May 4: Raglan Community Board meeting

CHANGE: meeting is now online, apologies for short notice. Details here: Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/5111086998Meeting ID: 511 108 6998

This summary of the Raglan Community Board agenda and other WDC Raglan related meetings was prepared by John Lawson, Secretary of Whāingaroa Environmental Defence Inc., 51 Cliff St, Raglan, P 07 825 7866, E johnragla@gmail.com

The next Board meeting is Wed 4 May at 1.30pm in the Town Hall Supper Room. The public forum will be part of the formal meeting, giving the usual opportunity to discuss issues. You might prefer to email the Community Board members:- Chris Rayner, Dennis Amoore, Gabrielle Parson, Kiri Binnersley, Lisa Thomson, Satnam Bains and Tony Oosten.

Wednesday’s agenda continues to lack information, which I’ve highlighted in orange, but includes –

1. Several items aren’t on the agenda but are in the minutes, so may be matters arising –

• Canada Geese
• swimming pool
• iwi hapu connections
• MfE consultation on recycling

• airfield, though the list of events has, “Soundsplash – Raglan Airfield possibly not usable for parking due to political issues – 18 January 2023”.
• Wainui Rd footpath/cycleway, bus services, Upper Bow St angle parking, parking signs, Rose St parking – presumably to be dealt with in “Quarterly Roading report”.

2. Wi Neera Walkway [jetty-footbridge-heli pad] Assessments range from “Wall has effectively failed” to no more than a 25-year life and parts may be submerged in storms. No solution proposed, but “further investigations and physical works at the top of the wall are required”.
3. Coastal reserves “Meeting scheduled with Caleb, Open Spaces Team Leader, to discuss our roles and the organising of our first annual stakeholder meeting.”
4. Nihinihi & Pokohui Ave down estuary – “Kim to plan spraying + planting”.
5. Orca crossing safety improvements “Community Board members to organise a meeting”.
6. Wharf Structural Repairs, Pontoons and Walkways “Resource consent application have been submitted to WRC ad WDC. The time frame of these is more uncertain and will depend on whether WRC decide its notifiable.” Despite that the work iswith “Contractors for tendering”. Still no detail of what for.
7. Whaingaroa Harbour study “has progressed based on the online surveys, the written feedback forms and the public forum. We received 90 submissions online, 30 submissions at the public forum and 60 from key stakeholders. . . we expect the report to be available for stake holders and public to comment on in early May.”
8. Manu Bay Breakwater – meeting still to be arranged.
9. Sewage “Stephen Howard from Watercare has been invited to discuss wastewater consent and discharge. Keith Martin from WDC will update the Board on 3 waters.” Wed 4 May 7pm sewage zoom meeting.
10. Bylaws update – list with some dates, etc – dogs, speed, livestock, waste, public places, reserves, appointments, trees, verges, alcohol, plaques, road closures, freedom camping, camp grounds, lighting, Te Reo Maaori, heritage, climate.
11. Civil Defence “Cr Thomson to provide an update”
12. Raglan Naturally – “verbal update”
13. Food waste 657 submissions, with 55% support.
14. Representation Review – Community Board expanded to include Te Mata and Te Uku.
15. Third Quarter Service Request report isn’t attached.
16. Discretionary fund has $11,297.58. Mental Health Toolbox want $1,500 for a booklet.

These council items are not detailed on RCB’s agenda –

Wed 27 Apr meeting with Sporting Director of Rally NZ

Rally NZ will use P1 carbon neutral fuel, objections of residents to being restricted for a couple of days, road closure consent to be advertised next month.

Policy 3/5

Reduce Cliff St Speed to 20km Staff Assessment: Not included in the proposal and affects a wider community and requires further consultation, not recommended for inclusion

60km Riria Kereopa Dr entirety and 40km at the camp area Staff Assessment: not supported, support reduction in speed to 20km/h 50m prior to campsite entrance and for rest of Riria Kereopa Memorial Drive/beach, remainder to stay as-is (40km/h) Agree with staff. This area affects many and was not consulted on. The speed limit should not be reduced outside of the proposal, but Speed calming methods need to be implemented.

Reduce Speed on Whaanga Rd Staff Assessment: this is a metal road and not recommended to propose speed limits on this type of road due to the variable road surface, driver experience and vehicle types

Discussions have also started with mana whenua about the future ownership of the Raglan airfield.

Local Government Commission determination

The largest ward will be Tai Raro Takiwaa Maaori (north) with 7,980, the smallest Western General with 5,070 [roughly 2 general votes to 3 Māori votes]. The option of a 3^rd Māori councillor was rejected as WDC had not consulted about it.

Waters Governance Board 26/4

• Raglan drinking water supply may be subject to a fluoridation direction under the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 due to having a reasonable population size and not currently being fluoridated.

• Raglan WWTP resource consent application preparation – A treatment upgrade investigation has been delivered to the project team by Apex Water Ltd. Internal engineering review is now to be undertaken on recommendations; where this will occur in April. The key recommendation for an adaptable, affordable upgrade that offers optimum improved performance is a sequence batch reactor (SBR). This would be retrofitted within an existing pond. Such an option would also provide winter storage of treated wastewater within existing ponds that would otherwise not be used. An accompanying membrane bioreactor could be theoretically built as part of the treatment train, which will be a critical feature if a full land discharge solution becomes unachievable.

• A vital feature learnt when working alongside key stakeholders and haapu is to bring treatment and discharge optioneering to discussion early to allow for education, evaluation, and joint decision making between partners. For this reason, the concept of a Raglan SBR was presented within an April update to all. This update detailed advantages and that it is an early phase of investigation now being undertaken. A key point to express was that the existing aqua-mat system had completed its useful life, and an upgrade to superior technology would now be sensible.

• An interim upgrade recommendation to address the consistent non-compliant total suspended solid levels (TSS) caused by algae spread in warmer months is for existing treated wastewater to be conditioned through flocculation aids, then filtered using infrastructure that would remain part of any final treatment upgrade (therefore avoid being a stranded asset).

Evaluation of recommendations will continue within the upcoming month, allowing necessary project reporting and refined costings to then be presented within a business case to the board.

• The April update to interested partners also provided an opportunity to present the necessary step of engagement with the wider Raglan community should Wainui Reserve be part of the longer-term land discharge solution for the township. Immediate concerns were received by a key stakeholder group [no mention of who], where a key source of unease was the theoretical use of the gully area leading to lower sandy soils, given rehabilitation of the gully that has already occurred through grant money specifically received for the rehabilitation of the reserve. There was understanding offered that land discharge optioneering is very difficult, and challenges such as that highlighted will emerge as options are refined.

Sewage youtube 1/4

Non-compliant Total Suspended Solid Trend over warmer months – filter and backwash proposed – replace Aquamats. Land disposal could be to Wainui Reserve 24ha 2020 flow, 42ha 2050 flow.

Proposed Waikato District Plan

67 appeals have been lodged with the Environment Court against WDC decisions on the District Plan.

Finance Committee 30/3

QV had 469 rate value objections. 42 were withdrawn, and the remaining 427 objections have been settled. Capital values have decreased by $31m, resulting in a General Rate reduction of $64,100 

Roll CV ($m)	Settled CV ($m)	CV Change	($m)	General Rate Impact ($000)
CV reductions	213	274.7	207.0	-67.6	-139.9
CV increases	153	203.4	240.1	36.6	75.8
No change to CV	61	39.5	39.5	0.0	0.0
Total settled objections	427	517.6	486.6	-31.0	-64.1

Holiday Park 6mths to 31-1-2022 income down to 1,023,896 from 1,437,634 in 2021. Profit down to 112,397 from 462,426

Draft Annual Plan 2022/2023 paper presented to a WDC workshop

Raglan Aerodrome fees -31,029

Raglan Hills Resevoir No.2 1,092,000

Raglan wastewater treatment plant upgrades 4,935,000

Raglan community centre 515,000 [Town Hall seismic strengthening – as LTP]

Raglan sports pavilion 98,895

Raglan walkways 156,150

Other issues missing from the agenda are Greenslade Rd Neighbourhood Park, Greenslade footpath, Cliff St, Park Dr/Long St crossing, town square, Town Hall Committee, coastal erosion, unsealed roading, Climate Response Plan, Energy Project, WRAP, Town Hall Warrant of Fitness, Calvert Rd parking, Te Uku & Te Mata Recycling, Whāingaroa Catchment Management Plan, dog issues, Hills Rd water tower, volunteer worker safety, Puriri Park, weedbusters, Joyce Petchell and Puriri Park toilets to be wrapped with environment messaging, Manu Bay planting, Eco Village. Should WED be taking up these or other issues?

Ngā mihi

John (he/him).