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From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Some protection projects planned by the West Coast Regional Council have stalled after key staff left at a crucial stage in their development.
However, work on the ground for projects at Franz Josef, Hokitika and Greymouth and the Buller River … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Some protection projects planned by the West Coast Regional Council have stalled after key staff left at a crucial stage in their development.
However, work on the ground for projects at Franz Josef, Hokitika and Greymouth and the Buller River are pending or in the development stage, the council's new infrastructure programme manager Scott Hoare said.
Hoare, a Christchurch-based senior project manager for Inovo, said he had been busy over the past month familiarising himself with the various projects.
"It's been a good few weeks just trying to get our heads around where the projects are."
The project to raise the height of the existing Greymouth floodwall on both the Greymouth and Cobden sides of the Grey River would now be split into a five-stage project, he said.
While there were existing consents for the improvements to the wall, the design was being reviewed to ensure it met the existing consents before any work would begin.
Hoere's arrival at the regional council comes after it was warned in May that it risked losing tens of millions of previously granted 'shovel ready' money for projects unless it could show some progress.
It came shortly after the council lost half of its engineering team, including the longstanding operations manager who had been overseeing the projects.
The council has since appointed a governance committee to oversee the projects, while Inovo has been charged with doing the practical project management.
"The council have lost resources here which is why we were asked to be involved. It's up to us to drive it to get an outcome," Hoare said.
Chief executive Heather Mabin recently told the council this included "renegotiating" the contract with MBD, the stage one contractor for the Waiho (Waiau) River.
MBD began in June with some preliminary rockwork on the southern approach to the Waiho Bridge.
Hoare said some terms and benefits of the Franz Josef contract, let under the watch of previous council staff, had needed to be reviewed but that simply amounted to minor "tidying up".
Meanwhile, the council was awaiting consent sign-off to get the bulk of the stage one Waiho floodbank extensions and raising project under way.
That consent should be signed off in about a fortnight.
"The reason we are in delay is we are working through the affected party process. All of the documentation is now with all of the parties," Hoare said.
"We don't think the process will take too long. With the regional council staff that had left, that process had stalled. Things are looking positive in terms of getting that consent."
At Hokitika, a known coastal hazard area, the council was working on two projects -- an extension of the existing seawall from Hampden St north, and a new flood protection work on the north bank of the Hokitika River to protect the town centre, in particular.
Hoare said the seawall extension consent was in the process and then the council would go through "a further stakeholder process," towards the end of next month.
The council hoped to start building this year, with tendering expected in the next couple of months.
The river protection wall was subject to further design before a consent process.
"It will take a little bit to get going," Hoare said.
In the meantime, the regional council is also overseeing the emergency maintenance works upstream of Westport at Organs Island, and expects to tender the work to fix the scoured O'Conor Home stopbank by next month.
Generally Famous is Stuff's new podcast in which Simon Bridges finds out what makes his generally famous - but always interesting - guests tick.
So far, Simon's had Olympian Eric Murray and digital entrepreneur Lucy Blakiston in the hot seat. And there's … View moreGenerally Famous is Stuff's new podcast in which Simon Bridges finds out what makes his generally famous - but always interesting - guests tick.
So far, Simon's had Olympian Eric Murray and digital entrepreneur Lucy Blakiston in the hot seat. And there's more exciting guests to come each Wednesday.
These folks are 'salt of the earth' and deserve a gold medal for the joy they bring to their neighbourhoods.
Their neighbours have nominated them as Nice Neighbours recently, winning them a small prize and some recognition in the local papers.
If you are lucky enough to have a … View moreThese folks are 'salt of the earth' and deserve a gold medal for the joy they bring to their neighbourhoods.
Their neighbours have nominated them as Nice Neighbours recently, winning them a small prize and some recognition in the local papers.
If you are lucky enough to have a Nice Neighbour, you can nominate them on our Nice Neighbour page. We can't wait to hear all about them!
Whether he's a new dad, a super special father figure or a many times grandad, find the perfect present to spoil him with PriceMe.
Read our handy gift guide to get those last minute Father's Day shopping ideas, while PriceMe's easy to use cost comparison website will save you the … View moreWhether he's a new dad, a super special father figure or a many times grandad, find the perfect present to spoil him with PriceMe.
Read our handy gift guide to get those last minute Father's Day shopping ideas, while PriceMe's easy to use cost comparison website will save you the $$$!!
Add a touch of luxury to your home with NZ House & Garden, Aotearoa’s favourite home and lifestyle magazine. NZ House & Garden celebrates the homes, lifestyles and creativity of New Zealanders. Subscribe before 19 September and you’ll receive a free French Country Collections tassel … View moreAdd a touch of luxury to your home with NZ House & Garden, Aotearoa’s favourite home and lifestyle magazine. NZ House & Garden celebrates the homes, lifestyles and creativity of New Zealanders. Subscribe before 19 September and you’ll receive a free French Country Collections tassel throw worth $69.00
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The team at NZ House & Garden
Daffodil Day is the Cancer Society’s largest fundraising and awareness campaign, and it’s crucial to allow us to support those impacted by cancer. We offer everything from a helpline and counselling support through to transport and accommodation during treatment.
Cancer doesn’t stop, and … View moreDaffodil Day is the Cancer Society’s largest fundraising and awareness campaign, and it’s crucial to allow us to support those impacted by cancer. We offer everything from a helpline and counselling support through to transport and accommodation during treatment.
Cancer doesn’t stop, and with your help, we won’t either. More New Zealanders will get cancer this year than ever before and no one should face cancer alone. Just $24 helps get someone to treatment. Please give generously this Daffodil Day so we can continue to be a lifeline for people with cancer and their whānau.
To donate today, visit daffodilday.org.nz.
The NZ Compare Awards are back... and we have introduced MOBILE Awards for the first time returning as an in-person celebration with a Gala Awards night hosted by Mike McRoberts in Auckland on December 1st 2022.
Recognising excellence, leadership and innovation in the New Zealand utility … View moreThe NZ Compare Awards are back... and we have introduced MOBILE Awards for the first time returning as an in-person celebration with a Gala Awards night hosted by Mike McRoberts in Auckland on December 1st 2022.
Recognising excellence, leadership and innovation in the New Zealand utility sectors, the NZ Compare Awards are back for the 6th year and in response to consumer demand, we have introduced MOBILE Awards for the first time.
As the boundaries between the utility industries continue to blur the organisers have responded to growing demand to increase the categories and industries celebrated by the NZ Compare Awards and will now recognise excellence and achievement within New Zealand’s BROADBAND, ENERGY and MOBILE sectors for the first time.
Award categories are consumer driven and informed by the 300,000 Kiwis who use NZ Compare websites each month. Winning carries real gravitas with the Kiwi consumer and the awards represent an opportunity to be confident in the talent and vision your company has worked so hard towards. This significant event will recognise the companies that provide New Zealanders with the very best products and services across these essential industries.
The NZ Compare Awards are supported by a wide range of companies including Movinghub, Vector Metering, Chorus, realestate.co.nz and Neighbourly. The prestigious awards will recognise the companies that provide New Zealanders with the very best products and services in their industries. With a range of different categories including best home and mobile provider, best customer support, fastest service, best rural provider and best broadband innovation.
Winning an NZ Compare Award depends on a combination of criteria. These include consumer surveys and reviews on the NZ Compare websites and decisions from our expert judging panel.
"Judged by an independent panel of New Zealand experts and presented at our gala awards event, the NZ Compare Awards provide a unique stage on which we recognize and reward the achievements of the New Zealand utility sectors." said Gavin Male, CEO of NZ Compare.
So what do you think? Give a shout out to your favourite utility provider here - not just for doing their job... we want to hear about those that go above and beyond! Who should be a winner?
What are the biggest issues your region is facing? Take part in the NowNext Local survey and you could win a one of twenty $100 Prezzy Card for your opinion.
Whether it’s how happy you are or if you plan on staying long term, the NowNext Local survey is getting a snapshot of how kiwis are … View moreWhat are the biggest issues your region is facing? Take part in the NowNext Local survey and you could win a one of twenty $100 Prezzy Card for your opinion.
Whether it’s how happy you are or if you plan on staying long term, the NowNext Local survey is getting a snapshot of how kiwis are feeling.
Dear neighbours,
Meet our Houseplant Hero competition winner Alan Mckenzie! If all sheds came like that, we want one too. Congratulations to Alan and his many many houseplants.
Our passions and mahi play a large part in our legacy. When we channel that mahi into championing causes and giving back, that legacy is carried as inspiration for generations to come.
The rymanhealthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau celebrates Kiwis aged 70 and over… View moreOur passions and mahi play a large part in our legacy. When we channel that mahi into championing causes and giving back, that legacy is carried as inspiration for generations to come.
The rymanhealthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau celebrates Kiwis aged 70 and over who continue to inspire, champion causes, and give back, building lasting legacies that make us all proud to call New Zealand home.
"It’s been chilly hasn’t it Neighbours? Has your internet froze when you’re streaming all your fave shows on rainy weekends or maybe the power bill has gone crazy from trying to keep snug?!
Don't stress, we’ve got a tonne of awesome broadband and power deals to chill your … View more"It’s been chilly hasn’t it Neighbours? Has your internet froze when you’re streaming all your fave shows on rainy weekends or maybe the power bill has gone crazy from trying to keep snug?!
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It’s easy, just sit down over a hot cuppa or a beer – whatever tickles your fancy and take a look here. We’ll do the rest for you!"
Making it onto the first rung of the property ladder can be an incredibly rewarding journey – and Stuff is here to help you through.
Stuff Homed has launched the First Time Buyers’ Club, an email series to help you navigate the equal-parts exciting and terrifying process of buying your first… View moreMaking it onto the first rung of the property ladder can be an incredibly rewarding journey – and Stuff is here to help you through.
Stuff Homed has launched the First Time Buyers’ Club, an email series to help you navigate the equal-parts exciting and terrifying process of buying your first ever home. When you join our six-week LearnStuff course, you’ll get an email every week giving you all the basics on what you need to know, who you need on your side, and what you need to do at each stage of the journey.
We can’t make the houses any cheaper, but we can guide you through the process, share some tips from the experts, and help you avoid some of the trips and traps.
Sign up (it's free) and get started on your house-buying journey.
Dear neighbours,
Have you grown these veges and fruits, and what's on your list of money savers and budget boosters?
From reporter Liz McDonald:
Pumps are being brought in and sandbags distributed as the Buller region on the West Coast braces for heavy rain and fast rising rivers which could bring severe flooding for the third time in just over a year.
MetService has issued weather warnings for early … View moreFrom reporter Liz McDonald:
Pumps are being brought in and sandbags distributed as the Buller region on the West Coast braces for heavy rain and fast rising rivers which could bring severe flooding for the third time in just over a year.
MetService has issued weather warnings for early Tuesday morning until Thursday evening.
Buller mayor Jamie Cleine said on Monday an emergency operations centre and staffing rosters were being set up.
Sandbags and sand to fill them were available at several locations on Monday for residents to collect.
He advised residents to keep a close eye on updates, including on social media.
“We’re asking people to stay tuned in.”
Civil Defence has warned Buller residents to have emergency supplies ready, be prepared for power outages, and keep up to date with the latest weather warnings. It also advised stock be moved to higher ground, pets be brought indoors, leaves be cleared from drains and spouting, and people check on neighbours.
“This could be a serious event and it is important that people know what may happen as the event unfolds,” Civil Defence regional director Claire Brown said in a statement.
MetService has issued heavy rain warnings for Buller, western Tasman, Westland, the Marlborough Sounds, and the Bryant and Richmond ranges, as well as some North Island areas. Modelling indicates 700mm to 800mm of rain could accumulate during that period in the Tasman ranges, which contain part of the catchment of the upper Buller River.
Cleine said the West Coast Regional Council’s rivers team is doing analysis on what areas will be most at risk of flooding.
The catchments of the Buller, Mokohinui and Karamea Rivers are expected to be heavily affected, and the coast would also see significant rainfall, he said.
“The numbers are currently a cause of concern to us. There’s potential for a significant event of a scale not dissimilar to July [2021] and February.”
Flooding in July last year was the region’s worst for decades, leading to evacuations over almost half of Westport and a three-week-long state of emergency.
More floods in February this year again caused widespread damage and left the town cut off.
Cleine said six water pumps have been ordered from Greymouth and Canterbury and will be placed around Westport. Placement depended on what worked last year, and whether there was somewhere for water to go, he said.
It was too early to know whether any areas would need to be evacuated, he said.
MetService has forecast rain to peak at 10mm to 15mm an hour about the Buller ranges from Tuesday morning to Thursday evening, with 300mm to 500mm expected to accumulate about the ranges south of Little Wanganui, and 150mm to 250mm elsewhere in the region.
“Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous,” the weather service has warned.
In next door Tasman district, rainfall could peak at 10mm to 15mm on Tuesday, then 15mm to 25mm on Wednesday and Thursday.
Waka Kotahi/NZ Transport Agency has warned drivers to be alert and prepare for road closures.
Civil Defence said sand is available at the following Westport locations:
Pulse Energy Recreation Centre car park – by the courts
Kawatiri Coastal Trail – Buller Bridge car park
Craddock Park – car park
Coates St – Rayner Park
Mokihinui/Seddonville – Mokihinui campground
Ngakawau/Granity – Ngakawau information centre car park
Reefton – Westreef Yard
Carters Beach – McIntyre Rd pull in
Westport Airport
Following the previous series of floods, a $26 million West Coast Regional Council flood wall and stopbank scheme to protect Westport is now awaiting Government sign-off as part of a business case for $45m of flood protection work.
The regional council recently approved a contract to repair historic stopbanks upstream of the town damaged in the July floods.
Dear neighbours,
To celebrate National Gardening Week (October 17-25), Yates have partnered with NZ Gardener to give away some fantastic prizes to some of the most inspirational compost builders in the country. Show us your compost setup, whether it’s tiny or huge, and the best looking compost … View moreDear neighbours,
To celebrate National Gardening Week (October 17-25), Yates have partnered with NZ Gardener to give away some fantastic prizes to some of the most inspirational compost builders in the country. Show us your compost setup, whether it’s tiny or huge, and the best looking compost wins 1 of 9 Compost Kits (RRP $319 each).
So email through your best tip for successful compost and one photo of your composting setup to loveyourgarden@yates.co.nz by August 26, 2022 to be in to win.
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