WAITOMO District Mayor John Robertson takes the oath from new councillor Eady Manawaiti.
THE new Waitomo District Councillors were sworn in at a brief ceremony at the council chambers on Tuesday, before heading for a welcome at Te Kūiti Pā. The council includes re-elected mayor John Robertson, Allan Goddard who was appointed new deputy mayor and councillor Janene New from the previous council. New councillors include Janette Osborne, Gavin Todd, Eady Manawaiti and Dan Tasker. “It is a time of change and it’s really important we work together as a team,” CE Ben Smit said. “I’m looking forward to lively debate and questions to help support you to make the best decisions for the community.” Ben took John’s oath of office and conferred upon him the mayoral chain. John took the councillors oaths. Councillors voted the first ordinary meeting will be held November 29. John Robertson said typically the WDC met on the last Tuesday of every month. A schedule of meetings will be presented for consideration at that meeting. “It is a very challenging and busy time for local government not only because there is a complete review going on by central government of what local government is to do,” John said. “We are just a sub-set of central government, so we do as we are told by central government through Parliament through legislation. “So we have got all that on our plate as to what is the future of local government.” Waitomo District Council also had the task of attending to an estimated $15 million worth of road damage dating from the February 12 storm. Nearing completion is the $9 million North King Country Indoor Sports Stadium and recreation centre. That was expected to be completed in a month’s time and be opened in January 2023. “We are in the process of going through to look at who the operator will be, so that will come back to council,” he said. The council was also embarking on a major upgrade and reconfiguration of its underground pipe networks and storage of drinking water. It was at a very early stage and design work was yet to be done. The project was currently estimated at about $9 million. The WDC was reviewing the Vibrant Safe Waitomo plan to bring in more focus and some clear deliverables in that. “We are one player in what is a regional contract there,” he said. There was also the Three Waters Better Off funding, which the council expected to be more than $3 million. The council was also looking at establishing business plans for the holiday parks, and the landfill. That work was underway by the chief executive and team. The council was working with Kainga Ora with a view to releasing some council land for housing, John said. The council also had work with the Crown settlement obligations with Maniapoto iwi. While most of the settlement was between the Crown and iwi, the council was involved with the future sharing of governance/guardianship of Motakiora/Brook Park, he said. Ruapehu District Council was sworn in yesterday in Taumarunui. Ōtorohanga District Council’s oath taking will be on November 1. Mayor Max Baxter announced this week that Kāwhia/Tihiroa ward councillor Annette Williams will be deputy mayor.
