Outgoing South Waikato District mayor Jenny Shattock, who is retiring in October, says she is proud of the council’s achievements.
Shattock was the district’s first female mayor and has been with the council for 24 years, six of those as mayor.
“We are on the rise … South Waikato has become a place of choice, people want to come here to live, work and play,” she said.
“We also attracted a couple of new businesses to the district including [agriculture business] OLAM and the South Waikato Trades Training Centre. We upgraded the Tokoroa town centre, built 600 new sections … [and] we got the sports and event centre underway, which is a real jewel in our crown.
“We now need to keep the accelerator on.”
However, a number of challenges still lie ahead. “The economic development, local government reform and environmental challenges to name a few. But nothing local government can’t cope with.”
She acknowledges that the time is right for her departure. “It’s time to move on … We need someone younger, with more diverse ideas.”
She said she looks forward to spending more time with her husband and grandchildren, and travelling, in her retirement.
