Realistic Progress
By David Pine
The Porirua region is making reasonable headway on a number of fronts, but all is not as good as it could be.
In a frank and down to earth presentation to Plimmerton Rotary on 25 November, Mayor Nick Leggett noted that the region was, to some extent, hampered by its over-reliance on rates income.
“We don’t have other sources of income like other councils have. They’ve been around a lot longer than we have, and so they have infrastructure such as Wellington Airport and Westpac Stadium, which produce income for them. If Porirua region had additional sources of income like the other councils in the greater Wellington region, each of our ratepayers would be about $200 per year better off.”
Another issue we have is that we lead New Zealand in the average number of residents per household, at 2.8 persons per household. It is residents who consume services, so this is a major issue for us”.
Porirua Council was presently formulating its latest 3-year plan, which would include 5 important areas of emphasis: the need to expand the city’s commercial base; the idea of looking at medium to high density housing in some areas of the region; becoming more active in partnering with developers and others to ensure smart growth; ensuring the assets the region did have were being used as efficiently as possible; and continually evaluating the quality of spending undertaken by Council.
Mayor Nick referred to some “Big Ideas” that he was passionate about: finding a method of keeping the harbour clean that could be effectively measured over time; enabling people to have a great city and village experience when they visited the CBD; finding ways to deliver better quality basic services such as water supply, waste disposal/recycling, and storm water; and putting children and young people at the centre of all future decision making by Council.
“The Council needs to have much greater liaison with all of the schools in our area. These schools spend millions in our region and we don’t currently have any meaningful dialogue with them. By having regular contact we can make better informed and more appropriate decisions for our younger people.”
Next year would be cause for major celebration in Porirua. “Our city turns 50 on 2nd October 2015. We want to make it a year-long celebration with events on throughout the year. We would like every resident and every local organisation to be involved.”
Snippets
Rotarians’ Kids Christmas Party - Urgent Rsvp required
No Rotary Meeting On 2 December as the Rotarians’ Kids Christmas party will replace our normal Rotary meeting.
Please RSVP to Peter Cox email: alisonpete@xtra.co.nz to confirm how many adults and how many children will be attending. The evening will commence at 5.00pm. Please provide one named gift per child attending as Santa will be making a special appearance at approx 6.45pm. Food will be served approx 6.15pm. Meal Cost will be $20 per adult and $10 per child. Since this is not a Rotary meeting, payment should be made separately from your Automatic Payment for your Rotary Meals
Paramoana Speech Contest will be held this Friday 28 November 2014 at the Aotea College Library at 9.30am. Rotarian in charge: Julie McLagan (Best wishes to David Knight for his shoulder replacement)
The children competing are generally of a very high standard and their speeches are very interesting and entertaining. Plimmerton Rotary has supported and sponsored this contest since 2003. Please come along and enjoy young speaking talent at its best.
Inlet Clean Up - Each year for the past 15 years or so The Guardians of the Pauatahanui Inlet have initiated a Clean up day to keep our Inlet beautiful, and Plimmerton Rotary has always supported it. This year the Clean up will be on Sunday 30 November (rain or shine due to tidal restrictions) at 10.30am to 12.30pm. Register at Browns Bay. Wear warm clothing, bring sun hats. Gloves & Rubbish bags are provided. Participants will be in the draw for a lucky prize plus extra prizes for the children. Family sausage sizzle at Browns Bay Park from 12 noon organised by Keith Michael of Plimmerton Rotary. Keith would love your help and participation. Please stay and socialise over lunch to meet like-minded people who all care about the Inlet.
Cannons Creek Boxing Academy.
The Rotary Club of Plimmerton has been invited to attend the first prizegiving of Billy Graham’s Cannons Creek Boxing Academy on 4th December 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Anyone wishing to attend please advise Chris Garrett.
Rotary Adults’ Christmas Dinner - Urgent Rsvp Required.
Saturday 13 December 2014 at 6.30pm for 7pm at Rydges Hotel, 75 Featherston Street, Wellington. Cost: Members $40. Non-Members $60. (Cash Bar)
Underprivileged Kids Christmas Party at Te Rauparaha Arena on Saturday 29 November. (Organised by Ross Garner). The children will be picked up by a bus between 12.30 and 1.30pm and will be delivered home by 5.30pm. Police recruits will be assisting this year.
Rotary Institute District Conference 5 - 7 December - (Contact Graeme Blick)
Inner Wheel's Wild Sunday - 22 February 2015 in Reidy's garden. $35 per head with the proceeds going to the Neonatal Trust.