Latest news with #HamishDobbie
1News
10 hours ago
- Business
- 1News
Council land banks to prepare for future natural disasters
In a "uniquely Hurunui" move, a North Canterbury council is land banking to prepare for future natural disasters and the threat of climate change. The growing risk of sea level rise to its beach communities has led to the Hurunui District Council buying a $3.8m block of land south of Amberley. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said buying the land gave people options and allowed them to prepare for future events. "This land purchase is about putting people first, providing security in mitigating against the effects of coastal hazards, while leading the way in proactive coastal relocation." The Ashworths Rd property was on a terrace elevated over 20m above sea level and had the potential to be developed into residential housing in the future. ADVERTISEMENT The council has worked with its beach communities to develop coastal adaptation plans, with one of the options being proactive relocation. Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said the initiative was "a uniquely Hurunui solution" and he was unaware of other councils proactively buying land for relocation. It made good fiscal sense to take advantage of a block of land coming on to the market and "land banking at today's prices," he said. "Currently, when natural hazards trigger action, it is central and local government that pick up the costs and they are generally big numbers. "After the earthquakes and after the storm in Hawke's Bay, people were forced to relocate and you can see that it triggers a lot of trauma and financial uncertainty. "But this gives people a pathway." The Amberley Beach village in particular was under threat from sea level rise, he said. ADVERTISEMENT The council recently worked with residents to construct a new coastal bund, a type of embankment to offer protection against the sea. It was loan funded at the request of ratepayers in the village, who are paying it off via a targeted rate. The $3.8m property purchase has been debt funded. The council would look to recover costs through a mixed model approach, including the future development of the land, the sale of surplus land and leasing out the land to recover some costs. Affected communities could secure sections by paying a targeted rate over the next 30 years or buying sections. "This is designed to be self-funded, so it doesn't become a burden on ratepayers," Dobbie said. When residents joined the initiative, their plot of land would be attached to their existing property, so the two properties could not be sold separately. ADVERTISEMENT When the time came, residents could transport their house to the new section or build onsite. The council would also be able to relocate its infrastructure or assets, if required. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Govt planning rules could 'override the community'
New planning rules proposed by the Government could override community aspirations, says a Canterbury council boss. Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said he struggles to see how a proposal to stop councils defining rural-urban boundaries would work. ''If they override something in the planning document, they are not overriding the council - they are overriding the community," he said. Resource Management Act Reform Minister Chris Bishop announced proposed changes last week which he said will stop councils from stalling housing developments. ''We have had decades of local councils trying to make housing someone else's problem, and we have a planning system that lets them get away with it,'' Bishop said at the time. The Government proposal would stop councils from imposing rural-urban boundary lines in planning documents. A Rural Urban Boundary identifies land suitable for urban development, and areas to be kept rural. The proposal would give the Government the power remove provisions in council plans which impact on growth, and replacing development contributions with a development levy system, increased flexibility of targeted rates, and strengthening the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act. But Mr Dobbie said preparing a District Plan is ''a long and tortuous process'', as councils strive to find a balance between community aspirations, the need for growth, aspirations of developers and Government legislation. He said rural-urban boundary lines allowed councils to ensure development occurred where there is council infrastructure. Drawing rural-urban boundaries was integral to developing spatial plans, which identified areas for future housing growth and protected agricultural land. The proposal appeared to go against the national direction of developing regional plans, which included spatial planning, to replace district plans, he said. ''I don't know how you can identify areas for housing and agriculture without drawing lines on a map,'' Mr Dobbie said. ''But I might be about to learn something.'' The clause allowing the Government to override District Plan provisions which impacted on growth would be open to interpretation, he said. ''Imagine somebody wanted to build a nuclear power plant or a whale slaughtering station. ''It might be something the community would not want, but the Government would have the power to override it.'' Environment Canterbury chairperson Craig Pauling said the council is considering the proposals and will be making a formal submission. Parts of the region are facing significant population and demographic change, particularly Greater Christchurch, he said. ''We need to make sure we get the balance right, and we're actively safeguarding the environment, as well as social, and cultural values at the same time.'' Any decisions needed to consider the region's infrastructure capacity, housing availability, labour market, transport connectivity and natural hazards. Public consultation on the Going for Housing Growth discussion document closes on August 17. By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
Otago Daily Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Hanmer's proposed adrenaline ride still in limbo
An artist's impression of the proposed flyride for Conical Hill, Hanmer Springs. Image: Supplied by Hurunui District Council There is hope a proposed Hanmer Springs flyride will still go ahead, despite a three-year delay and rising costs. Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa was granted a consent three years ago to install and operate the gravity-based ride on the western face of Conical Hill Reserve. But the decision was appealed by The Friends of Conical Hill Incorporated due to concerns around the visual impact on the area, as well as traffic congestion, noise and the risk of fire. The project was finally given the green light by the Environment Court late last year, but Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said there are still a few bumps in the road. ''We are working on it, but we need to re-evaluate the project and the financials to make sure it still stacks up. ''Five-years have gone by since we started this project, so we need to re-look at it and bring a business case back to the council.'' When it was first proposed, the attraction was expected to create 23 jobs and inject $4 million into the local economy in its first five years of operation. Mr Dobbie said the cost was originally estimated at $2.7m, with the council receiving $2m from the Government's Shovel Ready fund in 2020. ''There has been cost escalations, and the technology has changed. ''And the market has changed. It was pre-Covid when the project started, so we need to redo the whole business case.'' Despite the challenges, Mr Dobbie said he is optimistic the project can go ahead - if the numbers stack up. ''There hasn't been a lot of new tourism products created in the last five years, and my firm belief is there needs to be some more.'' Staff are expected to report back to the council later in the year. Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa is owned by the Hurunui District Council. By David Hill, Local Democracy ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Hurunui Increases Contestable Funding
Hurunui Councillors have voted in changes to how Contestable Funding is divvied up between the district's existing three wards. The proposal to change the fund's distribution to make the allocation more equitable for the district's South Ward was unanimously supported at last week's Council meeting. Contestable funding is available to community groups or individuals for projects that enhance Council's reserves. The result is an increase to the South Ward from the current $10,000 to $30,000 per year, to bring it in line with the West Ward, which will remain at its current allocation of $30,000. The East Ward will remain at its current allocation of $20,000. The new allocation to South Ward increases the fund to $80,000. Hurunui Council CEO Hamish Dobbie said the fund is derived from the surplus generated by the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa. 'The fund was set up in 2007 when the district was made up of six wards. After the wards were consolidated into three wards, the fund continued to be distributed in line with the original ward boundaries.' This resulted in South Ward's allocation over time falling behind its growth – and the growing number of its reserves. The resolution included a determination that the Contestable Fund be reviewed every three years to ensure it continues to meet future growth across the district.
