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After five years at the helm of the Matakana Community Group (MCG), outgoing chair Simon Barclay said dealing with Auckland Council remained the biggest stumbling block to getting things done.
Speaking at the MCG annual meeting on November 26, he said the community had achieved a great deal, but could achieve even more if only Council would allow it.
“It never ceases to amaze me that if you can disengage from Council and engage with local contractors, there’s nothing we can’t achieve,” he said. “But the hardest thing is to get Council to say ‘we have no money for that, but you can get on with it’ – that’s a major stumbling block.”
Highlights during Simon’s tenure included the new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the Matakana River, the bridge across the Tamahunga stream, refurbishment of the tennis courts and the establishment of a thriving tennis club, removal of drains along Matakana Valley Road, completion of the free carpark and initiating a plan for shared use of Jubilee Park between the community and Matakana Pony Club.
“These have only succeeded as a result of a great deal of cooperation, fundraising and hard work by a lot of people. We have such a marvellous and generous community,” Dr Barclay said.
Officers elected at the meeting were: Chair Rachel Demler, deputy chair Ivan Wagstaff, secretary Liz Sharek, treasurer Fiona Strathern and communications Janis Grummit and Jenni Francis.
The MCG meets at 7.30pm on the last Tuesday of the month, in the meeting room beside the Matakana Hall (no meeting in December). All welcome.
Info: matakanacommunitygroup.org or Matakana Community Group on Facebook
