A milestone at the turn of the year – New Year's greetings

New Year's greeting from the mayor

New Year is a time when many people reflect on the year's victories and achievements, and on what they had planned to do. Behind us is a rather vibrant and enjoyable year for the City of Hafnarfjörður, which was characterised by different challenges and by paving the way for the future. I look forward with optimism and look forward to the coming months with my people. All projects require preparation, and we, the staff of Hafnarfjörður, have spent the year preparing for the coming weeks and months, which will be characterised by increased services, more construction projects, and increased maintenance that has been lacking for years.

Focus on infrastructure and services provided

We need to take good care of our infrastructure and assets, of the services provided, and of the works necessary to be able to deliver the exemplary service for which we want to be known. In the new year, the focus will be on strengthening and bolstering the council's professional departments specifically to enhance our human resources, the workforce as a whole, and thereby the services provided to all relevant parties. For me as the mayor, it is a major milestone to see that in the new financial year, almost 400 million kronor will be allocated to long-awaited development and strengthening. These are millions that will be spent on projects that have been on the professional departments' wish list for some time, but for which there has been little scope for investment. In the new year, we will increase spending on snow clearance, street sweeping, grass cutting and the town's cleaning. 150 million will go into the education development fund, which covers, among other things, equipment, courses and the implementation of new technology. We will continue the renewal of computer equipment in schools; in the current financial year, almost a third of the primary schools' computer equipment was renewed. Our multi-disciplinary department at Lækjarskóli has received increased funding, a fantastic and much-needed service that provides for an important group of citizens who require adapted education and encouragement. Nursery school teachers and managers will receive increased funding for preparation, and the allowance for parents with children in private childcare is being increased. This year, we aim to implement measures to increase teacher job satisfaction and improve their working environment, as well as to raise the educational level of staff in homes for people with disabilities. A new primary school will begin operating in temporary premises this year. This list is not exhaustive, and more service-oriented measures are in the pipeline.

Major projects in the new year

We will carry out projects worth around 3.5 billion króna this year. A new 60-bed care home will be built at Sólvang, with plans to connect the new building to the existing one and partly use Sólvang as a service centre for the municipality's elderly residents. We are still hopeful that we can add a further 20 nursing home places to those already planned, as the need is certainly there. Skarðshlíð as a whole will be one of the major projects of the year, and development will begin as soon as the snow melts and the ground thaws. We have already allocated plots in Skarðshlíð for 18 blocks of flats with 167 apartments. ASÍ had previously been allocated a plot for 32 flats and, in total over four years, will be allocated plots for 150 flats intended for rent for lower-income individuals. An area higher up the slope, intended for detached, semi-detached and terraced houses, is in the design and planning process, which is currently being advertised and is scheduled to conclude in early January. We need a new school in the area, both to welcome new residents properly and, not least, to ease the pressure on Hraunvallar School, which is now quite full, for both its nursery and primary schools. Construction on a new nursery and primary school in Skarðshlíð will begin this year. A new training and coaching facility will be built on Haukar's grounds in Ásvellir in the new year, which will further boost the sporting life in the Firth. In addition, the artificial turf at FH will be renewed. We added three social housing units in 2016 and will allocate a further 200 million krónur to social housing in the new year.

Building on a good and strong foundation for the future

I have been the Mayor of the Borough of Hafnarfjörður for just over two years and, during this time, have experienced significant changes and opportunities for projects and improvements. To some extent, the changes follow the development taking place in society. To another extent, they stem from a change in thinking and a reorganisation of the council's operations. Running a council is little different from running a business. The operation needs to be self-sustaining and the service must live up to its reputation so that current „customers“ continue to be customers and new ones are added. As a municipality, we aim to be a model in this respect and build everything on a good and solid foundation for the future. Indeed, the opportunities for development and implementation in Hafnarfjörður are already numerous, and new opportunities open up almost daily. Development and growth depend on how receptive we are, as a local authority and a community, to innovations, changes and additions across a diverse range of fields. The Dvergur building will be demolished, and this will significantly alter the townscape of Hafnarfjörður's town centre. All signs point to Hafró setting up at the Port of Hafnarfjörður, which is undergoing major redevelopment, and a flyover will hopefully finally be built at the Reykjanesbraut / Krýsuvíkurveg and a large hotel in the planning stages by the Fjord which could significantly change the retail and service sector in the area and bring us more domestic and international tourists, to name but a few. We have taken little part in the rapid growth of the tourism industry and, as a community, have considerable potential to gain. After all, we are the place that most tourists pass through on their way to and from the country, and we have everything it takes to cater for them well with a diverse range of experiences and services, natural beauty and hospitality. I am proud of the steps we have taken towards development; I believe we have carefully considered every move, and that this will pay off in the long run. We still hold on to our values and want, and indeed must, steer our own course. Now is the time for action, and this will be in collaboration with all relevant parties. We trust that companies and individuals will jump on board with us, and we will do our utmost to pave the way.
The year 2015 was characterised by analyses, figures and operational reviews. The year 2016 was characterised by restructuring, prioritising projects, coordinating staff and, in the end, an important overview and understanding of the council's position. 2017 will be characterised by increased services and projects which, in the long term, will strengthen the position of the municipality, enhance it and make it even more attractive for residents and businesses. This will be achieved through our collective effort, positivity, and by looking at our local area with new opportunities and possibilities in mind. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents and businesses of Hafnarfjörður for a good year in every respect. I also thank all the good people who work for the town for their contribution and work for the benefit of the town and, by extension, the community of Hafnarfjörður.

Let's make it our New Year's resolution to grow and flourish in our projects, and to enjoy being alive. 
My best New Year's greetings to you all, with gratitude for the year that is passing.

Haraldur L. Haraldsson, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður