Decade of change for town

COUNCIL is ‘springing’ for a refurbishment of Te Awamutu’s CBD as part of the Long Term Community Council Plan. File photo

By Grant Johnston

Te Awamutu should see some significant changes in the next decade as Waipa’s Long Term Council Community Plan comes to fruition.

The draft LTCCP is the subject of a report to Council’s policy committee meeting on Monday.

Among projects proposed in the years 2006-16 for Te Awamutu are introduction of a new kerbside recycling service in urban areas, new museum facilities, a new library, refurbishment of the central business district and resolving heavy vehicle access in the CBD.

Kihikihi is to get new footpaths, while Pirongia main street is to be upgraded.

Community water and stormwater supplies will be upgraded and seal extension in rural areas will continue.

Cambridge projects include construction of a covered swimming pool, development at Karapiro Domain, and Lake Te Ko Utu, new footpaths and museum.

The major projects are based on the need to upgrade infrastructure to maintain services, meet increased standards, account for growth and promote development.

If the draft LTCCP is approved by the policy committee on Monday, it will be publicly released and submissions on it accepted until April 18.

It proposes a total rate revenue requirement of $27 million for 2006/07, which represents an average increase of 5.89%. As outlined in an article in Tuesday’s Courier, the LTCCP provides total capital expenditure of $190 Million (in 2006 dollar terms) over 10 years. Of this around $40 Million is expected to be caused by growth and the LTCCP also proposes adoption of new development contributions to be paid by developers - around $24,000 per new allotment in Te Awamutu, $21,596 in Kihikihi and $11,340 in rural areas.

A series of public meetings on the draft LTCCP and proposed development contributions policy will be advertised.