Pohangina group encouraged

PROJECT Pohangina supporters are being encouraged to continue their work on a community initiative to best develop the Pohangina Valley.


Manawatu District Mayor, Ian McKelvie, said some of the ideas advanced by the Pohangina Valley Community Development Group were good and he hoped members had the energy to pursue the issue as far as the Long Term Council Community Plan and District Plan reviews.


Mr McKelvie was speaking after Project Pohangina Co-ordinator, John Brock, and group members, presented an update on the initiative to a recent council workshop.


“The group has certainly signalled its relevance to the Pohangina Valley and the Manawatu District and some really good work has been done, but it could be tested if funding was required. I encourage the group to keep it going so it can reach those LTCCP and District Plan milestones.”


Project Pohangina was initiated in 2004 to identify desired community outcomes for the Pohangina Valley - recognised regionally and nationally as an area of “outstanding landscape quality”- and during the next three years a community plan was developed.


Seven community outcomes `were identified comprising well maintained community resources, a cared-for environment, improved services, recreational opportunities, viable livelihoods, a strong community and better regulations.


Mr Brock said even though nothing in detail had been presented it was important that council knew how the group felt and its commitment on taking the process further.


“That was the main thing we were after,” he said. “We are not going to get answers directly because it is going to take time, but we wanted to see how we could mesh in with council and move the project on.”


Mr Brock said the group needed to decide on its own priorities and how it could best handle them in the future.