Council News

New water bore for Soldiers Memorial Park

You may soon notice some work taking place around Greytown’s Soldiers Memorial Park. A water bore based at the Memorial Pool carpark, which is the town’s key water source, has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced.

Our water services provider, Wellington Water, is consulting with the community, sports groups, mana whenua and other stakeholders on its plan to replace the bore this winter. Currently the bore, pump and treatment chemicals are housed in containers in the pool carpark. Of the five options for a new location, the

Keeping things tidy

Fallen leaves and autumn rain can be pretty but dangerous for those with accessibility issues. During the last Long-term Plan process, urban residents voted to mow their own berms and save Council the expense. Over a year has now gone past and most residents have been playing their part.

We thank you for doing your bit and, as we head into autumn, ask you to remember that our footpaths are also important. For anyone pushing a pram, using a walking stick or driving a mobility scooter, fallen fruit and leaves can be slippery and branches hard to dodge. Please consider cleaning up footpaths and drains outside your homes and pruning overhanging branches to keep pedestrians safe. Your neighbours will thank you for keeping an eye on your berm and footpath.

Notice Of Meetings

Meeting agendas are available for inspection at least two days before the meeting at the district libraries, Council offices and at www.swdc.govt.nz preference by far is to fence off a corner of the pool area and put the bore equipment inside. It will take up a 3m by 6m area near the toddler pool and will be fully secure. This will not affect the existing BBQ and covered grass areas of the pool. This project will be beneficial on a number of fronts - first and foremost, it will increase the resilience of Greytown’s drinking water supply. It will also improve the look of the carpark and free up some space.

It will also mean the container for chemical treatment can be relocated around the side of the pool. The building housing the existing bore will

Street recycling

Recently our mixed rubbish and recycling street bins came under media scrutiny around Councils sending street recycling to the landfill. This is not to be confused with kerbside recycling, which we can assure you goes directly to the Masterton Recycling Centre. Our street recycling does not currently get sorted because of a high degree (70%) of contamination. We want to be in a position where the collectors can sort it safely, without having to worry about broken glass, soiled nappies or dirty food packaging. Please help us to ensure these don’t end up going to landfill by ensuring the correct items are put in the right bins. Contamination is also an issue for kerbside recycling (around 40%). So come on South Wairarapa –we can do better!

Meet Amanda

Do you have a position that needs filling or are you looking for a job for yourself? Amanda Cuff, our Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) co-ordinator would love to meet you. Amanda holds pop-in sessions around our district to connect job seekers with employers. She supports people getting into jobs, apprenticeships and training.

Every Tuesday 9am to 12pm, job seekers and business be reassessed once the new system is operating. Before work begins, information will be made available in libraries and via a letter from Wellington Water to local residents.

Out and about

Our Amenities team has been busy improving our public spaces. New facilities include:

• Martinborough Waihinga Centre playground – After a long wait for supplies to arrive, a replacement rope climbing frame has been installed.

• Greytown, corner of Humphries St and West St – A new seat, courtesy of the last Greytown Community Board.

• Lights at Featherston playground –Replacement bulbs have arrived and are being installed.

• Repainting of Featherston pool –Council provided the paint and volunteers have given the pool a snazzy new paint job.

The pool carpark will be closed during construction, but users will still be able to use the Kuratawhiti Street side of the park. Vehicle access to the clubrooms will be limited.

Flood Mapping

Wellington Water and Greater Wellington are planning to actively involve South Wairarapa communities in some vital regional flood mapping projects. Wellington Water has completed complex flood modelling in Martinborough, Greytown and Featherston. Beginning with Featherston, they will be asking the community for insight and observations to validate their models. The work focuses on how water flows above ground in urban areas.

Greater Wellington Regional Council is also completing flood modelling in the region over the coming 18 months. While there are similarities, Greater Wellington’s work is focussed on mapping rivers and waterways. They will also be asking Featherston residents for their insights for data validation, such as photos and observations. With this in mind, both organisations will join forces to run engagement sessions later this year where the community will be able to find out more about these important projects.

Public participation is welcome. If you wish to speak during the public participation session at any of the below meetings, please phone 06 306 9611 at least 24 hours prior to the meeting or email enquiries@swdc.govt.nz

Please note space is limited in the Pūtahi Room; virtual public participation is available via Zoom. Masks are available for those in attendance. If you have cold and flu symptoms, please stay at home.

The meetings will be livestreamed on our YouTube Channel, where possible. Community Boards have agreed to use a variety of formats to engage locally. These opportunities will be promoted via social media and your local free newsletters.

April Meetings

COUNCIL

Wednesday, 26 April at 9am. Supper Room, Waihinga Centre, Texas Street, Martinborough

MĀORI STANDING COMMITTEE

Thursday, 27 April at 6pm. Supper Room, Waihinga Centre, Texas Street, Martinborough

May Meetings

GREYTOWN COMMUNITY BOARD

Wednesday, 3 May at 7pm. Greytown WBS Room, Greytown Town Centre, Main St, Greytown

MARTINBOROUGH COMMUNITY BOARD

Thursday, 4 May at 7pm. Supper Room, Waihinga Centre, Texas Street, Martinborough

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Wednesday, 3 May at 10am. Pūtahi Room, SWDC Office, Kitchener Street, Martinborough

ASSURANCE AND RISK COMMITTEE

Wednesday, 3 May at 12:30pm. Pūtahi Room, SWDC Office, Kitchener Street, Martinborough managers have the opportunity to meet with the team of MTFJ coordinators at the Featherston Community Centre, and often at the Featherston Library on a Wednesday. As there are so many good places to connect in South Wairarapa, Amanda will be more mobile around our three villages. Look out for all dates and times on our website and Facebook page. If you would like to contact Amanda, email amanda.cuff@swdc.govt.nz

Flood mapping is a strategic decision-making tool which can be used not only by Greater Wellington, Wellington Water and the Council but also by the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) and other government agencies. It will help increase our understanding of flood prone areas and enable decisions to be made on long term solutions, help identify where capital needs to be spent and inform the 30-year Featherston Masterplan.

CEO EMPLOYMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE

Thursday, 11 May at 10am. Supper Room, Waihinga Centre, Texas Street, Martinborough

FEATHERSTON COMMUNITY BOARD

Ordinary Meeting:

Wednesday, 17 May at 7pm Featherston Community Centre, Wakefield Street, Featherston

Harry Wilson CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER