With the new financial year in full swing and elected members' calendars quickly booking up, the momentum of getting work done is gaining a rapid pace.

Not long after budgeting $250,000 for water quality improvements in Lake Hood, we have already started work on the new channel to improve water flow.

Work has begun on rebuilding 16 of the 51 housing units at Friendship Lane, in Ashburton, to provide modern and warm accommodation for elderly persons.

The $4.6 million Mount Somers drinking water treatment plant has been supplying membrane-treated water to the township for a few weeks now and is in the final stages of commissioning.

The community is invited to come along and see their new water treatment plant on 29 August. It will be opened by the Mayor in the morning and then it will be open to the community from 2-4pm the same day.

Also for the community, we’re hosting Career Fest with Mayors Taskforce for Jobs and the Ministry of Social Development.

Employers will be at the Hampstead sports grounds on 24 August, from 10am-2pm, to inspire those looking for work or to upskill or find a new job.

Our new Parkinson’s Play exercise class is proving popular at EA Networks Centre, every Thursday at 1.30pm, and is aimed at improving mobility.

Also busy is our grants team. Our August grants and funding round is open throughout August for local community groups across three categories: Heritage, Trail Maintenance and Creative Communities.

Whilst momentum is great, it’s also worthwhile reflecting on progress.

We received the results of our annual residents’ survey last week which is seeing a continued increase in residents’ overall satisfaction, having reached 70 per cent this year.

I’d like to acknowledge our hard-working team of council staff.

Residents’ satisfaction in staff performance rose from seven points to 90 per cent, a very pleasing result showing that the vast majority of our community appreciate the expertise, effort and attitude staff show as we go about our work.

I’m pleased to see satisfaction with local infrastructure continue to show improvement year-on-year and in some cases remain steady because that’s where we continue to have a strong focus.

It was great to see a modest lift in satisfaction with our roading, let’s hope the dry weather continues to support us in keeping on top of our work programme.