Community Board Notes
LAWRENCE-TUAPEKA
First of all, deepest sympathies to those in Hawke’s Bay, Northland, Coromandel and everywhere else that has been impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.
It’s times like these when your elected officials, from community board members up, really earn their keep.
Not to mention the large contingent of public servants who are needed to implement the machinations of democracy.
While in Clutha we worry about rates, roading, low rainfall, all three of the waters and such, these concerns pale in comparison when compared with the need to contemplate rebuilding infrastructure from scratch, right now, especially while needing to bear in mind the predicted increase in extreme weather events secondary to climate change.
In saying that, the Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board has been far from idle and has hit 2023 running.
We are working on a number of projects and, as always, welcome community feedback and queries on any of them.
After all, we are here to represent our wards and it is ratepayer funds (for the most part) that we are spending.
Cemetery information panels are being worked on, with the intent of providing information on folks of note who are interred there.
The board is trying to establish a ‘‘Friends of the Cemetery’’ group to help protect, preserve and enhance the facility and are hopeful that a couple more locals will step forward to be part of this. We have a charter drafted for this if anybody is interested.
We are looking at options for a second public toilet somewhere near the entrance to Gabriel’s Gully. The walkway from Lawrence to the gully is finally (dare I say it) nearing completion after many years on our agenda, with a couple of culverts and signage installation all that remains to be done. Plans for a refresh of the Zig Zag Track behind the Four Square are progressing and looking pretty good.
The trial freedom camping area opposite the police station is progressing nicely and the board is hopeful that this will be as well regarded by locals as Owaka’s has been once it is up and running.
A major project that we are in the exploratory stage of at present is developing a house-and-land package for Lawrence, similar to what has been achieved with great success in Kaitangata. It is hoped this will enable first home buyers to be able to afford to purchase in our area.
We are also incredibly excited to continue work on the Gabriel’s Gully Visitor Experience, a plan that will truly put Lawrence on the map as a destination in its own right.
Finally, this apparent Luddite has only just discovered the Antenno app, which allows the user to easily lodge GPS-tagged service requests with a photo if necessary, get alerts and regular updates from the council and even get notifications on which wheelie bin is going out this week. If you are unsure how to install or use Antenno, just pop into your local service centre and ask. Simple as.
• Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board member Matt Little
