Canterbury ratepayers face 17.9% rates hike
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Canterbury households are facing a lower than expected rates rise after the regional council found savings, including delaying some transport projects.
After two days of deliberations last week, Environment Canterbury pulled back its proposed average rates rise from 24.2% to 17.9%.
Acting chairperson Craig Pauling said there were some tense negotiations, but he was pleased with the outcome.
The councillors voted on 15 main resolutions, with several resulting in close division among the 16 councillors, he said.
‘‘Even though it was tense throughout, there was good support at the end and people felt there was some good give and take in the room,’’ Pauling said.
‘‘The feeling in the room was, ‘we have done all we could have’.’’
More than 1300 submissions were received on the draft long-term plan, with 153 making oral presentations during the hearings, which were held over four days.
‘‘We tested the water with some bold options in our consultation and the response demonstrated there were mixed views, with some saying we needed to deliver more, while others identified we could make savings or prioritise work,’’ Pauling said.
Savings were made by delaying some of the proposed public transport projects, including delaying work on a mass transit business case until year 2 and postponing bus route improvement work until year three.
‘‘It makes sense to delay this work so we have a better idea of where the Government and Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency) are heading,’’ Pauling said.
‘‘Some councillors thought we should be more cautious, but if we don’t put it in the plan, we don’t get anything from Waka Kotahi.’’
About three-quarters of submissions supported the council increasing its spending on ‘‘river resilience’’, including flood protection, and pest and weed control.
The council is proposing to invest $25 million a year, over the next 10 years, to boost flood protection.
There was strong support for a district-wide rate for river resilience in Selwyn, and the council was considering similar options from the Ashley Rakahuri River and other rivers in South Canterbury.
Pauling said it would need support from the community, local councils and ultimately central Government.
‘‘Over the last five years we have been getting more and more requests for how we might move forward in addressing our rivers.
‘‘It is recognition that rivers are important to everybody.’’
He said river resilience was a national issue, as disruption to bridges on major routes could affect the whole country.
‘‘Room for rivers’’ was an important conversation and could be achieved by buying land, such as Environment Canterbury buying land beside the Ashburton River.
Another example was the Waimakariri District Council’s land purchase on Lineside Rd, beside the Cam Ruataniwha River.
‘‘By acquiring the land we can do something great for the community,’’ Pauling said.
Council staff will now finalise the long-term plan before it is audited by Audit New Zealand and adopted by councillors on June 26.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Teacher shortage eases in Canterbury schools
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
After a difficult few years, North Canterbury school principals say they have plenty of quality teachers to choose from.
A global teacher shortage in recent years has seen local schools competing against Auckland principals for staff at university recruiting events.
But education advocate Simon Green said heading into term four, local primary schools were well placed ‘‘to fill their vacant positions from a good pool of quality applicants’’.
Green is the Rangiora High School board of trustees presiding member, and is a leadership adviser with Evaluation Associates, working with principals and school boards in Otago and Canterbury.
While there is a slight overall drop in primary school rolls in North Canterbury, he said more specialist structured literacy teachers were required.
Additional classroom release time for teachers meant relief teachers were also needed.
‘‘The secondary school job market remains challenging for our high school principals,’’ he said.
Rangiora High School has 22 vacancies for next year, mainly due to short term teaching positions, promotions and new opportunities opening up.
But principal Bruce Kearney said the positions are filling up fast.
The school roll is expected to close in on 1800 students next year, but Kearney said growth could begin to slow down, in the short term at least.
‘‘Our role can fluctuate depending on the rolls of our contributing schools and there is a sense we are seeing the end of a bubble.’’
Longer term that could change with new sub-divisions planned in the Waimakariri district.
‘‘We don’t want to grow much more,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘But I don’t think it would make economic sense for the Government to build a new secondary school on a new site when both Rangiora and Kaiapoi have land for more growth.
‘‘Communities may need to accept that big schools are more economical. Auckland has been managing schools of up to 3000 students for years.’’
Kearney said it was possible the Ministry of Education could build another primary school across the road from Rangiora High School, next to the school farm, in 10 years time.
Last year Kaiapoi High School had 22 vacancies to fill, but principal Jason Reid said he has just one vacancy advertised on the Education Gazette, for now.
For the first time in a decade Kaiapoi will have a slight dip in its year 9 roll for next year.
‘‘I don’t think it is indicative of anything other than a population blip,’’ Reid said.
With several contributing schools, including Woodend School and Te Kura o Tuahiwi, bursting at the seams, growth at Kaiapoi High School is set to continue for sometime yet.
For now, Reid is expecting the roll to remain at 1080 next year, just under the site capacity of 1100.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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New Amberley community board confirmed
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A new community board has been confirmed by Hurunui’s south ward.
The Local Government Commission has rejected an appeal against the establishment of a community board for next year’s local government election in the Hurunui District Council’s south ward, which includes Amberley.
Eleven objections were received, but just one, Amberley District Residents’ Association chairperson Roy Myers, gave an oral presentation to commissioners at a hearing last month.
Several objectors preferred the existing ward committee structure, which comprised representatives from residents’ associations, the Amberley Reserves Advisory Group, the Hurunui Youth Council and three independent members.
But the commissioners agreed with the council’s position that a community board elected by the community at large would be more democratic.
‘‘It may potentially attract candidates who may not have been traditionally in a position that would result in their becoming members of the ward committee,’’ the commissioners said.
South ward councillor Vanessa McPherson said she is ‘‘delighted with the outcome’’.
‘‘The decision reinforces the robust process undertaken by the council to deliver an outcome that will provide a fair and effective representation of benefit to the entire south ward.’’
But Myers said he is disappointed with the decision, which he believes is based on ‘‘wrong information’’.
‘‘The argument was that a community board would be able to be more strategic in its decision making.
‘‘But the existing ward committee doesn’t have any money to spend.’’
Hurunui mayor Marie Black told the commission a walking and cycling fund of $370,000 has been established from development contributions since 2010, but the ward committee has been unable to agree on how to spend it.
But Myers rejected this and said the ward committee was unaware ‘‘we were able to spend it’’.
‘‘How are these five representatives going to be in contact with the community?
‘‘Under the present structure, you have residents’ groups which represent their communities.’’
While the new community board will have five board members, the commissioners reduced the number of elected councillors on the board from four to two.
The commissioners’ also recommended a Hurunui Youth Council representative be appointed as an observer.
Remuneration of board members would cost $36,078 a year, or $20 per south ward ratepayer per year.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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