Conceptual image of new Peacocke community Hamilton City Council has approved the... More
Closes 5 November 2021
As part of our ongoing focus on safer streets for all, we’re proposing a speed limit change from... More
Closes 18 November 2021
Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes. See all outcomes
In May 2021, we conducted the annual survey that captures the community’s perception of safety in the central city and helps ensure the actions and activities occurring as part of our Central City Safety Strategy are still working or what areas need to be focused on.
Over four weeks, we received 799 submissions. Some of the themes as to why people feel safe in our central city included crowds, security officers including the City Safe team and good lighting in certain parts of the central city. Some of the themes as to why people feel unsafe in our central city included the presence of homeless people, anti-social behaviour including fights, gatherings of youths loitering, intoxicated people and lack of road safety.
The results were reported to the Community Committee meeting in August 2021 for their review and will be used to inform Council on priorities and activities to focus on improving safety in the central city for the next financial year.
In May 2021 we asked for feedback on open air burning in Hamilton Kirikiriroa and invited Hamiltonians to share their thoughts on a proposal to revoke the existing Open Air Burning Bylaw 2015.
After a comprehensive review, Council recognised that it was no longer fit for purpose it and was no longer required. This was because the rules covered in the Bylaw are now better addressed by other regulations and certain fire control responsibilities have transferred from Hamilton City Council to the new Fire and Emergency New Zealand organisation (FENZ).
We received 31 responses on our proposal, with a variety of different feedback points. Submitter views were evenly spread between the two options, with 45% supporting the revocation of the bylaw (14 submitters) and 55% preferring to retain the Bylaw (17 submitters).
The 14 submitters in favour of revoking the Bylaw supported reducing unnecessary regulation, and noted that Council waste services are sufficient to manage waste without needing to burn rubbish.
Of the 17 submitters who supported keeping the bylaw, nine submitters made comments in their submission – including eight who misinterpreted the impact of the Bylaw itself. This included misunderstanding which regulations manage the burning of rubbish and concern that revoking the Bylaw would mean Council wouldn’t respond to outdoor burning causing a nuisance. Some submitters also misinterpreted that the change would mean traditional open air cooking/braziers will be banned.
Feedback was discussed at the Community Committee meeting on 26 August and Council staff recommend revoking the Open Air Burning Bylaw because the Open Air Burning Bylaw is no longer the most effective means to manage open air burning in Hamilton.
Council took submitters feedback into account and made the decision to revoke the Bylaw. Changes come into effect on 30 September 2021.
This means that from 5 October 2021, complaints about open air burning in the city will be responded to as usual, but if enforcement action is required, it will be taken under the Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw.
Council is also working to provide better resources to ensure there are no major misunderstandings when it comes to reporting fires and open air burning in Hamilton.
Information on managing open air fires can be found here.
In response to a NZ Police request to address illegal and inappropriate behaviour in The Boulevard area (Te Rapa), we proposed a night-time Light Motor Vehicle Prohibition, under the Hamilton Traffic Bylaw 2015. This proposal was consulted on with the businesses and property owners located in this area on these streets: The Boulevard, Kahu Crescent, Norman Hayward Place, Parkinson Place, Udy Place, Barnett Place, De Leeuw Place and Simsey Place.
The businesses and property owners in this area were in favour of supporting the Light Motor Vehicle Prohibition, which means cars, utes and vans are banned from these streets between the hours of 9pm and 4am, unless they are there on legitimate business.
The Light Motor Vehicle Prohibition was accepted and will be brought into effect in 2021.