Water Services Bylaw Hearing
Clutha District councillors listened to local business owners regarding their thoughts and concerns about Council’s proposed Water Services Bylaw at the bylaw hearing held today.
Councillors formally received the 10 written submissions on the proposed bylaw which was an update of the current Water and Sanitary Services Bylaw.
David and Denise Anderson of the Kaka Point Camping Ground, Trevor Hewson from the Catlins Gateway Motels and Bruce Robertson of Road Transport Logistics all put forward their thoughts on the proposed bylaw with Councillors appreciative that they took the time to raise their concerns.
The proposed bylaw was developed because discharging trade waste directly to the sewerage system had been causing blockages, overflows and had introduced hazardous substances that were a health risk to the public and to the environment.
The proposed bylaw aimed to give Council greater ability to control the quality of trade waste entering the sewage treatment plants, which would help improve the quality of the discharge to meet ORC resource consent conditions.
Council will take these submissions into consideration when it makes its final decision about the proposed bylaw on June 27.
Parking safety concerns considered
Council staff will meet with the man behind a petition to introduce more “no stopping lines” at Balclutha intersections, to determine whether there is a “demonstrated need” at particular locations of concern.
Michael Brough and Dianne Howat presented the petition at the February meeting.
Council staff have done investigations regarding the petition and presented a report to councillors today.
The specific request was for Council to consider painting yellow “no stopping” lines 6 metres back from every intersection in Balclutha to prevent potential visibility concerns caused by parked vehicles.
The report to Council said that Council’s Operations staff had carried out an assessment of intersections under the Clutha District Control in the Central Business District (CBD) and had since made relevant improvements through the painting and repainting of broken yellow “no stopping” lines.
In view of the relatively low cost of installing and maintaining broken yellow no stopping lines and the fact that existing Legislation, Codes and Guidelines was deemed to be more than sufficient to deal with the bulk of intersections, it was not envisaged that there would be a major increase in the installation of the lines.
At the Council meeting councillors agreed to the following:
• To focus on “No Stopping” areas for marking, throughout all Clutha townships.
• The continued focus on ensuring safe parking at intersections within the Balclutha CBD area.
• All instated/re‐instated broken yellow “No Stopping” lines within the Balclutha CBD area to be maintained.
• A further emphasis will be placed on all intersections under Council control within all Clutha Townships to receiving broken yellow “No Stopping” lines, where a demonstrated need has been identified.
• All “No Stopping” areas marked by broken yellow “No Stopping” lines to be reflected in Council’s Restricted Parking Register accordingly.
Staff will also discuss with the main petitioner, the process by which particular trouble spots can be identified and how the demonstrated need for additional “no parking” lines can be identified.
Our Place Catlins project groupings decided
Our Place Catlins took a positive step forward with Councillors agreeing to project groupings and for staff to begin the development of the full project plan.
Consultation took place throughout the Catlins area from December 2018 till March 2019 with more than 2,000 feedback items were received.
Council staff have collated this feedback and the following project groupings were decided:
Focus Point - Our communities
• Community Development
• Community facilities
• Economic development
• Waste management and recycling
Focus Point – Landscape and the environment
• Community projects (includes walking and cycling)
• Protection of our natural resources
Focus Point – Parks and reserves
• Community-led projects
• Greenspace management
Focus Point – Roading
• Traffic management
• Roading improvements
Focus Point – Responsible camping
• Policy review
• Information
• Toilets and other facilities
Focus Point – Managing the effects of climate change
• The coastal and marine environment
• Coastal townships and roads
Forestry Investment to offset against rates in 2020
Councillors decided on the quantum and use of investment distributions from its two Nikko investments to offset rates in 2020.
In a report to Council it was noted that when approving the forestry properties for tender and subsequent sale, it was always Council’s intention for the proceeds to be ring-fenced both for rates offset purposes and to maintain intergenerational equity over time.
At the meeting Council approved $191,805 from its Nikko Forestry Investment and $634,545 from its Nikko Normal Investment to be offset against rates in 2020.
Council also approved that $584,485 from its Nikko Normal Investment be available for distribution into Annual Plan deliberations.
Contracts Awarded
Contract 783 – Three Waters Operations and Maintenance was awarded to Citycare Water in the sum of $4,002,515.81+GST following tender negotiations.
Four tenders were received with prices ranging from $4,413,746.32 to $6,960,891.28 for the first year of operation.
The contract period is for five years with the possibility of two 3‐year extensions.
Council staff assessed the tenders to determine which proposal provided ‘best value to Council’.
This included an assessment of the costs, importantly the services and proposed philosophy and methodology of how the contract works would be undertaken.
Citycare Water has successfully undertaken this type of work for other territorial authorities across New Zealand and currently has a reticulation maintenance contract with Dunedin City Council.
Balanced Scorecard Reporting update
Councillors were updated on how Council is tracking with projects at today’s council meeting.
This was the third of four reports to Council for the 2018/19 year.
It brings an update about how Council is tracking, particularly in terms of our non-financial targets and overall progress of projects for the year to date.
The report aims to provide an improved level of reporting and transparency about progress during the year.
Council Chief Executive Mr Steve Hill said while Council could do better but achieving 86% was a major achievement.
Community Board name to stay the same
The Lawrence Tuapeka Community Board name will remain the same.
During the Representation Review process in 2018 Council approved a name change to be just the Tuapeka Community Board however; this decision was appealed against, to the Local Government Commission.
The Local Government Commission Determination report said that the name Lawrence was an important part of the identity of the area, therefore assisted in the community’s association with the ward and the community board and there consider Lawrence should be retained in the name of both the ward and the community.
In the Council report it said the decision can only be appealed to the High Court on a point of law and it was not suggested that Clutha District Council lodge an appeal.
Documents for Consent and Seal
Council approved the fixing of its seal, under the hands of the Chief Executive for the following Warrant of Appointments:
- I McCabe
- B Smith
- S Solomon.