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By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A West Coast river engineer claims the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) "kicked up a bit of a ruckus" when the council requested a joint visit to critical flood protection work on State Highway 6.
The NZTA has been managing key South Westland … View moreBy local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A West Coast river engineer claims the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) "kicked up a bit of a ruckus" when the council requested a joint visit to critical flood protection work on State Highway 6.
The NZTA has been managing key South Westland river crossings, at the Wanganui and Whataroa bridges, for the past 18 months.
The willingness of NZTA to work with the West Coast Regional Council on the route security of the state highway has been described as "very precious".
The regional council's Infrastructure Governance Committee has been keeping an eye on how NZTA is managing the flood risk.
This week, council's chief river engineer Peter Blackwood said he had asked the agency for a joint visit to the sites to give their perspective and insight, "but NZTA kicked up a bit of a ruckus on that".
"NZTA are very precious about their works … they don't like it when we talk to them about it," Blackwood said.
He said they were concerned the clock was ticking towards August - the start of the Spring flood season - when it might be "too late".
NZTA has been approached for comment.
Earlier in the year, the council said it would write to the agency outlining its concerns.
This included the need to ensure the bridges were not left compromised by a delay to flood protection work, and to ensure it fitted with council's own approach to managing the flood risk at both rivers.
In particular, the council was concerned about how work by the agency might undermine or compromise flood protection work downstream, given it manages assets on behalf of the Whataroa and Wanganui special rating districts.
River diversion spurs had been installed by NZTA at the southern Whataroa Bridge approach, with a retrospective consent application to come, an action point before the July 9 meeting said.
Design work for similar work at the Wanganui south bank was under way and council expected a consent application in due course.
Council chief executive Darryl Lew said he was concerned "no-one would get the opportunity to submit" if NZTA undertook an emergency consent application process, taking a non-notification approach.
This would leave out locals living in the area adjoining both bridges.
"What we are hearing here is that the rating scheme members would want to have a view on that," Lew said.
Infrastructure chairperson Frank Dooley said it was not too late for their input on the Wanganui consent.
But councillor Brett Cummings said he could not fathom NZTA justifying using emergency consent provisions under the Resource Management Act, due to the time since the bridge issues arose.
"I find it a bit hard to believe the NZTA are using emergency ones on the Whataroa Bridge when everyone has known about it for so long."
Cummings said council had to put its special rating district concerns to the forefront given the potential serious impact of their work causing the river to 'kick' to the other side and causing havoc downstream.
"If they (NZTA) are going to do work that sends the river to the other side, who is going to pay?
"We should have full control what goes in the river I feel."
Councillor Peter Haddock said the council had "worked hard on NZTA" for route security in recent times, particularly to get work done at the Wanganui and it had been raised again in a South Island regional transport meeting last week.
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They might be older, shy, have only three legs or just need that extra bit of attention and care – but they all deserve a … View moreAre you the Special Someone our animals have been looking for?
Until Sun 21 July only, we are waiving adoption fees for our long-stay residents for the right home.*
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Winter isn’t usually associated with pottering about in the garden. However, it’s possible to grow, harvest, and share a bustling winter crop.
As we have celebrated Matariki and the beginning of the Māori New Year, for winter gardeners it’s the right time to cultivate crops that thrive in… View moreWinter isn’t usually associated with pottering about in the garden. However, it’s possible to grow, harvest, and share a bustling winter crop.
As we have celebrated Matariki and the beginning of the Māori New Year, for winter gardeners it’s the right time to cultivate crops that thrive in cooler temperatures and to prepare the soil for future planting.
Click read more for the full story.
91-year-old Dora is a rest home resident at Ryman.
Between family gatherings, bus trips and village activities, she certainly enjoys a full life. With the many friendships she’s made, the caregivers and village staff have become an extension of her family.
Hear about Dora’s experience … View more91-year-old Dora is a rest home resident at Ryman.
Between family gatherings, bus trips and village activities, she certainly enjoys a full life. With the many friendships she’s made, the caregivers and village staff have become an extension of her family.
Hear about Dora’s experience living in a Ryman community.
What old products do you miss? Some products do become part of your life, whether it's just a treat you have at the cinema or your favourite breakfast spread.
Do you have a childhood memory to share? Let us know below what products you still think of fondly!
Don’t miss your chance to WIN 1 of 50 supermarket gift cards worth $100 each!
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The more puzzles you complete the higher your chance to WIN! The competition ends on 28 July. To find … View moreDon’t miss your chance to WIN 1 of 50 supermarket gift cards worth $100 each!
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The more puzzles you complete the higher your chance to WIN! The competition ends on 28 July. To find out more about participating newspapers, click here.
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This July, NZ Gardener has teamed up with NZ Bulbs to offer you a FREE pack of mixed oriental lily bulbs when you purchase a 1 or 2-year magazine subscription*. Your bulbs will be sent out in late August, the perfect time to plant in time to have fragrant Christmas flowers.
With a subscription … View moreThis July, NZ Gardener has teamed up with NZ Bulbs to offer you a FREE pack of mixed oriental lily bulbs when you purchase a 1 or 2-year magazine subscription*. Your bulbs will be sent out in late August, the perfect time to plant in time to have fragrant Christmas flowers.
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Enjoy the thrill of the Christmas countdown with a DIY advent calendar that’s choc-filled with festive activities and finished in your favourite Resene testpot colours. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
Tell us what groups you'd like to see in your area...(walking groups, coffee meet-ups, swing dancing, a family tree group - anything at all!)
Or if you are already in a great group, share it here for others to get involved.
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Fixing 900m of dangerous roadway just north of Greymouth would cost upwards of $12 million, according to evidence presented for the 2024 West Coast Regional Transport Plan.
And despite the recognised danger to cyclists along the section of State … View moreBy local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Fixing 900m of dangerous roadway just north of Greymouth would cost upwards of $12 million, according to evidence presented for the 2024 West Coast Regional Transport Plan.
And despite the recognised danger to cyclists along the section of State Highway 6 north of Greymouth, it is a sum unlikely to be paid.
At the hearing into the draft plan on July 5, resident Suzanne Hills said the Coast Road was "just manageable" for cyclists but only for those who were confident and had quick reactions.
She singled out the 900m section of road just north of Greymouth's Cobden Bridge as "extremely dangerous".
Those riding in both directions contend with steep cliffs, bluffs, no road shoulders, blind corners and the narrow overbridges at Coal Creek and Camp, Hills said.
"Combined with Greymouth 'rush hour' traffic, it can be very frightening," she said.
"Something can and must be done about this dangerous 900m section of road to avoid lives being destroyed."
In a formal recommendation to the committee, council planning staff agreed the section of State highway 6 from the Cobden Bridge to Taylorville Road "is narrow and difficult for cyclists".
But they also suggested a $12m improvement project to fix those issues would not be prioritised under the draft Government Transport Policy Statement (GPS).
Investigation of options to improve the corridor for cyclists had been undertaken by the NZ Transport Agency in 2023.
"The cost of the identified solution is high, at $12m-plus. A project of this scale is not supported by the draft GPS," the staff recommendation said.
Punakaiki resident Marie Elder said the draft plan's positive endorsement of active transport recognised State Highway 6 is used by cyclists as a principal means of transport.
In contrast, the advancement of the Barrytown Flats mining proposal by TiGa with up to 50 extra heavy truck movements a day along the route, compromised that.
Elder said she personally knew of five cyclists in the regular use category.
She often saw others on her (45km) journeys from Punakaiki to Greymouth, and return.
Greymouth mayor Tania Gibson said she could not ignore the wider economic benefit of proposals like TiGa's.
She said Elder seemed to single out the impact of that on State Highway 6 without acknowledging it was already a heavy transport route, including for the region's dairy industry.
In response, Elder said Westland Milk tankers only travelled in one direction at a time, were much quieter, and locals could anticipate their movements.
However, Gibson said they were talking about a state highway that available to multiple users at any time.
"I still do not believe it is a reason not to have trucks on the road," she said.
Haddock, a Punakaiki bach owner, asked Elder how many cyclists she regularly encountered, particularly on the 30km stretch of the Coast Road from Rapahoe north.
"I don't see a lot in my regular travels," Haddock said.
Elder said there were four regular cyclists she knew of.
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By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Changes to emergency work provisions in the National Transport Fund will cut local road funding and hurt West Coast communities, say the region's four councils.
In a joint submission, the Buller, Grey, and Westland district councils along with… View moreBy local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Changes to emergency work provisions in the National Transport Fund will cut local road funding and hurt West Coast communities, say the region's four councils.
In a joint submission, the Buller, Grey, and Westland district councils along with the West Coast Regional Council, have called for greater interagency collaboration in "a cohesive approach" to road planning and investment.
The submission will be tabled at the regional council's Resource Management Committee next week.
They are concerned changes to the funding of emergency works under the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Emergency Works Policy Review will leave areas like the West Coast worse off - at a time when extreme weather is closing its roads with increasing frequency.
"The likely consequence is a reduction in level of service on local roads, reduced maintenance, and unintended negative social and economic consequences for local communities and tourists," the joint submission says.
The councils acknowledge both they and the NZTA are challenged to "sustainably fund" road fixups in the face of the increasingly intense weather related events.
But they say while the emergency work provision review helps NZTA to address pressure on the National Land Transport Fund, the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria and funding assistance rates "will transfer considerable costs" to local councils.
District councils are already under "extreme pressure" to fund core road maintenance, operation and renewal, the submission says.
"More frequent and intense storm events resulting in flooding of roads and instability of adjoining land have highlighted the vulnerabilities of the West Coast road network."
The resulting disruption sometimes saw "displacement" of its communities with very prominent examples including "stranded tourists".
Other big impacts were the inability to move fast moving consumer goods and freight, the impact on the region's primary industries, and the loss of access to the DOC estate including the great walks in the region.
"The likely consequence of the proposed policy changes - in conjunction with forecast intensity and frequency of future weather events -
- is a reduction in level of service to our communities and businesses," the submission says.
The potential for longer or permanent road closures, loss of access, and "unintended negative social and economic consequences" were real consequences.
The Coast councils are particularly worried at the proposed change to the qualifying return period for an emergency event, for central government road repair funding, to a minimum frequency of a one-in-20-year event.
"This is a significant event size increase, and as event return periods are changed as climate models are updated, it is likely that a qualifying 1-in-20-year event today could soon be a non-qualifying 1-in-15-year event."
Further, Niwa forecasts for weather related events to 2040 predicted increased intensity of cyclones, short term high intensity rainfall event by plus 4.7% for every 1C increase.
The councils are also concerned the change to subsidy provisions for local road controlling authorities who cannot afford to pay for road fixes after a major event will penalise areas with high deprivation.
As an example the Buller District Council, a high deprivation area, was still recovering from the 2021 and 2022 storm events which represented about $16.5 million of capital works now being completed on its roads.
That had only been possible due to a bespoke 95% subsidy via the NZTA.
"Without this support the community of Buller ... would not have been able to deliver this return to service for our communities."
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Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
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No, we haven't lost the plot! July 1st is International Joke Day and because laughter is good for your body, we want to get involved.
So, go on, jokers! Share your best joke below...
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