Councillors on district tour

AN EXTENSIVE two-day fact-finding tour of the Manawatu District, from Himatangi Beach to Rangiwahia, was undertaken by Mayor Ian McKelvie and Manawatu District councillors this week.


Accompanied by the council’s Chief Executive, Rod Titcombe, and a number of council managers, the councillors toured the southern reaches on Monday and through the northern half on Tuesday.


Rongotea, Sanson, Apiti, Pohangina and Bunnythorpe were other townships on the itinerary, as were Kitchener Park, Putai Ngahere Reserve (Vinegar Hill) and Totara Reserve Regional Park. The sewage treatment plants at Feilding and Longburn were visited and the Reids Line Spillway near Feilding.


Mr Titcombe said the district tour, which had become a regular fixture since its introduction in the early 1990s, was important for new councillors to get to know the district.


“It gives them the opportunity to learn about the various projects and programmes that are underway and has added value at this time of the year in giving councillors background information prior to considerations around the Annual Plan.”


He said councillors represented different parts of the district and the tour provided them with the chance to become familiar with areas they did not know.


New councillor, Alison Short, agreed and said the tour had been informative, particularly in regard to the south, an area in which she was not too familiar.


“I’ve learned a lot about what’s going on in the district and now know when there are discussions on certain projects and roads where they are located.”


She was also taken at the size of the towns, especially Himatangi Beach, which was bigger than what she had anticipated.


Second-term councillor, John Salmon, said it was important that councillors viewed first-hand some of the works discussed around the council table and to see what progress was being made.


“It also gives us the opportunity to discuss some of the anticipated projects that we will have to face.”

He was particularly interested in the proposed Himatangi Beach sewage scheme which had drawn many opinions from residents and councillors alike.


Mr Salmon also commented on how dry the district had become and that a “good dose of rain” was desperately needed.


“Conditions are critical and if we don’t get something soon then we’re in for a real drought,” he said.