Latest news with #MarieBlack
Scoop
2 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Hurunui's Emergency Preparedness Builds Rural Resilience
Press Release – Hurunui District Council Backing the work of the CERTs is the ongoing development of Emergency Operations Centre staff trained Council officers who coordinate emergency responses. Over 40 staff members train monthly for the EOC, with two major exercises held a year. Hurunui District Council is strengthening community resilience and preparedness as part of its Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) work, recognising that in rural areas, emergencies are not 'if' but 'when'. An update presented to Council recently revealed the scope of work undertaken over the past six months. A highlight was last month's Hanmer Springs evacuation exercise, which saw over 100 responders, volunteers from the community, and community groups working together to successfully evacuate 120 people and check on 400 properties in just two hours. Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black, who participated in the exercise, said what was achieved in Hanmer Springs showed the incredible power of community, 'with locals taking the lead'. Council provides training and support to community-based volunteers organised in nine teams across the district. Allan Grigg, Emergency Management Officer for Hurunui District Council, said the members of these Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) manage local response operations within their communities, using local knowledge. 'The Hanmer evacuation demonstrated the value of this community-based training.' The district is also enhancing its communications capability with Starlink satellite units to be rolled out, ensuring communities can stay connected when traditional networks fail. Backing the work of the CERTs is the ongoing development of Emergency Operations Centre staff — trained Council officers who coordinate emergency responses. Over 40 staff members train monthly for the EOC, with two major exercises held a year. Hurunui youth are also stepping up to build district-wide resilience. The Youth in Emergency Services (YES) Camp in April saw 19 young people mastering emergency skills under the guidance of experienced responders. They had an opportunity to put what they had learnt to the test in the final day exercise, locating, assessing and rescuing 25 'casualties', including Mayor Black, in just 90 minutes in an earthquake scenario. 'Natural events are part of the landscape of rural life and it's vital we ensure our communities are ready when an emergency happens,' Grigg said.
Scoop
2 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Hurunui's Emergency Preparedness Builds Rural Resilience
Hurunui District Council is strengthening community resilience and preparedness as part of its Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) work, recognising that in rural areas, emergencies are not 'if' but 'when'. An update presented to Council recently revealed the scope of work undertaken over the past six months. A highlight was last month's Hanmer Springs evacuation exercise, which saw over 100 responders, volunteers from the community, and community groups working together to successfully evacuate 120 people and check on 400 properties in just two hours. Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black, who participated in the exercise, said what was achieved in Hanmer Springs showed the incredible power of community, 'with locals taking the lead'. Council provides training and support to community-based volunteers organised in nine teams across the district. Allan Grigg, Emergency Management Officer for Hurunui District Council, said the members of these Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) manage local response operations within their communities, using local knowledge. 'The Hanmer evacuation demonstrated the value of this community-based training.' The district is also enhancing its communications capability with Starlink satellite units to be rolled out, ensuring communities can stay connected when traditional networks fail. Backing the work of the CERTs is the ongoing development of Emergency Operations Centre staff — trained Council officers who coordinate emergency responses. Over 40 staff members train monthly for the EOC, with two major exercises held a year. Hurunui youth are also stepping up to build district-wide resilience. The Youth in Emergency Services (YES) Camp in April saw 19 young people mastering emergency skills under the guidance of experienced responders. They had an opportunity to put what they had learnt to the test in the final day exercise, locating, assessing and rescuing 25 'casualties', including Mayor Black, in just 90 minutes in an earthquake scenario. 'Natural events are part of the landscape of rural life and it's vital we ensure our communities are ready when an emergency happens,' Grigg said.
Scoop
28-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Community-Led Environmental Projects Receive $50,000 Boost
Six community-led environmental projects across Hurunui District are to share a funding boost of $50,000. Hurunui District councillors endorsed the six projects at this week's Council meeting. The funding is being provided through the Canterbury Water Management Strategy Action Plan Budget for 2024/25 and is already allocated in Environment Canterbury's (ECan) Long-Term Plan 2024-34. In the absence of a Hurunui Waiau Uwha Zone Committee, the funding continues to be allocated by ECan for projects within the Hurunui Waiau Uwha Water Zone, with Hurunui Council staff also involved in the assessment of the applications, Council's Chief Strategy and Community Officer Judith Batchelor said. The six successful projects include the protection of 900-year old trees in an old-growth podocarp forest, the creation of a contemporary nohoanga site, and biodiversity and wetland protection projects. Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black said it was exciting to see 'real grassroots, regeneration projects by local communities and landowners' being supported to protect waterways, restore habitats, and enhance biodiversity. 'These projects all demonstrate environmental stewardship and underline the values of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy,' Mayor Black said. The six funded projects include: Conway River Purple Willow Control - Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Ltd ($9,000). This project will control invasive weeds, especially purple willow, to protect and restore the natural braided character of the Conway River, building on previous successful control work. Countess Stream Catchment Plan - Hurunui District Landcare Group on behalf of the Countess Stream Catchment Group ($9,605). The second phase of a multi-phase initiative, building on the significant investment of landowners, and focused on developing a contemporary nohoanga site, accelerating restoration efforts and enhancing mahinga kai sites along the Waiau Uwha River. Hermitage and Mt Palm Drain Restoration – Mount Palm Ltd ($10,000). This project aims to improve water quality and enhance biodiversity on a 1918 hectare sheep and beef property by fencing remaining waterways and establishing a staged riparian planting programme for the lowland spring-fed streams. Nga Manu o Conway – Conway Landcare Biodiversity Group ($8,625) Supporting biodiversity protection efforts by the Conway Landcare Biodiversity Group, which has collectively placed over 800 hectares of native bush under covenant protection, including old growth podocarp forest containing totara, matai, and kahikatea up to 900 years old. Wetland and Estuary Protection Northern Pegasus Bay - North Pegasus Bay Coastcare Inc. ($10,870). Protecting and enhancing the wetland areas at Ashworths Beach and the lagoons/estuaries of the Kowai and Waipara rivers from damage by motor vehicles, and support an education programme. Woolshed Creek Restoration – Cherie Hansen landowner ($1,900). An initiative to improve water quality and reduce sediment entering the waterway and increase biodiversity and natural habitat. Environment Canterbury staff will also assist two additional projects to secure alternative funding sources.
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Hurunui Environmental Projects Receive Funding Boost
Article – David Hill – Local Democracy Reporter Six environmental projects are set to receive a funding boost from Environment Canterbury's Hurunui-Waiau Uwha zone action plan budget. Six North Canterbury environmental projects are set to receive a funding boost. The Hurunui District Council gave its support to funding totalling $50,000 from Environment Canterbury's (ECan) Hurunui-Waiau Uwha zone action plan budget, at a council meeting on Tuesday, May 27. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said she was impressed with the ''grassroots regeneration activity'' happening in the district. ''I felt quite excited when I read the report,'' she said The funding is usually allocated by the local zone committee, but the Hurunui-Waiau Uwha Zone Committee was disbanded in 2019. In the absence of a zone committee, ECan staff considered eight applications totalling $143,549 and sought feedback from the council and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura. A weed control project on the Conway River, to stop the spread of purple willow (Salix purpurea) and false tamarisk (Myricaria germanica), has been allocated $9000. The project will be led by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Ltd, the business arm of the rūnanga, which provides employment opportunities for local youth. The Hurunui District Landcare Group applied for $50,000, but has been allocated $9605 to continue work implementing a catchment plan for Countess Stream, a subsidiary of the Waiau Uwha River. Funding of $10,000 has been allocated to continue a project to fence off waterways and complete riparian planting at Mt Palm, a 1918ha hill country property in the Amuri Basin. The Conway Landcare Biodiversity Group Nga Manu o Conway has been allocated $8625 to support ongoing work to protect native bush. Northern Pegasus Bay (Hurunui) Coastcare Inc applied for $29,914 and has been allocated $10,870 to support the protection of wetlands at Ashworths Beach, and protect bird nesting areas in the lagoons / estuaries of the Kowai and Waipara rivers. The remaining $1900 has been allocated to stage one of a $10,000 restoration project at Woolshed Creek. ECan land management and biodiversity advisor Andrew Turnbull said staff will work with the two unsuccessful applicants to explore other funding options. Those projects include the restoration of Moelean Swamp, in the Blythe River catchment, and efforts to protect the Spey Stream wetland. The remaining zone committees, which were established under the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS), are due to be disestablished next month. The Canterbury Mayoral Forum, which brings together the region's 10 mayors and ECan, is due to meet on Friday, May 30, to decide on the future leadership under the CWMS. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
28-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Hurunui Environmental Projects Receive Funding Boost
Six North Canterbury environmental projects are set to receive a funding boost. The Hurunui District Council gave its support to funding totalling $50,000 from Environment Canterbury's (ECan) Hurunui-Waiau Uwha zone action plan budget, at a council meeting on Tuesday, May 27. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said she was impressed with the ''grassroots regeneration activity'' happening in the district. ''I felt quite excited when I read the report,'' she said The funding is usually allocated by the local zone committee, but the Hurunui-Waiau Uwha Zone Committee was disbanded in 2019. In the absence of a zone committee, ECan staff considered eight applications totalling $143,549 and sought feedback from the council and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura. A weed control project on the Conway River, to stop the spread of purple willow (Salix purpurea) and false tamarisk (Myricaria germanica), has been allocated $9000. The project will be led by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Ltd, the business arm of the rūnanga, which provides employment opportunities for local youth. The Hurunui District Landcare Group applied for $50,000, but has been allocated $9605 to continue work implementing a catchment plan for Countess Stream, a subsidiary of the Waiau Uwha River. Funding of $10,000 has been allocated to continue a project to fence off waterways and complete riparian planting at Mt Palm, a 1918ha hill country property in the Amuri Basin. The Conway Landcare Biodiversity Group Nga Manu o Conway has been allocated $8625 to support ongoing work to protect native bush. Northern Pegasus Bay (Hurunui) Coastcare Inc applied for $29,914 and has been allocated $10,870 to support the protection of wetlands at Ashworths Beach, and protect bird nesting areas in the lagoons / estuaries of the Kowai and Waipara rivers. The remaining $1900 has been allocated to stage one of a $10,000 restoration project at Woolshed Creek. ECan land management and biodiversity advisor Andrew Turnbull said staff will work with the two unsuccessful applicants to explore other funding options. Those projects include the restoration of Moelean Swamp, in the Blythe River catchment, and efforts to protect the Spey Stream wetland. The remaining zone committees, which were established under the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS), are due to be disestablished next month. The Canterbury Mayoral Forum, which brings together the region's 10 mayors and ECan, is due to meet on Friday, May 30, to decide on the future leadership under the CWMS. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
