Focus on core services - Mayor Cocurullo
Published on 05 February 2025
Looking after what we've got and planning for the future
Since Whangārei's 2024-2034 Long-Term Plan was approved in July 2024, we have had a busy six months delivering on the works and improvements we committed to for the first half of the 2024-25 financial year.
Our focus has been on delivering the basics - our core responsibilities - and sticking very closely to the commitments we made in the Long Term Plan.
Looking ahead to next year, we will continue this focus. We will be sticking to looking after what we've got, enabling future growth and getting the most value out of every ratepayer's dollar.
Investing in roading
This summer, our contractors have been motoring on with roadworks– re-sealing where surfaces have come to the end of their lives, fixing broken drains, and repairing places where grit has stripped out of seal.
We have a significant programme of road rehabilitation this summer so we appreciate your patience whilst our contractors are working on the road.
The previous Central Government's Transport Choices Programme has seen many projects funded by Central Government, designed to support growth by making it easier and more efficient for people who choose to walk, cycle or take the bus.
This includes the T2 lane on Kamo Road and Bank Street, which has created an extra lane so that we can get more people into town on what is one of our busiest roads.
The project will provide a more reliable journey for those transporting two or more people using a vehicle or using the bus.
The Kamo and Raumanga Shared Paths have also been completed. They now connect at the Lover's Lane Bridge, behind the Central Library and new civic building, Te Iwitahi.
A side-benefit of this work has been updates and improvements to Cafler Park, making it an even safer community space – come and check it out at the 14 February Love it Here Festival.
In the past six months we have completed the Port Road / Kioreroa Road roundabout, combined with the new bridge lanes across Limeburners / Hāhā Creek. This has vastly improved traffic flow and safety through this increasingly busy part of the city.
The Springs Flat Roundabout and replacement of the Gillingham Road Bridge are projects that have been on the books for decades. Both took a significant step forward when funding was obtained from Central Government.
Our teams are working on consents and designs and preparing for final sign-off before physical work can get going.
Investing in water services
Teams began work on the Three Mile Bush and Dip Road reservoirs and the water main renewals out to Whangārei Heads.
They are more than halfway through the District's scheduled watermain renewals programmed for this year.
Work began on the new Kioreroa Road rising main that takes most of the District's wastewater to the Kioreroa Wastewater Treatment Plant, and odour-control work is under way at the plant.
In Bream Bay, the team carried out emergency sewerage repairs to address damage to the Kepa Road pipeline.
At Paura Bay, the teams are investigating stormwater inflow, which has caused spills from the wastewater system.
Investing in Parks and Recreation
We've invested in some important community facilities with new sportsfields opening at Ruakākā, Parua Bay and Onerahi.
Work (with NRC) to prevent Kauri dieback on our walkways included new boot-washing stations and new fast-draining surfaces on tracks in Parihaka and Pukenui forests.
Working with the Raumanga community, a playground with an all-abilities see-saw and half basketball court has been used every day since it opened.
Investment in coastal structures included repairs and maintenance to many assets, including pontoons, boat ramps, sea walls, steps and paths.
The teams worked with the community to find a way to make the Parua Bay wharf safe and the solution should unfold in the next six months.
A new jetty was installed at the Parua Bay boat ramp.
Economic growth
Seeking to ensure the people of Northland continue to have vital emergency services, we worked with the Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST) helicopter base to find a new home.
We sold 8-10 Dent Street, beside Laurie Hall Park, to Millennium Copthorne Hotels, to develop into at least a four-star hotel – an investment our city needs.
After consulting the public during our Long Term Plan, we have started setting up a Council Controlled Organisation to increase the benefit to ratepayers of income from commercial property owned by Council.
We have also been developing ideas for the Knowledge, Education and Arts Hub, and preparing for our second summer of cruise ship visits. These all promise to provide significant economic benefit to our residents.
Participation
Behind the scenes we have been focusing on ways to enable sensible, forward-thinking development of our District and Northland Region. This has included consultation with the community on multiple strategies and plans – too many to list here.
We still need you to stay tuned in and participate! Council is here to provide the services and assets you need, and to plan for what the community of the future will need, expect and deserve.
Keep an eye out for opportunities to have a say in the choices we make and the direction we take and communicate with us.
We are all in this together.