Happy New Year and an exciting one for us all as we await the opening of Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū-Tararua Highway. Our lives will change for the better with the safety and travelling ease that we have waited so patiently for. The growth that Council has prepared for will be enabled as we watch with keen interest at the speed we see this coming given the change in the economic climate.

The year has already started full on as we prepare for the District Plan Review and as we discuss the future of our water after making the decision in December to consult on creating a Wairarapa-Tararua model or enhancing going it alone. Water and wastewater remains a high priority and focus as we work through the planned upgrades for year one of the long term plan. The team continue to manage our demand and supply and the information being shared on the Council page and Facebook around usage is helpful to understand. With the rain that fell over the Christmas period, only Pahiatua and Ākitio have restrictions in place however each water supply has different consenting conditions and we are monitoring the Woodville river levels.

We have some roading celebrations with the completion of Route 52, which was a Kanoa funded Project totalling $16.6 million. We have a far safer and more resilient route now. Cyclone Gabrielle emergency roading work will continue to receive 97.5% funding from Waka Kotahi NZTA which makes funding the balance from rates far more affordable. This is a result of a good relationship and confidence in our data and work. Following the 2004 floods we received 93% funding. This level of funding support has allowed us to build back with resilience reducing costs into the future.

We continue to look for external funding to relieve pressure on ratepayers along with the work we have with rationalisation projects and the move to the Dannevirke Town Hall for our Council meetings. Our District has seven towns which makes providing services more expensive and we must continue to consider what can be done differently. We will shortly head into our annual planning where further savings are being sought. Uncertainty and change continues to keep us both busy and excited about the opportunities they bring.