SEPTEMBER 2013 NOTICEBOARD OUR TOWN, OUR DISTRICT Public feedback sought on Parks, Recreation and Facility Strategy The blossom trees are a feature of the Charlton Park Cemetery. How the Council manages the cemeteries in the district is part of the Parks, Recreation and Facility Strategy, presently open for consultation. Why vote? Why not Voting papers for this year’s local body elections have been arriving in people’s mailboxes the last few days. Now it’s time for the really important task of voting. Some may ask why vote? Well, why not. Every three years, you have the opportunity to decide who will be making those important decisions about our district. Your vote provides councillors with a mandate, and ensures they reﬂect the community’s values and understand local priorities. Some may argue that people can hardly complain about their elected members’ priorities if they haven’t exercised their right to vote. Voting is your opportunity to have a say, yet it’s one that many take for granted. In the Gore District voter turnout has been steadily declining from 70.9 percent in the 2001 elections to 50.6 percent in 2010. If you haven’t received your voting papers by now, contact the Gore District Electoral Ofﬁcer Tony Shepherd, phone 2090345. The same applies to people who are not on the electoral roll or have been only recently added; or maybe you have lost your voting papers or they have been ruined. The Electoral Ofﬁcer can provide you with Special Voting Documents to make sure you have your say. Voting is open until noon on 12 October. To cast your vote, return it in the prepaid envelope that is in your voting pack, or drop it in the ballot box at the Council’s civic administration building. The Gore District Council’s public gardens are often praised as being among the best in the country. The town’s recreational facilities are so good even the Australian netball team wanted to train here. Over the next month the Council is keen to hear what its residents think about the gardens and recreational facilities, as it seeks feedback on the recently released Parks, Recreation and Facility Strategy. The strategy details the provision of parks and recreational facilities in the District, and the levels of service. It reviews services to ensure they are being effectively and efﬁciently delivered, and will meet future needs. Parks and recreation manager Ian Soper said the strategy’s purpose includes analysing current and future demand for parks, and identify existing deﬁciencies and future needs for each park category. He encouraged people to make a submission. “If you want to have your say on such things as the future management of the gardens, the number of playgrounds in Gore, or you just want to tell the Council things are pretty good as they are, then pick up a submission form.” The strategy covers a 10-year period to 2023, with a review in ﬁve years (2018) to reﬂect actual growth, and community expectations and need. More information about the strategy and submission forms are available on the Council’s website www.goredc.govt.nz or can be picked up from the civic administration building, Gore Library and Mataura service centre. Submissions close on 30 October. Scholarship Applications Open If you are going onto tertiary education next year, or undertaking a trade apprenticeship, the Gore District Council has two funding opportunities you can apply for. They are: GORE DISTRICT COUNCIL TERTIARY EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP The Council has two scholarships, valued at $750 each, for school leavers aged 19 years or younger, who live in the Gore District and will be studying at a tertiary level next year. As well as the one-off grant, scholarship recipients may be offered up to 10 weeks paid work experience at the Council, during the summer holidays. Applications close on 31 October. For further information please contact Community Development Ofﬁcer Melissa Smith at [email protected] or phone (03) 2090388. * ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** PIONEER WOMEN’S MEMORIAL TRUST The Trust offers three educational bursaries to students who are contemplating tertiary education or a trade apprenticeship. They are available to students who are, or who have been, pupils at Gore High School, St Peter’s College, Blue Mountain College and Menzies College. Applications close on 24 October. For further information please contact Corporate Support Ofﬁcer Tracey Millan at [email protected] or phone (03) 2090385. Forms and criteria for both of these funds are available online at www.goredc.govt.nz, or at the Council’s civic administration building, in Gore, Mataura Service Centre, and the Gore Library. Get in the Swim With summer approaching, it’s as important as ever to make sure children are conﬁdent in the water and have some swimming skills. The Leaping Frogs Swim School caters for all ages and levels of experience, and is now taking bookings for a two-week school holiday swim programme as well as term four. Leaping Frogs offers small classes and quality lessons by its qualiﬁed, friendly instructors. To book or ﬁnd out more contact staff at the Gore Multisports Aquatic Centre, phone 2039128. Holiday Programme The Gore and Mataura libraries are making sure children have plenty to do during the school holidays with activities from Tuesday through to Friday, both weeks. Gore Library – Monster Mayhem • 1 October: Paper monsters • 3 October: Door hangers • 8 October: Pencil holder • 10 October: Finger puppets Mataura Library – Woolly Good Fun • 2 October: Pom-pom pet • 4 October: Woolly art • 9 October: Wool octopus • 11 October: Bouncing fuzzy spider Remember: MATAURA POOL OPENING Only two days to go! That’s right, the Mataura pool opens this Saturday for the new season, from 1pm to 5pm. All the fun equipment will be out, the water will be nice and warm, so join Donna, Jo and the team for opening day. CONTACT NUMBERS: Rates Enquiries ................................... 2038115 Council Administration...................... 2090330 Gore Library......................................... 2039129 Gore Multisports Complex................. 2039128 • All programmes are free and start at 10.30am. • Bookings are essential and the library needs to be told of cancellations because there are often children on the waiting list. • The activities are suitable for ages ﬁve and up. Children should wear old clothing as it could get marked. Eastern Southland Gallery................. 2089907 Destination Gore Visitor Centre........2039288 Mataura Library/Service Centre........ 2038115 James Cumming Wing......................... 2090358 Float registration closes on Friday 29 November 2013 Registration forms available from the Council’s website www.goredc.govt.nz or email [email protected] Kids – don’t forget the best decorated bicycle/scooter competition and win great prizes. For more information contact the Council, phone 03 209 0330 STICKY NOTES A Trip Down Memory Lane Join the staff at the Gore Librar y to celebrate Greats and Grands mo nth, on 23 October. It will be a chance to reminisce about the good old days, when a play station was the tree hut and the party line was the only form of social me dia. The morning is being organised by Avis McDonald and starts at 10am. Plea se contact the library, phone 203912 9, if you want to attend as there are limited places. DUST SUPPRESSION Dust from gravel roads is a nuisance and can impact on road safety, which is why some people put used oil on sections of road to suppress the dust. However, you must get permission from the Council and the activity must be carried out by an approved applicator. Roading manager Murray Hasler says now is the time to either apply for an oil permit or renew last year’s one. It’s as easy as calling the roading team, phone 2090330. Dog poo ed to be Dog owners are remind any little messages responsible and pick up s leave behind on their canine companion be ﬁned $300. the street, or they could sing number of rea There have been an inc t dog poo littering complaints lately abou is it unsightly but the footpaths. Not only zard if washed into it could pose a health ha which ultimately the stormwater system, So next time you ends up our waterways. make sure you have take the dog for a walk, clean up after it. something suitable to www.goredc.govt.nz www.facebook.com/GoreDC 5654127AA