Progress on addressing RAPID number concerns

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Efforts are continuing to be made to make it easier for emergency services to locate rural properties in the Hurunui district.

The Hurunui District Council has reaffirmed its commitment to working with Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) to improve RAPID numbering in the district.

Fenz representatives first approached the council in November 2020 to outline concerns with incorrect RAPID numbering, numbers not displayed or located on the wrong access way.

Since then council staff have collaborated with Culverden Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Craig Ritchie to complete audits of more than 70 dairy farms in the Amuri Basin.

Two rights of way have been created in the area and more than 600 RAPID number plates have been purchased.

At a recent strategy and community committee meeting councillors voted to introduce charges for allocating RAPID numbering to new rural properties, principal buildings and new access ways.

The RAPID number plates would be installed by council staff to ensure they were correctly located.

But councillors voted against introducing a regulatory approach to enforce correct RAPID numbering.

■ Councillors also voted to retrospectively ratify submissions to the Natural and Built Environment Bill and the Spatial Planning Bill.

The bills have been proposed to replace the Resource Management Act.

mayor Marie Black said the submissions from the council emphasised the importance of retaining ‘‘a community voice’’.

The council also expressed concern with the plan making timeframe and sought clarification on the composition of the regional planning committee.