North Canterbury News: June 15, 2023

What’s happening in your
community…
Council Wins Award
Waimakariri District Council’s Regeneration of
Kaiapoi won the Minister of Local Government’s
Award for Council/Community Relations at
the Taituarā (Local Government Professionals
Aotearoa) Gala Dinner last week.
Chris Brown, General Manager Community and
Recreation says, “This is really an award for the
community who were so invested in the recovery
of Kaiapoi, The Pines Beach and Kairaki.”
The judges said “This was ahighly complex
and challenging multi-year programme that is
an exemplar for those communities needing
to recover from anatural disaster. Aplanned
purposive blending of engagement and some
community empowerment has delivered afantastic
end result.”
The Regeneration Kaiapoi project has generated
avibrant landscape of interconnecting recreation
and commercial spaces, rich with opportunities for
cultural and social connection, out of earthquakedamaged
land that was red-zoned by the Crown.
Implementation of the multi-year project, delivered
over five regeneration areas, covering some 80ha,
has been community-led, in partnership with
residents, visitors, businesses, mana whenua and
central government.
From school children through to the elderly,
everyone had an opportunity to shape these
spaces. Ongoing partnerships continue to ensure
community ownership of amenities.
RegenerationKaiapoiaimed to restore theseareas,
whichhad beenlockedaway since the2010/11
earthquakesand return them back to thecommunity.
Today, the Kaiapoi Regeneration area attracts
visitors and provides recreational opportunities,
including new sports and recreation reserves, a
Heritage and Mahinga Kai Reserve tofoster
cultural learning opportunities and traditional
practices, aMarine Precinct, complete with
floating pontoon and aheritage boat for sunset
cruises, asustainable forest and adog park
complete with its own “stick library” –just to name
afew!
Changes to Dra Annual Plan
Follow Deliberations
The Council has agreed on changes to its Dra
Annual Plan aer deliberating on submissions. The
plan outlines aprudent and responsible budget
which will allow council to continue to deliver a
high level of service, while also keeping rates
increases to aminimum.
Council has committed to arates increase of
6.24% which is slightly higher than the proposed
rate of 5.97%. However, it still sits significantly
lower than the inflation rate of 6.7% (formerly
7.2% at the time the Annual Plan was draed). It
also means our District has had one of the lowest
rates increases in the country.
Councildeliberatedover61submissions before
agreeing on the changes to the2023/24 Annual Plan.
The reason for the rise is because Council has
decided to fully fund the shortfall of $220k to
the unsubsidised roading maintenance budget.
The majority of respondents to the Annual Plan
requested Council fully fund the gap.
Central Government funding, through Waka Kotahi’s
contribution is capped and does not take account of
inflation. The addition of the $220k to the budget
took the total average rate up to 6.24%.
Road maintenance is high on the priority list for
residents and the Council wants to ensure it keeps
up and meets those expectations. Council has also
recently employed staff to undertake independent
reviews to ensure that all roading work is meeting
the quality and specification required in the terms
of the contract.
Some of the key issues in the Dra Annual Plan include:
1. NewregulationsmeanCouncil must testwater
suppliesmore regularly andpotentially bring
forward planned upgrades to remain chlorine-free
2. Immediate improvements need to be made to
the stormwater network following flooding from
extreme weather events
3. Inflation is affecting roading costs, and more
is needed to make sure local roads remain at a
high standard.
Last Honda Forest
Planting Day
Saturday 24 June |10am –12pm |Honda Forest
Parking: Norman Kirk Park, off Cass Street
What to bring: Sturdy footwear, spade, gloves and a
drink bottle.
We will have aacomplimentary sausage sizzle and
other goodies on site.
For more information contact
Hannah-Rose Belworthy Landscape Architect
Phone: 0800 965 468 (0800 WMK GOV)
Hot ashes
Put ashes into ametal
bucket to cool for at
putting into the rubbish.
in the green bin.
—
collection tips at
rethinkrubbish.co.nz
rethinkrubbish.co.nz