Latest news with #JonathanLeask
Scoop
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Rūnanga Appeals Canterbury Water Rehab Project Consent
Article – Jonathan Leask – Local Democracy Reporter Rnanga are appealing the consent approval for a Mid Canterbury water rehabilitation project to the Environment Court claiming the independent commisioners got it wrong. Local rūnanga are appealing the consent approval for the expansion of a significant Mid Canterbury water rehabilitation project, as they fear the move will put added pressure on the Rangitata River. However, the trust behind the environmental project says the decision to appeal 'is a kick in the guts' for the district. Commissioners granted resource consents to Rangitata Diversion Race Management and Hekeao Hinds Enhancement Trust on April 30 to expand the groundwater rehabilitation project. Te Rūnanga O Arowhenua, which had opposed the consent application, filed its appeal to the Environment Court on May 21. The consents are to source water from the Rangitata Diversion Race to operate water aquifer and recharge sites at 37 locations, 15 existing and 22 new sites. The aquifer sites contain infiltration basins, which act like big leaky ponds. The basins are filled with high-quality water that seeps down and recharges the groundwater. In the consent decision, the independent panel stated the consent applications were only about what RDRML's existing allocation could be used for. 'There is no take application before us,' the consent decision stated. Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua argued that the panel got that aspect of the decision, and some other factors, wrong. Upoko (head) Tewera King said Arowhenua 'do not agree with the concept of taking water from one water body, and using it, in the way that has been proposed here, to improve unhealthy water'. 'It is not addressing the fundamental problem of why water is unhealthy in the first place. 'We believe the decision we are appealing would result in an increased actual take of water from the Rangitata River in circumstances where the river is already over-allocated. 'It also further diminishes the effectiveness of the Rangitata Water Conservation Order to protect outstanding characteristics of the river that are highly valued by Kāti Huirapa (hapū of Ngāi Tahu). 'We demand long-term thinking that provides for intergenerational prosperity and resilience.' Arowhenua wants the decision overturned and the application to be declined. Hekeao Hinds Enhancement Trust chairperson Peter Lowe said he was disappointed by the appeal. The environmental enhancement project had been set up by an inclusive, collaborative process, which included Arowhenua, he said. 'Its proven track record of positive environmental gains to biodiversity and water bodies was recognised by the independent commissioners in granting consents to expand the project,' Lowe said. 'To have this decision appealed is a kick in the guts for our district, the collaborative design process, and not least our environment and biodiversity.' Arowhenua had supported the initial water enhancement project starting in 2016 but has opposed the planned expansion of the project. The appeal comes at the same time that Ngāi Tahu's High Court case against the Crown to get a declaration that the tribe has legal rights over freshwater in its territory. Ngāi Tahu representatives are attempting to get real engagement on designing a better way to manage lakes, rivers and waterways that are becoming increasingly polluted, according to industry body Water NZ. Frustration at 'long, expensive' process The consents were initially lodged in 2022 and approved by the independent commissioners in April. Hekeao Hinds Enhancement Trust now faces potentially another year before it can get the expansion up and running, with the environment losing out, Lowe said. Lowe was scathing of ECan's consent process when providing an update to the Ashburton Water Zone Committee on Tuesday. 'They have put us through an extremely long, expensive, and torturous process. 'I think they need to hang their heads in shame to what they have done to this community.' The consenting process has cost the trust almost $600,000 so far. The Trust's sole funding source is from ECan, through the Targeted Hinds Regional Environmental Infrastructure Rate. That is causing community frustration as the service they are being rated for isn't being met due to the ongoing consent process, and subsequent appeal, Lowe said Water and land manager Pim De Monch said ECan continue monitoring the funding to ensure it's being used for its intended purpose. 'We appreciate the Trust's environmental infrastructure work programme is complex and long-term, and it takes time to be able to scope, consent, and deliver it.' ECan regulatory Implementation general manager Paul Hulse said the new resource consents will not proceed until any appeals to the Environment Court are resolved. 'HHWET can continue operating under their existing consents in the meantime.'
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
‘Overwhelming Support' For Ashburton's Standalone Water Plan
Article – Jonathan Leask – Local Democracy Reporter The community response is clear that a standalone business unit should be the model for the future delivery of the Ashburton Districts three water services. Ashburton's community is backing a standalone business unit for the future delivery of the district's water services, according to submissions. The Ashburton District Council is poised to adopt the in-house, ring-fenced delivery model for its Water Services Delivery Plan on Wednesday, which will be lodged with the Department of Internal Affairs by September 3. Although the standalone business unit was deemed the cheaper option, the cost of water services is expected to rise due to tougher water regulations, a councillor warned. At last week's submission hearing and deliberations, councillors covered the 234 submissions, which showed 88% support for the council's proposed delivery model. Deputy mayor Liz McMillan said the key message from the community was 'local control and wanting the council to continue the good work that we have been doing'. Around 9% of submitters favoured the alternative option of establishing a water services council-controlled organisation (WSCCO), while the remaining 3% suggested another option or didn't specify a preference. Councillor Russel Ellis said the heavy weighting towards the proposed option was 'probably one of the clearest lots of public submissions I've seen in my time here'. One of the supporters was former district councillor Stuart Wilson, who was the lone submitter presenting in person at the hearing last week. 'It was important to show support for the option the council decided was the best for our district. 'Sometimes, through thinking the obvious choice will be accepted by rate payers can mean that the opposing view can activate themselves out of proportion to public opinion. 'The overwhelming support for the standalone business unit is an emphatic endorsement of your option that the council favoured.' He also advised the council that he backs the introduction of water meters to all properties connected to council supplies. 'Not only to monitor usage but to charge according to usage.' There has been a suggestion that it will become a legislative requirement in the future, 'so the sooner this is implemented in this district, it will be advantaged to comply with legislation and to ensure water is used responsibly'. In the deliberations, McMillan noted that the council's position is to use water meters only or leak detection. '[There's] no plan for charging for water, but we could be directed otherwise going forward.' Ellis wanted it to be clear that while a standalone business unit was deemed the cheaper option, the services wouldn't be cheaper. 'With the regulations that are changing, there will be increased costs.' The council's standalone business unit will need to meet stricter requirements, including regular reporting to the Commerce Commission, which will ensure that water service charges are fair and sustainable, and ongoing renewals and maintenance are appropriate.
Scoop
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Council Prioritises Fix For ‘Uneven' Rolleston Intersection
Article – Jonathan Leask – Local Democracy Reporter The new $5.6 million intersection in Rolleston being uneven within a month of being sealed will be fixed by the end of May. The 'uneven' surface of a new $5.6 million intersection in Rolleston will be fixed by the end of May, council says. Levelling work needs to be completed on the major Canterbury intersection, between Levi Road and Masefield Drive. The Selwyn District Council issued a statement on May 6 via social media that it was 'aware of the uneven surface(s) on Levi Road' and that contractors will be working on levelling the surface as soon as they can. Council infrastructure and property executive director Tim Mason said the road was built to design and there are no structural issues. 'The ride quality at the two entrances to the supermarket development along Levi Road that motorists are experiencing is a temporary issue. 'There are no safety concerns relating to this minor issue and currently a 30 km/h temporary speed limit is in place as a precautionary measure.' The issue was identified during the April 4-6 'super weekend' when the contractors, Isaac Construction, worked a straight 84 hours to install the traffic lights and complete the final roading, piping, electrical work, he said. 'Since then, the council, design consultants, and the contractor have been working on the final stage of design for remediation for the ride quality. 'We expect to have this completed by the end of May. 'We are currently working with our contractor and design consultants to prioritise remediation,while also confirming responsibility for costs as part of that process.' This issue was not caused by last week's heavy rain, but the bad weather delayed the remediation work, he said. 'We can confirm that the drainage around the intersection is working effectively and was not impacted by the recent weather event.' The intersection is a main arterial route linking traffic in and out of Rolleston to the Christchurch Southern Motorway. The finishing touches, such as road markings, had been scheduled to be completed by the end of April. However, this was only partially completed due to the bad weather conditions in the last two weeks, Mason said. Isaac Construction have been approached for comment. The intersection upgrade was originally included in the council's 2021–31 long-term plan, ahead of Foodstuffs South Island announcing their development plans. Foodstuffs is building the South Island's largest Pak'nSave, covering 8100 square meters, on the corner of Levi Road and Lincoln Rolleston Road. It is scheduled to open by the end of the year. It's understood that development contributions from the new supermarket will have offset some of the $5.6m cost, as well as a NZ Transport Agency subsidy.
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New $5.6m Rolleston Intersection ‘Uneven' Within A Month
Article – Jonathan Leask – Local Democracy Reporter The council has been contacted for more details on the situation, including if the issues were caused by last weeks heavy rain and who would pay for the remediation works. A new $5.6m intersection in Rolleston is uneven and needs repair work within a month of being sealed. The major Canterbury intersection between Levi Road and Masefield Drive became fully operational in early April after contractors worked a straight 84 hours to install traffic lights and complete the final roading, piping, electrical work. The Selwyn District Council issued a statement today (May 6) on social media that it was 'aware of the uneven surface(s) on Levi Road'. 'Our contractors will be working on levelling the surface as soon as they can. 'Road marking will be completed as the weather allows it.' The council has been contacted for more details on the situation, including if the issues were caused by last week's heavy rain and who would pay for the remediation works. The intersection is a main arterial route linking traffic in and out of Rolleston to the Christchurch Southern Motorway. Contractor Isaac Construction worked through the weekend of April 4-6 to complete the road works on the intersection. The intersection upgrade was originally included in the council's 2021–31 long-term plan, ahead of Foodstuffs South Island announcing their development plans. Foodstuffs is building the South Island's largest Pak'nSave, covering 8100 square meters, on the corner of Levi Road and Lincoln Rolleston Road. It is scheduled to open by the end of the year. It's understood that development contributions from the new supermarket will have offset some of the $5.6m cost, as well as a NZ Transport Agency subsidy. A new Mitre 10 Mega, planned next to the Pak'nSave, is going through the consenting process. A private plan change request has been submitted to the council to rezone the area from medium-density residential to large-format retail. The council decided last year to combine three different projects, including the widening of Levi Road, the new traffic lights, and the entry points for the new supermarket, to minimise the overall timeframes of the projects.
Scoop
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Ashburton Council Pushes For Four-Year Terms
Article – Jonathan Leask – Local Democracy Reporter The Ashburton District Council supports a shift to four-year terms – if it is for both local and central government. One Ashburton councillor believes a shift to four-year terms would 'work better for the ratepayer'. The Ashburton District Council supports a shift to four-year terms if it is for both local and central government. The only issue is that draft legislation enabling a four-year term is for Parliament only – not councils. If passed, it would extend the maximum term of Parliament from three to four years if certain conditions are met. Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown said that if one changes, they both need to change. That was the tone of the council's submission, emphasising the importance of the parliamentary term being a fixed four-year period that is matched by local government. First-term councillor Richard Wilson said he learnt it takes 'six months to get council started' after an election and now supports a move to a four-year term. 'You actually lose a lot of time getting ready and slowing down [for elections]. 'If we get another year in the middle, that would make council business a bit more streamlined and work better for the ratepayer.' Council chief executive Hamish Riach said that if central government moved to four-year terms and local government remained at three, the elections would occur at the same time every 12 years. He said the local election would be 'swamped by the coverage of the national elections'. 'We don't think that is good for local democracy'. If both central and local government moved to four-year terms, there would be separate elections two years apart. The councillors approved the submission on April 16, a day before submissions on the draft legislation closed. Ashburton's stance is in line with what Local Government NZ (LGNZ) has been advocating for. LGNZ president Sam Broughton believed there was a strong case for alignment of council and parliamentary terms. 'A four-year term will support the country to be more efficient with infrastructure planning and delivery, basically doubling the number of effective governance years between elections.' There is also support outside of local governance with Infrastructure New Zealand chief executive Nick Leggett backing a four-year parliamentary term, 'but it must be accompanied by the same shift for local government'. 'This is critical if we want alignment between the two tiers of government, and for them to operate and collaborate effectively.' Leggett said the draft four-year term bill overcomplicates the debate by introducing conditions that allow governments to choose between three- and four-year terms depending on how select committee membership is allocated. 'What's needed is clarity. 'We should ask New Zealanders one simple question at the referendum – do they support moving both central and local government to four-year terms? 'That approach gives each level of government the focus it needs, reduces administrative strain, and ensures important local issues are not drowned out by national campaigns.'
