RESOLVED

THAT the apology of His Worship the Mayor, Crs Tregidga and Laurich be received and sustained.

PF00/43 Hayden/Gordon CARRIED

Pursuant to Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, the Chairman called for late items to be accepted. There were none.

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the meeting of the Planning and Finance Committee held on Thursday 13 April 2000 be taken as read and confirmed.

PF00/44 Munro/Gordon CARRIED

A petition was tabled from some of the pensioners from the Waihi Ward opposing Council’s Pensioner Flat Rental Review. The rental increase that was to come into effect on July 4, 2000 was a maximum increase of $6 per week.

It was noted that even with the increase the pensioner flats would still not be self funding.

The Community Services Manager advised that the recently revised Council funding policy specifies an 85% of market value rental ceiling but had added direction in regards funding of the deficit where costs exceeded the ability of the 85% ceiling to meet those costs.

New tenants that moved into Council’s Pensioner Flats were advised in their tenancy agreement that the rental was subject to review.

After discussion it was decided that a response be sent to the tenants involved noting the Committee’s concerns and disappointment.

RESOLVED

THAT the petition be received

AND THAT Council decline to forgo the rental increase.

PF00/45 Gordon/Munro CARRIED

It was decided that an addition should be made to resolution no: PF00/38, concerning the request from the Thames Valley Deerstalkers Associations for funding. The resolution would now read:

THAT Council supports the project in principle with a $50,000 interest free loan

SUBJECT TO a satisfactory finance plan being presented to Council

AND THAT the interest be covered from the interest on the Power New Zealand proceeds.

The Community Services Manager’s monthly report was attached for the Committee’s consideration.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

PF00/46 Munro/Gordon CARRIED

The Community Services Manager advised that after discussions held with Council’s solicitor regarding the Waihi Beach Lease Renewals, it had been confirmed that the lease was effectively tied into allowing only one rental review in a term.

A request had been made to Council by a lessee at 19 Hinemoa Street (Lot 10), seeking Council’s response to the suggested creation of a right of way easement along the common boundary of Lot 10 and neighbouring Lot 9 currently owned by a Mr Leaning.

RESOLVED

THAT consent be given to the creation of an access easement along the common boundary of Lots 10 and 9 Hinemoa Street Waihi Beach subject to the lessee of Lot 10 being in agreement and that the lessee and the owner of Lot 9 obtaining the necessary consents and meeting all costs relating to the easement.

PF00/47 Gordon/Hayden CARRIED

The Community Services Manager advised that due to criteria set by the new ACC legislation Council would be reverting back to ACC for its accident compensation insurance. Council is not sufficiently geared to take part in the partnership offering.

The Community Services Manager advised that elected members and representatives of the New Zealand Police had met to discuss the Police request for assistance to purchase surveillance cameras for the Hauraki District. The request had suggested that $7,500 would be sufficient to acquire the necessary equipment for a limited range of surveillance.

The Police brought to the meeting camera equipment currently used within the Thames area, which provided the ability to service a surveillance programme on a 24 hours basis. The rough cost for a full suite of equipment was considered to be in the order of $17,000 rather than the lesser cost that provided only daytime capability.

The suite would comprise of a three camera setup and supporting equipment that could be used in each of the Wards in the district.

There was some concern as to whether the Police would have enough trained staff to operate the camera’s.

After considerable discussion it was agreed that surveillance cameras would also be of benefit to Council with regard to protection of property such as public toilets etc.

It was noted that the Police would own the camera’s not the Council.

RESOLVED

THAT Council grants $17,000 to the New Zealand Police for the purchase of surveillance cameras

AND THAT it be noted that members expressed concern as to whether the Police would have enough trained staff to operate the cameras

AND THAT the cameras be used consistently throughout the district with regular reports as to their uses.

PF00/ 48 Gordon/Hayden CARRIED

An application had been received from the Waihi Croquet Club for help with the shortfall they had in their funding plan for the replacement of their old club pavilion.

It was noted that the club had been reasonably successful with their limited resources in amassing approximately $71,000 towards the targeted $79,000.

RESOLVED

THAT Council grants $8,000 to the Waihi Croquet Club for help with the replacement of their old club pavilion, to be funded from the Community Development Fund.

PF00/49 Munro/Hayden CARRIED

The Community Services Manager advised that the Irwin Road Farm Lease had been awarded to Mr Harvey Reid.

Mr Mike Slight, General Manager of Waihi Gold Mining Company, Mr Neville Hegley (Consultant) and Mr Chris Hale (Council Liaison Officer) attend the meeting at 2.00 pm and gave the Committee an update on progress of the implementation of the Martha Mine extension.

Mr Slight advised that Waihi Gold had conformed with the noise consent conditions as required in their consent. He displayed a number of "overheads" showing methods which the company had used to help minimise the impact of the noise generated from the site.

Mr Hegley gave a further presentation on the issues of noise levels and how they were being monitored.

Cr Carmine thanked Mr Slight and Mr Hegley for their presentation. They left the meeting at 2.50 pm.

The Corporate Services Manager’s report on the operations of the Corporate Services Department for the month of April 2000 and financial statements for the 9 months ended 31 March 2000 were attached for members’ consideration.

A payments listing for the month of April 2000 was tabled at the meeting for members’ information.

RESOLVED

THAT the report on the operations of the Corporate Services Department for April 2000 and the interim financial reports for the 9 months ended 31 March 2000 be received.

PF00/50 Munro/Gordon CARRIED

The Corporate Services Manager advised that the statement of financial position was an update for 31 March, also the 30 April figures were not finalised at the time of the meeting.

Reports of the matters dealt with by way of delegation from the period 1 April 2000 were attached separately for the Committee’s information.

RESOLVED

THAT the reports of delegated matters be received.

PF00/51 Gordon/Munro CARRIED

The Planning and Environmental Services Manager had reported on the recent activities of the Planning and Environmental Services Department.

The report, which included details on both the Consents and Monitoring Divisions, was attached for the Committee’s consideration.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

PF00/52 Hayden/Munro CARRIED

The Planning & Environmental Services Manager advised that following further complaints noise monitoring was carried out on the operation in the early hours of Wednesday 19 April 2000. The Company had been advised to take immediate steps to adopt the best practical option by either ceasing to carryout this particular operation between the hours of 10.00 pm and 7.00 am or relocating away from the affected residential boundary.

The Monitoring Officer Mr Bierre advised that he was continuing to monitor the situation and hold discussions with the Company.

Waihi Gold were proposing to construct a car park close to the intersection of Savage Road and Islington terrace to accompany the newly constructed viewing platform at the western end of the mine.

The Planning & Environmental Services Manager advised that at the last meeting of the Committee the nature of criteria that might be applied to the giving of consent to keep more than two dogs within a residential property was discussed.

The Planning & Environmental Services Manager presented a proposed criteria for the keeping of more than two dogs in a residential zone. He advised that the only issue that was in the criteria that was not in the VOL owner license criteria was the issue of consent from the property owner and adjoining property owners.

RESOLVED

THAT the Criteria against which requests to keep more than two dogs on residential property be:

CRITERIA FOR THE KEEPING OF MORE THAN TWO DOGS IN A RESIDENTIAL ZONE

(Note Residential Zone for the purposes of these criteria and the Dog Control Bylaw include the Rural-Residential Zone.)

Every application for a permit shall be considered on its individual merits, taking into account, among other things, the location of the premises and the density and nature of surrounding occupancies. Every permit may be issued on such terms and conditions as are considered appropriate. It shall be personal to the applicant, limited to the premises in respect of which it has been issued and remain in force unless revoked by the Council.

1. Dogs must be adequately confined on the section, or

2. That, in the absence of total boundary fencing, a portion of the section must be fenced, or other means provided to confine the dogs sufficiently, yet allow them to have an adequate exercise area dependant on their size (running wire, chain, kennel and run etc).

3. That the keeping of such dogs does not now, or in the future, give rise to a nuisance created by the barking or whining of the dogs.
4. No person shall permit or allow such dogs to be kept as to be offensive or likely to be injurious to health and, to this end, the area of confinement shall be capable of being kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
5. Where the dogs are not normally confined inside a dwelling house, adequate kennelling of sufficient size consistent to meet the needs of the dogs must be provided, with access to clean water. Such kennelling is not to be within 1.3 metres of any boundary and is to be constructed on a hygienic surface.
6. All dogs are to be currently registered in accordance with the Dog Control Act, 1996.
7. Consent of property owner and adjoining neighbours must be provided.

PF00/53 Gordon/Munro CARRIED

Council Liaison Officer – C Hale Report

Mr Chris Hale (Council Liaison Officer) presented his report on the Martha Mine Expansion Project for the month of April 2000. The report covered issues regarding noise and vibrations from the mine.

Mr Hale commented that not enough people in the Waihi area knew enough about the mine and it’s operation. A survey was being undertaken of a cross section of businesses to provide an understanding of:

the information businesses received or need from Waihi Gold Mining Company

the benefits of the operation to the business and community

the impacts of the operation on the business and community

the business relationship that exists

improvements that could be made to the above

development opportunities that could be identified.

The results would be collated and given to the Waihi Gold Mining Company.

Attached was a report from Mr M Hayman – Hearings Commissioner on the Proposed Plan Change No 3 – Buchanan Street, Paeroa.

The Planning & Environmental Services Manager advised that once the recommendation was accepted by Council the submitters would be advised and they then had the right to appeal to the Environment Court.

Cr Munro commented that at the hearing it had been made clear that every attempt would be made to address the concerns of the residents in the area when the subdivision went ahead.

RESOLVED

THAT pursuant to clause 29 of the First Schedule to the Resource Management Act 1991, I recommend that the Council approve Proposed Plan Change No 3 (Buchanan Street, Paeroa) to the operative Hauraki District Plan for the following reasons:

I am satisfied that the Council has both the authority (through the District Plan) and the will to use that authority (as demonstrated by its past decisions) to ensure that most of the adverse effects raised by submitters will be avoided, remedied or mitigated, by the imposition of appropriate conditions on subsequent subdivision applications, and further that;

This northern area is suitable for the expansion of the town;

The subject site is suitable for residential development in terms of topography, foundation conditions and ability to be serviced.

The proposal is in accordance with Part II of the Resource Management Act and will promote the sustainable management of this land resource in that it will manage the use and development of the land in a way which enables people and the community to provide for their social and economic wellbeing.

The fact that the land is under claim to the Waitangi Tribunal is not relevant to consideration of the proposal.

A change of zoning from Rural to Residential should not alter the Mauri of Taiwhakarewakauri Block (the subject land).

PF00/54 Munro/Hayden CARRIED

Cr Munro left the meeting at 3.35 pm. This meant that the meeting lapsed for want of a quorum.

The remaining business

8.3 Water supply Pipeline Bridge – Karangahake

8.4 Agenda Addendum: Hillary Commission Community Sports Fund Report

stands adjourned in accordance with Standing Orders.

Note: Items 8.3 and 8.4 above were placed on the agenda for the Council meeting scheduled for Thursday 25 May 2000 starting at 10.00 am.

The meeting lapsed at 3.35 pm.

CONFIRMED

D M Carmine

June 2000