The submission period for residents and ratepayers to have their say on the 2011/12 Draft Annual Plan closed on 6 May 2011 along with the Proposals for:
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Library Buildings options
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Waihi Swimming Pool operation options
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Review of Gambling Policy
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Fees and charges review.
The Council received a total of 736 submissions on the Draft Annual Plan, 707 of which were related to the Home of Cycling velodrome in Cambridge. Submissions received on the other proposals were:
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Library Buildings – 51 submissions
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Waihi Swimming Pool operation – 17 submissions
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Review of Gambling Policy – 13 submissions
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Fees and charges review – 1 submission
In order to take into account the public’s suggestions, Council had a two-day meeting to hear those people who chose to speak in support of their submission, and to discuss the issues raised by all of the submitters. Following the review of all submissions, decisions were made regarding the separate proposals. More information on the decisions made by the Council follows.
Go Waihi and
Positive Paeroa Funding
$8,350 was included in the budget for the year to allow for a one-off payment to Go Waihi for new street flags for the town. In a similar fashion, Positive Paeroa’s funding allocation was increased by $2,872 to contribute towards new street flags for Paeroa.
Home of Cycling
The Council showed its support of the Home of Cycling velodrome project by endorsing the Waikato Regional Council flat regional rate of $3.11 per rateable property for a period of three years.
District Library
Buildings
The major interest from submitters was in the suggested locations of the
proposed Waihi and Paeroa libraries. The Paeroa Library was proposed to
be built at 5 Mackay Street, Paeroa and the Waihi Library was proposed
to be built at 40 Rosemont Road in Waihi. Two submissions were received
regarding a different location for the Paeroa Library, which had become
available after the Statement of Proposal was released. The Councillors
considered this to be a possibility as a location for a library, and
asked for staff to report back on the suitability and economic effect of
using the different location as a library. Other concerns were raised by
submitters, mainly concerning the proposed Waihi Library building. The
Council discussed the many concerns raised, particularly those relating
to the safety of the proposed location, the proximity to the town centre
and parking allowances. These discussions resulted in agreement by the
Councillors to go with the most cost-effective solution and build a new
library in Waihi at 40 Rosemont Road. The Council believes that the
majority of the Waihi community support development and would like to
see a new library built for their community. This will provide a new
library in Waihi designed for the purpose of a library and will allow
for advances in technology. The cost of building a new library in Waihi
will be an additional $9 per rateable property per year.
Waihi Community Swimming Pool
The majority of submitters to the Waihi Community Pool proposal
supported renewing the lease for either 14 years or 12 months. The
topics raised in submissions from the public were:
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Public and college time allocated
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Pool facilities and grounds
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Cost to the ratepayer
The Council agreed with many submitters that the provision of a pool to the public in Waihi is important. At an additional cost of $42.80 per rateable Waihi Ward property a year, the Council believes that the facilities will benefit community well-being. To provide good facilities and amenities to the public, the Council considered that the 14 year commitment should be made, and therefore resolved to renew the lease. This means that there will be a heated community swimming pool available for Waihi residents’ enjoyment over the summer months for at least another 14 years.
Fees and Charges
Review
The Council received one submission on the Fees and Charges review,
resulting in a change made to the definitions of the vehicle/user type
and quantity of refuse for disposal in the fees and charges schedule.
There were also some minor administrative changes made to the Fees and
Charges schedule.
View the
Fees and Charges schedule.
Council retains sinking lid ‘Pokie Machine’ Policy
Having received support from the community for its
“sinking lid” and capping approach Council has retained this in the
Class 4 Gambling Venue and NZ Racing Board Gambling Venue Policy 2011.gif){kind=small}
(40KB).
What this means is that as pokie machines and venues are surrendered they will not be replaced until there are fewer venues and machines than the cap. The effect of this since 2004 has been a gradual reduction of venues and machines within the Hauraki District.
Council received 13 submissions, of which 4 submitters asked to be heard in support of their submission. The Hearing of Submissions took place in Paeroa on 25 and 26 May 2011. As a result of the submissions received Council made a number of amendments to the proposed draft policy before adopting it.
These decisions did not affect the ‘sinking lid’ approach however it made clarifications for venue holders and applicants on their eligibility in certain scenarios. The amendments also took away a number of the criteria for considering applications as they were beyond the legislated role of Council and are provided for in the Gambling Act. Lastly a ‘club merging’ clause was included, amending the previous ‘venue merging’ clause for clarification.
Council’s new 2011 policy replaces the 2007 Hauraki District Council policy and revokes the Franklin District Council policy which applied to Kaiaua only. This now allows the Districts pokie machines consent process to be governed under one policy only.
If you have any questions or queries on this process or the policy please contact Council and ask for Mark Buttimore or Katy Hurd.
The following documents were adopted by the Council on 15 June 2011 and will come into effect on 1 July 2011.
Copies will also be available from 1 July 2011 at any Council office or library.