CAMBRIDGE NEWS | 1
THURSDAY MAY 29, 2025
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MAY 29, 2025
Where the council saves By Mary Anne Gill
A Waipā district councillor has revealed the extent of the council’s line-by-line budget savings as part of the Long Term Plan consultation, but residents may struggle to find the details. The savings, which affect hundreds of individual work plans, are not included in the glossy consultation brochures delivered to households. They are under a “See more” section on the council’s Have Your Say website. Council staff conducted a line-by-line review of spending, resulting in an average rates
increase of 5.9 per cent over the next 10 years. The steepest hike – 15.5 per cent - is expected in the upcoming financial year, before tapering off to as low as 2.3 per cent in later years. At last week’s Cambridge Community Board meeting, member Andrew Myers raised concerns about the visibility of these savings. “We’re asking our ratepayers to make sacrifices — maybe switching from Sanitarium to Pam’s products to save 17 per cent,” he said. “I’d like to see examples where the council has said ‘we’ve got to cut our cloth to suit’, not just drawing lines through things. Making the tough calls on expenditure.” Finance committee chair Mike Montgomerie,
Our royals...
Millie Balsom, left, and Liam Dobson were crowned King and Queen of the Cambridge High School board on Saturday at the Don Rowlands Centre, Karāpiro. It was one of the most anticipated events of the school year. See story and photos cambridgenews.nz
also a member of the board said there was no culture of overspending at the council or around the council table. He said there were reductions across 10 activity management plans in areas such as cemeteries, heritage, parks, property, public toilets, libraries, transportation, stormwater, water treatment and supply, and wastewater. They include: • Signage: Heritage, wayfinding, and walkway signs will not be replaced. • Leamington Domain Reserve: Implementation of the concept plan has been slashed by 80 per cent. • Parks and Recreation: Cuts affect Lake Rotopiko, sports fields (47 per cent reduction), neighbourhood and amenity reserves, and conservation areas. Fewer volunteer projects will proceed due to reduced onsite management. • Cancelled Projects: The Sports Clubs Lease Model review, the Pirongia to Te Awamutu cycleway, and the Pioneer Walkway will not go ahead. • Land Acquisition: Plans to purchase land at Horahora Domain have been shelved, halting any expansion of the reserve. Montgomerie said the budgeting process began with staff proposals, which were then scrutinised line by line. Myers said he received “marketing” emails from the council every single day and he and the public were largely unaware of the extent of the savings. “I didn’t understand that and I sure as hell know that the ratepayer doesn’t know you’re going to those lengths to do that. “I think the community will respect that and we should hear a lot more about it that you are really digging in and doing the mahi,” he said. Montgomerie later told The News he was impressed by the board’s engagement and questions. “I thought the Cambridge Community Board was flying,” he said. “That is exactly how a community board should be functioning I reckon.” • Read more cambridgenews.nz
Gastro issue remains a mystery By Mary Anne Gill
Mystery still surrounds the cause of a gastroenteritis outbreak at the Waipā Business Awards despite the caterer issuing a public apology this week. Public health officials from Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, Ministry of Primary Industries and Waipā District Council have been investigating since 100 people – about a quarter of those present - experienced gastro symptoms following the awards at Mystery Creek earlier this month. Waikato medical officer of health Geoff Cramp said two bacterial pathogens had been identified but no definitive source of the illness has been linked to the outbreak. It was foodborne, consistent with the symptoms reported, including diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort. “It would not be appropriate to speculate on the specific source or method of transmission at this stage,” he said. Foodborne illnesses can result from consuming contaminated food or beverages and may occur at any point in the food production and handling process. According to the World Health Organization, contamination can stem from polluted water, soil, or air, as well as improper food storage or processing. The caterer was Cambridge Raceway’s caterer Off the Track. Chief executive Dave Branch said his team cared deeply about their work. “This isn’t the standard we hold ourselves to, and we’ve taken this seriously from the outset. We’re committed to learning from this, taking responsibility where it’s due, and doing everything we can to move forward with integrity.”
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