RESOLVED

THAT the apology of R Hughes be received and sustained.

ODD01/10 Johansen/Munro 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.

ODD01/11 Johansen/Munro CARRIED

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the meeting of the Opukeko Drainage District Committee held on 28 February 2001 be taken as read and confirmed.

ODD01/12 Munro/White CARRIED

The Drainage Manager advised that it was his understanding that Environment Waikato had remitted the rate on the areas subject to ponding.

DRAINAGE REPORT

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

A summary of the pump hours for the current year and for the 2000-2001 year were attached for members information.

The Drainage Manager advised that Environment Waikato had installed the telemetry in all the 8V pumps. The installation of the diesel generator for and Stocks pump stations was schedule for early December.

There was concern regarding the washout around the discharge line of the Stocks pump. The Drainage Manager would monitor the situation. It was noted that the Opukeko pump was operating more than necessary. The Drainage Manager would check the probe levels on the pump.

The Drainage Manager advised that the Drainage Rate Review Committee had met on 24 October 2001. Representatives of al the Drainage District Committees were present. There was agreement to the flat drainage rate concept, in each of the districts, with other differentials in WPDD for the pump replacement and stopbanked/flood protected areas.

Further investigation was to be undertaken on the operating costs of the rural townships and the small lots.

There was also general agreement for the amalgamation of the three districts east of the Waihou River, on the basis of there being a drainage district either side of the Piako and Waihou Rivers, and one in between.

The Drainage Manager advised of the options for the classification. The first move would be to incorporate the whole of the Opukeko district into the drainage rating area (flat drainage rate), and to then look at reviewing the contribution from the Paeroa Ward to compensate for pumping of urban runoff.

The Opukeko Drainage District needed to be careful regarding the funding of DiSP. The Opukeko District does not have any assets so could end up funding the other areas in the event of the introduction of overall drainage rating.

The Drainage Manager advised that in conjunction with the works involved in the construction of the Paeroa Sewerage Treatment Plant on Council’s property at Irwin Road, the rationalisation of the Council drains on the north side of Hubbard Road had been undertaken.

Following the last meeting on site inspection with the owners and some of the Committee, a decision was made to extend Sharp Drain directly to the Environment Waikato floodgate. The Environment Waikato stopbank toe drain allowed access to the Hubbard Road pump. This alignment would be 200m longer that originally proposed, but a further proposal to divert the Hubbard Roadside to the south to connect with the Stocks toe drain resulted in a net saving of a further 250m of drain length.

Preliminary estimates for the 2002-2003 financial year were presented for the Committee’s consideration.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received

AND THAT

1. The realignment of Sharps Drain as set out above be confirmed

2. The portion of Hubbard Roadside drain from a point 400m west of the railway formation be abandoned

3. The drain from the point above, south to Stocks toe drain be designated Council drain.

ODD01/13 Johansen/White CARRIED

Preliminary estimates for the 2002-2003 financial year were presented for the Committee’s consideration.

The Chairman and the Drainage Manager would check the possibility of introducing a revised classification ahead of the introduction of the overall rate review.

FINANCIAL REPORT

The financial report was attached for members’ information.

RESOLVED

THAT the financial report on the operations of the Opukeko Drainage District Committee for the 12 months ended 30 June 2001 and the 4 months ended 31 October 2001 be received.

ODD01/14 Reid/Johansen CARRIED

The Drainage Manager read a letter from Environment Waikato regarding the River Schemes Liaison Committee. The same Committee constitution will remain. The District and Drainage District representatives need to be advised to Environment Waikato by 8 February 2002. The first formal meeting would be held on Friday 24^th May 2002, following a familiarisation tour of the schemes on 22 February.

The Committee were happy for Mr G Morrison to remain as representative for the three Eastern Waihou Drainage Districts on the Environment Waikato River Schemes Liaison Committee.

The next drainage board elections would be held in February 2002. It was noted that the Opukeko Drainage Committee did not have an election because it was made up of all the ratepayers in the area.

The meeting closed at 3.00 pm.

CONFIRMED

I D Wood