FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 07 376 0899 OR VISIT WWW.TAUPO.GOVT.NZ

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IMPORTANT DATES1 Sept SecondHanging,TaupōMuseum(until25Sept)1 Sept MizunoOffroadChallenge,Kinloch1-2Sept NZV8SuperTourers,RicohTaupoMotorsportPark4 Sept Mobilelibrarybus:Kinloch10.30am;ListonHeights

2.00pm;Summerset3.00pm;FletcherSt4.00pm4 Sept Councilworkshop,ACBaths’indoorleisurepooldesign,

10.00am-12.00pm

with CouncilYour weekly update for Council and Community news

n en cC tGREAT LAKE, GREAT PLACE, GREAT PEOPLE

31 August 2012

o

Email your elected members at councillors@taupo.govt.nz

Yesterday, Deputy Mayor Mike Downard and I were in

Hamilton presenting to the Local Government and Environment Select Committee on Taupō District’s submission on local government reform. The future face of local government certainly seems to be all about collaboration and, without losing Taupō’s unique identity, we believe our best strategic move is for Taupō to strengthen ties with Bay of Plenty.

We already have many existing synergies with Bay of Plenty. Our district shares a collective spirit with local and central government agencies across the Bay of Plenty region with a common goal to make the Bay the economic powerhouse it should be – from the geothermal steam fields in Taupō, through to Kawerau and the Port of Tauranga.

We gave the Select Committee two examples of the collaborative efforts being made across the Bay which extend beyond the desires of local authorities. Our very own Council chief executive Rob Williams is the current Chair of Collaboration Bay of Plenty (CoBoP) – a group of local and central government CEOs and regional managers who meet half-yearly in a spirit of common understanding and information sharing. CoBoP is a strong network of eight local authorities and 26 central government agencies which collectively employ more than 8000 people across the Bay, creating efficient, collective results across the whole government structure.

In my column a fortnight ago, I talked about how this reform shouldn’t be around how local government can reduce costs by operating more efficiently to “make the boat go faster”, it should be around how the whole government structure can “make the boat go faster” and CoBoP is demonstrating that there is huge potential in this area.

Moving on from that though, one of the most important issues is “how can we make the New Zealand boat go faster?” This again is where the structure of local government is not the issue.

Taupō sits on a “gold mine” – or a geothermal steam field to be precise. Our steam generates significant electricity which we put into power lines and send to Auckland – at significant cost to our national infrastructure providers. If we fully utilise that steam and generate heat as well as electricity (in a similar way which Taupō’s Tenon mill does), this opens up a whole new world of export potential. That potential is not limited to Taupō District; we sit on an axis of “power” all the way from Tongariro through to White Island, creating a cascade of jobs.

That leads me to the Bay of Connections – a prime example of the government sector collaborating with industry to create an environment for business growth. This is generating massive “game changing” opportunities for New Zealand industry, led by industry and supported by the government sector. If it wasn’t for the work we do with the Bay of Connections, our District would be isolated and New Zealand would be missing the significant opportunities the Central North Island is currently presenting to potential investors.

In economic development terms, it’s true to say that business drives business but in New Zealand we need “game changing” business and, for that to happen, we need coordinated government with a common purpose. Local government reform has a massive potential to shaft the groundbreaking work Taupō District has achieved by taking away our local focus on “game changing” opportunities that we are close to delivering on. The government should ignore that at its peril.

Mayor Rick Cooperrcooper@taupo.govt.nz

06 376 0899

Collaborating for growthMayor Rick Cooper

Work has begun on the upgrade to Taupō’s AC Baths, but most of the pools remain open. While the indoor 25m pool is closed, the indoor and outdoor leisure pools, private pools and hydroslide are all open.The work to the indoor 25m pool building will include repairing and replacing the exterior roofing, acoustic ceiling and wall panels, structural steel rods, windows, air ducts and electrical cables. The pool has been drained and contractors Watts & Hughes have set up their offices on site. The building area around this pool has been closed to the public.

The next step will be to remove the internal wall linings before the walls are reconstructed. While the indoor 25m pool building is closed, temporary changing rooms have been set up.

The work is necessary because of problems from mould and rust caused by

poor ventilation and condensation. The AC Baths are in the first stage of a $5.9 million refurbishment over the next 18 months.

The Heuheu Street makeover is starting to take shape and the countdown is on to completion. This week contractors planned to work on drainage, street lighting and garden irrigation, along with some footpath paving and street furniture installation. The crossing at the Ruapehu St end was set to be paved and laid with ashphalt and is expected to reopen early next week, weather permitting. Work will then start on the central crossing. The demolition of this section of the road is likely to happen next week, and will be done at night.

Contractors Fulton Hogan began work on the street in April. The shops have remained open for the duration of the project.

The Heuheu Street upgrade is part of Taupō District Council’s urban redevelopment programme, with funding previously allocated in Council’s 2011-12 Annual Plan.

Work is continuing on the construction of the Taupō Water Treatment Plant on Lake Terrace. The first section of the foundation for the building is complete and the second section is being prepared with form work and reinforcing.

The pump well has been constructed and closed in and de-watering has stopped. Preparations are underway to construct some of the exterior walls.

The contract for the laying of a new 450mm dedicated water main from Taharepa Reserve on Lake Terrace to Titoki Reservoir is being advertised and tenders close on September 28.

At 9.26am on Wednesday 26 September, be one of about a million New Zealanders taking part in the ShakeOut earthquake drill. The emergency exercise is the first of its kind in New Zealand and the first nationwide drill held in any country.

Taupō District is situated above the Taupō Fault Belt, one of the most seismically active parts of New Zealand. Small earthquakes occur on a daily basis, and earthquake swarms occur every few years. ShakeOut is an excellent opportunity to practice the right action to take in an earthquake – ‘Drop, Cover and Hold’.

If you haven’t already, talk with your family, school or workplace about how you can be involved. The main focus in the ShakeOut exercise is participation to demonstrate we know what to do in an earthquake. At a minimum, you could practice the ‘Drop, Cover and Hold’ procedure, though many organisations will practise additional aspects of their preparedness plans.

The exercise is led by the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management and supported by civil defence groups, government departments, local authorities and many other agencies throughout the country. For more information, go to www.shakeout.govt.nz

Great Lake Tales Enjoy Fathers’ Day afternoon in front of the fire at Hilton Lake Taupō and meet Masterchef celebrity, restaurant head chef and cookbook creator Cameron Petley. The keen hunter from Putaruru will share his passion for the great outdoors and his knowledge of turning wild game into fine cuisine. For more information on these events and others still to come in the Great Lake Tales series, visit www.erupt.co.nz.

Second Hanging Keen to grab a bargain on unique art, jewellery or numbered prints? Taupō Museum is the answer with its latest exhibition, Second Hanging. The Taupō District community have rifled through their cupboards, attics and jewellery boxes to bring together a mix of original artwork, numbered prints and costume jewellery. It is the third exhibition of its kind in Taupō, and both of the last two were well received. Those who come to view the exhibition are able to buy all pieces on display, with prices individually set by owners. Second Hanging opens tomorrow and runs until September 25.

MAJOR PROJECTS ON TRACK

The TaniwhaA brand new event designed to expose the wonders of the Waikato River and challenge keen runners and cyclists is coming to Mangakino. The Taniwha off-road event on 10 November celebrates the endeavours undertaken by Waikato River Trails Trust over nine years, which has developed about 100km of trails, most of it on previously inaccessible land along the Waikato River. About 12km of this track runs between Mangakino and the Whakamaru dam.

The event caters for a range of experience and fitness levels – from a 7km trail walk/run to an 80km mountain bike. There are team and individual events. There is also a 58km Ultra Marathon trail run to test even the fittest of athletes.For more information visit www.thetaniwha.co.nz

Taupö Water Treatment PlantHeuheu Street

AC Baths