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From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A "lot of potential work" is seen necessary to repair and improve stopbanks on the Wanganui River flats near Harihari.
The Wanganui River badly damaged rockwalls and eroded farmland during the February flood which also struck Westport.
… View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A "lot of potential work" is seen necessary to repair and improve stopbanks on the Wanganui River flats near Harihari.
The Wanganui River badly damaged rockwalls and eroded farmland during the February flood which also struck Westport.
Already a new protection wall less than 0.5-kilometres long has been built after a huge chunk of farmland on the true right bank of the Wanganui was washed away.
The West Coast Regional Council heard at its May meeting that some of the urgent work was approved by the end of April as an emergency procurement, by the previous director of operations Randal Beal.
The emergency procurement is allowed under council's delegations manual due to natural disasters.
A report to the meeting said verbal quotes were to be confirmed and "availability to start" was the selection criteria.
"Rock lining the wall is a capital cost ... of approximately $100,000 to the adjoining landowners.''
Council engineer James Bell had met with affected landowners from the Wanganui rating district who had confirmed the plan to proceed.
The work had been awarded to Arnold Contracting with onsite stockpiles of rock to be used.
Cr Debra Magner said she had visited the area with regional council staff.
There were two pieces of work to be done, one of which was already under way. The other work would be reliant on rating district approval.
"There's going to be quite a lot of potential work on the Wanganui," Magner said.
Chief executive Heather Mabin said the issue facing the Wanganui rating district linked to a broader issue of how to pay.
From the February flood alone, $326,000 had been spent on emergency works.
"We are very aware that there needs to be a national plan."
From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council has posted "an unexpectedly large" surplus of $16.6 million in its delayed 2020-21 annual report.
The draft, cleared by Audit NZ, will be tabled on Tuesday at the audit and risk committee meeting, and is … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council has posted "an unexpectedly large" surplus of $16.6 million in its delayed 2020-21 annual report.
The draft, cleared by Audit NZ, will be tabled on Tuesday at the audit and risk committee meeting, and is expected to be formally adopted next month.
The report is late due to Covid-related constraints on the auditing process. The reporting time was relaxed nationally through a law change for a large number of affected local authorities.
Chairman Allan Birchfield described 2020-21 as a "turbulent year" as the long-term impacts of Covid were felt throughout the region.
Revenue was greater than budgeted by $17.4m, mainly due to the transfer of the Greymouth floodwall assets from the Grey District Council to the regional council. The floodwall has since been valued at $15.6m.
The addition of the floodwall increased the infrastructure asset base to $103.7m, and dominated the council's balance sheet.
Subsidies and grants were $1.1m more than budgeted because of higher than expected funding from the Government for infrastructure projects.
Investment income was up $679,000 because of better than expected returns on investments.
Expenditure was up $809,000, mainly due to unforeseen spending on infrastructure. In particular, $452,000 was spent on modelling for the Westport flood warning forecast, part of the requirements for the proposed flood protection scheme.
In the year to June 30 last year, part-year remuneration for then chief executive Vin Smith totalled $168,115 (2019-20 it was $255,729).
Mr Smith left during July 2021, and therefore any related severance pay will not be disclosed until next year's annual plan.
Total costs for the council's 73 staff was $6.5m (75 staff and $5.8m the previous year).
Elected representative costs were $409,454 (2019-2020 $372,718).
Three staff members earned between $160,000 and $280,000. The council also had eight staff receiving between $100,000 and $159,999; the previous year it had six in that pay bracket.
Current chief executive Heather Mabin said 'governance' costs of $642,152 were over-budget by $220,149.
Ms Mabin said that reflected increased costs of finalising the 10-year long-term plan.
The increased governance cost was predominantly audit fees, she said.
Birchfield said the council was successful in receiving $900,000 in 2020-21 to fund flood resilience projects in the Hokitika, Greymouth and Westport rating districts.
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. Which means you could be 2022 Houseplant Hero. There’s some great prizes to be won! To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) what potted plants you have, the time you put into caring for them, and what … View moreThe hunt is officially on for New Zealand's best collection of houseplants
. Which means you could be 2022 Houseplant Hero. There’s some great prizes to be won! To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) what potted plants you have, the time you put into caring for them, and what you love about them. Send us up to five photos of your indoor plant displays. Email mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Meanwhile, here's last year's winner Alyce Read, from Nelson.
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The Aviation Museum Ashburton is holding a pre-release screening of Top Gun Maverick at the Ashburton Regent Cinema 25th May.
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From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
West Coast allied health workers made the case for a better pay deal by mounting two public pickets in Greymouth on Monday.
The allied workers cover 23 professions and 120 West Coast District Health Board union members.
Their 24-hour strike from … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
West Coast allied health workers made the case for a better pay deal by mounting two public pickets in Greymouth on Monday.
The allied workers cover 23 professions and 120 West Coast District Health Board union members.
Their 24-hour strike from 11.59pm resulted in two pickets today, at the Te Nikau Hospital and the Greymouth Town Square.
The workers are also on a 12-day 'work to rule' period until this Friday.
DHB therapeutic, rehabilitation, laboratory, occupational therapy and diagnostic services and other clinical support services and Hauora Māori, are all affected.
The dispute has been ongoing for 20 months as allied professionals seek pay parity.
Greymouth allied health worker Rudolf Van der Geest said the Employment Relations Authority recently put a proposal to DHBs to settle but the boards had waited until last Friday to respond, and had still not said what was on the table.
"This is a protest that has been going on for 20 months now. It takes 20 months to have to go to the ERA to get mediation -- still, nothing.
"The sad reality is more people will leave."
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From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Work is progressing for a new mental health unit in Greymouth.
Canterbury and West Coast District Health Boards infrastructure executive director Rob Ojala, told the West Coast board on Friday that the planning had reached the point where … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Work is progressing for a new mental health unit in Greymouth.
Canterbury and West Coast District Health Boards infrastructure executive director Rob Ojala, told the West Coast board on Friday that the planning had reached the point where "we're on the market to get the design team."
He shared that following a query from iwi representative Francois Tumahai whether the planning would include a consumer representative.
Ojala said user group representatives would be part of the design structure for the new unit, "so we get a broad lens on the reality for the model going forward".
However, a user representative was probably not going to be in the governance structure for it, although iwi would be represented.
DHB general manager Philip Wheble noted the auditors from the Office of the Ombudsman had requested an update on 16 recommendations.
There was a continued focus on recruitment across the mental health service.
Key positions appointed in the past few weeks included the clinical nurse manager for the inpatient unit, a UK registered nurse as a case manager for Northern Community Mental Health (Buller), and a clinical psychologist who was not due to start until January.
"This is a key role to fill having been empty since 2016," Wheble said.
Occupational therapy vacancies continued to cause challenges for service delivery and specialist input in the mental health area.
He also reported a focus on equity for Māori patients, with a Māori casual mental health assistant employed, while the manager hours for the Māori mental health team had also been increased from half to full-time.
Services had not been significantly impacted by Covid apart from the Alcohol and Other Drugs service (AOD), which had a higher proportion of positive cases with increased service delivery challenges, "all of which have been managed well".
*Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
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From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast District Health Board says the new Buller Health complex, which will replace the ageing Buller Hospital and medical centre facilities in Westport, will be completed in mid-2023.
DHB executive director infrastructure Rob Ojala, said … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast District Health Board says the new Buller Health complex, which will replace the ageing Buller Hospital and medical centre facilities in Westport, will be completed in mid-2023.
DHB executive director infrastructure Rob Ojala, said construction was progressing well.
"All roof trusses have been installed and installation of the roofing iron is well under way, with 85% of the roof completed.
"The project is still on schedule and the expected completion timeframe remains the second quarter of 2023."
Brickwork, installation of plumbing and electrical services, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning and fire systems had all commenced, Mr Ojala said.
"Activity on site has really ramped up with service trades now well into their work."
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