Latest news with #KaikōuraDistrictCouncil
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Residents risk being cut off after bridge funding dries up
Clarence Valley farmers have been left high and dry following a decision not to extend a funding deadline for replacing a quake-damaged bridge north of Kaikōura. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has informed the Kaikōura District Council it will not extend the June 30 sunset clause or offer additional funding for a replacement for the Glen Alton Bridge on Waiau Toa Clarence River, which was destroyed in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2016. Property owners now face an uncertain future, without year-round, all weather access to the valley. Steve and Shirley Millard have been farming in the valley for 13 years, with Mrs Millard commuting to work in Kaikōura. ''It should have been done way before now,'' Steve said. ''They said they are looking at other options, but I can't see many.'' The Clarence Valley is home to several properties, including forestry blocks, large hill country properties and Department of Conservation land. For now, access in and out is via Waipapa Road, Wharekiri Stream and a paper road through several properties. But the Wharekiri Stream is prone to flooding in heavy rain events and can be impassable for up to two weeks. Access is by four-wheel-drive only. Kaikōura District Council chief executive Will Doughty said NZTA's decision is a major setback and left the council with few options. ''The project has had a number of complex issues and stakeholder challenges that, despite best efforts, council has not been able to fully overcome.'' The NZTA board approved emergency works funding of $12.6 million from the National Land Transport Programme in 2019 to replace bridge - a 95 percent subsidy, but the project has been beset by challenges. The council initially applied to Environment Canterbury (ECan) for a resource consent to build a $13.5m bridge, 500 metres upstream from the previous bridge. But this was opposed by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura on cultural grounds. Last year, the council asked its contractor, Contract Structures Ltd, to provide a cost estimate for building a bridge at the original site. Going to the original site will require the council to acquire land for an access road to the new bridge, a process expected to take up to 18 month. The council will leave the local share funding of around $500,000 in the 2025/26 annual plan budget while the next steps are considered, Doughty said. NZTA regional manager central and lower South Island Peter Brown said the agency advised the council in December its application for an extension would likely be declined unless it could provide evidence by 28 February the challenges it faced could be overcome. ''Despite some progress being made on key issues, there remained significant ongoing risks and a lack of a clear path forward.'' The NZTA board met last month and declined an extension and a funding increase to $16.5m. ''We understand there will be disappointment over this decision for Clarence Valley residents,'' Brown said. ''The prolonged delays and unresolved issues make continued investment in this project untenable.'' Brown said NZTA will continue to work with the council to explore what options are available. By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Farmers Risk Being Cut Off As Bridge Funding Dries Up
Article – David Hill – Local Democracy Reporter Waka Kotahi has announced it will not extend a 30 June sunset clause or offer additional funding for a replacement for a quake damaged bridge at the Waiau Toa Clarence River. Clarence Valley farmers have been left high and dry following a decision not to extend a funding deadline for replacing a quake-damaged bridge north of Kaikōura. Waka Kotahi – the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) – has informed the Kaikōura District Council it will not extend the 30 June sunset clause or offering additional funding for a replacement for the Glen Alton Bridge on Waiau Toa Clarence River, which was destroyed in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2016. Property owners now face an uncertain future, without year-round, all weather access to the valley. Steve and Shirley Millard have been farming in the valley for 13 years, with Mrs Millard commuting to work in Kaikōura. 'It should have been done way before now,' Steve said. 'They said they are looking at other options, but I can't see many.' The Clarence Valley is home to several properties, including forestry blocks, large hill country properties and Department of Conservation land. For now access in and out is via Waipapa Road, Wharekiri Stream and a paper road through several properties. But the Wharekiri Stream is prone to flooding in heavy rain events and can be impassable for up to two weeks. Access is by four-wheel-drive only. Kaikōura District Council chief executive Will Doughty said NZTA's decision is a major setback and left the council with few options. 'The project has had a number of complex issues and stakeholder challenges that, despite best efforts, council has not been able to fully overcome.' The NZTA board approved emergency works funding of $12.6 million from the National Land Transport Programme in 2019 to replace bridge – a 95 percent subsidy, but the project has been beset by challenges. The council initially applied to Environment Canterbury (ECan) for a resource consent to build a $13.5m bridge, 500 metres upstream from the previous bridge. But this was opposed by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura on cultural grounds. Last year, the council asked its contractor, Contract Structures Ltd, to provide a cost estimate for building a bridge at the original site. Going to the original site will require the council to acquire land for an access road to the new bridge, a process expected to take up to 18 month. The council will leave the local share funding of around $500,000 in the 2025/26 annual plan budget while the next steps are considered, Doughty said. NZTA regional manager central and lower South Island Peter Brown said the agency advised the council in December its application for an extension would likely be declined unless it could provide evidence by 28 February the challenges it faced could be overcome. 'Despite some progress being made on key issues, there remained significant ongoing risks and a lack of a clear path forward.' The NZTA board met last month and declined an extension and a funding increase to $16.5m. 'We understand there will be disappointment over this decision for Clarence Valley residents,' Brown said. 'The prolonged delays and unresolved issues make continued investment in this project untenable.' Brown said NZTA will continue to work with the council to explore what options are available.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Farmers Risk Being Cut Off As Bridge Funding Dries Up
Clarence Valley farmers have been left high and dry following a decision not to extend a funding deadline for replacing a quake-damaged bridge north of Kaikōura. Waka Kotahi - the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) - has informed the Kaikōura District Council it will not extend the 30 June sunset clause or offering additional funding for a replacement for the Glen Alton Bridge on Waiau Toa Clarence River, which was destroyed in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2016. Property owners now face an uncertain future, without year-round, all weather access to the valley. Steve and Shirley Millard have been farming in the valley for 13 years, with Mrs Millard commuting to work in Kaikōura. ''It should have been done way before now,'' Steve said. ''They said they are looking at other options, but I can't see many.'' The Clarence Valley is home to several properties, including forestry blocks, large hill country properties and Department of Conservation land. For now access in and out is via Waipapa Road, Wharekiri Stream and a paper road through several properties. But the Wharekiri Stream is prone to flooding in heavy rain events and can be impassable for up to two weeks. Access is by four-wheel-drive only. Kaikōura District Council chief executive Will Doughty said NZTA's decision is a major setback and left the council with few options. ''The project has had a number of complex issues and stakeholder challenges that, despite best efforts, council has not been able to fully overcome.'' The NZTA board approved emergency works funding of $12.6 million from the National Land Transport Programme in 2019 to replace bridge - a 95 percent subsidy, but the project has been beset by challenges. The council initially applied to Environment Canterbury (ECan) for a resource consent to build a $13.5m bridge, 500 metres upstream from the previous bridge. But this was opposed by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura on cultural grounds. Last year, the council asked its contractor, Contract Structures Ltd, to provide a cost estimate for building a bridge at the original site. Going to the original site will require the council to acquire land for an access road to the new bridge, a process expected to take up to 18 month. The council will leave the local share funding of around $500,000 in the 2025/26 annual plan budget while the next steps are considered, Doughty said. NZTA regional manager central and lower South Island Peter Brown said the agency advised the council in December its application for an extension would likely be declined unless it could provide evidence by 28 February the challenges it faced could be overcome. ''Despite some progress being made on key issues, there remained significant ongoing risks and a lack of a clear path forward.'' The NZTA board met last month and declined an extension and a funding increase to $16.5m. ''We understand there will be disappointment over this decision for Clarence Valley residents,'' Brown said. ''The prolonged delays and unresolved issues make continued investment in this project untenable.'' Brown said NZTA will continue to work with the council to explore what options are available.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Farmers risk being cut off as bridge funding dries up
The Wharekiri Stream can be impassable in a flood. Photo: Supplied / Shirley Millard Clarence Valley farmers have been left high and dry following a decision not to extend a funding deadline for replacing a quake-damaged bridge north of Kaikōura. Waka Kotahi - the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) - has informed the Kaikōura District Council it will not extend the 30 June sunset clause or offering additional funding for a replacement for the Glen Alton Bridge on Waiau Toa Clarence River, which was destroyed in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2016. Property owners now face an uncertain future, without year-round, all weather access to the valley. Steve and Shirley Millard have been farming in the valley for 13 years, with Mrs Millard commuting to work in Kaikōura. ''It should have been done way before now,'' Steve said. ''They said they are looking at other options, but I can't see many.'' The Clarence Valley is home to several properties, including forestry blocks, large hill country properties and Department of Conservation land. For now access in and out is via Waipapa Road, Wharekiri Stream and a paper road through several properties. But the Wharekiri Stream is prone to flooding in heavy rain events and can be impassable for up to two weeks. Access is by four-wheel-drive only. Kaikōura District Council chief executive Will Doughty said NZTA's decision is a major setback and left the council with few options. ''The project has had a number of complex issues and stakeholder challenges that, despite best efforts, council has not been able to fully overcome.'' The remains of the Glen Alton bridge in the Clarence Valley, north of Kaikōura. Photo: Supplied / Kaikōura District Council The NZTA board approved emergency works funding of $12.6 million from the National Land Transport Programme in 2019 to replace bridge - a 95 percent subsidy, but the project has been beset by challenges. The council initially applied to Environment Canterbury (ECan) for a resource consent to build a $13.5m bridge, 500 metres upstream from the previous bridge. But this was opposed by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura on cultural grounds. Last year, the council asked its contractor, Contract Structures Ltd, to provide a cost estimate for building a bridge at the original site. Going to the original site will require the council to acquire land for an access road to the new bridge, a process expected to take up to 18 month. The council will leave the local share funding of around $500,000 in the 2025/26 annual plan budget while the next steps are considered, Doughty said. NZTA regional manager central and lower South Island Peter Brown said the agency advised the council in December its application for an extension would likely be declined unless it could provide evidence by 28 February the challenges it faced could be overcome. ''Despite some progress being made on key issues, there remained significant ongoing risks and a lack of a clear path forward.'' The NZTA board met last month and declined an extension and a funding increase to $16.5m. ''We understand there will be disappointment over this decision for Clarence Valley residents,'' Brown said. ''The prolonged delays and unresolved issues make continued investment in this project untenable.'' Brown said NZTA will continue to work with the council to explore what options are available. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
The Rules When Running For Local Government
If you're considering having a crack at local government elections, you'll need to put down the shades, cat and baby for your candidate photo. Potential candidates are being reminded of a few pitfalls ahead of nominations opening for local government elections on 4 July. Speaking to a Kaikōura District Council workshop this week, electoral officer Warwick Lampp said candidates needed to submit a passport sized photo with their 150 word profile. The photo needs to be of your head and shoulders, with no sunglasses, no hat and not accompanied by whānau, pets, friends or kissing a baby. Candidates must be a New Zealand citizen. You do not need to reside in the district(s) you choose to stand in - but your two nominees do. If you or your partner hold a contract of more than $25,000 for your local council you cannot stand, unless you have prior approval from the Auditor-General. Nominations close at 12pm on Friday, August 1, and Lampp said no late nominations were accepted. ''Remember, if you are sending it by email, it is not the time you send it, but the time it lands in the council's email system. ''It has to be in the hands of the electoral officer by 12 noon, so if you are emailing at 11.59am, it probably won't arrive in the returning officer's inbox until 12.01pm. ''If you are in the door it can be processed at 12 noon, provided there are no issues, because you won't have time to fix them.'' Once nominations close, you are on the ballot paper, Lampp said. ''It does happen that people have to withdraw because of ill-health or death or another reason.'' In 2019, Seven Sharp journalist Julian Lee got himself nominated for the Mackenzie district mayoralty while working on a story. He failed to withdraw his nomination in time and ended up running ''a don't vote for me'' campaign, Lampp said. ''It actually boosted the voter turnout as it meant there was a mayoral contest.'' Lampp said orange ballot boxes were set to become a common feature in this year's local government elections as councils look to make it easier for people to vote. ''Orange ballot boxes are the way to go these days because of the pressures on the postal service.'' Kaikōura District Council deputy electoral officer Becky Makin said orange bins would be located at strategic locations around the district. Voting papers are posted out from 9 September, with voting closing at midday on Saturday, 11 October. A telephone dictation service is available from the Electoral Commission to assist those who are unable to read the voting papers. Christchurch-based Ltd runs the elections for several councils around the country, including the Kaikōura district. There will be elections for mayor, seven councillors elected at large, and two Environment Canterbury councillors in the North Canterbury constituency.
