information is available on the City council website

http://www.huttcity.govt.nz/en/Your-Council/News-and-notices/Latest-News/Shop-more-with-cheaper-parking/

Senior net doing a good job

Getting smart on the internet is as simple as signing on for Senior Net and successful Lower Hutt organisations with 450 members and 40 tutors teaching all there is to know about computers. Learning how to do emails and surf the internet is the main focus of attention for people who are new to computers.

The emphasis is on seniors teaching seniors and I thoroughly commend it to anyone wishing to gain computer knowledge.

During the annual meeting I was presented two certificates for Meritorious Service to the Senior Net organisation of Hutt City. One was to Ken Haywood  who, over 15 years held the positions of secretary, treasurer and chairman. The other was to Geoff Honey who has served as technical director of the organisation over 14 years. They were very worthy recipients of the awards.

You can find out more at learn@seniornet-huttcity.org.nz