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By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Westport's flooding disaster "could have been avoided" if funds had been available sooner to reduce the risk.
Spending more on adaption prior to the July 2021 floods could have prevented the "social upheaval, damage and … View moreBy local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Westport's flooding disaster "could have been avoided" if funds had been available sooner to reduce the risk.
Spending more on adaption prior to the July 2021 floods could have prevented the "social upheaval, damage and costs" of the disaster, a submission on behalf of the West Coast Regional Council says.
Westport is one of three "lessons learned" in the Te Uru Kahika Regional and Unitary Councils Aotearoa submission to the Government on an inquiry into community-led retreat and adaptation funding.
The aftermath of the Westport floods in July 2021 are still being mopped up as the Regional and Buller District councils move to implement a new flood scheme worth $22.9m.
Initial government funding - to pay back the regional council's catastrophe fund already spent on Westport - is now delayed in the post-election changeover.
The Te Uru Kahika submission was tabled at the council's meeting on November 13.
"Westport is the case example of social upheaval, damage and costs that could have been avoided if more central government 'adaptation' assistance had been available earlier," the submission says.
"The investment of around $10m would have saved the $100m expenditure made on recovery after the July 2021 flood event."
Westport regional council representative Frank Dooley - a critic of the slow progress since July 2021 - said Westport's disaster might have been avoided through having adaptation funding earlier.
The submission made it clear there needed to be a sustainable path for adaptation, he said.
"It is clear that central government needs to come up with a funding stream."
He referred to the Westport example of $10m needed for work well before the flood event, which spurred $100m of spending to mop up.
"That's what this report points out - it's about being pro-active," Dooley he said.
The submission also looked at learnings from Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke's Bay. It looked at the need for early central government funding, whether the response should be centrally or locally led, land use and property categorisation, and the vulnerability and tolerance of risk.
Councillor Andy Campbell said the issues addressed in the submission came after 30 years of underfunding.
Resource Management Committee chairman Brett Cummings said that had been raised by Te Uru Kahika.
The underfunding dated back to the catchment board predecessors of the current regional council structure.
The regional council initially proposed a $10.2 million scheme in late 2021 as affordable for the Westport community.
Subsequently, the Government asked the council in February 2022 to formulate a proposal as "a test case" for similar communities including future retreat and adaptation options.
The subsequent $56m Kawatiri Business Case proposal in July 2022 got an answer in the May Budget: a $22.9m scheme.
The submission described this as "a belated but good case example" of how to address flood challenges.
Campbell said the town "is still vulnerable" given that work to protect it was only starting.
Dooley said that was true, although quite a bit of the groundwork had been done.
"We are making progress: you can see around Westport although it's still frustrating."
Black Friday is around the corner, and we'd love to know what's on your shopping list this year as the season of amazing deals kicks off!
The shops are sporting tinsel and lights and our calendar's are already filling up with Christmas events. But is it too early to decorate your home?
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.
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It’s that time of year when we rummage in the garage for Christmas decorations and camping gear but instead find random items we forgot we owned. Perhaps it’s finally time to get rid of those and make some cash? Or pick up something you need?
The Great Neighbourly (online!) Garage Sale is … View moreIt’s that time of year when we rummage in the garage for Christmas decorations and camping gear but instead find random items we forgot we owned. Perhaps it’s finally time to get rid of those and make some cash? Or pick up something you need?
The Great Neighbourly (online!) Garage Sale is this Saturday and we can't wait! The site will be brimming with both gently-loved goods and potential Christmas gifts.
To take part, simply upload a photo of your item(s) to Neighbourly’s Market section before Saturday. Make sure you come back on Saturday to browse the treasures listed from other members around your neighbourhood.
What's the most amazing deal you've discovered on our website, and how much money did you save?
Share your great finds with us for a chance to WIN a $200 Prezzy card and keep your shopping spree going!
CLICK below to enter! Don't wait too long to participate; entry ends on … View moreWhat's the most amazing deal you've discovered on our website, and how much money did you save?
Share your great finds with us for a chance to WIN a $200 Prezzy card and keep your shopping spree going!
CLICK below to enter! Don't wait too long to participate; entry ends on 29/11!
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Choosing the right care centre is an important decision. To help you, we’ve put together The Ryman Care Guide to highlight the care, kindness and comfort that our care centres provide.
At Ryman villages, we offer comprehensive care options customised to suit your needs.
Our assisted living… View moreChoosing the right care centre is an important decision. To help you, we’ve put together The Ryman Care Guide to highlight the care, kindness and comfort that our care centres provide.
At Ryman villages, we offer comprehensive care options customised to suit your needs.
Our assisted living apartments are in the heart of the village and include amenities like housekeeping and chef-prepared meals to make life easier.
Our villages all offer rest home care, and most also offer hospital and specialist dementia care.
You can relax, knowing if your needs change, we can continue looking after you.
Discover the kindness and comfort of Ryman care, request your free copy today.
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Didn't… View moreLight Up Diwali! We had over 340 incredible responses from all you Diwali enthusiasts who shared your power-saving tips for a chance to WIN $150 towards your power bills!
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Embracing adventure is made easy with our lock-and-leave-style living. We keep your home secure and well-maintained while you take off to explore what brings you joy.
Premila and Ebbie love the freedom of their Ryman lifestyle. The pair take off on holiday whenever they want and return home to … View moreEmbracing adventure is made easy with our lock-and-leave-style living. We keep your home secure and well-maintained while you take off to explore what brings you joy.
Premila and Ebbie love the freedom of their Ryman lifestyle. The pair take off on holiday whenever they want and return home to freshly mowed lawns, watered gardens, clean windows, and a safe village.
Discover more about the freedom of living in a Ryman village.
The Great NZ Pet Election has launched and we’re on the hunt for NZ’s best pet!
Pick up a copy of The Press to find out how to nominate your companion then check back every day to see if they are selected as a daily winner! All daily winners will receive a $50 pet store voucher and will … View moreThe Great NZ Pet Election has launched and we’re on the hunt for NZ’s best pet!
Pick up a copy of The Press to find out how to nominate your companion then check back every day to see if they are selected as a daily winner! All daily winners will receive a $50 pet store voucher and will qualify towards the grand pet election prize of a $1,000 pet store voucher. Find out more here.
Let the great NZ Pet Election begin!
The team at The Press
Hi everyone. Keep an eye on your letterbox and emails as the November issue of NZFarmer is nearly here. Hope you enjoy it.
Sonita
Happy Diwali! The Festival of Lights is a significant Hindu festival celebrated with lighting lamps, cultural rituals, and the exchange of sweets, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
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Let's make your festival brighter and your wallet happier! CLICK BELOW to share your power-saving tips in our "Light Up Diwali, WN $150" competition.
Don't miss out - ends 13/11, 2023. T&Cs Apply.
Happy Single's Day!
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By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council is calling for the Government to back locally generated hydro-electricity as the country moves away from coal and gas.
The council has submitted on the Government's discussion documents - Advancing New … View moreBy local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council is calling for the Government to back locally generated hydro-electricity as the country moves away from coal and gas.
The council has submitted on the Government's discussion documents - Advancing New Zealand's Energy Transition - on its local power needs.
The West Coast has some of the highest priced electricity in the country due to the losses of power via transmission lines through the Southern Alps.
The council described a focus on large-scale renewable energy development within the discussion document as "disappointing".
Instead, the council called for local renewable energy generation to be supported as solar and wind generation are "not viable options" for the West Coast.
Submitters for the proposed combined Te Tai o Poutini Plan also called for a more flexible approach to enable electricity generation in the region.
The submissions pointed out the proposed small-scale hydro schemes in the region - namely the Waitaha run-of-river scheme - is needed for the region to be self-sufficient and even an electricity exporter.
The region's community-owned lines company Westpower said that if the region's single biggest manufacturing site, Westland Milk Products, fully switched to electricity it would soak up the entire electricity capacity in the region.
The council said "it is disappointing" the Advancing New Zealand's Energy Transition discussion document appeared to only focus on large-scale renewable energy developments.
"The council's view is that development of local renewable energy sources needs to be supported in a national energy strategy."
It also noted a lack of focus on renewable energy "generated by and for local areas" in the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority's Regional Energy Transition Accelerator report for the West Coast.
That report, released in August, focused on replacing commercial and industrial fossil fuel with biomass and electricity in the region.
"But it does not state where the electricity will be sourced from, and it appears not to support or promote using local renewable resources to generate electricity for local communities," council said.
Instead, support for the development of local renewable energy generation should be clearly stated in the national Emissions Reduction Plan, the National Adaptation Plan, and the national Energy Strategy, council said.
The council goes on to suggest the solar and wind generation options proposed in the discussion document cannot be relied on in future dry generation years.
"Medium to large scale, land-based wind generation is not an option due to our low wind power densities," the council said.
"There is also less sunshine hours and limited flat land available on the West Coast for commercial, medium to large scale, land-based solar generation compared to Canterbury for example."
The Government needed to support "micro, small and medium-scale hydro" as the region had the water and slopes for the schemes.
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A West Coast request for resilience funding from the national emergency agency has been partly rejected due to a lack of money.
About $500,000 was funded from a $1.4 million request, a meeting of the West Coast Emergency Management Joint Committee… View moreBy local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A West Coast request for resilience funding from the national emergency agency has been partly rejected due to a lack of money.
About $500,000 was funded from a $1.4 million request, a meeting of the West Coast Emergency Management Joint Committee heard on November 8.
The application was made to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) resilience fund, which is targeted towards civil emergency welfare measures.
Committee members heard the national fund was oversubscribed by more than $4m due to the volume of applications.
The West Coast application was to install shipping containers to hold welfare supplies at five key locations across the region, to be utilised in a major Alpine Fault earthquake (AF8) catastrophe.
The South Island is predicted to be overdue for a magnitude 8-plus quake by about 30 years.
Given the West Coast's high vulnerability to a major earthquake, its region's scattered communities have been told to expect to be self sufficient for days, if not weeks, in a major disaster.
There was to be one resilience container each for Buller, Grey and Westland and the two marae.
The scope of the container contents was based on what other regions had in their welfare containers "without overpitching it".
West Coast Emergency Management Joint Committee chairperson Jamie Cleine said it was important for the region reapply.
He noted the key role of the region's two marae at Arahura and Bruce Bay, which needed to be emergency response centres in an emergency.
In the meantime the councils had pitched in some of their own resources to help move the project forward, Cleine said.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae chairperson Francois Tumahai said the Arahura Marae was designated as an emergency activation centre.
"It seems a bit strange we're not kitted up for it. As you know, with the Kaikōura (earthquake) event, the marae were the first to kick in.
"I think it's a no-brainer to be honest."
Brown said they have been bidding to the long-term plan budget planning of the region's three territorial authorities and the West Coast Regional Council.
They were proposing an increased budget to focus on the welfare and planning aspects of emergency management regionally. They were also seeking more finance to upgrade the website, and for training.
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