Category: Local Government

Source: Auckland Council

Watercare’s works on the Muriwai Water Treatment Plant and reservoir are well underway. Coming up this week is leak testing of the reservoir and testing of the plant. Following this, further cleaning of the reservoir will be required, working with our water quality team to ensure that water supply will be compliant with Taumata Arowai standards.

As the return to service of the water treatment plant and reservoir is dependent on successful commissioning tests, and access to site needs to be reassessed for safety after each rain event, we are unable to commit to a firm re-opening date at this time. The best-case scenario is estimated to be late September to early October. In the meantime, the temporary tanker set-up will remain in place to ensure that there is a continual water supply to our Muriwai customers.

When the water treatment plant and reservoir do return to service, there will be no noticeable change for most customers. The golf club, surf club and a few other outliers will need to have their pipes flushed and tested and we will be in touch when this is planned to happen.

Watercare is currently investigating additional water supply options in addition to the current aquifer. We are yet to determine what supply will be available from the current aquifer long term, so to ensure resilient supply we hope to add an additional source.

As water is a precious resource, and there may be limits on the aquifer supply, it is essential for all water users to be water wise, and make efforts to conserve water, particularly as we head into the summer.

Similarly, while we are still using the temporary water tanker supply for the next month or two, it is important to conserve water to ensure supply for all as more people return home.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council’s Governing Body has voted unanimously to endorse in principle, subject to consultation, a cost sharing deal with the Crown to fund more than $2 billion of flood recovery and resilience works.

The deal includes:

• Making Space for Water initiatives: $820 million to fund projects that will help build resilience against future flood events, including the core aspects of the Council’s Making Space for Water initiatives. These initiatives include increased maintenance, stream rehabilitation, culvert and bridge upgrades, overland flow path management, and the roll out of “blue-green” networks in critical flood-risk areas (which are stormwater solutions that enhance parkland and open space).
• Transport Network Recovery:  $390 million towards the recovery costs of the transport network directly impacted by the storms. Example projects include Mill Flat Road Bridge, access to Karekare and Piha and underslips on the Bethells Road.

• Category 3 buy-outs: $774 million to purchase an estimated 700 residential properties where there is an intolerable risk to life and it is not feasible to mitigate this risk.

The cost share agreement secures $1.076 billion of Government funding for these projects. This includes 62% of the estimated capital cost of the Making Space for Water projects ($380 million), 79% of the transport recovery costs ($110 million Crown funding and an expected $199 million from the National Land Transport Fund via Waka Kotahi), and 50% of the cost of Category 3 buy-outs ($387 million).

Mayor Wayne Brown noted that the in-principle agreement was a major step forward.

“The Auckland Anniversary floods, and Cyclone Gabrielle had a devastating and lasting impact on many communities, and seven months on, many Aucklanders with damaged homes are still grappling with a challenging future and significant impacts on their mental and social wellbeing.

“While the negotiation process took time, it has resulted in a much better deal for Auckland. This deal will enable us to move faster on our plans to make the region more resilient to future weather events, rolling out the Making Space for Water programme and reinstating a range of transport infrastructure to help our communities return to a sense of normal.”

Councillors and the Mayor also noted the significant financial cost to the Council and ratepayers.

“These efforts to recover and build a more resilient region are expensive, and some of that falls on ratepayers, so we need to consult with them on those costs.

“I have been signalling for some time that we have some major costs coming down the pipe for basic infrastructure. Now more than ever as a Council we need to be thinking seriously about how we are going to focus on what matters most and getting value for our spend,” said Mayor Brown.

A two week public consultation on the proposed Council-Crown co-funding of storm recovery and affected property buy-out will commence in mid-September, including targeted local engagement for affected areas. 

Subject to the outcome of that process, more decisions will be required by Councillors and the Mayor on the details of the buy-out scheme and how the Council’s share of the costs will be funded.

The complex process to assess and categorise affected properties continues. The Council has signalled that it would be looking to start direct discussions with homeowners on buyouts towards the end of October.

The Auckland sites currently identified as potentially suitable for proposed blue-green networks include:

1. Wairau Creek (Totaravale, Lower Sunnynook, Milford)
2. Kumeū River (Kumeū)
3. Waimoko Stream (Swanson)
4. Opanuku Stream (Henderson)
5. Porters Stream (Glen Eden)
6. Whau Stream (Blockhouse Bay)
7. Cox’s Creek (Grey Lynn)
8. Gribblehirst Park/St Leonards Road (Meola/Epsom)
9. Te Auaunga Awa (Mt Roskill)
10. Harania Creek (Mangere)
11. Te Ararata Greenway (Mangere)
12. Whangapouri (Pukekohe)

Maintaining our financial position

The additional debt for Auckland Council could add 7-9% to the debt to revenue ratio for the council over the next 5-7 years which remains well within its upper limit of 290%.

The council has all of its usual funding levers available to manage additional costs including capital expenditure choices, asset sales, service reductions, revenue choices including rates and debt.

The council continues to remain committed to prudent financial management with confirmed ratings of AA/Aa2 from S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service respectively, both on stable outlook.

Source: Auckland Council

A group of Japanese junior high school students from Kakogawa City have been given a taste of home by Henderson-Massey Local Board and given a reminder of the special links between Kakogawa and west Auckland.

The students, on an educational tour of New Zealand, were welcomed by board members to the iconic Japanese garden complex adjacent to Henderson Civic Buildings.

The garden, gifted to the people of west Auckland by Waitakere City’s sister city Kakogawa, was a special stop in their 10-day visit to New Zealand.

Henderson-Massey Local Board Chair, Chris Carter,  former MP for Te Atatu and NZ Education Minister, in welcoming the students said “It was a great pleasure to host you in our local area. Kakogawa City has a special connection to west Auckland and we hope this trip will help you better understand our country.”

The Henderson Massey Local Board was in a strong position to welcome the Japanese visitors with two Local Board members, Will Flavel and Brooke Louder fluent in the Japanese language. Both addressed the students in their native tongue and explained the special connections between the former Waitakere City and their home city of Kakogawa.

The special peace bell, gifted to former Mayor Bob Harvey, by the city of Kakogawa was sounded by two of the Kakogawa students who also joined their fellow students in performing a traditional Japanese dance. Board members sang ‘Te Aroha’, a waiata (song) about love and peace, as a greeting for the students.

The Japanese garden adjacent to Henderson Civic Building is inspired by the traditional ‘Viewing Gardens’ that originated in 15th century Japan. The Henderson-based garden combines New Zealand natives with exotic and Japanese plants and is designed to reflect the partnership between Waitākere City and Kakogawa.

The former Waitākere City Council and the city of Kakogawa signed their friendship agreement back in 1991 and became sister cities the following year.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland community groups and organisations are being encouraged to apply for the Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund before applications close next week.

The Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund supports projects that help reduce waste and reuse or recover resources as part of Auckland’s goal of sending zero-waste to landfill by 2040.

Successful projects have ranged from installing composting systems to manufacturing prototypes for market testing in the construction industry. Grants awarded are from $1,000 up to $50,000.

Organisations which have successfully applied in previous years include schools, community trusts, residential groups, and entrepreneurs and businesses.

Schools like Dawson Primary in Ōtara where students are passionate about their environment and seek out ways to make a difference in their community.

Teacher Anna Latulipe says the students enjoy taking part in programmes such as Garden to Table and Enviro Schools. Making the most of the students’ enthusiasm means ensuring they can gain practical skills and knowledge.

When Anna learned of the Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund, she realised it could be used to give the children experience composting food scraps and green waste from the school gardens.

“With the funds, we bought three carbon cycle composting boxes, which make sorting so much more attractive as the system is easy and efficient. The students were heavily involved in setting up the compost bins and attending workshops. They are very proud to collect and sort our waste and take care of our environment.”

Several successful grant recipients have focused on replacing wasteful practices in the construction industry. Bracedon creates reusable temporary bracing which replaces the need for timber during house construction. Timber struts are often not used again and end up in landfill.

Bracedon director Brandon Botting says there are people with great ideas on waste minimisation, but they need the funds to take that first step.

“The Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund allowed us to create prototypes to test on construction sites. Being able to do this has allowed us to make sure we have product that is fit for purpose. Without it, we wouldn’t be anywhere near as far with our journey as we are now.”

Community groups, schools and businesses within the Auckland region are eligible to apply for grants between $1,000 and $50,000.

Applications close Thursday 31 August. The funds must be spent in the 2024 calendar year.

This year for the first time, organisations applying for grants under $5000 can opt to provide part of their application in the form of a video.

For more information go to the Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund page on the Auckland Council website.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council’s Revenue, Expenditure and Value Committee has hit its savings target for the year. The committee received an update from council staff in its 22 August meeting that it has successfully achieved its $5 million savings target for the 2023/2024 financial year.

The $5 million formed part of the savings identified in the Annual Budget 2023/2024 and was achieved from a review of revenue, capital, and operating budgets.

Councillor Maurice Williamson, Chair of the Revenue, Expenditure and Value Committee noted the achievement while acknowledging that this is the beginning of a substantial work programme designed to deliver value for money to Aucklanders.

“The achievement of the $5 million operating budget savings means the committee has met the target that it was allocated to help reduce the overall $325 million operating budget gap,” says Cr Williamson.

“However, given the one-off nature of the savings items outlined in this report and the ongoing need to respond to significant financial challenges, the work doesn’t end here. This is just the beginning – we will continue to work with council staff to investigate further savings opportunities for the next financial year and beyond.”

How was this target reached?

Staff have been undertaking line-by-line reviews, mainly focussing on expenditure trends highlighted by the chair of the committee, as well as areas identified by questions from elected members about specific budget lines.

Through line-by-line reviews, interest cost savings and insurance premiums, council staff were able to work with the committee to achieve this target.

Description	Amount
Line-by-line reviews	$1.4 million
Interest cost saving	$2.4 million
Insurance premiums	$1.2 million
Total	$5 million

About the committee

Originally named the Expenditure Control and Procurement Committee, the committee was established to work with the council to make financial savings. 

This included overseeing proactive identification of money saving opportunities and considering the cost effectiveness of the governance, funding and delivery across Auckland Council and its Council-controlled organisations (CCOs).

This committee has now been superseded by the Revenue, Expenditure and Value (REV) Committee. The REV Committee will continue to work with the council on cost effectiveness and financial savings and has an expanded scope which will be reflected in a revised forward work programme.

Source: Auckland Council

Property Categorisation

Can you explain what the delay is in the negotiation process between the Government and Auckland Council, and will further delays affect the categorisation process?

The negotiation process covers really complex issues and represents a significant cost to both ratepayers and taxpayers. We need to make sure we get this right the first time. The negotiations will inform major complex financial and policy decisions that will have long term implications for Auckland. We regret that the process has been delayed, as we want to get certainty for homeowners as quickly as possible, but we need to get it right.

The negotiation process does remains confidential, but as soon as we have an outcome we can share, we will. We are hopeful that negotiations will conclude shortly.

What’s taking so long to provide a category, compared to what they’re doing in the Hawkes Bay?

There has been comparison with the Hawke’s Bay, where they’ve been able to move groups of homes en masse from Category 2C to Category 1 once the repairs are made to something like a stopbank. Auckland’s denser built urban environment and land typography is very different, so in Auckland we need to go property by property to assess whether there are any options to reduce the risk to the people living there.

In Auckland, we estimate up to 5,000 individual flood assessments are required, in addition to 250 geotechnical inspections (plus geotech studies in Muriwai, Piha, Karekare). Each property’s circumstances are unique, and it takes time to work through the information, we want to ensure we assign the correct category to a property.

This scale of site assessments will take months to complete. The skills shortage in the technical fields of flood and geotechnical engineering prevent us being able to do this work faster. A challenge we’re dealing with is sharing a limited number of specialists with affected regions – professionals that were in short supply even before the disasters. In the case of geotech, we’re contracting teams beyond Auckland to help with the desktop work because there’s just not enough resources available here.

Is Category 3 just for properties with a risk of loss of life from flood or landslide, or does it also apply to properties that are unrealistic to repair due to damage sustained?

Category 3 applies to future risk from flood or landslide, however in most cases where a property was damaged and is unrealistic to repair, it is likely that the future intolerable risk. There may be a few exceptions, and community-level flood protection options will play a part in determining future risk.

If my property is placarded red/yellow, why can’t you tell me it’s category 2/3?

The placarding process and the risk categorisation are two different and independent processes – the colour of a placard doesn’t determine a property’s risk category.
Rapid building assessments were used to assign placards. These assessments determine whether a building is safe to occupy and if it poses a safety risk to others based on the current state of the building and / or land. Following a rapid building assessment, a building will receive a placard.

Placards (or ‘stickers’) indicate a building’s level of safety and whether people can be in it. Only authorised officials can place, change or remove them. A white placard means there are no access restrictions, a yellow placard means access is restricted, and a red placard means access is prohibited.

As part of the property risk categorisation process – your property is being assessed based on the likelihood of impacts and risk to life during future severe weather events. This is the key difference between this process and placarding – this process is looking at future risk whereas placarding looked at immediate safety risks and whether your property was safe to be in now.

This site assessment looks at whether there are changes that can be made on the property or surrounding area to reduce the future risk of serious flooding or landslides to the home. This includes considering Auckland Council’s proposed “Making Space for Water” initiatives for flood affected properties. If there aren’t any practical and financially viable solutions and there is an intolerable risk to life, then it’s likely the property will be Category 3.

Can property owners have an influence on the final categorisation of a property? / Will there be an appeals process if I disagree with the category assigned to my property?

Once we have assigned your property a category, there will be an opportunity to provide additional information if you disagree. We will take an evidence-based approach to assigning categories, including technical site assessments where needed.

What is the process for changing from an initial Category 1/2 or 2/3 to Cat 1, 2 or 3?

Where a property is marginal and could go between two categories, we’ll need to do a further site assessment to look specifically at your property. We will speak with you directly to explain this if you fall into one of these scenarios, and we’ll seek your permission before visiting your property.

This site visit will look at your individual property to identify whether there’s a practical mitigation available to protect your home. If there isn’t any practical solution, your home will be considered Category 3.

When will the details of the process that will follow categorisation for Cat 2 and Cat 3 be available?

These processes are still being worked through, and will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Some details will be determined by the government negotiations – for example what financial support may be available for Category 2 homes. There are also decisions that Auckland Council will need to make specifically for Auckland, such as whether the Council agree the government co-funding offer and how things such as property valuations are set. We expect Aucklanders will be consulted on their views and preferences relating to the proposal for Category 3 buyouts during September.

We know that you need to understand what is next after you receive a category, and we are working to confirm these details as quickly as we can.

How will the property buy-out process work and when will it occur?

We are working with central government to determine the process for buy-outs and the timeline, and when we have more detail we will let you know.

It’s important to remember that policy framework and systems and processes to do this at the scale that is needed across Auckland don’t exist and importantly, the funding doesn’t exist. Any property buyouts will need significant funding from ratepayers and taxpayers.

Auckland Council will need to consult with Aucklanders on the cost of the programme and the financial commitment needed.

How will buyout valuations be calculated and by whom?

Auckland Council is working on a valuations policy that will be confirmed after the cost share negotiations with central government are complete. We will look to determine a fair and reasonable approach that recognises the significant financial hardship faced by homeowners and balances the high cost of a buyout programme to Auckland ratepayers.

Will Auckland Council remove some of the barriers to getting resource consents for remediation (eg timing, costs)?

Auckland Council’s Recovery Office is discussing this with our Regulatory Services team and will provide some further information when we have it.

Will property owners be able to access funding for property specific remediation?

The Government has indicated it is prepared to co-fund property-specific protection work. Details of this are still being worked through as part of the negotiations with the Government. Council is preparing advice for property owners

Remediation work to repair damage that isn’t designed to protect the property from future risk would be expected to be covered by property owners, in most cases through insurance.

Will Auckland Council allow any remediation on council land?

This would be considered on a case by case basis with the Parks and Community Facilities department as the reserve administrator (where applicable) and manager of the park land. Parks and Community Facilities have a land owner approval process that provides a structured approach and advice for any proposed works.

If a Category 2 property is unable to receive resource consent, will it be moved to Category 3?

This would need to be considered on a case by case basis on the particular circumstances.

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Rates Relief

Why is the council offering rates relief?

We are aware of the financial hardship experienced by many of those impacted by extreme weather events during the first half of 2023. This rates remission is targeted at those people with uninhabitable homes who have been affected most by the extreme weather events in the first half of 2023.

Do I qualify for rates relief?

Auckland Council agreed a rates remission programme to support residents in need with 100 per cent rates remission for uninhabited storm damaged homes. Red placarded houses as of 30 June 2023 will receive 100 per cent rates relief for the full 2023/2024 rating year. Homeowners that received a yellow or white placard can apply for rates relief if they are unable to live in their home. More information is available here.

When will my property’s rating valuation be reassessed?

If there has been significant and long-lasting physical damage because of the extreme weather events in the first half of 2023, you can request a rating valuation review. Otherwise, your rating valuation will remain as it is until the next city-wide revaluation which is due for publication late 2024 and will be used to set rates for the 2025/2026 rating year.

What are the property risk categories?

The risk categories are different from the coloured placards that were assigned to damaged homes after the storms this year.

Category	Definitions	Examples
1	Repair to previous state is all that is required to manage future severe weather event risk.	Minor flood damage to repair but no need for significant redesign or retrofitting.
2C	Community level interventions are effective in managing future severe weather event risks.	Local government repairs and enhances via flood protection schemes will adequately manage the risk of future flooding events in the face of climate change effects.
2P	Property level interventions are needed to manage future severe weather event risk, including in tandem with community level interventions.	Property specific measures are necessary e.g., improved drainage, raising houses. Benefits accrue to property owners, but some may face affordability issues.
2A	Potential to fall within 2C/2P but significant further assessment required.	Interventions might be possible or required, but there is insufficient information to provide initial categorisation. The property may move between two categories or to categories one or three.
3	Severe weather event risk cannot be sufficiently mitigated in the future. Some current land uses may remain acceptable, while for other properties there is an intolerable risk of injury or death.	In the face of enhanced climate risks, the property may face an unacceptable risk of flooding in the future. Other properties could be subject to unstable land that poses an ongoing risk.

Source: Auckland Council

Multiple tracks at Waitākere Ranges Regional Park remain closed due to slips or dangerous trees. We ask the public to respect all closures and not remove any barriers or signage currently in place for their own safety, and to not add to environmental damage in the area, including the threat of spreading kauri dieback disease.  

Our park rangers and staff are continuing to assess damage and accessibility, with a view to opening more areas as soon as practicable, taking into account the impact on residents.

A number of tracks suffered major slips and flooding that are unlikely to be resolved in the near future. However, we are still receiving geotechnical advice to work through what our options are, and no final decisions regarding long-term track closure have been made at this point.

We continue to encourage visitors to check our map of open and closed tracks on the Auckland Council website before heading out.

Tracks that have recently reopened:

• Upper Nihotupu Dam walk

Damaged tracks are likely to reopen in the short to medium term:

• Comans Track
• Ahu Ahu Track
• Gibbons Track
• Muir Track
• Slip Track
• Caves Track (Whatipu)

Damaged tracks that will not be open for some time:

• Laird Thomson Track
• Tasman Lookout Track
• Marawhara Track
• White Track
• Lion Rock Track
• Lake Wainamu Track (full loop)

Damaged tracks awaiting geotechnical reports:

• Gannet Track / Takapu Refuge
• Quarry Track
• Lookout Track
• Edwin Mitchelson Track
• Knutzen and Kitekite tracks (including access to Kitekite Falls)
• Zig Zag track

Note for Piha residents: The Eel bridge (Footbridge) at Piha Domain has recently been inspected by Council staff, and we can confirm the bridge is structurally sound and safe for use. Some minor maintenance issues unrelated to this year’s weather events have been identified, which will be attended to in due course.

Stay up to date

Sign up to the recovery e-newsletter to get the latest updates direct to your inbox.

Source: Auckland Council

Bobby is a star in the biosecurity world; now she’s hoping to be the People’s Choice in New Zealand’s Top Dog with a Job Awards for 2023, an award that celebrates a top dog that makes a positive difference in our society for the work they do to.

Around 400 dogs with jobs were nominated for this year’s awards; these have now been whittled down to just 20 of which Bobby is one.

A Blue Heeler Cattle X, Bobby is part of Auckland Council’s biosecurity dog team and spends her days with handler Brian Shields, working amongst some of the country’s most vulnerable species.

Handler Brian Shields & Bobby

Her nose is in demand as she is trained solely to find Argentine ants, one of the world’s top 100 invasive species which if they get established, would have a huge impact on vulnerable wild and bird life.

One of only two certified conservation dogs to specialise in this species, she works the Auckland region and on New Zealand’s pest free islands where her work helps protect some of the rarest species in the world.

To win the award, Bobby needs Auckland Council employee’s support; go to the website below and vote for Bobby and let’s make her the leader in the pack! Voting closes at 9.00am Friday 25 August.

https://www.frogrecruitment.co.nz/cast-your-vote-for-2023-NZTOPDOG-Peoples-Choice/41

Source: Auckland Council

We’ve created an online webinar especially for Auckland homeowners whose property or neighbourhood was impacted by severe weather in early 2023.

Date: Tuesday 5 September 2023
Time: 6.30 – 7.45 pm (may go over time)
Register now: Register to attend by clicking here

Our team will be covering topics such as:

• The different property categories in the Government risk framework and what it means for you
• The difference between property categorisation and coloured placards/stickers
• How high-risk properties are identified
• Update on the property buyout process
• How to access information and support
• Answering your frequently asked questions (submitted prior to the webinar)

You can expect to receive the most up to date information, presented in a way that’s easy to understand. Some homeowners are feeling unsettled about what the future holds, which is understandable. We’ve allocated time during the webinar to answer questions and concerns. There is an opportunity to submit questions before the webinar starts and we’ll answer them anonymously during the webinar to protect your privacy.

If you haven’t already, please register to attend by clicking here

Frequently Asked Questions

What is property categorisation?

It is a process that categorises the risk to you and your home from extreme weather and it is different to the coloured placards/stickers that have been issued. Property categorisation will apply to you if your property in an area that is identified as a possible risk of flooding in the future or was affected by a landslide. At its heart, property categorisation is all about keeping you and your whānau safe by identifying future risks to property and people when there is a pattern of severe weather.

Why is the property categorisation process taking so long?

We know some people are feeling frustrated with the time it is taking to confirm a category for your home. It is a delicate balance between moving as fast as possible to create certainty for homeowners who desperately need it; and making quality decisions that are the right ones for Auckland in the long-term. Find out more with our recent story on Our Auckland.

Have you completed the landslide and flood registration form?

We contacted affected property owners in June to request they complete the flooding and landslide registration form. If you haven’t already done so, please fill out this form here to be part of the property categorisation process.

How can I get the latest news, information and updates on what’s happening with storm damaged properties, infrastructure and communities?

Stay informed by signing up to regional or location specific e-newsletters here.

What if I can’t attend the webinar?

A recording will be available in our e-newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter here.

Source: Auckland Council

From August 21 to September 24, Aucklanders will be asked for their views on whether Auckland Council should have Māori seats on its governing body.  

The Governing Body will consider this feedback in October to decide on Māori seats for the 2025 local elections.  

The feedback provided through this consultation will not be the only factor considered when making a decision. It is an opportunity for Māori and the wider public to have their views heard and considered.  

“This decision is significant for all Aucklanders – not just Māori. Your feedback will help shape a future that’s right for Tāmaki Makaurau,” says Councillor Kerrin Leoni.  

“Many councils around the country have already successfully established Māori wards. We now have an opportunity to create stronger partnerships that will benefit everyone living in our city. 

“Auckland has the largest Māori population in the country but we have no seats representing Māori voters.”   

A key decision on establishing Māori seats is how representatives will be selected. Aucklanders are being asked for feedback on three options:  

• The Parliamentary model (Māori wards) 
• The Royal Commission model 
• A different model 

The Parliamentary model will allow for one or two Māori councillors, according to a formula determined the Local Electoral Act 2001. 

The Royal Commission model will allow for two elected Māori councillors and one appointed mana whenua seat – but requires new legislation.  

Council will be hosting online, in-person and marae-based events for people to have their say.  

Visit Māori seats for Auckland Council website for more detail.