Amberley’s growing population forces rethink for council
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A potential shakeup of the makeup of a Canterbury council's elected representatives could help balance ‘‘the rural and town divide’’.
The Hurunui District Council is weighing up whether to increase the number south ward councillors - which includes for the town of Amberley - or to create a community board to support the growing population.
Amberley District Residents’ Association chairperson Roy Myers said he supported increasing the number of elected representatives in Hurunui’s south ward as Amberley had more diverse needs compared to other smaller communities.
It would also help bridge ‘‘the rural and town divide’’, he said.
‘‘If you look at the smaller communities, their interests are much more directly focused on their own needs in a community of maybe a few hundred people," he said.
Currently, Hurunui District Council is made up of 10 councillors - four each for the west and south wards, and two for the east ward.
The west ward includes the towns of Hanmer Springs, Waiau, Culverden, Hawarden and Waikari, while the east ward includes Cheviot, Greta Valley and Waipara.
The south ward includes Amberley, Amberley Beach, Leithfield and Leithfield Beach.
‘‘In Amberley, the population has more or less doubled over the last 10 years and a lot of them are newcomers," Myers said.
‘‘Over time their expectations for local services might increase, but at the moment if you look at what is provided, we don’t have much services.’’
He said Amberley’s town centre lacked a community space, other than the Tin Shed at the Amberley Domain, while a proposed cycleway linking Amberley and Amberley Beach had yet to eventuate.
Myers said the challenge was getting people engaged in local politics.
In the 2022 local government elections, eight candidates stood for the four seats in the south ward, but the voter turnout was around 40 percent.
‘‘I think a lot of people feel quite distanced from the council,’’ he said.
A working party is conducting a representation review and is due to make a recommendation to next month’s council meeting.
It will be consulted on in April, alongside the 2024-34 long-term plan consultation, Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said.
The council was exploring a range of options, including retaining the status quo.
There was one community board for Hanmer Springs, while community and ward committees represented the various ‘‘communities of interest’’ throughout the district, he said.
Dobbie said the main difference between the committees and community board members was the latter were elected and remunerated.
Community committees were given a similar delegation to a community board, with major decisions made by the elected council.
Mayor Marie Black said the priority was ensuring ‘‘communities of interest’’ were represented.
The south ward’s population is about 5680, with just under half living in the Amberley township, while the district-wide population is 13,800, based on Stats NZ 2023 population estimates.
The decision was made last year not the to establish a Māori ward, after consultation with Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura and Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Officials discuss ways to protect flood-prone beach settlement
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
‘‘Pragmatic’’ solutions have been suggested for a flood prone North Canterbury beach settlement.
Gore Bay, near Cheviot, is a popular coastal holiday spot, but faces threats from flooding and sea level rise.
The Hurunui District Council is creating a coastal adaptation plan for Gore Bay and is working with Environment Canterbury to plan for flood protection for the Jed River and Buxton Creek.
Deputy mayor Vince Daly said the creek and river were prone to flooding in heavy rain events, leaving the Buxton Campground and the coastal road vulnerable to flooding.
‘‘The creek builds up when it is in flood, and the shingle builds up, preventing it from flowing out to sea.’’
Daly said Environment Canterbury presented some ‘‘pragmatic’’ solutions at a recent meeting with Gore Bay / Port Robinson Reserve Advisory Group.
A Hurunui District Council report presented to the Cheviot Community Committee in February said the flood hazard was increasing due to the formation of a lagoon between the river and the creek mouths.
The intensity of recent rain events was increasing the erosion threat to the campground’s banks and to land around the bridge abutments.
Environment Canterbury regional lead river operations, Cliff Thomas, said options presented to the community had exceeded the budget set for the project.
An engineering consultant is now assessing the options and will provide a design for Environment Canterbury staff to consider.
‘‘A channel could be cut to allow the river to let water flows out to the ocean when certain conditions are met, such as flood risk due to high rainfall,’’ Thomas said.
‘‘However, a consent would be required to do this.’’
Longer term sea level rise posed a threat to the access road and to the Buxton and Gore Bay Camping Grounds, Daly said.
‘‘The elevation of the houses means slips are probably a bigger issue for residents than sea level rise, but it does pose a risk to the road.
‘‘This is one of the best Canterbury beaches and it is a very popular spot.’’
The Hurunui District Council began its ‘‘Coastal Conversations’’ project alongside five beach communities in 2020.
Three coastal adaptation plans have been completed for Amberley Beach, Leithfield Beach and Motunau, while the council is also working with the Gore Bay and Conway Flat/Claverley beach communities.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Would you want an unconventional funeral?
Funerals can cost as much as $22,000 and the planning can be stressful especially at a time when loved ones are grieving. Some New Zealanders are re-imagining funerals by making their own coffin or having a relaxed ceremony at home. Would you want a less traditional funeral? Share your thoughts below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
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83.6% Yes
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14.1% No
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2.3% Other - I'll share below!
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