Staying connected and catching up

By Mayor James Denyer

Connection It’s something we ’ ve all missed and craved in recent times: being able to see friends and whānau, and attending special occasions and social events

I’m sure many are with me when I say there’s only so much digital connection one can take

So, as we begin 2023, I look forward positively and expectantly to the year ahead, buoyed by what I experienced over the summer break

Despite the mixed bag of weather, my family and I loved the freedom to be able to fill our holidays with all our favourite things to do

Whether visiting treasured or new places, cooling off at the beach or nearest swimming hole or soaking up the good vibes of concerts, markets and fairs, our district really is awesome at this time of year

And everywhere we went, there was a real buzz in our community A renewed confidence and energy to make up for lost time

People are living in the moment and enjoying what’s in front of them and around them Friends and whānau are reconnecting, and much-loved summer concerts and A&P shows are back on the summer programme

Council is similarly catching up with mahi that has been put on hold either directly because of Covid-19 restrictions or the resulting supply chain issues I look forward to seeing preliminary works getting started on the Ōmokoroa intersection This intersection will unlock critical housing supply for the region by solving the existing safety and capacity issues at the intersection Once completed, more than 900 new homes will be built by 2029 - including a mix of standalone homes, affordable homes and medium-density housing

The opening of the 89-hectare Waitekohekohe Reserve near Katikati is also on the plans Dedicated to horse riding, mountain biking and walking, the development of the reserve is the result of Council and community working together following our Long Term Plan 2021-31

We’ll be ticking off some long-awaited road rehabs to help keep our local roads safe for everyone who uses them

The completion of our three star-gazing platforms at Waihī Beach along the trig trails will be done in time for Matariki – strengthening our relationships with tangata whenua and helping our communities celebrate the importance of Matariki for years to come

Which is why I want to build on this momentum by connecting, and staying in touch, with you, our communities

Because often it is the casual conversations, on the street or at such events I’ve mentioned above, that are just as important – if not more beneficial than Council’s traditional methods

So, in 2023 I want to be, and will be, connected with our district more

We’ve got a big year ahead of us with some big conversations to be had We will be continuing our Your Place Tō wāhi (District Plan Review) kōrero –working with you to prioritise what’s important as we embark on a new journey to plan for change and growth We’ll also be exploring what the next chapter in our waste minimisation story looks like

And so, whether a current or future resident, a business operator, a community group or mana whenua, your aspirations are important and we want to hear from you at certain times along the way

Only by staying connected and working collaboratively – Council and community together – can we deliver real benefits for the Western Bay now and into the future

So, I encourage you to take part May 2023 be fantastic for you, and let’s see what great outcomes we can achieve together

McGillivray to take over, and I think getting Barbara on board was perhaps my best achievement as a trustee

“One of my last tasks as Treasurer was to pay the final invoices in early 2015 for the new kōhanga (nest) designed by Basil Graeme Having our own permanent ‘home’ on site was a huge step forward for the project

“The changes in our now 500-hectare project area have been significant and pioneering within our region Like many other similar projects throughout the country, we have demonstrated that it is possible to reverse the catastrophic damage suffered by most of our indigenous forests, which due to the depredations of rats, possums and stoats, no longer adequately protect our critical watersheds and waterways We can expect that continuing ‘elephant in the room ’ – climate change – will reinforce the need for much more pragmatic pest control, including browsing animals like deer and goats over much larger such areas If only we could generate the necessary political will!

“We truly have “brought back (at least some of ) the birds” But our achievement is minuscule in scale, and precarious Restoring the biodiverse health of all these forests, including the huge quantities of fixed carbon involved, remains a monumental challenge of our Anthropocene era

“I have truly enjoyed being involved with the project, and I am confident that, in retiring from the trust in 2022, I am leaving it in strong and competent hands ” Article supplied