Councillor Comment - Johnathan Larsen

 

COUNCILLOR COMMENT
With Otamatea Ward Councillor Jonathan Larsen

Mangawhai Community Plan, seeking answers and detail
The Mangawhai Community Plan (MCP) is a high-level document prescribing, in general, a plan for Mangawhai’s infrastructure. Some may recall earlier in the year that works were suspended on a proposed walkway through Alamar reserve after public pressure to better consult with the community. It was agreed at that time there would be more consultation on the detail of the plan’s implementation before further works proceeded. 

More recently the existing footpath along Moir St has been ripped up and replaced with a larger and more expensive one. Once again this came as a surprise as the agreed consultation did not occur. With concerns around budgets, priorities and consultation being ongoing, I raised this formally at the September Council meeting. My notice of motion sought a report on the MCP’s (a) workstream and project priorities, (b) budgets and funding, (3) consultation plan, and (4) any proposed changes to projects, priorities, budgets, funding sources, and associated consultation plan. The motion was successful which means that the report will be brought back to the November Council meeting. I hope this will straighten out many of the current issues and provide a lot more clarity for the community.

Mountain bike park, so what’s happening?
Last year I raised the possibility of Council’s Lincoln Downs Bush Block in Brown Rd being developed into a mountain bike and walking park. Considerable work had already been carried out on developing the proposal by the Mangawhai Tracks Charitable Trust, who are keen to get on and give their volunteer efforts to the park’s development. 

I have been pushing this along behind the scenes for nearly 12 months without any practical progress occurring, and the time is now overdue for decisions and action. With that in mind I also formally raised this matter through the September Council meeting. This notice of motion was also successful, and a formal report will now be brought back to the December Council meeting. The report will include but not be limited to the proposed use of the bush block as a recreation reserve for walking and mountain biking, and access options and issues.

 If you have any community projects or issues that you would like assistance with, I can be contacted on 021 185 8389 or Cr.Larsen@kaipara.govt.nz. Check out my ‘The WorkBoot Councillor’ facebook page for regular updates. DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this column are those of the writer and do not represent the consensus position of Council.