Crowd pleaser: Punters soak up the Queenstown JazzFest at Earnslaw Park
If you honestly asked me what stood out for me in my role as mayor during October, my mind would probably automatically track down the Wastebusters file and shove it to my front lobe.
Taking a decision that overwhelmingly delivers value for money for the ratepayer but that we always anticipated would be perceived as a blow to the core of an institution with a national reputation for championing the sustainable cause ... was tough.
By the way, council’s not walking away from Wanaka Wastebusters and my sincere hope is they will grow from this. On reflection it is easy to sail on mindful of the difficult, controversial and sometimes painful stuff council does and lose sight of things that should not be lost in the wake. Yes, the Wastebusters decision was the big issue but alongside that, some cool stuff did happen last month.
Rugby World Cup goes without saying and I know there has been some pain in the district around guest and visitor numbers but the investment in the teams and the visiting international media bought us one hell of a global campaign that will pay dividends. The associated Taste Queenstown festivals made me proud – they were local, and they were real. A big thank you to everyone involved – none-the-least our wonderful RWC volunteers.
October-based Wanakafest and Queenstown Jazzfest are important events, both of which offered communities and visitors entertainment, fun and good times.
In October construction got underway of a trail that will link Arrowtown to Gibbston – how fantastic will that be? Not only will this important link be a showstopper for cycle-mad tourists but what a brilliant recreation and leisure resource for our community. Whichever way you ride you can combine two great pastimes, biking and eating!
Still on Arrowtown, the celebration of the completion of the Arrowtown cottage restoration project in October was a truly significant milestone. Blood, sweat and tears from a bunch of locals with a vision. Congratulations to the Arrowtown Trust, this would not have happened without your hard work. I’m sure it was a proud day too for John Martin who should be acknowledged for stepping in to help broker a deal that eventually saw those iconic cottages restored and safely in the ownership of the community for perpetuity.
It might not be on everyone’s radar but in October we adopted the Annual Report, council’s report card for the year that was. The great thing about that was the resident and ratepayers survey, which told us that the community is feeling more satisfied with council than it has in the last decade, up 10 per cent on last year, it’s sitting at 86 per cent satisfaction.
The one I like the best is sense of pride. In 2005 in our district the sense of pride was a shameful 39 per cent. In the last six years it has tracked up and now sits at a healthy 79.5 per cent.
On that note something that gives me a great sense of pride is one of the best perks of office.
Every so often I get to swear in new New Zealand citizens. In October I had the privilege of welcoming 15 brand new Kiwis.
Something that always gives me heart is the unbelievable commitment made in our district by volunteers. Last month it was my job to take part in judging the TrustPower Award entries. I can’t tell you who wins - that’s announced on 14 November – but what I can tell you is our community is incredible.
There is just one more thing that is deserving of a mention in here about why we need to stop every now and then and smell the kowhai. October will be remembered as the month the Kingston Flyer got back on track ...bloody magic!
Every day, every week, every month brings new challenges in this job but note to self: remember the campaign, Vanessa – “accentuate the positive”.
Vanessa van Uden is the Queenstown Lakes District mayor
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