Noel Smith Councillor - Newcastle Ward

Community Organisation

Noel Smith Councillor - Newcastle Ward
1355 days ago

Have your say on rates, rubbish and pensioner housing

Noel Smith from Noel Smith Councillor - Newcastle Ward

Feedback opens today on Waikato District Council’s consultation document as it looks to prepare the 2021-31 Long Term Plan, which is the district’s plan of attack for the next 10 years.

Feedback can be submitted online (link below), at the drop in session at Te Kowhai Hall on Thursday 22 April… View more
Feedback opens today on Waikato District Council’s consultation document as it looks to prepare the 2021-31 Long Term Plan, which is the district’s plan of attack for the next 10 years.

Feedback can be submitted online (link below), at the drop in session at Te Kowhai Hall on Thursday 22 April 6.30pm-8pm, at Council offices or libraries, or by phoning Council on 0800 492 452.

The plan, which is reviewed and updated every three years, is asking three key questions:
1. what general rate increase option you prefer
2. should Council sell their pensioner housing and
3. should Council continue our inorganic curbside rubbish collection service.

At the same time, Council also asking for feedback on the way they hand out funding, user fees and charges, their development contributions policy and the community hall catchment review.

More detail:
Council are currently proposing a “hard and fast” general rate increase in year 1 of 9% and then 3.5% for year 2 and 3 of the plan. Another option sets the general rate increase at 7% in year 1, 6% in year 2 and 4% in year 3.

The inorganic curbside rubbish collection service has been popular in the Waikato district for a long time, but it is becoming harder and harder to provide this service.

Council have 34 pensioner flats in Tuakau, Huntly and Ngaruawahia. They are proposing to sell these to a dedicated social housing provider.

shape.waikatodistrict.govt.nz...

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2005 days ago

Library services resume

Noel Smith from Noel Smith Councillor - Newcastle Ward

Shared library services for Hamilton and Waikato District residents in the immediate areas around Hamilton will resume next month after an agreement between Hamilton City and Waikato District Councils was approved yesterday.

Hamilton City Council approved the agreement at its 27 June 2019 meeting … View more
Shared library services for Hamilton and Waikato District residents in the immediate areas around Hamilton will resume next month after an agreement between Hamilton City and Waikato District Councils was approved yesterday.

Hamilton City Council approved the agreement at its 27 June 2019 meeting as part of wider discussions about growth issues and collaboration between local councils.

I am particularly pleased that our school aged children will have access in such areas as Whatawhata where computers are not in every home so the library services at Dinsdale will again be accessible to that community.

Overall I believe this is fair value and a good result and an example of both Councils sharing services across local government boundaries.

The library services agreement runs for three years from 1 July, 2019 and Waikato District Council is contributing $199,235 plus GST annually for the service. The agreement covers approximately 8000 Waikato District households in the southern area of Waikato District, a total of around 23,000 people.

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2113 days ago

You are invited to provide input into the community plans

Noel Smith from Noel Smith Councillor - Newcastle Ward

The Waikato District Council came to your town in 2018 to hear what was important to you and what you wanted to see in your community in the future.

We heard lots of great ideas and now we want to hear what your top three priorities for your town are. These priorities will be used by Council when … View more
The Waikato District Council came to your town in 2018 to hear what was important to you and what you wanted to see in your community in the future.

We heard lots of great ideas and now we want to hear what your top three priorities for your town are. These priorities will be used by Council when we make decisions. It’s important to note that just because a project is in the Blueprint, it might not happen straight away, or even at all. If it does happen, the project may not necessarily be Council-funded.

Instead it might be led and funded by other agencies with Council’s support.

It’s important we hear from you, even if we’ve got it right and you have no suggestions.

See the attached PDF for more details.

Have your say by visiting waikatodistrict.govt.nz/blueprints

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Waikato Blueprints LAB Summaries TE KOWHAI FINAL (1).pdf Download View

2267 days ago

We need your thoughts on speed limits

Noel Smith from Noel Smith Councillor - Newcastle Ward

We are looking for feedback on our Proposed Amendments to the Waikato District Council Speed Limits Bylaw 2011.

We are focusing on Te Kowhai, Ngaruawahia, Tamahere, Tuakau and Horsham Downs.

Please go to our website to have a look at the Te Kowhai roads earmarked for a speed limit reduction.

View more
We are looking for feedback on our Proposed Amendments to the Waikato District Council Speed Limits Bylaw 2011.

We are focusing on Te Kowhai, Ngaruawahia, Tamahere, Tuakau and Horsham Downs.

Please go to our website to have a look at the Te Kowhai roads earmarked for a speed limit reduction.

An interactive map will display potentially affected roads and the public will be able to make a submission at www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz...

To encourage conversation around speed on roads, we are also inviting the community to a drop-in session at:

Ngaruawahia Memorial Hall, Thursday 1 November, 3.30pm-7.30pm

Submissions are open now and close on 9 November 2018.

If you would like to present your submission to Council, a Hearing has been scheduled for 12 December 2018.

For more information please call 0800 492 452.

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2315 days ago

Submissions open for Proposed Waikato District Plan

Noel Smith from Noel Smith Councillor - Newcastle Ward

Waikato District Council’s Proposed Waikato District Plan has been notified and the community can now make a submission.

The Proposed Waikato District Plan (Stage 1) establishes the guidelines for future growth and development, including rules for protecting the district’s environment and … View more
Waikato District Council’s Proposed Waikato District Plan has been notified and the community can now make a submission.

The Proposed Waikato District Plan (Stage 1) establishes the guidelines for future growth and development, including rules for protecting the district’s environment and heritage.

The Plan provides a new spatial vision for the future development of our communities and we look forward to receiving submissions from all community interests as we work towards finalising it.

The Plan gives guidance as to what you can do with your land – where you can put your garage and how many storeys your house can be depending on where you live in the district. But it also goes much deeper than that – we’re proud to say that our District Plan also protects our culture and heritage and has innovative ways to encourage development on Maori Freehold Land with papakaainga housing developments etc.

Up until now, the district has had two different sections of the Plans, planning provisions inherited from the old Franklin District Council and one for the rest of the district. With this Proposed Plan, we will be united and have one set of rules and guidelines for what we can do with land and how we manage the environment.

Reviewing the District Plan has been a long process which has involved numerous opportunities for the community to have their say, but the formal process of submissions is now open.

Key changes between the current Operative Plan and the Proposed Plan include:

• The adding of around 60 heritage sites and buildings, along with 16 notable trees to their respective lists. The rules have been amended to provide for ongoing maintenance and care or repair.

• A consistent residential zone and redeveloped village zone, along with three business zones. Additional residential zone areas have also been created in Tuakau, Pokeno, Te Kowhai, Taupiri, Ngaruawahia and Horotiu to allow for growth, along with an additional industrial zoned area in Huntly.

• Under the Taangata Whenua chapter, flexible provisions have been created that give more options for those with Maaori Freehold Land.

All landowners will have received a letter about the Proposed Waikato District Plan that either details the proposed changes to their property or prompts them to view the Plan to see if they would like to make a submission. We encourage everyone to make a submission online, but hard copies of the submission forms are also available from all Council offices, libraries and by phoning us on 0800 492 452 to request one.

Community drop-in sessions will be held in August and September throughout the district.

If you have any questions about the Proposed Waikato District Plan and the possible changes to your property, please drop in:

Te Kowhai Hall
Monday 17 September 11am-7pm
Tuesday 18 September 11am-7pm

If you would like advice on how to make a submission, make an appointment with an independent external expert by phoning 0800 492 452. Sessions with the expert are 30 minutes only and will take place at our drop-in sessions to be held throughout the district.

Lots of information on the Plan and its supporting documents can be found on our website, www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz.... This is also where you can make a submission.

The submission period opened on Wednesday 18 July, 2018 and will close at 5pm on Tuesday 9 October, 2018.

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