Latest news with #AlexWalker
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
'Stronger Together' – Hawke's Bay Councils Seek Feedback On Preferred Model For Delivering Water Services
Press Release – Hawke's Bay Regional Recovery Agency Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the work undertaken by councils to date and the feedback now being sought from communities were critical in what would be a significant decision by the four councils. Residents across Hawke's Bay are now invited to have their say on what will be an intergenerational decision, as public consultation officially opens on the region's preferred model for delivering water services to communities in the future. At a series of council meetings last month, Central Hawke's Bay District Council, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council and Wairoa District Council each endorsed a joint water services organisation as the most cost-effective, efficient and resilient option for delivering drinking water, wastewater and urban stormwater services and meeting the requirements of the Government's Local Water Done Well reforms. Two alternative options are also being presented for public feedback. Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the work undertaken by councils to date and the feedback now being sought from communities were critical in what would be a significant decision by the four councils. 'Water is one of the most essential services we provide as councils – be it safe drinking water from the tap, reliable wastewater systems that protect public health, or stormwater networks that mitigate the damage from increasingly frequent extreme weather. 'Managing these services well is critical to how we live, work, and thrive and I am confident I speak on behalf of my fellow mayors and elected members when I say that the decision to endorse a joint water services organisation is not one we have taken lightly.' She said the decision was about more than pipes and pumps. 'It's about future-proofing the region for generations to come'. Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker said the regional option was the strongest one. 'We're in a perfect storm in Central Hawke's Bay. We're having to invest in catch-up from underinvestment in past, meet growing regulatory expectations and invest for the future all at the same time. 'The cost per household for Central Hawke's Bay is the highest across the region. It's very clear the model is not a silver bullet to our affordability issues, but in the current legislative environment, we are stronger together as Hawke's Bay. It gives us the best chance of resolving these issues.' She said it's important to note that not all decisions have been made, either at a local or national level. 'Changes to things like wastewater standards will have a material effect on the cost to our households but are still yet to be completed and put into legislation.' Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise reflected on the strong regional collaboration behind this milestone and the importance of public input at this stage. 'We've been working together on water services reform since 2018, with a shared commitment to what is best for our communities both now, and for future generations. 'The modelling clearly shows that coming together as a region to collectively deliver water services would enable enhanced delivery and capability, increase resilience, and provide better value for money across all four council areas – but before any decisions are finalised, we need to hear from the people who use and pay for these services.' Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said while a joint water services organisation, owned by all four councils, could make full use of the benefits of working collaboratively as a region, there is a lot of detail to work through yet. 'Under these Government reforms, there are options for councils to go it alone or join together with any number of others. 'There are pros and cons of each option, and work done to date indicates there are efficiencies through the scale of a regional model. In each corner of Hawke's Bay, there are unique needs and considerations that would need to be factored into any regional entity in order for it to best serve all communities.' He said for Wairoa, consultation material emphasises the importance of local voice and local representation in decision-making as key components of any future model. Each council has published its own consultation materials, including details specific to the services and costs in their area. Submissions will close at 5pm, Sunday 15 June. Residents are encouraged to review these documents carefully and make a submission via their local council website or submission portal. Mayor Wise said there is still a lot of work to do and at this stage councils are simply looking for a temperature gauge: go it alone or work together across the region. 'Making a final decision on how we deliver water services will be made by councils towards the end of July. Following that we will need to fine tune the chosen model and define what things will look like in detail, and this will take time. 'This is your opportunity to ask questions, consider the future you want to see for your council area and the wider region, and have your say.'
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
'Stronger Together' – Hawke's Bay Councils Seek Feedback On Preferred Model For Delivering Water Services
Residents across Hawke's Bay are now invited to have their say on what will be an intergenerational decision, as public consultation officially opens on the region's preferred model for delivering water services to communities in the future. At a series of council meetings last month, Central Hawke's Bay District Council, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council and Wairoa District Council each endorsed a joint water services organisation as the most cost-effective, efficient and resilient option for delivering drinking water, wastewater and urban stormwater services and meeting the requirements of the Government's Local Water Done Well reforms. Two alternative options are also being presented for public feedback. Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the work undertaken by councils to date and the feedback now being sought from communities were critical in what would be a significant decision by the four councils. 'Water is one of the most essential services we provide as councils – be it safe drinking water from the tap, reliable wastewater systems that protect public health, or stormwater networks that mitigate the damage from increasingly frequent extreme weather. 'Managing these services well is critical to how we live, work, and thrive and I am confident I speak on behalf of my fellow mayors and elected members when I say that the decision to endorse a joint water services organisation is not one we have taken lightly.' She said the decision was about more than pipes and pumps. 'It's about future-proofing the region for generations to come'. Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker said the regional option was the strongest one. 'We're in a perfect storm in Central Hawke's Bay. We're having to invest in catch-up from underinvestment in past, meet growing regulatory expectations and invest for the future all at the same time. 'The cost per household for Central Hawke's Bay is the highest across the region. It's very clear the model is not a silver bullet to our affordability issues, but in the current legislative environment, we are stronger together as Hawke's Bay. It gives us the best chance of resolving these issues.' She said it's important to note that not all decisions have been made, either at a local or national level. 'Changes to things like wastewater standards will have a material effect on the cost to our households but are still yet to be completed and put into legislation.' Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise reflected on the strong regional collaboration behind this milestone and the importance of public input at this stage. 'We've been working together on water services reform since 2018, with a shared commitment to what is best for our communities both now, and for future generations. 'The modelling clearly shows that coming together as a region to collectively deliver water services would enable enhanced delivery and capability, increase resilience, and provide better value for money across all four council areas - but before any decisions are finalised, we need to hear from the people who use and pay for these services.' Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said while a joint water services organisation, owned by all four councils, could make full use of the benefits of working collaboratively as a region, there is a lot of detail to work through yet. 'Under these Government reforms, there are options for councils to go it alone or join together with any number of others. 'There are pros and cons of each option, and work done to date indicates there are efficiencies through the scale of a regional model. In each corner of Hawke's Bay, there are unique needs and considerations that would need to be factored into any regional entity in order for it to best serve all communities.' He said for Wairoa, consultation material emphasises the importance of local voice and local representation in decision-making as key components of any future model. Each council has published its own consultation materials, including details specific to the services and costs in their area. Submissions will close at 5pm, Sunday 15 June. Residents are encouraged to review these documents carefully and make a submission via their local council website or submission portal. Mayor Wise said there is still a lot of work to do and at this stage councils are simply looking for a temperature gauge: go it alone or work together across the region. 'Making a final decision on how we deliver water services will be made by councils towards the end of July. Following that we will need to fine tune the chosen model and define what things will look like in detail, and this will take time. 'This is your opportunity to ask questions, consider the future you want to see for your council area and the wider region, and have your say.'
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Water Reforms No Silver Bullet For CHB Residents
Press Release – Central Hawke's Bay District Council Central Hawkes Bay annual water rates for connected users could go from around $3000 per property to between $7000 and $7600 within ten years, depending on which option of the proposed three is chosen. The regional water entity proposed under the Government's Local Water Done Well scheme could see Central Hawke's Bay with the highest water rates in the region. Central Hawke's Bay annual water rates for connected users could go from around $3000 per property to between $7000 and $7600 within ten years, depending on which option of the proposed three is chosen. 'We're in a perfect storm in Central Hawke's Bay. We're having to invest in catch-up from past underinvestment, meet growing regulatory expectations and invest for the future all at the same time,' Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker said. 'It's very clear to the Councillors and I that the model is not a silver bullet to our affordability issues, but in the current changing legislative and regulatory environment, we are stronger together as Hawke's Bay.' Central Hawke's Bay District Council, along with the three other territorial councils in the region, Hastings District, Napier City and Wairoa District Councils, began consultation on the Government's new approach to water services delivery – Local Water Done Well – from today 12 May to 5pm 15 June. Local Water Done Well sits alongside legislation mandating councils decide, along with their communities, how it meets the new standards Government has set for water delivery and quality of infrastructure. There are three options to decide from, Regional Council-controlled Organisation, a standalone Central Hawke's Bay Council-controlled organisation or an 'inhouse' delivery unit – 'We prefer option one, the Regional Council-controlled organisation, which we jointly own with the other councils. It has the greatest benefits in terms of providing economies of scale, and ability to get the most skilled people working in our water space. 'We're stronger together.' The water rates were derived from modelling completed for business cases for each of the three options. Costs were determined from what each council indicated it needed to do in their longterm plans. While there are still a number of details to be worked out, it has been assumed each council would pay its own way for its water infrastructure, and this is the basis of the numbers presented to the community – so everyone can clearly see what costs and increases are looming over the next ten years. 'This is the biggest lever we currently have to reduce our rates impact. Come to one of our community conversations, go to our website, write us a letter -just get involved in the conversation,' Walker said.
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Water Reforms No Silver Bullet For CHB Residents
The regional water entity proposed under the Government's Local Water Done Well scheme could see Central Hawke's Bay with the highest water rates in the region. Central Hawke's Bay annual water rates for connected users could go from around $3000 per property to between $7000 and $7600 within ten years, depending on which option of the proposed three is chosen. 'We're in a perfect storm in Central Hawke's Bay. We're having to invest in catch-up from past underinvestment, meet growing regulatory expectations and invest for the future all at the same time,' Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker said. 'It's very clear to the Councillors and I that the model is not a silver bullet to our affordability issues, but in the current changing legislative and regulatory environment, we are stronger together as Hawke's Bay.' Central Hawke's Bay District Council, along with the three other territorial councils in the region, Hastings District, Napier City and Wairoa District Councils, began consultation on the Government's new approach to water services delivery – Local Water Done Well – from today 12 May to 5pm 15 June. Local Water Done Well sits alongside legislation mandating councils decide, along with their communities, how it meets the new standards Government has set for water delivery and quality of infrastructure. There are three options to decide from, Regional Council-controlled Organisation, a standalone Central Hawke's Bay Council-controlled organisation or an 'inhouse' delivery unit – 'We prefer option one, the Regional Council-controlled organisation, which we jointly own with the other councils. It has the greatest benefits in terms of providing economies of scale, and ability to get the most skilled people working in our water space. 'We're stronger together.' The water rates were derived from modelling completed for business cases for each of the three options. Costs were determined from what each council indicated it needed to do in their longterm plans. While there are still a number of details to be worked out, it has been assumed each council would pay its own way for its water infrastructure, and this is the basis of the numbers presented to the community – so everyone can clearly see what costs and increases are looming over the next ten years. 'This is the biggest lever we currently have to reduce our rates impact. Come to one of our community conversations, go to our website, write us a letter -just get involved in the conversation,' Walker said.
NZ Herald
05-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Waipawa: $9 million confirmed for stopbank upgrades
The height and width of the stopbank, which runs between Coronation Park and Rathbone St, will be increased to a one-in-100-year flood mitigation level and 'include an additional 700mm of freeboard'. However, the council says the exact height it will be raised to has yet to be determined. 'The damage to the stopbanks in Coronation Park and below the State Highway [2] bridge during the cyclone were a significant concern for our community,' chairwoman Hinewai Ormsby said. 'While repairs were undertaken in the weeks after the cyclone, we recognise that these measures do not meet the new standards that have been developed post-Cyclone Gabrielle.' She said the improvements would ensure the safety and resilience of the community. The regional council confirmed some landowners' properties may 'potentially' be affected by the works including truck movements, river access, heavy machinery operating, or construction noise - and the community will be kept up to date with any impacts. Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker said the Waipawa community 'would be thrilled about this'. 'Cyclone Gabrielle has left an indelible mark, and progress like this is so vital for restoring confidence in having a safe future in our communities.' The project is still in the development phase. A timeframe for when the project could be completed has yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile, cyclone-related road repairs on Cooks Tooth Rd in Pōrangahau have been brought forward, and added to this year's planned works.
