Franz Josef ‘held to ransom’ by delay

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

Westland's mayor says the Franz Josef community is being "held to ransom" by a standoff delaying floodwalls on the northern bank of the Waiho River.

Helen Lash welcomed the announcement last week that work was to start on the first stage of the Hokitika River scheme, but said the delays further south around the Waiho Scheme were exacting an unacceptable toll on the glacier town.

"I would like to have thought we would have got Franz under control by now," she said.

The standoff with Scenic Circle Group with both the Westland and West Coast Regional councils was generating an unfortunate level of uncertainty in the glacier village.

"It's a really unfortunate situation. It frustrates the hell out of me that we've had the delays that we've had," Lash said.

"I just don't think it's right that an entity can hold everyone to ransom. We're talking about livelihoods and the economy. It's gone far too long. I just want to see some motion."

West Coast Regional Council chief executive Heather Mabin said there had been no movement since Scenic Circle Group declined in December to give affected party approval.

The north bank work was poised to go, with the lower part of the scheme towards the Waiho loop already under way.

However the crucial phase, including bolstering protection from the river bordering the northern outskirts along State highway 6 - where the school, commercial business park, and the site of the now abandoned Scenic Circle Mueller Wing sit -- was still a sticking point.

Mabin said a hearing triggered by Scenic Circle Hotel Group's refusal to give affected party approval to the scheme would now be held mid-May after the mid-April date had to be vacated.

Despite that council had "full support" from MBIE infrastructure division Kanoa, which had released the $12.5 million co-funding for stage one.
"We are getting the Franz Josef scheme sorted," she said.

A Scenic Circle spokesperson said at this stage they had nothing further to add except to say liaison was ongoing "to identify mutually suitable dates" for a hearing but nothing had been confirmed yet.

Meantime the council hoped to get clarity about the future of the $12.5 million southern half of the $24m in total scheme, affecting Waiho Flat, by June.

The Greymouth floodwall strengthening and improvement scheme is also due to start, as is the 'quick win' floodbank improvements at Westport under council's own $10.2m scheme.