RESOLVED

THAT the apology of B Pratt be received and sustained.

WPDD02/01 Bennett/Hayward 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.

- Peter Smith Hopai Road, Ngatea

WPDD02/02 Speedy/Spence CARRIED

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the meeting of the Western Plains Drainage District Committee held on Wednesday 5 December 2001 be taken as read and confirmed.

WPDD02/03 Spence/Carter CARRIED

The Drainage Manager advised that appointments to the EW River Schemes Liaison Committee had been appointed.

The Drainage Manager advised that the drains had been prioritised to be piped in the Ngatea town. One of these drains was the open drain between Mahana Road and McQuarrie Place. Maintenance of the drain was endangering the fence on one of the properties. The Drainage Manager had inspected the drain and there were a number of pipes over the drain including sewer pipes.

The job needed to be reassessed to what had originally been planned and the issue of payment for the piping sorted.

There was concern regarding the criteria of piping urban drains, as there was a possibility of not all adjoining owners being unwilling to pay, and effectively halting the programme.

The policy needed to be changed to enable a bit more flexibility. It was agreed that Council had a responsibility to pipe the urban drains in Ngatea.

RESOLVED

THAT the policy requiring a 25% ratepayer contribution to the piping of reaches of open drain be changed to abolish the 25% local contribution.

WPDD02/04 Speedy/Challis CARRIED

The Drainage Manager outlined the income and costs for the Ngatea urban area. It appeared that the local rate and District contribution barely covered operational costs and DiSP, with the costs of drainage reserve maintenance and rates, overheads and interest being additional to the operational costs.

It was noted that there was a property in the Miranda-Waitakaruru area that was paying rates for land that could not be used and there could be other properties in similar situations.

There was concern that where there was a piece of land adjacent to a waterway that was fenced and not used then the rate should be dropped.

RESOLVED

THAT Council be asked to consider some form of relief for properties where rates were being paid and the land not able to be used.

WPDD02/05 Purnell/Spence CARRIED

DRAINAGE REPORT (45.499.002)

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

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

WPDD02/06 Speedy/Clark CARRIED

Settlement of the three stations was continuing to be monitored. The Martinovich and Central North pumps appeared to have stabilised and were level. The Hopai West pump was settling at a much reduced rate, although the tilt was still apparent. There was little differential settlement of the sump and thrust block. Graphs were attached for member’s information.

The Hopai and Martinovich pumps had been switched off to stop them turning on unnecessarily.

The Drainage Manager advised that the tender had been let to Kerepehi Transport Ltd for a tendered sum of $52,058 (plus GST). All affected landowners had returned consents to enter and do the works and would be grazing off the stopbank material dumpsite.

A plot of the Ngatea Monthly Rainfall depths for the last 8 years was attached. The rainfall total for November was 114mm and for December was 177mm.

FINANCIAL REPORT (45.499.003)

The financial report to 30 November 2001 was attached for members’ information.

RESOLVED

THAT the financial report on the operations of the Western Plains Drainage Committee for the 5 months to 30 November 2001 be received.

WPDD02/07 Hicks/Hayward CARRIED

It was noted that the review of stage 2 of the Pouarua Scheme needed to be undertaken soon. There were a number of issues that would need discussing.

The Chairman tabled a letter from Peter Smith of Hopai Road in Ngatea regarding the floodgate servicing his property. The question was whose responsibility was it to open it.

The Chairman and Mr Bennett would meet with Mr Smith and discuss the situation.

The meeting closed at 12.25 pm.

CONFIRMED

R G Hicks

February 2002