Latest news with #Ormsby
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Heretaunga Water Storage Project To Move Into New Delivery Entity
Hawke's Bay Regional Council is continuing the process of transitioning the Heretaunga Water Storage project into a new governance entity representing major community water users on the Heretaunga Plains. The Regional Council is undertaking a full feasibility assessment for a 27 million cubic metre water storage reservoir at Whanawhana as part of its commitment to regional water security. The project would store peak winter flows for release into Heretaunga's waterways and aquifer during periods of peak summer water demand. Regional Council Chair Hinewai Ormsby says the council received an update on work to establish a new governance entity for the project, which is likely to be confirmed in July. 'This devolution of the project was always Regional Council's commitment, and we have been clear and consistent on this point: HBRC is not a reservoir developer, but it can enable and facilitate water security solutions. The project has a very good chance of moving through into consenting and construction if it is driven by the ultimate users of the water and the beneficiaries of greater water security,' she says. Regional Council, along with Kanoa, has jointly funded the full feasibility assessment, and Regional Council's costs are budgeted for in its long-term plan. 'Feasibility of the Heretaunga Water Storage Project is progressing very well off the back of a robust pre-feasibility assessment. Engagement with major water users has been positive and there is clear appetite for water users to now drive this project forward.' Chair Ormsby says the new governance and delivery entity will now be rapidly established, likely involving representatives of major irrigators and industrial water users; municipal water users (Hastings and Napier councils), and mana whenua from the Heretaunga Plains. 'The Heretaunga Plains are some of the world's great growing soils and the engine of Hawke's Bay's economy – and they are increasingly dependent on water security. As our climate changes, water security becomes both more precious for our social, environmental and economic wellbeing, and challenging to deliver. There is a growing gap between our demand for water and nature's ability to reliably provide it. 'Water storage is now a critical part of water security for Heretaunga. We have identified a site for an environmentally responsible water storage facility to protect the environment, economy and people's livelihoods on the Heretaunga Plains. 'The project is at the right size for the Heretaunga's water security needs and is based within the natural catchment that supplies the Heretaunga Plains and its aquifer. The time is now right for community representatives with clear interests in water security to take over this project and see it through to completion.'
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Hawke's Bay Regional Council Begins Community Conversations About Boosting Flood Protection
The Hawke's Bay Regional Council is launching a region-wide conversation with communities about how we protect ourselves better from flooding – a challenge that's growing with our changing climate. Regional Council Chair Hinewai Ormsby says the the devastation caused by recent flood events like Cyclone Gabrielle, has shown just how exposed the region is to flooding, whether it comes from rivers, stormwater, or the sea. 'Flooding is one of the most pressing climate risks we face in Hawke's Bay,' says Chair Ormsby. 'The protections that once worked for us are no longer enough. We need to talk openly, and as a region, about where we go from here.' From now through to 2027 when the next Long Term Plan is decided, the Regional Council will work closely with communities to explore engineering solutions – such as spillways, drains, stopbanks, and seawalls – and consider what's needed in different areas to manage growing flood risk. 'This work will help us understand what solutions make the most sense for each community. We'll be looking at the big questions together: what needs to be done, where, when, and how we pay for it. 'It will also take partnerships with Central Government and a strong financial strategy. Our relationship with Central Government is important. This was demonstrated before Cyclone Gabrielle, when Kanoa - the Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, which manages the Provincial Growth Fund, partnered with the Regional Council on flood resilience projects including upgrades to the Taradale stopbank.' Chair Ormsby says the scale of the challenge ahead is significant. Early estimates suggest that if all possible engineering solutions were implemented today, it could require doubling what the Council currently collects in rates - from $50 million to $100 million per year. 'Deciding which engineering solutions to invest in is the job at hand and, in the end, it comes down to how much we are all prepared to pay. This is a long-term challenge, and there's no quick fix, but we aim to make substantial decisions at the 2027 Long Term Plan deliberations' says Chair Ormsby. The Regional Council will soon launch a dedicated online hub with a range of information about potential flood protection options for areas across the region. The first of the information, including an explainer animation, handout and discussion document were received today by councillors, and further information will be added over time. The hub will soon enable people to get involved in the conversation. 'We are prepared to have these conversations openly because we know how essential they are for the safety of our Hawke's Bay communities' says Chair Ormsby.
Scoop
24-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Cash Injection To Protect Whirinaki From Floods: ‘Too Important To Fail'
Funding has been granted for a new plan to protect a huge Hawke's Bay business from flooding and move the community's homes around it out of post-cyclone limbo. The plan will protect Pan Pac Forest Products' mill at Whirinaki, and see 46 homes which were inundated by water as Cyclone Gabrielle hit on February 14, 2023, move from Category 2C to Category 1. Whirinaki residents have fought long and hard for their community. More than a year ago one couple even installed a seat outside their home with two skeletons sitting on it and a sign that read 'waiting on decisions'. HBRC said in January its initial flood resilience project, which included raising and strengthening stopbanks and raising a section of State Highway 2, and upgrading its culverts, was facing a large funding shortfall. The project was needed to move the community's post-cyclone Category 2C properties into Category 1 and was expected to be funded through Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC). But a significant reduction to TREC's budget meant the funding was no longer available for it, leaving HBRC to again petition the Government for funding. Now central Government has agreed to redirect an additional $9 million and Regional Council has committed a further $3 million, after a change of design. It will allow the on-hold project to go ahead. HBRC chair Hinewai Ormsby said it marked a significant milestone for the Whirinaki community and residents who had faced considerable uncertainty. 'The funding commitments from our council and Central Government demonstrate our shared belief in the project's benefits for impacted property owners. Most importantly, it will help them move forward with their lives,' Ormsby said. Pan Pac Forest Products general manager Tony Clifford said he was delighted, and it would provide confidence that its site is durable. 'I couldn't ask our employees to go through the aftermath of a cyclone again,' Clifford said. A spokesperson for HBRC said over the past six months, it explored options to reduce the project's costs, which escalated to more than $34 million from the original $11 million budget, creating a shortfall. 'The original stopbank alignment that followed the Whirinaki Drain required a new culvert to be built under the State Highway and significant road raising to tie the road into the stopbanks, resulting in the cost blowout. 'With a refined design, the cost had been reduced to about $23 million, with the new funding bridging the gap from the original budget.' The spokesperson said HBRC and its design team were working through the design details of the proposed new alignment. 'The updated alignment still includes raising State Highway 2 and stopbanks from the highway to the coast to provide flood mitigation to Category 2C areas. 'The raising of SH2 is now more modest due to the revised location being at a higher elevation,' the spokesperson said. 'The works still include upgrades to the existing stopbank around Pan Pac Forest Products to protect the industrial area, but due to the new alignment being further north it removes the need to upgrade the Whirinaki Drain culvert under SH2. 'As the design progresses and we have greater certainty on the detail of the stopbank design, including its height and width, further information will be made public once we have engaged with affected landowners and local residents.' HBRC councillor Martin Williams said the project was 'mission critical', not just for the Whirinaki communities it would better protect, but for the Hawke's Bay economy. 'The Pan Pac Pulpmill, one of the region's biggest employers, was severely impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. With rising electricity and insurance costs and a highly volatile export market, I doubt the mill would survive another cyclone without this stopbank project. Simply put, this project is in the 'too important to fail' category.' Clifford said they were right behind the council plan. 'It's hard to say what any future weather event would look like but if we haven't done our utmost to prepare and protect any investor would be saying what's the point,' he said. He said Pan Pac was back running at 95% after the rebuild. 'There are a few teething problems but that's expected with new plants. 'We are concerned about the winter, with the cost of electricity but hopefully the recent rain around the country will help ease that.' He said along with the stopbank, the management of the river mouth was a critical part of future flood protection. 'We need both and HBRC has taken steps in the right direction by installing a river level monitor and cameras. 'It means all that work that went into the rebuild will not be wasted. 'We will be doing whatever we can to support council including supplying fill from our quarries for use on the stopbanks.'
NZ Herald
23-04-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Government, Hawke's Bay Regional Council commit millions to protect Whirinaki from floods
The project was needed to move the community's post-cyclone Category 2C properties into Category 1 and was expected to be funded through Transport Rebuild East Coast (Trec). But a significant reduction to Trec's budget meant the funding was no longer available for it, leaving HBRC to again petition the Government for funding. Now the Government has agreed to redirect an additional $9 million and the regional council has committed a further $3m, after a change of design. It will allow the on-hold project to go ahead. HBRC chair Hinewai Ormsby said it marked a significant milestone for the Whirinaki community and residents who had faced considerable uncertainty. 'The funding commitments from our council and central Government demonstrate our shared belief in the project's benefits for impacted property owners. Most importantly, it will help them move forward with their lives,' Ormsby said. Pan Pac Forest Products general manager Tony Clifford said he was delighted and it would provide confidence that its site is durable. 'I couldn't ask our employees to go through the aftermath of a cyclone again,' Clifford said. HBRC said over the past six months, it explored options to reduce the project's costs, which escalated to more than $34m from the original $11m budget, creating a shortfall. 'The original stopbank alignment that followed the Whirinaki Drain required a new culvert to be built under the State Highway and significant road-raising to tie the road into the stopbanks, resulting in the cost blowout,' it said in a statement. 'With a refined design, the cost had been reduced to about $23 million, with the new funding bridging the gap from the original budget.' HBRC and its design team were working through the design details of the proposed new alignment. 'The updated alignment still includes raising State Highway 2 and stopbanks from the highway to the coast to provide flood mitigation to Category 2C areas,' the statement said. 'The raising of SH2 is now more modest due to the revised location being at a higher elevation. 'The works still include upgrades to the existing stopbank around Pan Pac Forest Products to protect the industrial area, but due to the new alignment being further north it removes the need to upgrade the Whirinaki Drain culvert under SH2. 'As the design progresses and we have greater certainty on the detail of the stopbank design, including its height and width, further information will be made public once we have engaged with affected landowners and local residents.' HBRC councillor Martin Williams said the project was 'mission-critical', not just for the Whirinaki communities it would better protect but for the Hawke's Bay economy. 'The Pan Pac pulp mill, one of the region's biggest employers, was severely impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. With rising electricity and insurance costs and a highly volatile export market, I doubt the mill would survive another cyclone without this stopbank project. Simply put, this project is in the 'too-important-to-fail' category,' Williams said. Clifford said they were right behind the council plan. 'It's hard to say what any future weather event would look like but if we haven't done our utmost to prepare and protect [the mill], any investor would be saying 'what's the point',' he said. He said Pan Pac was back running at 95% after the rebuild. 'There are a few teething problems but that's expected with new plants. 'We are concerned about the winter, with the cost of electricity, but hopefully the recent rain around the country will help ease that.' Clifford said along with the stopbank, the management of the river mouth was a critical part of future flood protection. 'We need both and HBRC has taken steps in the right direction by installing a river level monitor and cameras. 'It means all that work that went into the rebuild will not be wasted. 'We will be doing whatever we can to support [the] council, including supplying fill from our quarries for use on the stopbanks.'
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Democratic lawmakers unveil budget proposals; call on higher taxes for wealthy and companies
Mar. 24—OLYMPIA — Democratic lawmakers unveiled their budget plans Monday morning, as the legislature looks to balance preserving key public services while addressing Washington's multibillion-dollar budget deficit. Both plans call on the state to address the shortfall through a mix of cuts and new revenue, while Republicans continue to insist a balanced budget is possible without raising taxes. While neither Democratic proposal is likely to be fully implemented, the budget plans serve as bargaining positions for negotiators as both chambers work to adopt a budget by April 27. Following the release, Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, tied the state's budget challenges to "impacts from the federal government" that include potential tariffs and continued inflation. "We took these challenges on head-first, working every day with the people of Washington first in our mind," Ormsby said in a statement. "Our guiding principle was to protect investments that keep people healthy and to reduce harm wherever possible. This budget is a testament to that approach." The plans come after Senate Republicans unveiled a budget they say shows the state can adopt a balanced budget without imposing new taxes, by pausing previously passed spending that has not taken effect and forgoing previously negotiated collective bargaining agreements with state workers. The Republicans' plan instead offers state workers a $5,000 bonus paid over two years. "The Senate Democrats claim their budget makes 'tough choices,' but the reality is, the tough choices are going to fall on the parents and college kids and families who will lose out because of the majority's misguided priorities," Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, said in a statement Monday. Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, said the Senate's plan "does exactly what we expected — it raises taxes and overspends. "Their plan adds $12.1 billion in new policy spending despite Washington already facing a multibillion-dollar budget shortfall," Braun said. "Instead of living within existing revenue, Democrats are pursuing unsustainable spending, leaving the state vulnerable. As the saying goes, 'If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging." Senate proposal While the size of the state's deficit fluctuates depending on who you ask on a given day, Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said she estimated it at roughly $12 billion over four years as she crafted their budget proposal. The chamber's budget writers unveiled a two-year, $78.5 billion operating budget on Monday, up from $72.4 billion between 2023 and 2025. The plan calls for $6.5 billion in cuts over the next four years and $16 billion in new revenue. Under the plan, revenue would increase in the second biennium, with the plan projecting $6.2 billion in additional revenue between fiscal years 2025 and 2027 and $9.8 billion between 2027 and 2029. "Crafting this budget required tough choices, thoughtful conversations, and a strong commitment to the people of Washington," Robinson said in a statement. "An all-cuts approach was never on the table — not when it meant turning our backs on schools, health care, and the basic services people depend on. This budget is a choice to lead responsibly — to face the reality in front of us and respond with solutions that are not just balanced and sustainable, but worthy of the people we serve." Under the plan, the legislature would use $1.6 billion from the state's rainy day fund in fiscal year 2026, which would be repaid the following year. The fund would be further replenished in future years, with $7.6 billion in reserves by the end of fiscal year 2029. "It does go low but quickly builds back to a very strong point," Robinson said. The plan would fund the collective bargaining agreements previously negotiated with state workers, though it calls on state workers to take 13 unpaid days off in fiscal year 2026, the equivalent of a 5% pay cut. While Gov. Bob Ferguson previously proposed a monthly furlough of one day for state employees for two years, the Senate Democrats' plan would only be in effect for one year. The budget would also invest $750 million per year into K-12 education, with most of the funds going toward school operating costs and special education. The plan would also not impact the bonuses that National Board Certified Teachers at K-12 schools receive. Lawmakers in the chamber offered a preview of their plan to address the deficit last week as they proposed taxing Washington's wealthiest residents through what they called a "financial intangibles tax," allowing property tax increases to be set by inflation and population growth and removing the cap on employer payroll taxes. The plan also calls on the state to reduce the sales tax by half a percent, which Democrats argue would help make the tax code less regressive. "People are going to see real, concrete benefits from the investments we're proposing today — keeping schools open, providing special education services for students, food assistance for needy families, support for those with developmental disabilities and so much more," Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, said in a statement. The Senate Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on the proposal Tuesday at 4 p.m., and could pass it out of committee Thursday. House of Representatives proposal While there is similarity in the two plans, budget writers in the House of Representatives took a slightly different approach as they crafted their plan. The budget calls on the state to spend $77 billion through the operating budget between 2025 and 2027. House Democrats have proposed a Financial Intangible Assets Tax of $8 on every $1,000 of assessed value on certain financial intangible assets, with the first $50 million exempt from the tax. Rep. April Berg, D-Mill Creek, said the tax would apply to around 4,300 residents and could raise $2 billion a year. Under the plan, House Democrats would not tap into the state's rainy day fund. The budget would also not cut the state's sales tax. House Democrats instead proposed a 1% B&O tax on businesses with income over $250 million, which Berg estimated would apply to around 400 businesses. The budget would also increase surcharge on specified financial institutions with a yearly income of $1 billion or more from 1.2% to 1.9%, which Berg said would bring in $600 million in fiscal year 2026 and $2 billion in fiscal year 2027. "This revenue package provides greater local fiscal flexibility, and asks the wealthiest Washingtonians to contribute more equitably to the programs and services our communities need and on which working families rely," Berg said. The proposal would fully fund the state workers' collective bargaining agreements and would not implement furloughs or cut pay. According to Ormsby, the plan would reduce travel, professional development, equipment and service contracts. National Board Certified teachers would also retain their bonuses under the plan. The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on the proposal Tuesday at 4 p.m., and could pass it out of committee Thursday.
