Community Board Update
Plenty to discuss as Petone?s projects and events begin to roll into town By Tim O?Connell As 2009 enters its second month, various community boards around the Hutt Valley are preparing to reconvene. Petone Community Board Chairman Gerald Davidson said there will be plenty to catch up on at their first meeting scheduled for February 16. ?I?ve seen a copy of the draft agenda for the next meeting and it already looks very full.? Discussion on the allocation of the community engagement fund will take place at the meeting. Upcoming events and projects in the Petone business district are also expected to be focal points. The Petone Rotary Fair is on the immediate horizon, with the February 21 fair expected to bring thousands into Jackson Street. ?Things are falling into place nicely. ?All we can hope for now is the weather to turn out fine,? Mr Davidson said. The Milestone Mile race, featuring Nick Willis and a quality field of international runners is the other big occasion on the local calendar. Milestone Financial Services are sponsoring the March 10 race but Mr Davidson says it is the support of local community groups and organisations that have also helped to make the race a reality. ?There have been a lot of people that have gotten behind the event and contributed, and offers were made to help with advertising and such.? It is understood that the race was eligible for funding from the community engagement fund, although Mr Davidson did not wish to elaborate on whether an application was made. ?It certainly qualifies for the fund and meets the appropriate criteria because it is a community event.? Long term in 2009, Mr Davidson said work on the McKenzie Pool development and plans to get local studies? archive collection online are expected to be completed.
