Ōhaupō powerless
An equipment failure north of Ōhaupō is being cited by Waipa Networks as the reason behind a power cut which left parts of the village without electricity power for several hours on Monday afternoon. Power was out for about four hours from just after 2pm until 6pm, with the northern end of Great South Rd most affected.
Councillors against
Mike Pettit
Roger Gordon
Philip Coles
Mike Pettit, Roger Gordon and Philip Coles – all Waipā district Cambridge representatives – voted against funding for the i-Sites in Te Awamutu and Cambridge being slashed by $314,000.
The in favour votes at the council’s Service Delivery committee last year by the mayor, deputy mayor and other councillors effectively means the i-Sites will close on July 1 unless alternative funding can be found.
The News requested details of the vote under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA). See: i-Site futures debated.
i-Site Visitor Information, Te Awamutu.
Club competition
There will be more action on the water at Karāpiro from Saturday to Monday as the venue hosts the North Island rowing championships – the first major regatta of the New Year.
Work underway
Simeon Brown
Transport minister Simeon Brown, local MPs and mayors will be at Piarere tomorrow (Thursday) to celebrate the start of work on a roundabout at the SH1 and SH29 intersection.
Downer NZ was awarded the contract and began minor works last month, following a blessing of the site with mana whenua – Ngaati Koroki Kahukura, Ngaati Hauaa Iwi Trust and Raukawa.
More than 20,000 vehicles travel through the intersection daily.
App uptake
The new Cambridge News and Te Awamutu News apps have undergone subtle tweaks – more photos, links to previous stories, property listings, jobs and funeral notices. The apps can be downloaded in both Android’s Google Play and Apple’s App Store.
Crafty holiday
Over 130 craft stalls from around the country and a mid-morning organ recital will feature at Monday’s St Andrew’s Craft Fair. The 9am to 2pm event will see four St Andrew’s musicians perform in the 10.15am Organ Concert.
No from council
Ken Morris
Waipā council will not release – yet – a long term plan spreadsheet elected members used during a lengthy workshop last month to consider whether to continue funding key projects.
The News requested it under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act but while the workshop itself was open, deputy chief executive Ken Morris says the spreadsheet is withheld to “maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions.”
New loo
Work on a new toilet facility started this week at the Leamington Cemetery and the Wordsworth dog exercise park. The work is part of the first stage of Waipā’s Cemetery Concept Plan and is expected to take two weeks. New car parks will also be added over the next year.
Leamington Cemetery
