Karāpiro contract
Lake Karapiro Domain.
The budget for the Karāpiro Domain management contract was increased by $282,000 in November last year – to reflect the increase in costs – as part of the public excluded section of Waipa District Council’s Finance and Corporate committee.
Details released to The News this week showed GL Events Ltd, owned by deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk and husband Andrew Reymer – who have managed the reserve for 20 years – secured a new $4,247,500 contract for five years.
The contract cost of $849,500 a year – previously $544,223 – included a rights renewal for a further five plus five years.
The level of service had significantly increased and includes costs to service and managing a busy events calendar and site facilities, administrative costs, camping facilities, general maintenance, landscaping, and security, the council said.
Waipa District Council said the current market has also changed since 2018, and the increase reflected the change in minimum wage, cost of supplies, and costs to help deliver safe and successful events.
- The online version of this brief has changed to make it clear the cost was not over budget by $282,000 – the increase was approved by council resolution in public excluded at the November 2023 Finance and Corporate committee meeting.
Accident update
A man is in a stable condition in Waikato Hospital following last week’s crash in Cambridge when three empty parked vehicles were struck in Victoria Street. CCTV footage showed a silver station wagon driving on the wrong side of the road before the crash outside Supercheap Auto and Ma Bakery and Café. Victoria Street between Whitaker and Queen streets was blocked while the Serious Crash Unit examined the scene.
Security steps
A security guard and bag checking protocols were in place at this week’s Waipā District Council Service Development committee for the controversial Cambridge Connections paper and ongoing alleged threats to mayor Susan O’Regan.
Fluoride update
Independent consultants used by the Ministry of Health are no longer working with Waipā District Council on the fluoridation project for Cambridge’s water supply following public service cuts. The council is still working through design and is waiting for the ministry to approve the design and confirm funding. Once done, the council has nine months to add fluoride to the supply.
New name for road
A road in Bridleway Estate to the west of Cambridge which was to be called Hauhake Street – meaning seasonal growing task to harvest crops – will instead be Tangaroa following a “process oversight”.
It turned out there was already a Hauhake in Cambridge, staff told Waipā council’s Service Delivery committee this week.
Names in the subdivision are on the agriculture theme and Tangaroa means “another best lunar time for growing crops”.
3Ms, the Bridleway Estate developers, consulted with Ngāti Koroki Kahukura Trust and Ngāti Hauā Iwi Trust as the mana whenua representatives.
Meanwhile Nukuhau Lane – getting its name from a pā – will become the name for a private road in the Lowe Road development in Rukuhia. Resource consent for the development was granted in March and sees the creation of eight new lots and Nukuhau Lane.
Scottish trip
Peter Nation. Photo: Christine Cornege.
Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation is representing the National Agricultural Fieldays Society at the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth’s biennial conference in Edinburgh from today. He will visit the Royal Highland Show which draws more than 200,000 people over three days every year.
Clock cash
Tick, tock …… Cambridge Town Clock.
The $721,000 restoration of the Cambridge town clock has benefited from a $200,000 Lotteries Environment and Heritage grant following an application from the Waipā District Council. Work on the clock began in January and it is expected to be telling the time by the end of next month.
Rowing lease
The Waikato Rowing Club’s lease on a reserve at Lake Karāpiro – which expired two years ago – was debated at Waipā District Council’s Finance and Corporate committee yesterday with a view to renewing it for five years. Councillors were told iwi feedback was for a shorter lease than the initial proposal of 10 years.
French visit
A delegation will travel at their own cost to Cambridge’s sister city Le Quesnoy in France next year for Anzac Day and to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the relationship. Mayor Susan O’Regan and community board chair Jo Davies-Colley will select the delegation with preference given to people who can strengthen the bonds between the two towns.
Bowls donation
A donation of $1200 has been made to Hato Hone St John by the Central Bowling Club. The donation was presented to Jim Goddin by club treasurer Rodney Sentch. It was raised through two sources – a series of $2 donations made by players who were guilty of a “wrong bias” while playing in tournaments and a donation box on the bar that customers put change into.
Ellison appointed
Shane Ellison (Ngāi Tahu, Te Atiawa, Ngāti Mutunga, and Ngāti Ruanui) has been appointed for a three-year term on the Waipā Networks board. Ellison has over a decade of experience on boards with established governance credentials and his CV includes appointments to the boards of Dunedin International Airport Limited and Auckland Light Rail Limited.
Let’s play
The Leamington Domain playground is due for renewal.
Another $560,571 has been approved for the district’s play spaces renewal and development contract taking it from $5.51 million to $6.112 million. The extra money is needed to maintain the existing playground assets and in line with Waipā councillors’ mandate not to decrease services during the cost of living challenges.
