The Cambridge Community Board has had a busy start to the year. We have begun planning the town’s popular Anzac commemorative services. With the Town Hall’s renovations well underway, we are planning service options for both inside and outside on the piazza. The commemoration concert the night before is a popular event with the Cambridge Brass Band always putting on an amazing show.
Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day has been observed in Waipā in recent days and in Cambridge RSA president Tony Hill, left, and Cambridge Community Board chair Jo Davies-Colley were pictured during a service at the Cenotaph on Monday.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of our sister city relationship with Le Quesnoy, the small town in northern France liberated by Kiwi troops in 1918. A small delegation from Cambridge is attending commemorative services there on Anzac Day. I would encourage all Cambridge residents to learn more about the battle and liberation of Le Quesnoy and the strong military connection it has with Cambridge. It’s a fascinating tale of bravery and Kiwi ingenuity.
Over the past few weeks, I have attended council workshops on water services delivery. Under the Government’s Local Water Done Well legislation, all councils across New Zealand are required to produce a water services delivery plan by September.
Water Done Well. Photo: pexels.com
There is a critical decision ahead on how Waipā’s water services will be delivered, and it has been valuable to be involved in the discussions. Council has indicated that in the future, a single Waikato wide Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) would likely be formed to provide all water services. A larger scale entity could provide greater benefits to residents but cannot be achieved in the short term. At the workshops, councillors considered information on joining two possible local water entity options, a sub-regional option with Hamilton City and Waikato District Council or a regional option known as Waikato Water Done Well. If Waipā DC joined the Sub-Regional CCO, this would include three of the largest Waikato council populations, all growth councils. If they joined the regional option, a model with a wider rural and provincial focus, this would likely provide a great operational model, workforce, civil contractor and relationship benefits across the shareholding councils.
After a lot of discussion, councillors gave a strong indication the regional option was their preferred one. It was encouraging to see the councillors and staff discuss at length the option that would benefit the residents of Waipā the most and would give them the best outcomes in terms of water delivery and quality. Council made a formal decision on its preferred option yesterday.
Council will soon ask the community our thoughts on both the preferred option and the status quo, and information will be provided on the impacts of proceeding or not proceeding with the proposal, potential impact on rates, debt, levels of services and any charges for water services.
This is one of the biggest decisions council will make for the future of Waipā and how our water is delivered, please give your feedback.
Our next meeting will be on March 19 at 6pm in the room behind the Cambridge Library. All are welcome.
Jo Davies-Colley speaking at the Anzac Day commemorations. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
