Planting plan
Masterton councillors are set to approve a CBD planting rejuvenation plan today. Its cost has been estimated at $4900 plus GST and includes planting tulips, climbing plants, and annuals. The move to invest money in the CBD streetscape was first raised by councillor Brent Goodwin last month. Over the past several years, planning for the Masterton CBD upgrade, and its deferment by three years, has had an impact on ongoing planting investment. Queen St has a series of metal street furniture installed, predominantly between the sections intersecting with Church St to the north and Worksop Rd to the south. There is a mixture of planter boxes, metal climbing structures, and corner fencing at the intersections. However, the last planting for the upright structures was about six years ago, and Goodwin said the planters were in need of investment.
Guidelines
on agenda
New traffic-calming guidelines will be discussed by Masterton District Council’s Infrastructure and Services Committee today. The guidelines advise residents on what they must do to make a traffic-calming measure request to council, and what process the council will follow. It would enable MDC to take a consistent approach to assessing public requests.
Red tape out
Removing red tape is one of the main focuses of the government’s Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill, announced yesterday. The Bill aims to ensure the recovery and rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle is streamlined and efficient and is similar to legislation passed following the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes that modifies existing legislation in order to remove constraints on recovery. Wairarapa MP and Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty said the urgent changes would help facilitate the initial stages of the recovery and provide legal certainty where needed. “The legislation also removes red tape. Extending the period for a food business to renew its registration will mean that it can continue operating post the cyclone without impractical administrative deadlines. These amendments will add certainty for businesses, help ensure food security by facilitating affected businesses to remain open throughout this uncertain period.”
