Waitakere City Council Considers a Year Past.

It meant the start of a new works programme and a new budget, decided on during the Annual Planning process in May. While the Council looks ahead to projects such as Stage 2 of the Massey Leisure Centre and a new library for New Lynn, The Waitakere City News looks back at its performance over the last 12 months.

The Council’s works programme for the 1998/99 year reflected the traditional core services that every Council carries out – rubbish, roads, water, parks, libraries and so on.

It added up to providing what today’s resident regards as quality of life and/or business advantage such as:
° maintenance of the existing infrastructure (roads, pipes, parks etc)
° the building of new infrastructure
° more township revitalisation
° a park and ride facility at Ranui
° upgrading the stormwater system
° a comprehensive package of leisure activities including a purpose built Massey Community Centre.

Chief Executive of the Waitakere City Council, Mark Dacombe, says these developments reflect other key issues for the long term health and vitality of the City such as sustainable business practices, and strengthening the future of public transport.

"The year contained some lessons but also some major achievements. There has been an unprecedented growth in commercial development and growth in residential development around town centres."

"From February 1997 to February 1998 the number of people in full-time employment locally grew 3%, from 39190 to 41250." (latest figures available).

Mr Dacombe says other on-going initiatives taken by the Council, such as the opening of a 24 hour customer services call centre, have seen significant improvements in performance and a renewed emphasis on customer satisfaction and public accountability.

Obtaining a building or resource consent has also become quicker and easier, at a time when record numbers of consents are being processed.

The average time for non-notified resource consents is well within the statutory timeframe of 20 days, while turnaround time for building consents has also improved.

Waitakere further established itself on the national and international map when it achieved World Health Organisation (WHO) accreditation as a ‘Safe Community’.

Waitakere City is experiencing tremendous growth, set to continue well into the next millennium.

To cope with this growth, Mr Dacombe says the focus has been on creating a City with safe and attractive town centres, a strong economy and a flourishing, healthy natural environment.

"During the coming year, our community will continue to play a key role in decisions that affect Waitakere City – for it is only through community consultation and participation that we can provide solutions for the challenges ahead," he says.

Other key achievements:
° New changing room and toilets for Starling Park
° Resurfacing of Te Pai outdoor netball courts in Henderson
° Reserves around Ambrico Place developed with lighting and planting
° Upgrades for toilets along Manukau Harbour and Te Henga
° Development of a Community Assistance Policy
° Opanuku Stream Walkway opened
° The Waitakere City Aquatic Centre celebrated its 10th birthday
° New war memorial for New Lynn
° Completion of Stage 2 of the Glen Eden Revitalisation Project
° Operation Spring Clean 1998’ cleared nearly 32 tonnes of rubbish from the City’s streets, streams and walkways.
° An environmental seminar for youth, "Green to Go" held in June Support for ‘green network’ projects on private land such as incentives, education and advice for revegetation work.

© Scoop Media