May 2024 Council meeting - summary of discussion and decisions
At a well attended and extensive Council meeting last night (Monday 13 May), Grey District Council progressed a number of issues. Below is a summary of those discussions and decisions. Links to full reports, documents or minutes are provided as appropriate.
Withdrawal of Local Government NZ (LGNZ) membership
Council voted to end its membership to LGNZ, noting that the organisation had acted without a mandate from its members in relation to its commitment of local governments to thye Three Waters initiative and failed to seek member comment before taking a formal position on Māori Wards. It also hadn’t improved performance or engagement with Council despite numerous requests and conversations.
Read the full story about the withdrawal here.
Increase in borrowings with Local Government Funding Authority
Council agreed to increase borrowings from LGFA to fund Port operations and the Kaiata Water Supply capital project. Such loans could have been taken up earlier, but it has been funded from income for as long as our cashflow allowed it to happen. In particular, it was noted that the practice of funding Port operational shortfalls through debt was not ideal and should stop. Council voted to increase borrowings through LGFA by $2m over a period of ten years.
Representation review
Council discussed the issue of representation and whether Grey District communities are well represented through the current ward system. The status quo was confirmed for consultation. While the issue of Māori representation is being explored by central government, Council voted to not create a Māori seat. Should legislation change, Council may have to consider a request for a poll on the matter.
Delegations
Council was asked to approve Part One of a new Delegations manual, which incorporates delegations to Council committees and subcommittees and financial delegations to staff. Part One of the Manual, which is split into two parts, sets out the delegations’ philosophy, current governance structure and financial delgations of Council staff. This has been updated and needed to be approved by Council. Part Two of the Manual contains the Chief Executive’s sub-delegations to staff, both statutory and non-statutory.
Flood mapping for Grey District
This is a most important issue and Council particularly asked that the community takes note of the impacts of the mapping. This triggers new regulatory responses from Council and Council asked staff to develop such responses in consultation with community representatives. The Hydro-dynamic Model Greymouth Maps were provided to Council and Council will undertake notification as soon as feasible. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to view the maps here or at West Coast Regional Council. Grey District Regulatory Manager Michael McEnaney advised Council that online mapping is still to come and details around how the information will affect LIMs and consents would be provided at a later date.
Reception changes/proposals and works at Westland Recreation Centre
Registrations of interest are being sought for a coffee shop operator for a revamped coffee shop at the Westland Recreation Centre. Council discussed having it run in-house but opted to put it out to commercial interest in the first instance. Mayor Tania Gibson noted that external providers of food for special occasions must be allowed to continue, and it should not compete with established coffee and food providers in the area
Separation of stormwater and sewer
Council was presented a report from Acting CE Paul Pretorius around a plan to progress separation for those households that have not yet connected to the Greymouth Sewage Scheme. Council cannot comply with the stormwater quality standard per expired consents and is faced with new consents which will implement higher compliance standards. Property owners/occupiers will have until 30 June 2025 to arrange for the on-site separation of their sewer from stormwater and to connect to Council’s separated collection scheme, failing which Council will have to undertake the work on their behalf and recover the cost from them as a Targeted Rate against such properties.
You can read the full report from Mr Pretorius in the public agenda here.
Library Project
Council confirmed that it continues urgent negotiations with Development West Coast to find a mutually acceptable governance solution to the library project that is in the best interests of all concerned. Project managers have been approved to go out Early Contractor Interest (ECI) to ensure work is able to begin as soon as details are confirmed.
Taylorville Resource Park
Council remains extremely concerned about this issue. Council has commissioned a Tonkin & Taylor report to identify any immediate and future compromise to the environment and the sub-soil of the operation of the disposal facility, and to recommend actions to be taken to remediate any potential threats. The cost of the report and any remedial works will be against the facility operator. Council continues its efforts to find a lasting solution to the problems created by the establishment of the disposal facility noting that further expansion of the facility is mooted. At this point it still believes it should not be there, it should never have been allowed to be there and that the area should be fully remediated with any associated impact, now and into the future being eliminated.
Aromahana development
The Utilities and Infrastructure Manager, Kurtis Perrin-Smith advised that Issac Construction Ltd have carried out a significant amount of work for Cobden – Aromahana Sanctuary and Recreation Area (CASRA) and Council. He stated that Council’s remaining budget for the year has enabled the completion of tracks to a gravel surface and this has been significant progress on site since the start of this year.