Council has revoked the resolution adopted at the last Council meeting to spend an additional $852,000 on the plan to upgrade the Tokoroa CBD and iconic i-SITE building. The issue was robustly debated for a second time in an open public meeting today Thursday 29 November. A Notice of Motion was provided to bring the decision back to Council for further discussion. Each Councillor spoke at the meeting. A new resolution was passed to only continue with some of the civil works and review the use of the plaza area in the north eastern part of the proposed Leith Place development. The iSITE building will not proceed and the plaza area in the short term will be grassed until the use of the space is determined. It is likely that new toilets and a space that can be enjoyed by locals and visitors can be developed. It is our intention to provide a wow factor in this area to encourage people to stop and use the space. What this looks like has yet to be decided. The current toilets will remain in the short term while these decisions are being made. This resolution was passed five votes to three. Two Councillors were absent for the meeting. Robust debate and differing viewpoints were put forward, including being bold in putting Tokoroa on the map, developing a wow factor that will attract passing traffic, escalating costs, the significant number of other projects to be undertaken in the district, mindfulness of rising rate costs, our community demographic and other rate impacts. “I am concerned about the rate costs facing our community at this current time,” said Mayor Jenny Shattock. “We have some large projects and big costs facing us including the future of both our wastewater and solid waste, responding to growth and the impact of district property revaluations. All of these issues will have a significant rate impact. “I cannot ignore the fact that with these rate implications, many people in our community who already have substantial financial pressures, will struggle to find the money; and it is my belief that the additional $850,000 is too much for our community at this time,” said Mayor Shattock. “This decision gives us an opportunity to look at other potential wow options that are within budget while continuing with the civil works.” Council and NZTA will continue to work on resurfacing and flooding issues on State Highway 1. Works will start in early January and continue through to March. Staff will be investigating what, if any works, can start prior to Christmas; given the pressures on parking and roading during the festive season.

The Rotary Secondhand Book Sale is on now. Where is it? The signs are up on the back fence entry to the Putaruru District Services Memorial Club, just down from the front entrance to the Plaza. Yon can drive into the large club car park for a box load of goodies. There are plenty of books and more arranged into any sections with plenty of room for browsing. The Rotary secondhand book sale is on Thursday and Friday, 10:00am – 4:00pm, as well as Saturday morning.    

The opportunity to have a positive input into the Waterpark development in Putaruru was not taken up by many residents and businesses at The Plaza on Monday evening. There were about 34 present at this important consultation event. Listening to Kobus Mentz is always inspiring and he provided a great platform for people to share rather than debate. The consultation stage for the Waterpark development is part of the already adopted Putaruru Concept Plan and the evening put into action one of the goals regarding the scope, design and physical works at the site. We share today the scene setting introduction delivered by Kobus before the group discussion and ideas development. In this introduction he looks at the big picture and opportunities that arise. Click on the Title Frame below to see this video.  

Public Consultation on Waterpark Upgrade TONIGHT  6pm – 8pm at Plaza Theatre, Kensington Street. This meeting is hosted by SWDC, Pride in Putaruru and Putaruru Moving Forward and led by Kobus Mentz, director of Urbanism Plus. Kobus is one of the leading sustainability-based urban designers in Australasia. He has significantly contributed to change in urban development practices in the region, leading the field through his delivery of demonstration projects, publications, professional training, regeneration strategies and some of the first spatially-based sub-regional plans. Trained as an architect with post graduate qualifications from the Joint Centre for Urban Design, Oxford, he draws from considerable international experience that reaches across the UK, Australia, Ireland, China and Africa. Kobus is adjunct professor of the University of Auckland’s Master of Urban Design. He has also delivered extensive urban design training for professionals and council staff. Urbanismplus has received numerous national awards for its growth planning, professional training, regeneration projects, transport specific urban design and design guidelines. This meeting links to the Putaruru Concept Plan and below are some of the outcomes being sought relating to: ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STOP IN PUTARURU WITH A MORE VIBRANT AND APPEALING TOWN CENTRE Our town is visually appealing and encourages the passing traffic to stop. A precinct layout for to the development of our town centre provides for a coordinated and holistic approach to growth and to town beautification efforts. Greater visual and pedestrian connectivity will be created between the Water Park,Kensington Street and Main Street.  Putaruru leverages its pristine water supply to develop artisan and boutique food purveyors with regional and national profiles. The upgraded Water Park will offer a destination stop for families that showcases and celebrates the area’s pristine spring water. The Old Post Office Building will be maintained to an attractive standard and includevisitor information.   TONIGHT  6pm – 8pm at Plaza Theatre, Kensington Street. ALL WELCOME…

The Putaruru Toy Library held its Christmas Night Market last night at the Putaruru Hotel. And this year the weather was fine! Local and New Zealand made crafts and services were set out both within and outside the hotel and families took the opportunity to do some Christmas shopping in a friendly environment. The Putaruru Volunteer Fire Brigade operated rides around the nearby streets of Putaruru, having to stop at one stage to answer a real call out. A variety of food stalls provided a range of foods to tempt those attending. Tickets for the now traditional lolly Christmas house raffle were being sold at the hotel entrance.

With the Inter-school Athletics due to be held at Glenshea Park next Wednesday 28 November, two Putaruru schools held their own athletics day events recently. In the following pictures, St Marys are in blue uniforms and Putaruru Primary in red. Both schools used the circuit approach to stage the various athletic activities. Former pupils from the respective schools, along with parents, were on hand to assist and enjoy the occasions.  

Mayor of South Waikato District Jenny Shattock is delighted to announce the appointment of Ben Smit as the Council’s new Chief Executive. Ben has been Deputy Chief Executive of the Council since 2013, having been responsible for a number of key strategic projects and partnerships throughout the region in that time. “Ben has a deep connection with the South Waikato region, and has proven himself as an excellent leader and skilled financial manager. We know he will be a huge asset to our region in his new role,” said Mayor Shattock. A trained accountant, Ben has previously been a chief financial officer in the private sector, and has high level leadership experience as the former chief executive of QE Health in Rotorua. Ben has been with the South Waikato District Council since 2010 in his role as Corporate Group Manager and for the past five years as Deputy Chief Executive. “His work on the concept, business case and build of the $2.5m Road & Rail Terminal in Tokoroa has brought significant economic benefits to the region and is just one example of his strong commercial nous.” “He also has a great ability to engage and lead within our communities, as seen in his work with the Putaruru Moving Forward group and the Tirau Community Board, as well as his fostering of iwi relationships with the council.” Mr Smit, who has been Acting Chief Executive role since October, will commence his new role immediately, and says he is excited about the opportunities ahead. “I’m extremely proud to accept the role, and excited to continue building successful partnerships with the community, iwi and private stakeholders.” “I’m looking forward to working with our Council and Elected Members to encourage economic growth, develop resilient infrastructure, and deliver excellent services to our community.”

Council resolved to continue to progress the Tokoroa CBD Development project, following robust debate in Council’s public meeting yesterday. This decision comes after tender quotes were $850,000 above budget. “Due to significant and rapid increases in construction market costs, the funding allocated to the Tokoroa CBD development project has a shortfall of $850,000,” said Acting Chief Executive Ben Smit. “We are disappointed by this, however we want to assure our community that this project has been well investigated and costed; and the shortfall is simply due to market increases.” Three rounds of quantity surveyor assessments over the past year, the latest being in August this year, indicated that our budget of $3.9million was appropriate for the project. The Project Control Group worked extensively with the preferred tenderers for both the building construction and civils, however adequate savings without significant design changes are not possible in today’s construction market. “While Elected Members resolved during the Council meeting last Thursday to continue with the project as tendered, there is potential for this to change as the $852,000 additional funding may be reconsidered,” continued Mr Smit. “While considering Annual Plan costs for 2019-20 year on the Thursday afternoon, the possibility of revisiting this decision was raised. Council is mindful of not losing sight of other significant costs heading our way with wastewater and solid waste especially that are going to impact rates.” It is possible that a Notice of Motion will be forthcoming. During the morning meeting, four options were tabled and discussed. Option 1 – Continue with project as tendered funded through additional loans of $852,000. Option 2 – Continue with project as tendered funded through additional loans of $852,000. Rent out building space to fund some of the additional project costs. Option 3 – Continue with civil work (roading, footpath etc), remove building glazing so no office / i-SITE space. Additional funding of $450,000 through loans. Option 4 – Undertake cut-down version of the civils, create a green space where the building and other landscape development was planned, but don’t construct the building in the short term. Start planning immediately on how the green space would be developed. All Elected Members spoke during the meeting expressing their views and asking questions. A motion to continue with option 4 (adding the inclusion of building new toilets) was tabled but the motion was lost on voting. A second motion – to proceed with the project (option 1) – was tabled next, and a split decision six votes for and five against signified the motion was upheld. If this resolution holds and the project continues as tendered, the additional funding will come from loans, to minimise the rate impact as much as possible.

Public Consultation on Waterpark Upgrade 26 November  6pm – 8pm at Plaza Theatre, Kensington Street. This meeting is hosted by Pride in Putaruru and Putaruru Moving Forward and led by Kobus Mentz, director of Urbanism Plus. Kobus is one of the leading sustainability-based urban designers in Australasia. He has significantly contributed to change in urban development practices in the region, leading the field through his delivery of demonstration projects, publications, professional training, regeneration strategies and some of the first spatially-based sub-regional plans. Trained as an architect with post graduate qualifications from the Joint Centre for Urban Design, Oxford, he draws from considerable international experience that reaches across the UK, Australia, Ireland, China and Africa. Kobus is adjunct professor of the University of Auckland’s Master of Urban Design. He has also delivered extensive urban design training for professionals and council staff. Urbanismplus has received numerous national awards for its growth planning, professional training, regeneration projects, transport specific urban design and design guidelines. This meeting links to the Putaruru Concept Plan and below are some of the outcomes being sought relating to: ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STOP IN PUTARURU WITH A MORE VIBRANT AND APPEALING TOWN CENTRE Our town is visually appealing and encourages the passing traffic to stop. A precinct layout for to the development of our town centre provides for a coordinated and holistic approach to growth and to town beautification efforts. Greater visual and pedestrian connectivity will be created between the Water Park,Kensington Street and Main Street.  Putaruru leverages its pristine water supply to develop artisan and boutique food purveyors with regional and national profiles. The upgraded Water Park will offer a destination stop for families that showcases and celebrates the area’s pristine spring water. The Old Post Office Building will be maintained to an attractive standard and includevisitor information.   Mark this important PUBLIC CONSULTATION diary date for next week now:  26 November  6pm – 8pm at Plaza Theatre, Kensington Street.   All welcome

Cycling’s Jim McMurray wins Sportsperson of the Year award at the Mercury South Waikato District Sports Awards Jim McMurray wasnamed Sportsperson of the Year at Thursday night’s Mercury South Waikato District Sports Awards. McMurray came first at the UCI World Champs Time Trial and was crowned Masters World Champion. Elias Scheres was named Coach of the Year for the outstanding achievements coaching netball, including teaching the players to be mentally prepared before, during and after their games, resulting in smarter players being one step ahead of their opposition. Courtney Duncan’s multiple talents saw her secure the Secondary School Contribution to Sport award. Courtney is an official for Putaruru College athletics, strikers coach for football and organises trainings and meetings for a number of sports. Sport Waikato South Waikato District Coordinator Lisa Mansell was very pleased with the high calibre of nominations, finalists and winners this year. “We have some really amazing talent in the South Waikato district, and it’s evident that the determination from all our sportspeople is really paying off. And of course those sportspeople could not do what they do without the fantastic support of the many talented coaches, administrators, officials and supporters,” Mansell said. Eligible winners are now considered for the Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Awards on Thursday 31stJanuary 2019 at the Claudelands Conference and Event Centre, Hamilton. 2018 winners: Service to Sport: Denise Farrar, Graham Farrar, Derek Roberts, Karyn Tyrrell Administrator of the Year: Wendy Cook Coach of the Year: Elias Scheres Team of the Year: Pockets Cue Sports Team Secondary School Sportswoman:Tyra Begbie Secondary School Sportsman: Christian Vano Sportsperson of the Year: Jim McMurray Club of the Year: Tokoroa Blades Track & Field Club Official of the Year: Taki Bates Secondary School Contribution to Sport: Courtney Duncan Emerging Talent: Andrew Syme