Waimakariri council ‘financially sound’ after challenging year
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
The Waimakariri District Council is in ‘‘a financially sound position’’ despite a challenging year, says chief executive Jeff Millward.
Flooding, economic uncertainty and high inflation impacted the council, which still ended the year to June with an operating surplus of $21.7 million.
Councillors adopted the 2022-23 annual report at an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
"We’ve had a fair bit of pressure coming on the budget and other councils are saying the same thing," Millward said.
"By all our performance measures we have done pretty well. Overall it has been a good year."
The operating surplus was $9.7 million less than budgeted due to inflation and developers contributions being less than expected.
Development contributions is what developers pay councils to help with the costs of increased services such as libraries, roads and water infrastructure.
The council also borrowed $8m less than the $188m it had budgeted.
Millward said Audit New Zealand had given its endorsement of the annual report, which took into account the change in government and a potential change in Three Waters policy.
He did not anticipate any immediate impact to the council from the change of government.
"It is very much business as usual until we have [the incoming Government's] 100-day plan to respond to."
National campaigned to reverse a number of reforms for local government, including Three Waters and the Resource Management Act overhaul.
Mayor Dan Gordon said the council was in a strong position but he warned of a challenging year ahead.
"We need to look carefully at our budgets as we go into the Long Term Plan.
"Our neighbours are already talking about significant rate increases unless there are significant cuts to services."
Millward said the council was facing ‘‘significant impacts’’ from climate change as it looked ahead to next year’s 2024-34 long-term plan.
Gordon also thanked staff and volunteers for their efforts in responding to the weekend's damaging winds, which brought down trees and cut power to thousands of homes.
"If we had the Three Waters reforms in place now we wouldn’t have been able to perform as effectively as we did, and that is something we have been concerned about.
"Severe weather events are happening more regularly, and the council is seeking to establish a permanent fund to ensure we have budget to maintain, fix, and improve our stormwater, wastewater and roading networks following extreme weather."
Last month, the council approved a plan to establish an infrastructure resilience team to lead flood recovery efforts.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
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Canterbury councils team up to tackle climate change
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
North Canterbury’s three councils have thrown their weight behind a plan to tackle climate change.
The Waimakariri, Hurunui and Kaikōura councils have endorsed the Canterbury Mayoral Forum’s draft climate partnership plan.
Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon, who chairs the mayoral forum’s climate action reference group, said by working together larger councils could help the smaller councils.
‘‘Climate change doesn’t recognise territorial boundaries, so we need something that works across Canterbury.
‘‘Christchurch is further ahead, which is fantastic, and in Waimakariri we are developing our work programme.’’
The Waimakariri District Council adopted its natural environment strategy at a council meeting last week, after completing its consultation alongside the long-term plan.
The 30-year strategy aims to protect the district’s natural ecosystems and its special indigenous biodiversity.
Gordon said the mayors hoped to officially launch the Canterbury Climate Partnership Plan later this year and he planned to invite Climate Change Minister Simon Watts.
‘‘I have raised with the Minister about attending a public launch to provide some inspiration of what can be done in other regions.’’
The plan sets out 10 climate actions to help the 11 Canterbury councils prepare for ‘‘a sustainable future’’.
The actions included understanding climate risks and improving resilience, reducing emissions, adaptation planning, nature-based solutions, education and advocacy, supporting papatipu rūnanga, integrating climate change considerations into council processes, identifying co-funding opportunities, monitoring and evaluation, and implementation.
Hurunui mayor Marie Black said her council had endorsed the plan in principle.
The Hurunui District Council was represented on the climate action reference group by Councillor Dave Hislop, a dairy farmer.
‘‘Dave brings a pragmatic approach and he is grounded in farming principles,’’ Black said.
Hislop and other rural councillors had questioned aspects of the plan and science behind it, before giving their support, chief executive Hamish Dobbie said.
‘‘I think it has been through a robust process and councillors of all persuasions have been involved.
‘‘We might not 100% agree with everything, but it is important Canterbury stands together and is seen to be working together.
‘‘There is a desire for us to thrive and do well and loom large in the consciousness of the Government and the Canterbury Climate Partnership Plan is just one of those things which we are working on collectively.’’
Kaikōura District Council chief executive Will Doughty said his council had endorsed the plan and budgeted for its contribution over the next three years in its long-term plan.
‘‘We believe it is a great initiative to be looking at the issues from a wider regional perspective.
‘‘We are very keen to see some tangible outcomes from the climate actions.’’
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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