Feedback urged on new bus timetable
Raglan residents are being urged to have their say regarding the new bus timetable that will be in service in April 2017.
At the Raglan Community Board open forum on Tuesday last week, the new Sunday timetable was criticised for not linking up with other bus services in Hamilton.
People needed to be in Hamilton by 10am to catch other buses out of the city, said one resident, and having departure times of 11.30am and 4.30pm meant that visitors from out of town would have to leave Raglan a day earlier and stay the night in Hamilton if they wanted to link up with other bus services.
“A timeslot that is no use to anyone, what is the point?” A survey on the new bus service is available at http://www.busit.co.nz/raglan/ with feedback welcome on the changes, including timetable and bus routes.
Rubbish issue won’t go away
Raglan resident Wayne Trott again raised the issue of overflowing rubbish bins at the open forum of the Raglan Community Board meeting last week.
Wayne, who regularly brings his concerns about rubbish to the community board, said the bins were not being emptied late enough at night and rubbish was “blowing everywhere through the countryside”. He said he had rung collectors Xtreme Waste about his concerns and their “excuse was they collect it at 6 in the morning, but if you emptied it at night then you don’t have to be up at 6am”. The rubbish issues were particularly bad during long weekends and sunny spells, he said, and the birds would pull all the rubbish out if they weren’t emptied at night. Wayne said in Tauranga at the foreshore they had 200 litre drums for rubbish bins and “they don’t seem to have half the problems we have with rubbish”.
Meet your community board
The Raglan Community Board is holding monthly informal meetings on the fourth Tuesday of every month in the Supper Room of the Town Hall at 7pm.
The meetings are open to all and they are an opportunity for residents to meet with the board and discuss matters of interest or concern together. It is also an option for those who cannot attend the 2pm community board meetings that are held on the second Tuesday of most months.
New natural parks management plan
The Raglan community has been asked for its input into a Natural Parks Reserve Management Plan being developed by Waikato District Council.
The plan will outline the future use, management and development of the natural parks it administers across the district. Those proposed to be included in the plan from the Raglan area are the Aroaro Bay Reserve (corner of Wallis and John St), the Greenslade Rd Reserve, Okete Nature Reserve, the Raglan Reservoir (Te Uku), Ruapuke Beach Esplanade, Totara Grove Reserve (Waitetuna) and the Waterworks Wildlife Refuge Plantation Reserve (Te Hutewai Rd). The council has called for written suggestions to be considered for inclusion in the draft reserve management plan to made available for submissions later this year. Suggestions must be received by March 3, and can be done online at waikatodistrictgovt.nz/sayit or by posting, emailing or faxing to the council office or library.
Raglan’s priority projects
Want a say in what projects you would like to see considered for funding in the Long Term Plan 2018?
The Raglan Community Board has a Priority Projects list from which it is urging residents to tick their pick of the top 3 or suggest other projects. The eight projects listed by the community board are: Continued development of footpaths; heated swimming pool; central business parking; Whale Bay to Manu Bay walkway; public transport; establish Wi Neera St property as a green reserve; one-way traffic on Cliff St; and complete upgrading the entrance to Raglan. Have your say before Tuesday, February 28. Forms are available at the council’s Raglan Area Office at the library.
Boat ramps
The Waikato District Council has hired Bloxam Burnett & Olliver to assess all its boat ramps.
The council wants to know which boat ramps are used the most and if there are any concerns or issues with structures. A survey for all boat ramp users and stakeholders is available at www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/boat-ramps, to be completed and returned to rduirs@bbo.co.nz before March 15.
Inger Vos
