Off line…
Wonky Fort St lines
New centre line markings in Cambridge’s Fort Street will be removed and repainted after residents noticed they were not straight. Council contractors finished the new road layout last week to formalise 37 parking spaces to enable swifter trips by ambulances. Informal parking was delaying ambulance response times but the wonky centre line was not part of the parking plan.
Web numbers
The Cambridge News online story about drugs and money being seized from a local address nabbed first place in page views last month. Our digital presence continues to soar helped by breaking news and the Cambridge App revealing who all the candidates were in local body elections across the district and region.
The home page was second followed by our ever popular News in Brief. Five councils taking the water plunge was fourth with news Te Huia train would be running on Sundays rounding out the top five.
Conference expenses
Waipa attendees at conference
Waipā attendees at the Local Government Conference in Christchurch last month claimed $852.70 in expenses – thought to be incidental expenses such as airport transport and food – to add to the just over $17,000 it cost to fly eight people south and put them up in a hotel.
See: Conference costs revealed
Paper no more
The Cambridge Edition newspaper, owned by Stuff, is no more. Its last paper was published last week – less than six months after the demise of the NZME owned Te Awamutu Courier. Good Local Media independent publications Cambridge News, Te Awamutu News and King Country News now stand as the only free print products serving those communities.
Residents survey
There is no sight of Waipā District Council’s annual residents’ survey – usually published in June – and when The News went to press the council’s communications team had not responded to a request made last Thursday for a copy. The survey reports on residents’ satisfaction with council services, leadership, financial management and value for money.
Business news
There has been a berm blitz in the streets around Waikato University without any warning… and students saw red after they were fined $70 each for parking on berms. The tickets were refunded just as Waikato Business News went to press. Plus, we have Nanaia Mahuta reflecting on her final years in Parliament. Read more online goodlocal.nz
Drivers have taken to parking their cars vertically on the berms in May Street. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Official requests
Waipā District Council processed 199 Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (Lgoima) in the six months ended June 30. The first on January 4 was for information on a noise complaint and the last on June 29 was for property files and all related council correspondence. Media enquiries, many of which are usually answered by communications’ staff, numbered 45.
Domain plan
Lake Karapiro
The revised Karāpiro Domain Reserve Management Plan and Masterplan will go out for public consultation . It received 27 submissions, 20 social media comments and eight social pinpoint comments covering a wide range of subjects. Submissions will be heard next March.
Dozen in the race
Twelve candidates will vie for Hamilton’s mayoralty including current councillors Tim Macindoe and Sarah Thomson. A total of 52 candidates have put their names forward for election in the east, west and Kirkiriroa Māori wards including Cambridge resident Andrew Bydder and former Labour Party MPs Sue Moroney and Jamie Strange. Absent from the list for the first time in years is Kiwi Air founder Ewan Wilson.
Project goes ahead
Katie Mayes – Waipa District Council Cambridge Connections reset. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The $300,000 Cambridge Connections moving forward together project implementation plan was approved by Waipā District Council’s Strategic Planning and Policy committee this week. The project will develop a 30-year plan of transport services and infrastructure to support growth and deliver on the community’s aspirations. Half the money will be spent on external communications resources such as graphic design and engagement materials.
Hotel reopens
Clements Hotel
Cameron Kellow
Following a multi-million-dollar transformation of the town’s original 1866 beaux-arts Masonic Hotel, the 29-room Clements Hotel in Duke Street (named after Archibald Clements), has opened.
Seasoned hospitality leader Cameron Kellow from Scotland will manage the hotel for Capstone Hotel Management.
Cleaning up
Aroha Cambridge, a group of passionate residents dedicated to environmental restoration and biodiversity enhancement, has teamed up with Waipā council for a community-led environmental restoration project to transform 1.4 hectares of land between Payne Park and the Te Awa River Ride. Invasive weeds will be removed and native species planted.
Aroha Cambridge trustee Di Tocker, Waipā District Council park operations team leader Matt Johnston and Aroha Cambridge trustee Peter Russell.
Road reopens
SH1B Telephone Road has reopened
The rail crossing on State Highway 1B Telephone Road, east of Hamilton – once considered one of the most dangerous in New Zealand, has reopened, more than three years after it was closed. The installation included new signals and barriers at the rail crossing and additional warning signs for approaching trains.
Extend trial
The 90-minute Cambridge central district parking trial in Victoria, Duke, Empire and Commerce streets is six months in and the council wants to know whether it is working. To find out staff issued a media release after The News went to press last week through its social media platforms.
Love story
David Farrell
Cambridge author David Farrell’s new love story about life in South Africa in 1995 after the Rugby World Cup has been published. My African Rose features newlyweds Rose and Rorke trading corporate life for a new dusty tavern south of Johannesburg.
