Julie Engelbretsen
June 2002

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Submissions to Hutt City"s Annual Plan are up this year by 128%, 1760 compared with 811 for 2001. Of those 115 will make oral submissions. Local businesses made up 5%, volunteer/community organisations 4%, individuals 91%. 30% filled in the Hutt City Council summary document.

Big issues or projects that submitters felt most strongly about include:

     Pan tax
     Hutt Park Redevelopments
     Dowse upgrade
     Petone Settlers Museum upgrade
     Coast Rd access
     Lowry Bay reclamation
     Increased Community House funding
     Walter Nash Stadium
     Empire Table Tennis funding assistance

The 5th and 6th of June will bring two full days where oral submissions will be made to the Council. On the 19th and 20th of June the decisions will be made.

There has also been an NRB survey of 400 households and those results are available to consider. Alongside all of this will be the consideration of the replies to the Draft Economic Development Strategy filled out by residents and businesses. I would like to see a fairer distribution of the rate dollar take throughout the city.

Some projects I am passionate about and will lobby hard for include

     Walkways access
     Suburban shopping centres funding increased
     Walter Nash Stadium upgrade
     Taita Community Hall lease expiry October
     Green Warden (pine & gorse eradication)
     Stokes Valley entranceway beautification
     BBQ's for Speldhurst Park
     Rail corridor beautification
     After school programmes
     Homework centres
     Implementation of Taita/Pomare Needs Assessment
     Taita/Stokes Valley Library preserved
     Stokes Valley Pool no cuts to service
     Recreational youth facilities (e.g. local skateparks, youth drop in)
     Traffic calming
     Street lighting
     Safety issues
     Tagging - some responsibility being taken like other councils in NZ towards retribution
     Community Boards across the city

Two areas I have strong concerns about are

     "Phonic", who uses it and is it heading towards self funding when they are asking for $130,000 this year?
     Expenditure for Petone, including the foreshore and Jackson Street. I think it is time for some money to be spent north of Petone and the CBD.

I get a feel that Council will vote for some growth in the next 12 months which would give a rates rise above what is claimed for the wastewater and the cost of living rise - 3.5%

I look forward to bringing some positive outcomes for the Northern Ward in the next edition.

Thank you

Cr Julie Englebretsen
Manuka Cottage
Ph 563-5179