North Canterbury News: March 14, 2024

Plan to dim lighting
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
Kaikōura'snight sky will be given
greater protection under aproposal to
toughen lighting regulations.
The district is seeking international
dark sky status, which means turning the
lights down within the town.
Mayor Craig Mackle said the move
made sense as it would offer social,
economic and environmental benefits
for the community.
The Kaikōura District Council will
notify Plan Change 5tothe District Plan
today to strengthen lighting regulations.
The new rules will apply to any new
builds and when lighting needs to be
replaced.
But local residents will not have to
change their light bulbs immediately.
To reduce light pollution, lights
should be turned downwards and turned
off when not needed, while motion
sensors, light shielding and timers can
reduce the impact of bright lights.
Outdoor light bulbs should be
replaced by 3000 Kelvin or lower.
‘‘When you sit down and read the
information you realise it is something
we have to do,’’ Mr Mackle said.
‘‘On the environmental side, it is quite
incredible the difference it makes and
that’s just from turning your lights
down.’’
The council adopted the private plan
change request, which was submitted by
the Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust, on January
31, meaning it will take the lead.
‘‘The plan change looks at responsible
light so there is areal community benefit
and it sits well with our rolling District
Plan review,’’council chief executive
Will Doughty said.
It will set the minimum standards for
lighting and responsible lighting
guidelines for those who want to do more
to protect local wildlife and protect
Kaikōura’s window to the stars.
The Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust was
originally established to protect the
Hutton’s shearwater (tītī), anative bird
which is endemic to Kaikōura and is
endangered.
The birds regularly crash landed in
the town because of the bright lights.
Mr Doughty said consultation will be
open for amonth and ahearing will be
held if required.
‘‘We are hoping the plan change will
be operative by the end of the year,
depending on the feedback and the
process.
‘‘In the meantime, it allows the trust to
get on with its application to the
International Dark­sky Association.’’
The Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust will seek
dark sky sanctuary status for the wider
district and dark sky community status
for the town.
If successful, it will join dark sky
sanctuaries at Aotea Great Barrier
Island and Rakiura Stewart Island, and
four other dark sky sites, including the
Oxford dark sky park, which was
announced in January.
Comment has been sought from Te
Rūnanga oKaikōura.
LDR is local body journalism cofunded
by RNZ and NZ On Air.
NEWS
The North Canterbury News, March 14, 2024
27
NC councils to push
on with their Plans
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
North Canterbury’s councils plan to
push ahead with their Long Term
Plans, despite facing significant
changes in Government policy.
The Hurunui, Waimakariri and
Kaikōura councils say their 10­year
plans are vital to preparing for
future growth in their districts.
The recent passing of the Water
Services Acts Repeal Bill in
Parliament has included provisions
allowing councils to delay their
plans and relaxes regulations to
allow councils to update their plans
to reflect the changes.
The three councils said they
always intended to include Three
Waters in their Long Term Plans,
noting it was easier to remove it at a
later date, rather than to add it in.
Hurunui District Council chief
financial officer Jason Beck said
delaying the adoption of the Long
Term Plan from June to September
would only complicate rates
collection.
‘‘We can’t set the rates for the
coming year until we adopt our
annual plan, so if we do not adopt
our annual plan by the end of June,
we will have to collect the first
quarter instalment based on last
year’s rates.
‘‘When we are looking at a
significant increase it would mean a
big jump in the next three
instalments, and we have done a
significant amount of work already.’’
Waimakariri District Council
chief executive Jeff Millward said
staff considered delaying the Long
Term Plan for ayear due to changes
in Government legislation, but
considered it would be detrimental.
‘‘If we did take up the option, we
would be doing aone year plan with
no future planning and then we
would have to go back and do it again
next year.
‘‘We are agrowth council and so
we need to stay relevant in the
market.’’
Kaikōura District Council chief
executive Will Doughty said his
council had already done six months
work, so it was not interested in any
delays.
Delaying the Long Term Plan by a
year would mean doing ‘‘an
enhanced annual plan’’ this year
and redoing the Long Term Plan
next year.
Councils can also opt to send out
an unaudited consultation
document to speed up the process.
The Waimakariri District Council
was one of the first councils to get its
consultation document audited,
while the Hurunui District Council
is also planning to go ahead with its
planned audit.
The Kaikōura District Council
voted last week to accept astaff
recommendationtoproceed with an
unaudited consultation document.
LDR is local body journalism cofunded
by RNZ and NZ On Air.