Cambridge Community Board was involved in the April discussions at Leamington Domain. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Masterplans are an important part of ensuring our town develops in a cohesive and holistic way, writes Cambridge Community Board deputy chair Elise Badger.
Masterplans avoid ad hoc development, future proof amenities and hopefully, prevent future problems.
Elise Badger
The Cambridge Community Board has been involved in the Leamington Domain Masterplan, and it was great to hear from different sectors of the community about this at our recent public forum. Overall, we think this masterplan is heading in the right direction and have made sure our community’s voice has been represented to council on the issues that still need work.
We’ve also been hearing from Cambridge with the completion of our Cambridge Library and Community Hub public engagement. With nearly 500 survey responses, as well as focus groups from Kaipaki Primary School, Cambridge Middle School and Cambridge High School, we have been able to build a strong picture of what Cambridge needs for the future.
Books are being stored under the library shelves in Cambridge.
It was particularly valuable to have the voice of tamariki and rangatahi part of these discussions. For everyone who took part in this process, we express a big thank you. We have presented these results to the Cambridge Library Feasibility Study Project Group; your voice is helping to shape the direction of their important work. Much like masterplans, these feasibility studies help determine what really is possible – not all our dreams can come true, but hopefully a few of them will.
It has been a big month for the Sister City relationships of Cambridge with a delegation from Waipa District Council, including community board chair Jo Davies-Colley, visiting Le Quesnoy, France, for the opening of Te Arawhata, the New Zealand Liberation Museum. We will also welcome a delegation to Cambridge from Le Quesnoy, in November, as well as a delegation from Bihoro, Japan later that month.
Sister cities forge relationships which transcend political ties, focusing instead on having a positive impact on a cultural and emotional level – encouraging peace, trust and understanding across borders.
The year has flown and as we look toward the Christmas season the board is considering how we can support the festive feel of Cambridge this year. We will be dusting off the decorations that adorn the hotel balconies, and retailers will display painted Christmas trees.
With the help of Waipa Networks we will also light up a tree on the Village Green. But to be honest, our decorations are a bit past their best, so we are looking for local businesses interested in sponsoring new Christmas decorations for Cambridge central business district. If that sounds like you, we would love to hear from you and continue to make Cambridge town a wonderful and especially festive place to be! As always if you have issues you would like brought to the attention of council, please contact any of your representatives on the Cambridge Community Board.
The wooden Christmas tree junior students at Cambridge East Primary School made for the main street. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
