Thank you for using Neighbourly
By local democracy reporter Lois Williams:
West Coast mayors are optimistic that some of the more stringent rules proposed for their water services might be relaxed, after a meeting in Greymouth with the government’s water regulator.
Taumata Arowai chief executive Allan Prangnell 'was… View moreBy local democracy reporter Lois Williams:
West Coast mayors are optimistic that some of the more stringent rules proposed for their water services might be relaxed, after a meeting in Greymouth with the government’s water regulator.
Taumata Arowai chief executive Allan Prangnell 'was invited to visit the region, and update councils on the government's new regulatory settings for water.
Councils around the country have 12 months from this week to file water services delivery plans with MBIE, showing how they will fix sub-standard drinking water, stormwater and wastewater systems, and how they plan to pay for them.
Buller mayor Jamie Cleine says the visit has given a glimmer of hope that some of the costliest and less achievable goals will be replaced with more pragmatic ones.
“We were looking at having to build full municipal style treatment plants for any supply with over 200 connections, but it looks as if that will change – and that could be a game changer for some of our smaller northern Buller water .”
Buller was one of 27 councils previously ordered to ramp up protozoa protection in small community water supplies by June this year.
That would have meant building treatment plants, putting ratepayers in Waimangaroa, Little Wanganui and Mokihinui in the hole for millions of dollars, Cleine said.
“The government now seems to be looking at more bespoke approach – so that might now apply to water supplies with say, 500 connections, rather than 200, which would make it more affordable."
The acceptable solution for the smaller communities might now be household filter and UV units, like the ones often used on lifestyle properties, Cleine said.
There were also signs that the government might dial back me of the stricter requirements about discharge of treated wastewater.
“At the moment the default setting (for new sewerage plants) is you can’t discharge to water no matter how well you treat it; some councils have had to buy entire dairy farms to have land to discharge to - at eye-watering costs to the ratepayers, every year, forever.”
It now seemed the government was moving towards a national standards approach, so that if councils could show treated wastewater met the standard, they would gain consent to discharge, Cleine said.
But the problem of how small councils like Buller could afford to bring its larger water systems up to scratch, still remained.
The council had to show MBIE how it planned to pay for the infrastructure it needed, either going it alone through its subsidiary company, (CCO) or combining with other councils’ CCOs in the hope of achieving economy of scale.
A Tonkin and Taylor analysis had shown there was no economic benefit to be gained by merging the water assets and loans of the three West Coast District Councils, Cleine said.
“We’ve done the work, we know what needs to be built and we know we can’t afford it. What we don’t know is what we might gain from joining forces with another district so we’ve been working with Selwyn, Tasman and Marlborough to see if there are some options there."
Grey District mayor Tania Gibson says any easing of government regulatory pressures forcing councils to spend was welcome.
Her council’s drinking water and wastewater assets are in a reasonable state, but a $50 million stormwater bill was looming for deferred maintenance and pipe renewals - with only 9000 ratepayers to foot the bill.
“We all have these phenomenal costs coming at us and though we’re in a good position compared to a lot of other councils it’s not going to be easy."
Any relaxation of government regulations forcing councils to borrow was welcome, Gibson said.
Her council had spent $45 million over ten years for a new sewage treatment plant but 2000 households still had not hooked into it.
To comply with its wastewater resource consent, the council needed everyone to separate out their stormwater from their sewers, and connect.
But drainlaying costs had soared and many people were struggling afford that, Gibson said.
“If they don’t do it by July next year, the council will have to do it for them and they’ll have to pay us back through their rates. But we’ll have to borrow to do that - and we can’t just go on borrowing.”
Connecting to the sewer on the boundary cost about $4000 10 years ago but her own most recent connection cost $12,000, the mayor said.
Westland mayor Helen Lash said her council had spent big money in the past three years, getting small community water supplies up to scratch. world std
But the challenges for her council were old pipes, the cost of a new sewage treatment plant for Hokitika.
The town’s present system pipes treated waste out to sea, and its resource consent runs out in four years.
“That’s the big one for us - it’s going to cost about $20m. We can borrow, but that’s irrelevant – it’s how do you afford to pay it back? The pressure on ratepayers is huge, and we’ve said we can’t go there.”
But said with the changes Taumata Arwai was considering, the council might be able to extend the current resource consent or modify the plan for a new plant, and the timeframe for action.
“We are going to have to wait for them to come out with their detail , and then look at how to use it for maximum gain without breaching consent or offending iwi.”
The government’s new water monitoring rules were also an issue for Westland - with its frequent weather bombs and road closures.
“The testing of the water costs an absolute fortune, and if you fail one test on the day it’s due because you can’t get down to Franz Josef because the road is out, that’s counted as non-compliance for the whole year.”
Taumata Arowai had not been aware of the road closure problem and had agreed to factor that in, by providing more flexibility with testing dates, Lash said.
“That’s given us a way forward for that – but in terms of amalgamating our water business with Grey - that won’t work for us. A joint CCO would cost more than it would save, and no larger councils want to join us."
Waiting for the government to firm up its new rules and pass legislation was frustrating, the Westland mayor said.
“Until they sort their own shit out, with all these changes we’re really in limbo. I’m not in favour of spending money if the rules are going to change. But it was really good to have a face-to-face session with Taumata Arowai – at least they’re engaging with us.”
Taumata Arowai has confirmed it discussed low-cost options to provide safe drinking water for small suppliers as an alternative to costly large scale treatment plants.
“We appreciated the invitation to meet West Coast mayors and chief executives in person,” chief executive Allan Prangnell said.
They had also talked about some “ground-breaking work” the water authority had under way on the ‘’first ever set of wastewater treatment standards in New Zealand”, Prangnell said.
Have you been using Neighbourly Groups? You may have joined some gardening groups or general chat groups over the years.
Members have told us that this part of the site isn't working as it should, so we are going to remove it for now.
So, in a few weeks Neighbourly Groups will no longer … View moreHave you been using Neighbourly Groups? You may have joined some gardening groups or general chat groups over the years.
Members have told us that this part of the site isn't working as it should, so we are going to remove it for now.
So, in a few weeks Neighbourly Groups will no longer be there. Don't worry, you can post on the noticeboard as usual!
Get in contact with our team if you have any concerns or need any help!
Are you planning your next getaway? Organising a holiday is exciting, but the journey itself can sometimes be a little overwhelming. To ensure your trip is smooth from start to finish, here are some top tips from the travel experts at You, Me and Friends to help you avoid common travel pitfalls and… View moreAre you planning your next getaway? Organising a holiday is exciting, but the journey itself can sometimes be a little overwhelming. To ensure your trip is smooth from start to finish, here are some top tips from the travel experts at You, Me and Friends to help you avoid common travel pitfalls and enjoy a carefree vacation.
Click read more for the full story.
Speed Queen
Commercial
Coin Operated
Front Loader
Selling cheap due to motor needing replacing.
… View moreSpeed Queen
Commercial
Coin Operated
Front Loader
Selling cheap due to motor needing replacing.
Dimensions:
1120mm height
680mm depth
770mm width
Originally purchased brand new in September 2017.
Pick up ASAP in Punakaiki
King Single bed on wheels.
Mattress is a commercial brand and in very good condition. No damaged springs, dips, hollows or musty smell. Very comfortable to sleep on!
Offers welcome.
Selling as we no longer need it.
Pick up ASAP from Punakaiki.
Some spare wood, used furniture or children's toys - do you mind when your neighbours leave goods on the street for others to make use of?
Share your thoughts in the comments and poll below.
Police are warning people to be on alert for the latest round of email scams referencing Police and other justice agencies.
The email claims authorities have done a search of the email recipient’s computer and located explicit illegal material.
The recipient is directed to reply within 72 … View morePolice are warning people to be on alert for the latest round of email scams referencing Police and other justice agencies.
The email claims authorities have done a search of the email recipient’s computer and located explicit illegal material.
The recipient is directed to reply within 72 hours, or a warrant will be issued for their arrest. This email is a scam and anyone who receives it should not reply under any circumstances.
Although some versions of the email do not specifically reference money, other similar scams involve the recipient being issued a ‘fine’ when they respond.
While the nature and specific details of scams often varies, it’s important to note that Police and other government agencies will never contact you out of the blue and ask for your password, credit card or bank details.
Police have received several reports of this scam and enquires are underway.
Anyone who received this email can either forward the spam email to the Department of Internal Affairs directly at complaint@spam.govt.nz or use their online reporting portal: www.reportspam.co.nz...
Police recommend taking a cautious approach to unsolicited emails. Trust your gut instinct - if it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
Information on other scams currently operating can be found on the Consumer Protection NZ website: www.consumerprotection.govt.nz...
Consumer Protection NZ, along with Netsafe, also provides helpful advice about keeping safe online.
Anyone who has received this email can report it to police online via www.police.govt.nz.... Please reference file number 240830/5842.
With a clever bit of colour matching and spot patching you can have your front door tidied up quickly.
Check out our handy advice to get the job done.
By local democracy reporter Lois Williams:
A Hokitika pensioner is staging a one-woman rate strike in protest at the amount she is being asked to pay to the West Coast Regional Council.
Liz Whiteside, 71, has written to all seven regional councillors and chief executive Darryl Lew, taking … View moreBy local democracy reporter Lois Williams:
A Hokitika pensioner is staging a one-woman rate strike in protest at the amount she is being asked to pay to the West Coast Regional Council.
Liz Whiteside, 71, has written to all seven regional councillors and chief executive Darryl Lew, taking them to task over soaring rate bills.
Whiteside said she stopped paying her WCRC rates three years ago when they went up 30%.
“You should all be ashamed of yourselves for giving ratepayers a horrendous increase,” she wrote.
This year’s 27% average increase would make the regional rates even less affordable for superannuitants, she said.
“I’m an elderly pensioner nearing the end of my life who has worked hard despite a permanent disability and I don’t agree with throwing money away on a service I am not receiving."
Superannuitants living alone are paid about $1000 a fortnight.
Whiteside said she was already paying $125 a fortnight for Grey District rates, which had risen 18 per cent this year.
“This alone takes a big chunk out of my fortnightly superannuation. But I don’t begrudge paying this due to receiving services from the District Council such as water and sewerage."
The Regional Council, on the other hand, was not providing any services she considered useful or relevant to her property, she said.
A floodwall being built by the council along the Hokitika River, to future proof the area, was in part unnecessary, Whiteside claimed.
“I have lived in my property for 44 years and the highest I’ve seen the river in flood was the water entering the gravel pit … it’s never come over the top.”
The river would have to rise another four metres to endanger surrounding homes, Whiteside claims.
The council has referred her unpaid rates to debt collection and she was receiving letters demanding payment, Whiteside said.
But she was refusing to open the envelope.
“I’m in no doubt the amount showing is now $1194.12 … money I don’t have and can’t pay.”
She had offered to drip-feed the council $20 a fortnight, for three years, which was all she could afford, she said.
Whiteside said she would fiercely resist any attempt by the council to sell her property to recover the debt.
“I will not be forced out of my own home, ever.”
Regional Council chairperson Peter Haddock said he had rung Whiteside after hearing about her concerns.
“We don’t want to put people out of their homes - we have a hardship policy and if they can’t afford their rates, they need to get in touch with our rates team and we can work out a payment plan they can afford."
He did not expect Whiteside would see a 27% increase on her rates bill, because she was not in a special rating district where landowners were paying for flood protection work.
“I would say she’s probably going to have about a 15 percent increase, and I’ve put her in touch with the right person at the council to help her out with a payment plan she can afford."
Councillor Allan Birchfield, who raised the pensioner’s rates complaint with LDR, said many West Coast superannuitants would be in the same position.
“People are doing it bloody hard out there, and the old people especially – they can’t afford these rates, and they can’t see what they’re getting for their money.”
The council had turned into a bloated monster, with more than 80 staff, Birchfield said.
“A lot of those people would be on more than $100,000 - that’s where all the money’s going,” Birchfield said.
Haddock said the council had been forced to use contractors in recent years, but under a new chief executive they had been able to recruit staff to fill long-standing vacancies.
The regional council has had to borrow and rate to cover the multi-million dollar cost of the coast’s new Te Tai o Poutini District Plan – a job imposed on it by the Local Government Commission.
It also borrows to cover the cost of river works and flood protection schemes, but landowners in special rating districts up and down the coast repay the loans over time through additional rates.
By local democracy reporter Lois Williams:
Responding to official information requests is costing the West Coast Regional Council more than $100,000 a year, councillors have been told.
The council’s Risk and Assurance committee discussed a staff report on Tuesday (August 27) showing that … View moreBy local democracy reporter Lois Williams:
Responding to official information requests is costing the West Coast Regional Council more than $100,000 a year, councillors have been told.
The council’s Risk and Assurance committee discussed a staff report on Tuesday (August 27) showing that in the three months to the end of June, the council had 26 requests for official information, including one that asked for all current resource consents and their GIS locations.
Under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, councils must respond as promptly as they can to requests, within 20 days.
All but one had been provided within the statutory timeframe, staffer Jo Field told councillors.
A request filed on 29 December last year had been the subject of a complaint to the Ombudsman after it was lost in the system during the council’s holiday period.
The LGOIMA requests came from members of the public as well as media, and while some were simple enough, others were complex.
An unusual query, asking what contracts the council had with former Cabinet Minister Steven Joyce, was easily disposed of: the answer was none.
Others, relating to reports on the Westport floods and coastal hazard mapping, were more complicated.
Requests refused by the council included one asking for Civil Defence community contacts (declined on privacy grounds) and one asking for correspondence about the Taylorville Resource Park (on grounds of legal privilege).
Chief executive Darryl Lew said OIA requests were on the increase right across central and local government and were also becoming more complex.
Responding to them was creating more work for staff.
“If I totaled up the cost it would be about $120,000 in staff time. It’s a cost of doing business and we don’t have any latitude to opt out.”
The council did not have an in-house specialist to deal with LGOIMA requests and needed to think about the best way of delivering the service, Lew said.
The council had the option of charging for some of the work involved in responses, he confirmed.
Chair Frank Dooley said the council needed to weigh up its options.
“The media is very important on the West Coast – it’s important to the community; we have to balance the need to provide information in an open and transparent manner, as opposed to cost.”
Lew agreed to come up with a paper analysing the issues involved, for councillors to consider at their next meeting.
Our village is open and you’re invited to explore it. Discover our living and care options, tour our show homes, and see the amenities on offer.
Come along and experience why New Zealanders have voted us most trusted brand, for the tenth time.
We look forward to seeing you.
The meaning of retirement is changing. It’s no longer just about saying goodbye to work - it’s now an opportunity to try something new or keep doing what you love. Rather than hanging up their hats, many of today’s retirees are redefining this phase by staying active through part-time jobs, … View moreThe meaning of retirement is changing. It’s no longer just about saying goodbye to work - it’s now an opportunity to try something new or keep doing what you love. Rather than hanging up their hats, many of today’s retirees are redefining this phase by staying active through part-time jobs, volunteering, or even launching new careers.
Living in a retirement village doesn’t necessarily mean you’re done with work either; rather, it offers the opportunity to explore different activities, pursue long-held passions, and discover new interests. In fact, many people find the lifestyle gives them more freedom to stay engaged and active through work they enjoy.
Click read more for the full story.
Just for a little bit of fun, we'd love to know whether Kiwis believe in ghosts. What goes on in our communities that we don't know about!
Perhaps you've seen a ghost or lived in a haunted home in New Zealand. We'd love to know, so vote in our poll and share your experiences … View moreJust for a little bit of fun, we'd love to know whether Kiwis believe in ghosts. What goes on in our communities that we don't know about!
Perhaps you've seen a ghost or lived in a haunted home in New Zealand. We'd love to know, so vote in our poll and share your experiences in the comments below.
For only $15 a ticket, you could be in to win this brand-new, fully furnished Jennian home located in picturesque Cooks Beach, worth over $1.2 million dollars.
Featuring three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, this home is waiting to be loved by its new … View moreFor only $15 a ticket, you could be in to win this brand-new, fully furnished Jennian home located in picturesque Cooks Beach, worth over $1.2 million dollars.
Featuring three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, this home is waiting to be loved by its new owner.
Make this coastal property your permanent residence, a holiday home, a rental, or you can simply sell it!
Get your tickets today at heartlottery.org.nz.
Father’s Day is just one week away! This year, give him a gift that truly keeps on giving: a magazine subscription. We've curated a special collection just for Father’s Day that he's bound to love. Plus, enjoy the added bonus of free shipping throughout New Zealand.
… View moreFather’s Day is just one week away! This year, give him a gift that truly keeps on giving: a magazine subscription. We've curated a special collection just for Father’s Day that he's bound to love. Plus, enjoy the added bonus of free shipping throughout New Zealand.
Visit mags4gifts.co.nz before 1 September to enjoy generous savings of up to 29%* on magazine subscriptions. Don’t forget to include a personalised message with our free e-card service. *T&Cs apply.
The team at Mags4Gifts
© Neighbourly 2024
Loading…
