Transport change proposed

A plan for the Waikato Regional Council to extend its role to manage public transport outside of Hamilton is up for public debate.

An amendment to its long term plan proposes the council takes rates responsibility for services in Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki and Matamata-Piako districts.

“Our proposal doesn’t just make transport funding more efficient, it gives us the flexibility to deliver better services too,” Cr Denis Tegg said.Rates taken for transport outside of Hamilton are managed by the respective area’s district councils and funnelled to Waikato Regional Council, which pays for public transport in Te Awamutu.

The proposed change will simplify how the public transport rates are handled in these districts.Feedback is open to the end of April and public submissions will be heard by May.

The council is also proposing a 7.8 per cent rate increase for 2022-23 – and a total rates revenue of $121.879 million.

This is an increase of roughly $33 in rates, for a property with a capital value of $890,000.

Both plans are scheduled to be finalized on June 20.

More Recent News

Another show stopper

Waipā’s second Home and Leisure Show has created a raft of new projects and pastimes – from getting the house clean to getting on a bike. The show – the second run by Good Local…

News in brief

Bikes return Bike racks are back in use on Waikato regional bus services from Cambridge, Te Kūiti and Te Awamutu-Kihikihi this week. Tokoroa and Taupō bus services will be ready to go from next month…

Getting attached

Tiny green leaves are the first signs of success from last year’s mistletoe translocation to Mt Pirongia in Waikato. Restoration efforts began at Pirongia in the early 2000s, and since then the Department of Conservation’s…

Fieldays honours Gallagher

Sir William Gallagher has been awarded a National Fieldays Life Membership Sir William has been a part of Fieldays since its inception and played a pivotal role in its foundation. When he attended the first…