Emergency Management partnership endorsed
Clutha District Council has agreed to endorse the proposed Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management Partnership Agreement.
Emergency Management Otago Manager/Group Controller Matt Alley attended the Council Meeting on May 12, 2022 to brief councillors on the proposed partnership.
The written agreement describes the partnership arrangement between Otago Regional Council (ORC) and the five territorial authorities of Otago for the delivery of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
In a report to Council Mr Alley said although Emergency Management Otago as an entity had existed since 2016, the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved, particularly the Regional Council in its role as administering authority have not been clearly established.
This document seeks to give clarity to area’s including but not limited to:
· Governance and Management
· Equipment
· Facilities
· Financial Management
· Hazard and Risk Management
· Lifeline Utilities
While there was no legislative requirement to have a written agreement he said an agreement was good practice and reduced risk for all parties by ensuring responsibilities were clear.
Council to seek feedback on its proposed Vehicles on Beaches Bylaw
Council approved the public consultation of its proposed Vehicles on Beaches Bylaw and will invite people to provide feedback when the submission period opens on May 19.
The development of the bylaw was to better manage the use of motor vehicles on beaches in the Clutha District.
The proposed bylaw has been created to address two main issues:
1. the effect of vehicles on public safety and enjoyment of beaches, and
2. the adverse effects to the environmental values of the coastal environment.
The proposed bylaw is intended to maintain public access for beach users, without impacting on public safety or ecosystems.
The proposed bylaw aims to provide a workable solution, that will balance the needs and preferences of all beach users in a compatible way.
Based on information collected to date, Council has identified eight beaches where vehicle access should be prohibited except for valid reasons, which include:
1. In case of emergency, and for emergency vehicles
2. With written permission of Council
3. To launch or retrieve a boat, and
4. Where a property can only be accessed via the beach.
The ‘safe zone’ beaches where it is proposed that vehicle access should be prohibited (apart from the above exceptions) include Taieri Beach, Kaka Point, Cannibal Bay, Surat Bay, Jacks Bay, Purakaunui Bay, Tahakopa Beach, and Tautuku Beach.
Council will also hold a series of community drop-in events at coastal settlements to gather as much feedback from affected residents as possible.
Key dates:
• Submission period - 19 May to 20 June 2022
• Council hears verbal submissions - 23 June 2022
• Council considers all feedback in a summary report and makes any changes to the draft bylaw - 20 July 2022
• Council adopts bylaw - 15 September 2022
• Bylaw comes into force - 1 January 2023
People can have their say by completing a submission form which will be available from May 19 from Council offices and community libraries, or online via Council’s website www.cluthadc.govt.nz/council/consultation
Nuisance trees to be removed
Three trees at Naish Park in Balclutha and six at Victoria Park in Kaitangata will be removed.
Councillors made the tree removal decision following consultation with the public after Council was approached by two community groups to have some trees removed that were having an impact on their activities.
The Balclutha Bowling Club via Council’s service request system asked that three large birch trees be removed from the corner of Naish Park next to their building as the size of the trees and the leaves were of nuisance to the bowling club building and green.
An arborist assessed the trees and while there were no concerns regarding tree health, they were nearing the end of their lives.
The Kaitangata community pool committee had requested that two large trees be removed as they were overshadowing the pool.
The removal would allow more sunlight to help heat the otherwise unheated pool. Council’s arborist assessed and advised that four other trees in the park should also be removed for health and safety reasons, due to encroaching on power lines.
Following consultation in February, 19 submissions received.
Council also agreed that priority for the use of timber was to sell to recoup costs incurred in the tree removal or offered to community groups if selling was not a viable option.
Consultation to kick off for a new proposed Regulatory Bylaw
Formal consultation regarding a new proposed Regulatory Bylaw will open on May 19 with people asked to provide their feedback on it.
At the Council meeting, councillors discussed the draft Regulatory Bylaw and approved it for consultation with some additional amendments.
Initial scoping in 2021 of the Regulatory Bylaw 2018 found several sections of the bylaw were out of date with the relevant legislation and did not provide staff with the tools to undertake their duties.
The new proposed bylaw was prepared based on the outcome of the preliminary phase of consultation and investigation with staff and key stakeholders.
It covers the following topics:
• Alcohol Control
• Dog Control
• Keeping of Animals (excluding dogs)
• Property Maintenance
• Public Places
• Trading in Public Places
The review of the Regulatory Bylaw also included the review of two of Council’s existing policies.
These are the Dog Control Policy and the Policy on Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings.
Key dates:
• Submission period - 19 May to 20 June 2022
• Council hears verbal submissions - 23 June 2022
• Council considers all feedback in a summary report and makes any changes to the draft bylaw - 20 July 2022
• Council adopts bylaw - 15 September 2022
• Bylaw comes into force - 1 October 2022
People can have their say by completing a submission form which will be available from May 19 from Council offices and community libraries, or online via Council’s website www.cluthadc.govt.nz/council/consultation
Council approves road stopping at Stirling Bowling Club Road
Council approved the final road stopping of the Stirling Bowling Club Road.
The proposed road stopping process was initiated in 1968, associated with the Old Stirling Bridge Approach Road, that was never finalised.
As reported to Council on 24 June 2021, the closure and potential sale of the Stirling Bowling Club meant the completion of this historic road stopping needed to be finalised.
Council undertook a consultation process regarding this road stopping in March 2022 and received no objections to the proposed road stopping.