Ratepayers' Quarterly Update

You are here > Home > Council Documents > Publications > Ratepayers' Quarterly Update > Ratepayers' Quarterly Update October 2011

Ratepayers' Quarterly Update October 2011

From Harry

 At this time of year we are usually looking forward – to better weather and more time spent outdoors enjoying our fabulous district. To taking our feet off the pedals, kicking back and enjoying a great Taranaki summer (weather permitting of course!)

But this year we can also look back – on Rugby World Cup 2011 and the amazing buzz that it generated right across our community.

At the time of writing the All Blacks are gearing up for their semi-final clash against the Wallabies. I’ve no doubt they’ll win but whatever the result it won’t diminish the excitement we all experienced from hosting our three pool matches at Stadium Taranaki. From the powerful airport welcomes for ‘our’ teams to the international village on Puke Ariki landing, from children gleefully waving the flags of other nations to rugby-mad adults flooding the fanzone for the big matches, we had a fantastic time.

The tournament seemed to touch everyone in one way or another and proved once again that Taranaki is right up there among the country’s finest when it comes to hosting major events. I’d be surprised if anywhere in the whole of New Zealand grabbed hold of Rugby World Cup 2011 as we did here in New Plymouth District and right across Taranaki.

Everyone played their part but I think the hundreds of volunteers are worthy of a special mention. Thanks for all the great work you put in!

As Mayor I feel privileged to work in a community that’s made such strides in recent years, showing our strengths to the rest of New Zealand and, through events like RWC 2011, to the rest of the world. It’ll be a long time before the tournament returns to these shores but I’ve no doubt there’ll be other fantastic events to keep our community buzzing!

Mayor Harry Duynhoven

The world came to New Plymouth - and they left mightily impressed!

During Rugby World Cup 2011 thousands of visitors and scores of international journalists came to the region to see five teams in three pool matches. They also got to experience the local hospitality, entertainment and our fantastic landscape. NPDC was proud to play a part in the festivities.

“Rugby World Cup was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the best of New Plymouth District and Taranaki, and word spread quickly around rugby circles that we were showing the rest of the country how to be party central,” says NPDC Chief Executive Barbara McKerrow.

“We went into the tournament determined that people would come to New Zealand and remember Taranaki as their highlight, and in many cases that’s what happened.

“We had great volunteers and staff who worked long hours to deliver a fantastic experience for everyone who was here.”

The Coastal Walkway and the Lights By Night in Pukekura Park were a hit, and the overseas media were kept busy with tours of the district’s highlights.

“One Welsh reporter came into the media centre at Stadium Taranaki all but speechless after a mountain tour organised by Venture Taranaki,” says Mrs McKerrow.

Event providers had certainly taken note of how successfully New Plymouth had delivered a full package of transport, entertainment and venues for the tournament.

“Our reputation as a successful events region has been greatly enhanced by RWC 2011, which can only help when it comes to pitching for future arts, sports and cultural events.”

Meanwhile, NPDC is gearing up for the TSB Bank Festival of Lights and its On Stage entertainment programme, as well as the More FM Summer Vineyard Tour on Brooklands Lawn on 4 February 2012.

Let's Go!

Have you noticed more people walking, riding and taking the bus to get to work and school? You’re not seeing things, there are more people choosing more active ways to move around our district.

This change of behaviour is down, in part, to the Let’s Go programme. In June last year New Plymouth District Council was awarded $3.7 million over two years to develop walking and cycling initiatives to get more people in New Plymouth to choose walking, riding or taking the bus over using cars for short trips.

“Through our travel planning with schools and businesses we know more people are leaving their cars at home and riding, walking and bussing instead,” says Let’s Go Project Manager Carl Whittleston.

“Over the last year and a bit we’ve done everything from physically changing walkways and roads to putting on events to tempt people to try more active transport more often,” says Carl.

There have been a number of infrastructure changes to help make it physically easier and safer to walk and ride.

“One of the most high profile changes has been the completion of the Mangati Pathway which led to the 180km New Zealand Cycle Trail from Te Kuiti to New Plymouth to be the first cycle touring route promoted in New Zealand,” says Carl.

So, why are people choosing to bus, ride and walk? There are a number of reasons why people are mixing up the way they get around. Petrol costs are going up, the infrastructure in our district makes walking, riding or bussing an easy choice for many and more people are doing it, so it feels normal! So why not give it a go and ride or walk somewhere this week!

A year into the Let's Go project and what have we achieved?

• The Mangati Walkway upgrade and extension is complete.
• Eight kilometres of roads in New Plymouth now have green cycle lane markings.
• Widened barriers on 30 accessways make them more accessible for all users.
• A pedestrian crossing phase has been added to the Devon/Smart roads intersection.
• Pendarves Street between Liardet and Gover streets has been selected as a street for a residents-led makeover and Davies Lane has been selected as a school entranceway for a makeover.
• Fifty-three walking and cycling events have been completed which include the Wild West Bike Fest, Mayoral Challenge (which New Plymouth District won), Walk to Work and Bike to Work promotions.
• Cycle skills training has been completed with 1,400 students.
• Three big bike fix-ups have been completed (Central New Plymouth, Marfell and Waitara) with 470 bikes repaired in total.
• Taranaki Regional Council and NPDC have worked together on promotion material and offers for encouraging new users to the bus service.
• Let’s Go is working with 13 schools, three kindergartens and eight businesses to assist them with travel planning.
• Construction of the first of three bike pods to securely store bikes near gyms or other facilities is under way.
• A contract has been let to widen the footpath on the corner of Powderham and Brougham streets and on Gill Street outside the old Blue Moon antiques building.
• Design and consultation is under way for Mangaotuku, Huatoki and Waiwhakaiho pathway upgrades.
• Design and tender documentation is complete for the bridge between The Valley retail centre and Lake Rotomanu/Fitzroy.
• Design and approvals are proceeding for bridges linking the Te Henui Walkway.
• Eighteen local trainers attended a two day cycle skills training session in June.

Community champions

By taking ownership of their neighbourhoods, Peter Coombe and Jesse Howarth are part of a volunteer army making New Plymouth District a better place to live.

Both are members of the Community Champions programme, where volunteers take on a street or favorite public place, picking up litter and reporting graffiti, vandalism or fly-tipping to the Council.

Highlands Intermediate School student Jesse Howarth joined Community Champions in order to achieve a school merit badge. She likes seeing her street litter-free when she has finished.

“More people should join because they can help keep New Zealand beautiful, and it helps stop the birds eating rubbish,” she says.

Peter has taken on a large area in Strandon and Fitzroy, right up to the Waiwhakaiho Bridge, and has encouraged his family and neighbours to take part.

“I’ve picked up litter for years anyway. Now I’ve got a safety jacket and get calls of congratulations from motorists when they see me out there early in the morning, and the Council takes the rubbish away,” he says.

Community Champions now has 90 members from urban and rural areas, and Mayor Harry Duynhoven says they’re doing a great job helping to keep public areas clean and safe.

“We live in a fantastic part of the country and it’s people like our Community Champions who are helping to make it even better,” he says.

If you’d like to join the Community Champions team, contact the Council on enquiries@npdc.govt.nz or complete the online form.