Cambridge Christmas Parade 2024
Waipā District Council is being urged to engage in deeper community consultation before agreeing to closing roads for Christmas parades.
Cambridge Christmas Parade 2024
The council last week approved several road closures to enable Christmas parades for Saturday, December 6 in Te Awamutu and Sunday, December 7 in Cambridge.
Shane Walsh
But former Te Awamutu Business Chamber chief executive and new Te Awamutu ward councillor Shane Walsh raised concerns at Friday’s council meeting because retailers in the town objected the switch back to a Saturday parade last year because of the potential loss of income. The council received retailer objection to a Sunday parade in Cambridge.
“We aren’t against the Christmas parade,” the letter of objection said. “We are against the timing of the Christmas parade. The road closures absolutely killed retail sales and foot traffic on what should be a key retail day in the lead up to Christmas.”
Cambridge Christmas Parade 2024
The retailer, whose name was redacted by the council, offered to share financials to make their point.
“The past couple of years have been extremely tough trading conditions and the increased costs, rates included, have made it tougher. With some small adjustments to the parade timing and how road closures are done we can all be kept happy.”
Walsh said he had received complaints about the financial impact of last year’s Christmas parade from Te Awamutu retailers.
“If the parade is a Saturday the retailers lose revenue,” Walsh said. “The roads are closed, and nobody wants to come into town.”
Bryan Hudson
Walsh asked Waipā District Council transportation manager Bryan Hudson whether the district’s two community boards had been consulted before road closure applications for Cambridge and Te Awamutu Christmas parades had been advertised.
Hudson said they had not.
Walsh said such consultation made sense.
“I see the role of community boards to have a strong link to local organisations.”
Councillor Dean Taylor said Te Awamutu Christmas Parade used to be organised by a subcommittee of the community board and he was a member.
Dean Taylor
Mayor Mike Pettit suggested Hudson look at involving community boards in the process.
“I think there’s an assumption that community boards are supporting the Christmas parades,” said Maungatautari ward councillor Mike Montgomerie.
He said the council would need to change its procedures if it were to include community board feedback in the process of approving road closures.
Council service delivery group manager Eeva-Liisa Wright said the boards had not been consulted due to time constraints.
“We will take that on board and work through what that could look like.”
Charlotte FitzPatrick
Cambridge Community Board chair Charlotte FitzPatrick said she would ask board members and the community for their thoughts on receiving a formal report from council.
“We would naturally be delighted to be involved in some capacity on the working group and support those volunteering their time to put on the Christmas Parade,” she said.
“It’s one great way for us to connect with the community and get involved. It would also allow us to be across what’s happening.”
The parade had only just got underway but it was all too much for Toma Taute, pulled in a cart by Norma Taute, and part of the Sanctuary Mountain float. Cambridge Christmas Parade 2024
And there wouldn’t be a Christmas Parade without Santa Claus. Cambridge Christmas Parade 2024
