A Word from the Mayor

The opinions are varied on the NZTA option to insert a toll road on the new portion of the northern motorway: the main arterial route for all the Hurunui District to have access to the city, for the majority of North Canterbury to do business and for our visitors to spend a day in our region.

The tolling scheme is not new across the world and not even new across New Zealand with the 3 toll roads being the Northern Gateway north of Auckland, the Tauranga Eastern Link Road and the Takitimu Drive Toll.

As a council we have always supported the regions development with the proposed Woodend Bypass given the importance for the people who live and do business across the district.

I have heard from many people who support the toll option and equally many people who are disappointed that a toll road is proposed given the additional costs to get children to school, to travel to work either in the city or within the district.

NZTA are seeking your considered feedback on this - https://nzta.govt.nz/.../sh1-belfast.../tolling-co..., prior to the 9 September and I urge you to submit your opinion for consideration.

At the August operations meeting a full year assessment was provided across all services that our council offers our district, and I thought there may be some facts that would pique your interest.

Waste and recycling: the contamination rates over the past year continue to be impressively low, we have backloaded over 800 tonnes of recycling glass to Christchurch saving 123 empty truck returns. A standout success over the year was the farm recycling event with over 160 farm plastic drop-offs over 69 tonnes of bale wrap and multiple tonnes of other materials.

Across the regulatory domain of council business, it was noted that our council has been accredited with the International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ), our team achieves a high on time performance rate for consents and Code of Compliance, and the team continue to invest strongly in staff training and development with an ongoing focus on innovation and customer service.

Our 34 social housing units are managed by the Property team and the units are in high demand, all property owned by HDC have a property maintenance programme which is generally responsive to planned maintenance this is to ensure all facilities are suitable for public use.

As always if there is anything I can do to help please make contact.

Marie