Wondrous, wonderful, winning Wanganui? - 4/03/2010

As Chair of the Wanganui District Council’s Finance and Infrastructure Committee, I learn much about our infrastructural needs and concerns.

Most of Council’s finances actually go towards infrastructure – in fact the lion’s share of ratepayers’ money is spent on roads and water and property of some type. At this week’s meeting the Mayor and Councillors learned much more about Heads Road business concerns. Surface flooding (which risks damaging stock), limited infrastructure for growth and the potentially dangerous Heads Road/Beach Road rail intersection. These are all big spend issues, but when I discovered that we would be ‘ripping up’ the roads next year to deal with the waste/storm water pipes, I saw an opportunity.

Assuming we can find the funds to reduce the problems, some other project or two will have to be shelved. That is the dilemma of the Council when we have to find urgent funds. To add to our problem the government has reduced their share of all roading budgets in the regions so that they can fund the bigger city projects. However, on the good side, at least we are not like South Taranaki, Kapiti and other councils that have to find $90-$200 million to build their water systems. Wanganui has done that!

I totally support the Council initiative to get behind a trade training centre in Wanganui. I congratulate the YMCA and Chamber of Commerce for their work with our Economic Development Manager and I applaud the Heads Road and other businesspeople who are pushing the venture along. A thriving, technological, hands-on, skills-based training programme in Wanganui will not only attract young people to train but also government funds, new business and the growth of existing business. Our businesses desperately need skilled staff. A campaign to get highly motivated young people to be part of this training comes next. If you have the opportunity, please support this venture however you can.

This week I welcomed two groups to Wanganui – a bevy of Japanese Soroptomists (look up the dictionary for that one) from our Sister-city region and a high powered group of Koreans who are developing a new cultural and economic exchange between Wanganui and Pohang (look that one up on the world map). I was most impressed with the Korean initiative and once again I thank the YMCA for their initiative in brokering this relationship.

The marketing of Pohang refers to ‘Powerful Pohang”. What should we be? Wondrous Wanganui, Wonderful Whanganui, Winning Wanganui? Whatever – we are Wanganui (with or without the ‘H’).

Dot McKinnon
Deputy Mayor