Give your views on plan
At present both your district (FNDC) and regional (NRC) councils are in the process of consulting over their 10 year, Long Term Plans (LTP). This is done every three years to reflect current information and thinking on the wide variety of issues.
There have been strong messages coming from the community that we should be doing more to improve freshwater quality and supply, protect native species from invasive predators, and homes businesses and farms from flooding. What we do about these, and a host of smaller issues, need to be decided on by the middle of the year and we need to know what you want us to do.
Rather than consulting on the whole document we’re just including the changes that are proposed. Instead of the traditional ‘town hall’ meeting, where often the loudest and most forthright get all of the airtime, we are engaging on a more personal level. You can come in and talk to your councillors directly. Staff will be there to record your thoughts and ideas. This way we can effectively engage with a wider cross section of the community and better reflect its priorities and aspirations.
The big rub of course is when we have to do more it costs more and we’re asking you if it’s worth paying the extra. And, of course, there’s always the tension over who should pay for what.
To help spread the load we are proposing some regional wide rates to support communities that would face difficulties if they were to shoulder the full costs. One of these is the Regional Infrastructure rate, this would cover up to half of the costs of local projects.
Regarding our current infrastructure my most serious concern is the risk of the Kaitaia Awanui flood protection scheme failing in an ‘Edgecumbe’ style event. We know with the increasing rate of tropical cyclones hitting us increases the chances of ‘the Big One’ hitting us. Currently I have serious concerns over the ability of the existing infrastructure to adequately protect people, homes, businesses and farms.
Stopbank stabilisation and upgrades in the Kaitaia urban area, rerouting the flood flow through Kaitaia to the Whangatane spillway, increasing volume capacity and sorting out the Bell’s Hill issue is projected to cost $15 million. Helped to the tune of 50 per cent by the Regional Infrastructure rate there would still be an average increase of 81 per cent on the targeted rate for flood protection. We can do a patch up job for half of that but the big threat would still remain. I have a low appetite for risk in matters like this, when lives, jobs, homes and businesses are at risk. What level of risk are you comfortable with?
NRC staff and councillors will be in the Far North for three events, Kerikeri Tuesday, March 20, 9.30am to 11.30am, Cornerstone Church; Kaikohe Tuesday, March 20, 2pm to 4pm, Memorial Hall; and Kaitaia Saturday, March 24, 10.30am to 12.30pm at Te Ahu. Come in and tell us your thoughts or visit https://www.nrc.govt.nz/ltp2018 for more info and to make your contribution online. mikef@nrc.govt.nz
"Instead of the traditional ‘town hall’ meeting, where often the loudest and most forthright get all of the airtime, we are engaging on a more personal level. You can come in and talk to your councillors directly."