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12 June 2006

MAYOR'S COLUMN
WANGANUI CHRONICLE

WE CAN'TAFFORD TO STAND STILL

First, the bad news. Wanganui’s population is not growing. For the third straight Census, our district has leaked people north, south, east and west (to Australia).

The good news is that the decline is much less than the previous ten years and that the number of rateable residences is marginally larger. But we need to face the reality that along with our nearest neighbours – south Taranaki, Ruapehu and Rangitikei – we are not regarded by the rest of New Zealand as a desirable location.

There are a number of reasons as to why. First, the weather. Second, the lack of a top tier tertiary institution and regional head offices. Third, a past civic content that it doesn’t matter anyhow. We’re fine as we are.

The truth is: we aren’t. A declining and ageing population base means that we aren’t attracting the brightest and best, nor enough families and entrepreneurs.

All generate resources, jobs and wealth and that is why this council is so keen on economic development, events and promotion.

We must arrest the perception of the rest of the country that we are a sleepy, provincial backwater. In other words, we must not go quietly into the night.

Part of this council’s plan is to improve the quality of life for people who are already here. After all, the best advertisement for a city is its own citizens. Residents who feel and speak positively of their district. But they must live within a community that has a full range of amenities that makes them truly appreciate their daily experience.

For that reason, this council has decided that we cannot simply haul in the sails and batten the hatches just because our civic debt is higher than we would like it.

Last week’s Ten Year Plan (LTCCP) deliberations set a peak debt of $70 million in 2008/9, declining to $64 million by 2014/15. That includes both compensation for inflation and the $6 million blow-out in the stormwater/wastewater project.

We’ve also managed to keep rates under control – for the next financial year and the nine years after that, we’re predicting a rates increase of only 3% per annum. The lowest in New Zealand.

But the key part of the plan is to create new amenities that will improve the quality of life for all Wanganui residents – whether young or old, wealthy or not.

That is why the council struck such a fine balance on Tuesday, with its Ten Year Plan deliberations. A 3% rates increase (under the rare of inflation) but also funding commitments for the Splash Centre extension, the Whanganui River Road, the riverfront development (between the Town Bridge and the ‘Waimarie’) and the construction of the Upokongaro jetty.

QUESTIONS
Laurel Stowell of Papaiti asks:
Have the needs of the river traders' market been taken into account in the riverbank development project?
Not specifically. The development is for all of Wanganui, not simply the commercial traders. Whether their weekend market continues to be located in that area will depend upon negotiation with the interested parties. I would think that both walkway and market complement each other.

Esther Williams, Tower Cres:
Does the Council have a tree policy and if so, what is it?
We do have one but it is currently under review. The demands of central government – particularly of the 2003 electricity line regulations – have required us to chop and prune many fine trees. Too many, in my opinion. But we have no option: that is the law.

ENDS