Long Term Community Plan 2012-2022 - Hurunui District Council

www.hurunui.govt.nz
• In response to growth and demand, a purpose designed
medical centre was built in Hanmer Springs in 2008
• Hanmer Springs has a combined emergency response
facility which houses Fire, Police, and Ambulance
services
Ward Governance
District Councillors are responsible for representing the
interests of their ward, setting Council policies and monitoring
the Council’s performance. They are elected every three years
by the voters of their ward.
The Hanmer Springs Ward is currently represented by one
councillor:
Michael Malthus (who is also Deputy Mayor).
In addition, the Hanmer Springs Ward has the publicly elected
Hanmer Springs Community Board. The current representatives
on the Board are;
Jason Fletcher (Chair)
Bill Clarkson
Rosemary Ensor
Kate Poiner
Chris Preston
Hanmer Springs also has its own Business Association.
Key Long Term Opportunities and
Challenges
Community:
• Target local population by 2023 of 1500 people
• Provide housing for all ages and stages of life
• Be a recognised sustainable community
• Provide access to affordable housing for the retired and
those on low incomes
• Provide village wide high speed broadband connectivity
• Extend the pedestrian friendly approach to the town
• Ensure the Queen Mary Hospital opportunities are
realised for both the business community and the
residents
Commercial and Tourism:
• A long term challenge for the Hanmer Springs Ward is
to maintain annual visitor growth
• The vesting of the 6 hectare reserve area on the Queen
Mary site represents a substantial opportunity for the
Hanmer Springs Ward and the district
• The Track Network provides a great opportunity to
add to Hanmer’s visitor attractions
• Long term security of access to the forests that
surrounds Hanmer.
• The high country areas are some of the best in new
Zealand and offer visitors unique and easy access.
• Maximisation of the commercial Zoned area in the
village
• Hanmer Springs needs to tap into the conference
market
• Hanmer Springs needs better community facilities in
order to attract and keep people
Infrastructure:
• Improved access to the high-country will open up great
opportunities for further tourism development
• Entry at State highway 7 and 7a needs to be safer and
more user friendly
• Environment Canterbury has made it a requirement
that we improve the quality of sewage outfall.
• Peak loading for water needs to be safe guarded
Key Planning Assumptions
The Hanmer Springs area is predicted to continue to grow at
above district average rates. Whilst there are some important
challenges facing tourism, it is assumed that on balance whilst
there has been an impact from the economic downturn on
international travel, the Christchurch/Canterbury market has
continue to grow, further strengthening the already strong
demand for holiday homes.
Hanmer Springs is a popular location for retirees and those able
to work from home. It is predicted that as telecommunications
and technology advance over the coming years, this market will
further increase.
The key projects table on the next page sets out the work we
are planning over the next ten years. In addition, we are also
keen to:
• Seek accreditation as a sustainable community
• Provide Village wide high speed broadband connectivity
• Seek continued funding and upgrading of the Track
Network
• Look at the purchase the Heritage Forrest and link to St
James walking/cycling /horses and extend to Woodbank
Road and Clarence Valley
• Improve the roads and access to the high-country
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