HAURAKI DISTRICT COUNCIL
OPUKEKO DRAINAGE DISTRICT
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE OPUKEKO DRAINAGE DISTRICT COMMITTEE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WILLIAM STREET, PAEROA ON MONDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2005 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM
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PRESENT |
Messrs HA Reid (Chairperson), C D Reid, C Bowering, R N Metcalfe, O Millar (Millar Lands), K and P Millington and Cr T Meyers |
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IN ATTENDANCE |
Mr ID McLeod (Drainage Manager), Mr S L Clark (Drainage Overseer) and Ms C Black (Council Secretary) |
APOLOGIES
There were no apologies
LATE ITEMS
There were no late items.
Nomination of Committee Chairperson
As the previous Chairperson of the Committee, Mr I D Wood had resigned; the members were requested to appoint a new Chairperson. The members nominated Mr Harvey Reid as Chairperson of the Committee.
ODD05/01 O Millar/C Reid CARRIED
Discussion was held regarding the determination of the structure of the Drainage Committee. It was suggested there be a total of three members on the Committee to resolve the problems of the difficulty in getting enough members present for a quorum. The members resolved that the Committee consist of a total of three members to be elected from the ratepayers, plus the Council representative. This committee structure would apply from the next election of drainage district committees to be held later in the year.
RESOLVED
THAT the Opukeko Drainage District ratepayers elect a Representative Committee of three members to manage the land drainage activities in the Opukeko Drainage District.
ODD05/02 Metcalfe/K Millington CARRIED
The report from the Drainage Manager was presented for the Committee’s consideration
RESOLVED
THAT the report be received
ODD05/03 C Reid/Metcalfe CARRIED
Pump Operation
Chris Reid raised the issue of the operation of the Stocks pump being mainly to the benefit of the Paeroa ratepayers who were paying only a nominal contribution to the drainage operating budget.
Biological Weed Control
The Drainage Manager updated the members on the status of the application to DOC regarding the environmental impact assessment being carried out for the introduction of the ‘White Amur’ fish for use as a form biological weed control into the district drains. He advised that the Western Plains Drainage Committee agreed with the proposal but did not wish to incur any further costs involved in the processing of the application.
Drainage Committee Elections
The members will be notified of the upcoming elections in the near future. It was advised that the elections would probably be held in June this year, coinciding with the financial year end.
Amalgamation of Drainage Committees
Discussion was held regarding the amalgamation of the Opukeko, Komata North and Tirohia-Rotokohu Drainage Committees. The Drainage Manager stated that it is envisaged that one committee would be formed, and one meeting would be held instead of three separate meetings. It was advised that the financial accounts of the committees would not change.
Quorum’s at Meetings
The Drainage Manager advised that Council had adopted the New Zealand Standard for meeting procedures, with the following amendment in the case of the quorum required for committees of Council:
There must be at least half the total number of members of the Committee if the number of members (including vacancies) is even, or the majority of members if the number of members (including vacancies) is odd, and in the case of a Committee other than a Subcommittee or a Drainage Committee, must include at least one member of the local authority.
FINANCIAL REPORT
The financial report for the 7 months ended 31 January 2005 was presented by the Drainage Manager for members’ information.
RESOLVED
THAT the financial report on the operations of the Opukeko Drainage District Committee for the 7 months ended 31 January 2005 be received.
ODD05/04 C Reid/Metcalfe CARRIED
GENERAL BUSINESS
The Drainage Overseer informed the members that no spraying of drains has been undertaken to the end of the period being reported.
C Reid stated that the some drains are in need of mechanical weed cleaning. The Drainage Overseer stated that he considered that machine cleaning should be carried out later in the cooler months of the year when weed growth is slower.
C Reid stated that a section of his paddock has slumped into drain due to damage from lateral erosion at the acute bend in the Link Drain. Environment Waikato is to make good. Members noted that there is a substantial amount of silt build up in some drains.
Craig Bowering requested a copy of the plan of the district drains.
The Chairman will undertake spraying the Sharpe drain up to Irwin Road.
The meeting closed at 10.55am.
CONFIRMED
H A Reid
Chairperson