Cambridge Community board member, Andrew Myers, (left) – who represents rural constituents – chats with Kaipaki residents Michael and Lesley Brighouse during the community board’s rural tour stop at Kaipaki Settlers Hall on Saturday.
Speeds on rural roads and Cambridge’s growing urban population were the hot topics as Cambridge Community Board kicked off its 2023 rural tour on Saturday.
After the tour’s first day – having made stops at Kaipaki, Monavale, Fencourt and Te Miro halls – board member Andrew Myers, who represents rural constituents, said discussions had been full of “good feedback” to reflect on.
The News was present at Saturday’s first stop, at Kaipaki Settlers Hall, and alongside Myers – ready to listen to the public – were deputy Mayor Liz Stolwyk, Cambridge Community Board chair Jo Davies-Colley, Waipā councillor and community board member Philip Coles the council’s group manager district growth and regulatory services, Wayne Allan, service delivery group manager Dawn Inglis and group manager of strategy, Kirsty Downey.
Kaipaki Settlers Hall Association chair John Parker discussing the cricket ground during the community board’s rural tour.
With Fieldays on the horizon, there were discussions around traffic movements – sometimes at high speeds – on rural roads in and around Kaipaki.
Kaipaki Settlers Hall Association chair John Parker – a former New Zealand cricket international – also gave a brief update on work – and cricket games – which are held at the oval next to the hall.
In Fencourt, Meyers said he and the council representatives were delighted to hear from Don Heaslip, who has a long association with the hall.
The second – and final – rural tour day is on Saturday, with stops at Whitehall, Roto-o-Rangi, Maungatautari and Horahora halls.
Mayor Susan O’Regan will attend.
Myers urged the public to come along.
“It was great to see the public coming to see us, and attendance last weekend was on par with what we’d normally expect,” Myers said.
“Looking ahead to this weekend, I’d encourage people to make use of this opportunity. We want to hear the issues which matter to you, and the rural tour provides a relatively rare opportunity to get to meet one on one to discuss them.”
