There were no apologies.

Pursuant to Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, the Chairperson called for late items to be accepted.

There were no late items.

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the meeting of the Eastern Plains Drainage District Committee held on Tuesday 26 August 2003 be taken as read and confirmed.

EPDD03/22 Hunter/Caddy CARRIED

Letter – Mr Palmer, Raratuna Street , Turua

The meeting between Mr Palmer and representatives of the EPDD committee has not taken place.

DRAINAGE REPORT (45.498.002)

The monthly report from the Drainage Manager was attached for the Committee’s consideration.

THAT the report be received.

EPDD03/23 Caddy/Speedy CARRIED

A new form of reporting the drain maintenance, linked to the chemical database is being developed at present. The information that is going in is correct but the reporting of this information is not satisfactory.

There was a significant amount of pumping in September and regular inspection runs were undertaken in this period.

RW & DG Hull - Huirau Rd

Council undertook to survey an alternative routing of the drainage upstream of Huirau Road to the floodgate. It was the opinion of the EPDD committee that unless it delivers the relief that Mr Hull expects it is not worthwhile doing. The Drainage Manager did not think it would deliver this relief. It was felt that a better option would be to stopbank the existing drain system

RESOLVED

THAT the cost of a stopbank in the area be investigated and the option be considered.

EPDD03/24 Speedy/Hunter CARRIED

Council’s Roading Manager has undertaken to redirect the drain to the north under Bagnall Square and to block off the old floodgate.

There is a safety issue regarding the footpath running alongside the Kaikahu Road where the bank drops away into the drain. An extension of the culvert in the vicinity of the intersection is proposed as a safety measure by Council’s Roading Manager. Construction of a timber retaining wall along the Kaikahu Road boundary of the drain will prevent erosion and slumping of the drain bank, at an estimated cost of $5,000.

RESOLVED

THAT 48m of timber retaining wall be constructed in the Kaikahu roadside drain south of Miro Street, Kerepehi at an estimated cost of $5,000

EPDD03/25 Hunter/Speedy CARRIED

This item was considered at the August meeting of the EPDD. No information on the resolutions of the committee on this matter have been found. The committee agreed to continue maintaining the drains in the meantime.

FINANCIAL REPORT (45.498.003)

The financial report for the 3 months ending 30 September 2003 was attached for members’ information.

RESOLVED

THAT the financial report on the operations of the Eastern Plains Drainage Committee for the 3 months to 30 September 2003 be received.

EPDD03/26 Speedy/Caddy CARRIED

The Drainage Manager outlined the expenditure to the end of September. There was a credit for the Johnstone Pump as the power meter had been misread previously.

MEMBERS’ COMMENTS

There was a suggestion to put an item re the area served by the Cox floodgate on the agenda of the Waihou Valley Scheme Piako River Scheme Liaison Subcommittee for the meeting to be held on 7 November. Guy Speedy will speak to Owen Passau at Environment Waikato. Members reported the problem of proliferation of underwater weed in many of the district’s drains.

All members reported on the good condition of drains in their respective areas.

Next meeting confirmed to be Tuesday 23 December. The Committee will continue meeting on the even numbered months next year.

Meeting closed at 11.21am.

K J Reid

October 2003