Doubts over new water authority responding to post-flood stormwater issues
From local democracy reporter Adam Burns:
There are concerns from the Waimakariri District Council about a “local response” to increasing weather events once the management of Three Waters is handed over.
An increase of flood and extreme weather events has hit the council’s resources hard in recent times due to the subsequent impact on local water infrastructure.
But there are suggestions response times to issues will leave the community even more exposed, after management of local infrastructure is absorbed by one of the four regional water entities as part of the Three Waters reforms.
At last week’s council meeting, councillor Niki Mealings asked what impact the reforms could have for a prompt response to post-event problems, following ongoing issues with roading and stormwater due to the floods.
Council senior engineering advisor Don Young told Mealings it was a matter of concern regarding the impending reforms.
“If rural drainage does go over to the entities, that’s going to be a significant interface issue.”
He said greater clarity was required regarding who would have delegations for both rural and urban networks.
An asset management operations and stormwater working group had been set up by the Government to investigate these issues, Young said.
“It's hugely challenging and complex.”
Councillor Philip Redmond also expressed doubts over how nimble a new authority would be responding to stormwater issues stemming from future events.
“Although I think we’re moving slowly, I think it would be even slower under a new regime,” he said.
“A local response is very important.”
There was an acknowledgement from some elected representatives of rain events and flooding becoming more commonplace due to the impact of climate change.
The council's roading team is currently stretched thin and admits it's struggling to contend with the volume of service requests.
During February's flood event, the unsealed roads around the foothills suffered scour, washouts and gravel loss.
Rainfall events and wind storms over the past 12 months have resulted in a surge of service requests for council’s roading team.
More than 5500 service requests were recorded in the 2021 calendar year, more than double what was reported in the previous year.
“Currently resources are struggling to keep up with the current volume of service requests and to manage the backlog.
“As such, extra resource will be required to continue to manage the higher demand and provide timely responses to our community.”
More than 900 service requests throughout the district were recorded between January and March.
A programme of repairs has been developed and is being delivered to address these roads.
A total of $730,000 of unbudgeted costs were approved by the council last week to fund ongoing recovery from the February flood event.
The bulk of these costs are to replace a culvert on Butchers Rd, which failed during the February 12 floods.
*Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
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Heritage gem or dangerous burden? Bowling club’s dilemma with historic pavilion
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A Rangiora sports club is frustrated with the increasing maintenance and insurance costs of its 113-year-old pavilion, which can't be demolished due to its historic importance.
The Rangiora Bowling Club approached the Waimakariri District Council last year for help, but was yet to find a satisfactory solution for the pavilion.
It is registered with Heritage New Zealand and listed in the Waimakariri District Plan, leaving the club with few options.
The club’s ex-president Norman Hewett said the pavilion on Good St, north of the town centre, is unsafe and no longer fit for purpose.
Hewett said the council has been supportive and Heritage New Zealand has offered advice, but no funding.
‘‘Everybody thinks the building is worth preserving, but there is a cost and it shouldn’t be put on the bowling club.
‘‘As far as we are concerned it is not fit for purpose and we want to know how we can get round that.
‘‘We want to know what the community thinks and if they want to retain it, are they willing to pay for it?’’
The club has formed a sub-committee to explore what options are available.
Sub-committee member Rodger Wilton said the club has been unable to find any record that the club had a say when the building was given heritage status.
Built in 1911, the pavilion served the Rangiora Bowling, Tennis and Croquet Club, which originally shared the site.
It cost 945 pounds and was opened on October 28, 1911.
The three clubs purchased 1.25 acres on the corner of Blackett and Good streets in April 1905, but later parted company, with tennis and croquet moving to new sites.
While no quotes have been sought, Hewett believed it would cost more than $1 million to bring the pavilion up to code.
Ideally the club would like to demolish the pavilion so it can upgrade its main building and remain on site.
The stairwell was non-compliant and there was no wheelchair access, meaning the club was unable to use the upstairs facilities.
There are loose tiles on the roof which need replacing.
An attached building behind the pavilion is sufficient to meet the needs of the 140 members and for hosting the largest bowls tournament in North Canterbury, Hewett said.
He said the club is open to all options, including a land swap or selling to a developer with the expertise to restore the pavilion.
Waimakariri District Council community and recreation manager Chris Brown said the council is working through various opportunities with the bowling club as part of a feasibility study.
‘‘There are a lot of options to consider. Each have various financial, social and operational implications.’’
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga said it had ‘‘expressed support for the adaptive reuse of the building and supported the club’s intention to investigate options for the pavilion and the associated land parcel’’.
The Rangiora Bowling Club is keen to hear the views of the community. Email rangiorabowling@gmail.com.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.