Flood scheme, water plan, GHL’s AGM

Pat Seymour

Opinion

We have a full council meeting on Thursday with substantial reports on a number of important topics, and a Civil Defence and Emergency Management meeting on Wednesday.

The community should be very interested in the fact the tender for the first substantial stage of the Waipaoa stopbank improvement is to be awarded. The aim of the stopbank upgrade plan is to improve the level of protection afforded both the Poverty Bay Flats — a significant part of our agriculture and horticulture economy — and Gisborne city itself by the Waipaoa stopbanks, taking account of projected climate change out to 2090. Put simply, earthworks are required to raise and widen the existing stopbanks to improve their resilience against flood events.

This contract is for the section from Ford Road to Ferry Road, and a tender of $1,455,347 is recommended. The overall upgrade project has been before councillors for many years, and council officers have sought assurances from experts in other councils as the project has developed and been peer-reviewed.

Still on the environment, there is a recommended update of time frames for the Progressive Implementation Plan for Freshwater Management in our district. We have a plan out to 2030 and the council also needs to consider the implementation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. The key changes are extending some time frames for delivery beyond 2025 and combining two catchments, Hangaroa/Ruakituri and the southern catchment, and some investigation should there be a risk of non-completion within time frames. This is a very big piece of work that potentially affects all our community, and affordability for the ratepayers is a consideration.

The agreement the council must authorise to access money for the substantial projects funded by the Provincial Growth Fund needs to be approved. Projects covered include $2.3 million?for the inner harbour upgrade. This project still creates challenges for the traditional users of the harbour and the boat ramp, our many keen boating and fishing ratepayers, and the vision that GDC has to transform the area into a “Viaduct basin”. The other project is $6.1m for the Titirangi summit redevelopment, a new building/ wananga for public learning, upgraded car parking, landscaping and an “arrivals” area for the start of the Tupapa Trails.

The Annual General Meeting of Gisborne Holdings Ltd (GHL) is held at the council and the Mayor or his nominee has a proxy vote. Included with general matters is the reappointment of directors and appointment of one new director to replace retiring director Bob Proudfoot. Bob has given a number of years of absolute commitment to Tauwhareparae Farms and the subsequent business interests passed over to the holding company.

GHL pays 100 percent of an agreed dividend, annually around $1.5m, to the ratepayers through the council. This is a valuable resource owned 100 percent by the ratepayers of the district. We can all be very grateful for the outstanding job the directors do in managing the council/ ratepayer-owned assets. Look out for upgrades at the holiday park, a new on-site pool and new accommodation block alongside Awapuni Road — all generating income for the council which helps to keep rates down.

There is a substantial information report on climate change implications, suggesting various scenarios — worthy of a story in itself.

Wednesday sees the council meet as the Civil Defence Management Group. Papers cover the Uawa and Waipaoa recovery plans and the group report and the quarterly report.

Both agendas are on the GDC website.

Have a safe and happy Christmas with family and whanau, and I look forward to working with you all in 2019.