Whakatāne District Council is inviting residents to help shape a new service aimed at improving access to Council services for those living in outlying communities.
The Honoa Hapori Community Connections Service will feature two specially equipped vans designed to act as mobile hubs of engagement. The project is being externally funded with $500,000 from the Department of Internal Affairs Better Off Funding.
Whakatāne District Council General Manager Community Experience Georgina Fletcher explained the vision behind the project. “Our district is large, and we understand that getting to a Council building isn’t always easy. We know how important it is that we provide greater accessibility to our services, particularly to our remote communities. Our aim is to bridge this gap so that residents feel connected and supported by their Council.”
The two vans will provide access to IT equipment, information, and some Council services. To make this new service as effective and relevant as possible, the Council is asking the community for feedback on which services the vans should offer, and the information and equipment the vans should carry. Mrs Fletcher explains that this is a community service, so it needs to be designed with community input. “We have an idea, but we need help to shape the service and understand better what the community needs.”
“Which Council services are most important to have on the road and have access to? That might be having someone available to talk with about your rates, having access to printing and library services, or finding out about events and activities in the community. This is everyone’s chance to tell us what they think by completing our survey.”
Community feedback is now open and will close on Monday, 28 October. Residents are encouraged to learn more and complete the short survey by heading to whakatane.govt.nz/community-connections .
Once feedback has been gathered, the Council will finalise the service's details, including where the vans will go, how frequently they will visit, and which services will be provided.