Cambridge Community Board supports Waipā District Council’s representation review proposals.
Cambridge will have one less elected councillor and both the Cambridge and Maungatautari wards will expand so that each councillor in the town will represent 5628 members and the sole Maungatautari councillor will represent 5970 people.
The community board representatives will reduce from five to four.
Board chair Sue Milner said at last week’s community board meeting, concerns that boards might be disestablished, favoured by some Waipā district staff, no longer featured in the proposal.
“For so many people they are the lifeblood of the communities,” she said.
Cr Grahame Webber said there was very strong support for community boards around the council table.
“I am very, very pleased to see that we are going to retain that local bit of democracy,” he said.
“That’s where people relate to.”
The proposal approved is for the following arrangements for the 2022 and 2025 elections:
Cambridge Ward (4 councillors). One less elected member and a boundary change in the Fencourt and Hautapu areas.
Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Ward (3 councillors). One less elected member and a small boundary change in the Paterangi / Ngaroto Road area.
A combined Pirongia and Kakepuku Ward (2 councillors). One less elected member and boundary changes in the Paterangi / Ngaroto Road and Kaipaki areas.
Maungatautari Ward (1 councillor). Boundary changes to include Kaipaki and reflect the changes to the Cambridge Ward boundary.
Consultation on the council’s proposals closes at 5pm on Wednesday 29 September with a hearing on Tuesday 12 October.
