RESOLVED

THAT the apology of Mr D Spence be received and sustained.

WPDD00/26 Hayward/Bennett 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.

RESOLVED

THAT pursuant to Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, the following late items be accepted for discussion.

• Letter from Mr Vugler
• Letter from Mr T Leonard
• Staff Vehicles
• Foreshore Culvert

WPDD00/27 Hicks/Speedy CARRIED

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the meeting of the Western Plains Drainage District Committee held on Wednesday 19 April 2000 be taken as read and confirmed.

WPDD00/28 Carter/Pratt CARRIED

Mr Hicks and the Drainage Manager reported on the workshop held earlier in the day, regarding the Pouarua Northern Area Pumps. Issues of discussion included separate charge for pumps and feeder drains for the pumps.

After discussion it had been decided that the proposal for an additional pump at the north end of Central Road reserve (on the Pouarua Canal) should be installed. This would result in a total of three pumps.

Once the rate cost per hectare was confirmed meetings would be held with the ratepayers involved.

The Chairman reported on a meeting held between Mr Hicks, Mr Challis, Council’s Drainage Manager and Mr Costello regarding the proposed stopbank to be constructed as part of the Waitakaruru Flood Protection Scheme.

The Chairman outlined on the white board the proposal that had been agreed on with Mr Costello.

Contact would be made with Transit New Zealand advising them of the situation.

Mr Purnell and the Drainage Manager would contact Mr Costello further regarding the proposal.

RESOLVED

THAT the stopbank be constructed on a line further to the west of the residential properties and that design along this line be proceeded with

AND THAT Transit New Zealand be approached to confirm their agreement to mitigate the effects of raising the road.

WPDD00/29 Purnell/Speedy CARRIED

Clarification was sought on the proposed 10% per annum rate increase over the next three years, for the Western Plains Drainage District ratepayers. It was confirmed this increase was projected for the next 3 years.

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

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received

WPDD00/30 Challis/Clark CARRIED

Tables of the drains sprayed to the end of April 2000 were presented.

Comment was made on the good job done by staff with the spraying this year.

Tables of the drains machine cleaned to the end of April 2000 were presented.

The Drainage Manager advised that some surplus pipes from the Paeroa water supply line had been purchased for minor culvert works.

Regular inspection runs had been undertaken for the period. A number of pumps had run for the first time since November.

The subdivision commented on by the Drainage Manager during the period was:

NR Burke, Front Miranda Road, Waitakaruru.

The Drainage Manager advised the final costs of these floodgates were within budget. The costs involved with obtaining the consents for these floodgates was noted.

The Drainage Manager advised that the works to upgrade the pump had been completed.

The proposals for the new pumps had been discussed in the workshop held prior to the meeting, and reported under matters arising from the previous meeting (above).

The Drainage Manager advised that the tender for the Foreshore and Canal stopbank survey had been let to CKL Surveys Ltd of Hamilton. Fieldwork was programmed to begin this week. All landowners had been notified of the survey to be undertaken.

The piping of the section of drain north of Leonard Street had been completed.

The damage to the Mangawhero Roadside flume had been inspected with Council’s Roading Manager. The Roading Manager had advised that the repairs to the flume, where there was a risk to the road would be the responsibility of the roading budget.

A plot of the Ngatea Monthly Rainfall depths for the last 7 years was presented. The rainfall total for April 2000 was 171 mm.

The financial report to 10 months ended 30 April 2000 was attached for members’ information.

RESOLVED

THAT the financial report on the operations of the Western Plains Drainage Committee for the 10 months to 30 April 2000 be received.

WPDD00/31 Speedy/Hayward CARRIED

The Chairman advised that a meeting had been held with the Regional Council and Chairmen of the Drainage Districts in the Waikato regarding the option of changing over to diesel pumps. The recommendation by the Regional Council was that five of the present ten 8V pumps be changed over to diesel.

The main concern was line charges that currently sat with the river schemes. Under the new proposal there may be increased energy charges, due to diesel costs, that would sit with the Drainage Committee’s.

A letter had been received from Mr Vugler concerning two drains on his farm that had not been cleaned and a floodgate that was not working.

Staff would reply to Mr Vugler advising him of the situation.

A letter had been received from Mr Terry Leonard of Patetonga regarding problems with a culvert on his boundary.

After discussion it was decided that this was a roading matter and the issue would be referred to the Roading Manager.

The cost of the lease for vehicles that were used by staff associated with the Drainage Committee’s was queried.

The Drainage Overseer advised that this matter was currently being addressed.

The Drainage Manager would look into this.

The Drainage Overseer advised that another culvert had been erected in the foreshore canal without the Drainage Committee’s approval or knowledge.

A letter would be written to the landowner involved expressing the Drainage Committee’s concerns and asking him to apply for a permit and to go through the appropriate process.

RESOLVED

THAT a letter be written to the landowner involved expressing the Drainage Committee’s concerns and asking him to apply for a permit and to go through the appropriate process.

WPDD00/32 Challis/Purnell CARRIED

The meeting closed at 2.35 pm.

CONFIRMED

R G Hicks

June 2000