Uncertainty remains for flood ravaged Westport residents
Brendon McMahon
, Local democracy reporter
The future of nine properties excluded from the Westport flood scheme is still unclear.
In the meantime, the main partner to lead the project has been told to keep quiet.
The matter was brought up by West Coast Regional Council Infrastructure Governance Committee chairperson Frank Dooley, of Westport, in his report on Tuesday.
Dooley said the nearly $23 million 'support package' from the Government, announced a month ago for Westport, had been very welcome.
However, the terms and conditions with the money were "closely held" between the council chairman, chief executive and the Government.
Dooley said the money was a significant injection of capital and was appreciated by the Westport community.
It was half the amount requested in the original $56m co-funded proposal put forward last year by the council at the encouragement of the Government. That had been seen as a blueprint for future 75% to 25% flood infrastructure co-funding elsewhere in the country.
However, councillor Mark McIntyre, of Westport, said there was not universal support in the wake of the $23m Budget announcement.
"Not everyone is happy," he said.
In particular, Snodgrass Rd residents were "still left hanging" and the precedent set by the Government announcement of categoried properties in Hawke's Bay not to allow rebuilds or "red zoning" had created even more uncertainty, McIntyre said.
Dooley said the Westport funding included an obligation for the council to work with affected property owners who might be excluded.
"You and I have some work to do particularly with our Snodgrass residents, and maybe others," he said to McIntyre.
The Hawke's Bay precedent gave some clarity.
"That obligation still sits on our shoulders," Dooley said.
The criteria for the new categories would come from local government and the insurance sector working together to inform those affected, chief executive Darryl Lew said.
Auckland and Gisborne were next in line for property category announcements.
"The question then comes to what about other areas around the country; that's what the rest of the country is waiting on," Lew said.
Council chairperson Peter Haddock said the next step for the Westport project itself would be a steering group, but the details of it were confidential by a Government directive.
Lew said there was little he could tell councillors as the chairperson and himself had been bound by a confidentiality agreement.
"We have met with DIA (Department of Internal Affairs) and have been told not to share."
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A reminder this hunting season
As thousands of hunters are making their plans for autumn – the Roar – recreational firearms groups are urging hunters to always be 100% sure of their targets.
Te Tari Pureke - Firearms Safety Authority NZ, which chairs the Recreational Firearms Users Group, has begun a public information campaign reminding hunters everywhere of Rule #4 of the Firearms Safety Code: to identify their target beyond all doubt.
Director Communities and Corporate, Mike McIlraith, says there is an estimated 50,000-60,000 New Zealanders involved in big game animal hunting each year, and the Roar is the key event for many hunters each year.
“The Roar is a fantastic time of year for hunters to get out into the hills after a trophy animal but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,” says Mike McIlraith.
“The consequences of not fully identifying your target beyond all doubt can be catastrophic. Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot.”
Mike McIlraith says while hunting fatalities are thankfully rare, research has shown that misidentification of the target is the largest firearms related risk to New Zealand deer hunters, and 80% of the time this involves members of the same hunting group.
The Authority says hunters should not feel pressured to take a shot: “Instead, hunters should take the time to analyse their target, wait and see if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have? Identifying your target means never firing at sound, shape, colour or movement alone.”
Mike McIlraith says good hunters will slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:
- Can I see the whole animal, or could this be another hunter?
- Where are my hunting companions – could this be them or someone else?
- How much of the animal can you see, if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how - many points does its antlers have?
“Taking a little extra time to identify your target and check the firing zone is the key to safer hunting. No meat or no trophy is better than no mate,” he says.
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