Cut staff and turn to service organisations for help.
Ange Holt
That’s the message Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board chair Ange Holt took to Waipā District Council as it considered its Enhanced Annual Plan.
“Based on community feedback we believe that the average rate rise of 14.8 per cent is unsustainable and too much for many of our community to bare,” Holt said in a submission. “We would prefer to see it trimmed further and sit an average of between 10 per cent and 12 per cent.”
Holt told the council to cut operational expenses by reducing staff, consultancy costs and service levels, except for roading. She also asked for the council to defer growth plans and lobby central government for more support.
She pleaded for the council to go easy on the board’s discretionary funding before sharing a list of projects she would like to see the board lead with service organisations such as Rotary and Lions.
- Move Te Awamutu War Memorial Park Perfumed Garden to enable better access to the pathway.
- Provide adult fitness equipment at a couple of parks.
- Clean up Te Awamutu War Memorial Park lake to improve water quality.
- Re-establish a gravelled walkway beside Te Awamutu College rugby fields and Te Wananga o Aotearoa between Eileen Montiforte and Fonterra.
- Provide furniture, trees and fix the gate at the new dog park in Pekarau Park.
