20 September 2018, Issue # 15
Dog Policy signed off
Council signed off and adopted its Dog Control Policy and Practices Report 2017-18 which provided information for Council on the annual dog control activity for 2017/18 year.
The report, which is required under the Dog Control Act, also provides key dog statistics from the number of responsible owners to how many impounds and dog complaints there were.
This report will be available to the public via Council’s website www.cluthadc.govt.nz
Council to fund more CCTV monitoring in Balclutha
Fighting crime in the Clutha District just got a boost thanks to the Clutha District Council agreeing to fund additional CCTV monitoring.
The funding allocation of $20,000 would be taken from the existing Balclutha Streetscape Project fund.
Service Delivery Group Manager Jules Witt said Council had worked closely with the Balclutha Police to install the current CCTV system in central Balclutha.
“This has proven very successful in deterring crime and also identifying the perpetrators and resolving minor traffic incidents.”
Balclutha Police identified additional areas where increased coverage would assist with crime prevention and detection however they did not have the money to fund the additional coverage.
Police reported that the cameras had been used on a weekly basis during the warmer months and approximately fortnightly during the winter during the past two and a half years.
Council believes the funding is vital for crime prevention in the district.
Clutha District Council to submit on ORC’s proposed representation arrangements
Council will put forward a submission in favour of the Otago Regional Council (ORC) retaining the status quo with the Molyneux Ward in terms of its boundary, and the number of Councillors to be elected (two).
Council discussed the submission at Council today and believed it was critical to have strong representation for the Molyneux Ward, which comprised of communities with similar issues such as flood protection and rural roading.
The Molyneux Ward, includes the Clutha District, Taieri Plain, Mosgiel and Strath Taieri.
ORC had said their preferred option was to retain the status quo in the Molyneux Ward because it would provide multiple representation for the Ward, which was predominantly rural, and included areas with similar issues such as flood protection.
ORC had identified an alternative option to reduce the size of the Molyneux Ward, so that it comprised only of the Clutha District.
Under that option, the Taieri Plain, Mosgiel and the Strath Taieri would become part of the Dunedin Ward and due to its reduced population, the Molyneux Ward would be represented by just one Councillor which was not favoured by Clutha District councillors.
New single, district-wide Three Waters contract to be tendered
Council has opted to tender a new single, district-wide Three Waters service contract for a minimum of a 5-year contract period.
Council’s Service Delivery Group Manager Jules Witt said in a report to Council that the value of this contract was approximately $5 million per annum and was a key contract for Council, expiring 20 June 2019.
Councillors considered undertaking a full review before making a decision but decided any potential benefits did not justify the costs.
Mr Witt said central government was likely to direct new structures for the water industry in New Zealand as a result of the Havelock North water incident and the subsequent review.
Council decided that entering into a new three waters service contract that was flexible enough to adapt to changing government drivers while still retaining the certainty of a lengthy contract that attracts suitable contractor investment in the Clutha District was the preferred option.
Council’s intention would be to undertake a comprehensive review as part of the ongoing central government review when that decision and direction had been finalised.
National Three Waters review update
Council were updated on the National Three Waters Review process.
This process was recommended by Central Government following the review of the Havelock North water incident that occurred in August 2016.
During that review the key recommendations included:
• The universal treatment of drinking water.
• Changing the classification system for bores to clear up a misunderstanding that bore water drawn from a secure aquifer is always safe to drink.
• Establishing a new independent drinking water regulator, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the system, monitoring, compliance and enforcement.
• Make a move to larger, collective water suppliers to improve compliance, competence and accountability.
• Tougher laws and regulations so standards can be strongly enforced.
The Government is scheduled to provide a response to the recommendations from the Havelock North Enquiry in October.
Council’s Service Delivery Group Manager Jules Witt advised councillors that some form of change in regulation or delivery as a result of the Havelock North review was “highly likely”.
He said Council would need to keep being actively involved in these reviews and their processes and continue to improve its own processes in the meantime.
“The best way to respond to some of the weaknesses identified from the enquiry is to improve our drinking water compliance and ensure that we are providing safe water to drink from our supplies.
This will come at a cost, however, the cost of not doing this is likely to be far greater and this has certainly been the case for Havelock North.”
Contracts awarded
Contract 773 – Reseals and pre-seal repairs work in the Clutha District for 2018 till 2021 has been awarded to Fulton Hogan in the sum of $8,394,481.50. This tender is 3.9% above the available budgeted amount. However, the scope of works will be adjusted to stay within allocated budgets and reviewed on an on-going basis over the three years of the 2018-21 of the Land Transport Programme. The tender is 19.8% above the Engineer’s pre-tender estimate – this increased pricing reflects the increased workload within the current contracting market and rising material testing costs. Fulton Hogan was the only tenderer for the contract. Fulton Hogan has successfully undertaken this type of work for Clutha District Council for the past six years.