New targeted rate mooted for flood-prone Canterbury river
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Some Waimakariri residents may be charged a future targeted rate to help fund flood protection work on a North Canterbury river.
Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon says he is open to an Environment Canterbury (ECan) proposal for an Ashley/Rakahuri River rate to protect Rangiora against flooding.
He said it was time to consider funding river resilience ‘‘on a more equitable basis’’, including co-funding from the Government.
‘‘I look forward to discussing more with ECan what exactly is being proposed and how that would look.
‘‘I think we can all agree that what we have in place currently is not broad enough to cover all of the issues and it is timely to review.’’
There were river rating areas in place for the upper Ashley River, but not for the lower reaches, making it difficult for the two councils to fund river resilience work.
ECan and other regional councils have been advocating for central Government support for river resilience projects for several years.
It led to the ‘Before the Deluge' report, which was released just before Cyclone Gabrielle struck parts of the North Island last year.
The Government recently made funding available as part of its new regional infrastructure fund in Budget 2024.
ECan acting chairperson Craig Pauling said the council had asked for $38 million and so far has received $9.5m.
The initial funding would help with three projects, including upgrades to critical and aged flood management infrastructure across the region to make it more resilient to the changing climate.
Further work on the Rangitata flood resilience programme and projects in South Canterbury will also be funded.
Pauling said the council’s priority was building up the strength of its various catchments, with many of them not already rated.
‘‘It helps us to get on and get it sorted and get those rivers more resilient and communities protected.
‘‘Otherwise it will take us a generation to do it.’’
A targeted rate was introduced for the Selwyn district as part of Environment Canterbury’s 2024-34 Long Term Plan and now the council is looking at other rivers, including the Ashley River.
Pauling said he was hopeful of receiving more funding, with a further $100m still to be allocated.
ECan has also called for a braided river definition to be included in the Government’s legislation to replace the Resource Management Act.
‘‘Because there hasn’t been a definition we have had all sorts of issues come up and it is part of our wider river resilience work,’’ Pauling said.
‘‘The current definition in the RMA is based on a river, but what is a river?
‘‘Some rivers don’t move much, but braided rivers are different and change path a lot and so there needs to be an understanding of where the natural system is.’’
Braided rivers were defined in the previous Labour Government’s Natural and Built Environments Act, which has since been repealed by the National-led Government.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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Proposed Canterbury landfill faces huge opposition
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
More than 500 submissions have been received in response to a proposed managed fill landfill in North Canterbury.
Christchurch-based Protranz International Ltd has applied to Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council for resource consents to establish and operate a quarry and landfill operation at White Rock.
Waimakariri District Council planning manager Wendy Harris said the applicant was up against ‘‘probably the most organised local group I’ve ever seen’’.
‘‘They organised a protest march, they’ve got signs all around and they’ve got a website and a Facebook page.’’
She said the 548 submissions was more than the 421 submissions to the draft Waimakariri District Plan, which was notified in 2021.
A proposed housing development at Ohoka, near Rangiora, in 2022 received 630 submissions.
While the details of the submissions have yet to be released, it is understood the majority are opposed.
Harris said planners from the two councils will plan joint hearings early next year.
More than 100 people marched from Southbrook in Rangiora to the Waimakariri District Council lawn in High St in September to express their opposition.
Organiser Mike McCaleb said residents are concerned about the potential environmental damage to the Karetu River, which feeds into the Okuku River, and then the Ashley/Rakahuri River.
He said he was surprised there were not more submissions but said he was aware of several people who had issues with Environment Canterbury’s website timing out.
‘‘It will be interesting to see the details of the submissions.’’
Protranz is seeking to restore the Whiterock Quarry, at 150 and 174 Quarry Rd, North Loburn, to near its previous landform, by filling it with managed fill, building and demolition waste and contaminated soil material, including asbestos.
The company bought Whiterock Quarry in 2022 with plans to fill it with soils and inert construction rubble removed from building and land development sites in Christchurch and North Canterbury, which are sent to Kate Valley Landfill.
‘‘Sending this stuff to Kate Valley adds a massive cost to developers, homeowners and community organisations who have dirt to move, and fills Kate Valley with material that can be better managed somewhere else,’’ Protranz founder Gerard Daldry said.
He said Protranz commissioned a wide range of testing including site investigations, technical assessments and design of the managed fill to support the resource consent applications.
The reports found environmental risks were ‘‘extremely low and able to be mitigated’’, Daldry said.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.3% Yes
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14.2% No
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1.5% Other - I'll share below
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