Hastings District Council and Hawke's Bay Regional Council Expo

As part of the consultation of their Ten Year Plans, Hastings District Council and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council have joined forces to host Expo 2009.

Expo 2009, on this Friday from 12noon to 6pm and Saturday from 9am until 3pm, has a theme of “Working Towards Our Future” and explains how the organisations are planning for the long-term prosperity of Hastings.

Held at the Hastings Sports Centre, on Railway Rd, Expo 2009 outlines the proposals in the councils’ Ten Year Plans, to inform residents and encourage them to take part in the submission process.

Expo is a chance for residents to talk face-to-face with councillors and council staff at more than 30 booths.

Staff have enthusiastically taken on the challenge of designing not only informative but fun and interactive displays.

Expo caters for young and old - featuring a six-foot rubbish bin attendees can “shoot hoops” into, a “hillbilly house” showing how to future-proof your home, graffiti portraits of council leaders, a Nintendo Wii play area, a Civil Defence “shaky house”, a 2011 Rugby World Cup football field and lots of giveaways.

Expo delves into the hot issues facing the district; the future of the Heretaunga Plains, coastal protection, urban development, community safety, refuse, water allocation, air quality, tourism facilities, the Regional Sports Park, graffiti and litter, public transport, youth facilities, footpaths, playgrounds and public toilets.

Attendees can enter competitions with prizes on offer including printers, Splash Planet gift packs, an I-pod, grocery vouchers, $500 of office products – plus a free sausage sizzle.

Thanks to our sponsors Bay Canon, Office Max, Rush Munros and Alsco.

So come to Expo 2009 and have your say on what you think the future of Hastings should look like.