Tararua towns must pull together, mayor urges

UPBEAT: Mark Maxwell, council economic development and communications manager. PHOTO/CHRISTINE McKAY

Last week's Manawatu Gorge meeting in Woodville was always going to be challenging, but Mayor Tracey Collis says people did get a commitment from NZTA on the future options.

"NZTA have done a lot of maintenance on the Saddle Rd, but they heard loud and clear, what people's expectations are," she said.

"There's very little doubt we are going to get a permanent solution to the closure of State Highway 3."

There had also been positive news for Woodville, with road counts last week showing 74 per cent of the traffic coming off the Saddle Rd was going through Woodville.

"I'm monitoring those road counts four times a week and I can see from the traffic flows what steps being taken are working," Mrs Collis said.

"My personal goal every week is to have 70 per cent of that traffic flowing through Woodville."

And Mrs Collis and Mark Maxwell, Tararua District Council's economic development and communications manager, said it was important to make people want to stop in Woodville.

"It is a destination with a lot to offer," Mrs Collis said.

Mr Maxwell is working with iSite staff to monitor events in neighbouring areas, encouraging businesses to build on themes to attract visitors.

"If businesses are aware of what's going on, they can take advantage," he said.

"It's about businesses being open and welcoming."

Mrs Collis said the Tararua district was resilient because it had needed to be in the past.

"We'll innovate and get creative, but my real concern is the division between towns," she said.

"We need to stay very strong and together in challenging Government for a solution.

"I firmly believe we will be stronger because of this [closure of State Highway 3].

"A lot of people in the district are working so hard to make it successful."

Mrs Collis said she had ideas, including becoming the brightest daffodil-day district during the Cancer Society's August promotion.

"If the sunshine isn't coming, let's make it ourselves."

Staying positive, Mrs Collis and Mr Maxwell said they believed our district had reached the low, since the closure of the gorge on April 24, and things could only get better.

"Working with NZTA, I'm confident of positive outcomes," Mrs Collis said.

"It's time to find our new normal between now and Christmas."

Mr Maxwell agreed.

"It's important to come up with ideas of what we can all do between now and December.

"If anyone is facing challenges they can give us a call at the Tararua Business Network. We are here to help," he said.

* If you need help, contact the Tararua Business Network on 06 374 4989.