Council continually needs to undertake certain works or projects to ensure that the district assets and facilities are maintained or enhanced to meet the needs of residents. Some of these works are based on recognising opportunities for improvement or new developments and others are aimed at providing efficiencies which will reduce costs over the long-term. The following projects are the largest included in Council’s capital expenditure programme within the Long-Term Plan (LTP) 2012/22.
Performance highlights against Council’s strategic initiatives are explained below:
Opua new sewer reticulation
Council is to install a new low pressure sewer system in Opua and connect this scheme to the Paihia scheme. Failing septic systems in this area are causing pollution in the Bay of Islands.
During 2012/13 the contract was tendered, awarded and completed in September 2013.
Work to be done 2013/14: Completion of commissioning.
District wide asbestos cement water pipe replacement
Pipes in the water network are deteriorating, leading to excessive pipe breaks which impact on customer levels of service, cost and water losses. This project is to progressively replace asbestos cement pipes.
Work to be done 2013/14: Investigation and condition assessment; then will target critical areas over succeeding years.
Kaitaia new Sweetwater source
An alternative water source is required to mitigate the risk of future drought impact. Severe water shortages were experienced in 2010.
Resource consent has been obtained to extract water from the Aupouri Aquifer to supply the township. Work to finalise a pipeline route to Kaitaia and to establish the required infrastructure is proceeding. Construction is expected to commence during 2013.
Work programmed 2013/14: Commissioning.
East Coast wastewater
Renewal of the resource consent for discharge from the Taipa Wastewater Treatment Plant requires consideration for an upgrade. Discharge to land as irrigation for horticulture is being considered as a way of reducing discharge to water.
Resource consent application is still in progress.
Work programmed 2013/14: Work is expected to commence this year.
Awanui sewer reticulation upgrade
Awanui has an ageing effluent disposal scheme with failing septic tanks, leaking infrastructure, prone to flooding, and a deteriorating treatment plant. The proposed solution is to replace it with a low pressure system and transfer effluent to the Kaitaia sewage treatment plant.
During 2012/13 the contract was tendered, awarded and completed in September 2013.
Work to be done 2013/14: Some commissioning to be completed as well as decommissioning the existing sewerage treatment plant.
Forward planning
Council will start a 2 year project to produce a longer term sustainable plan for the district that will look out over the next 30-50 years at the communities’ needs and how best to plan for them. It will combine elements of a spatial plan and a growth strategy in a cost effective manner that is appropriate to this district. The plan will build on aspects of this Long-Term Plan, the District Plan and other documents such as the various Community Plans held by Council.
The plan has been named “The Far North Sustainable Growth Strategy” and during 2012/13 staff have completed the research phase along with the associated engagement phases.
Work to be done 2013/14: Draft scenarios will be prepared based on the research phase and will go out for consultation. Adoption is expected in late 2013 or early 2014.
Minerals
Council will continue to support work to develop opportunities for the district’s minerals potential which will involve marketing and promotion of the airborne geophysical data to the international marketplace in partnership with the Ministry of Economic Development, Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd, Enterprise Northland, the private sector and other local authorities.
Work to be done 2013/14: Continue to work in partnership with NZ Petroleum and Minerals and regional stakeholders. This is to ensure good public information provision for the region and the district as well as a joint approach to any potential investors.
Cycle Trail
Council is advancing the development of an 83km cycle trail/walkway between Kawakawa and Horeke. The grade 1 cycle trail follows as closely as possible the historic railway corridor from Kawakawa to Okaihau. From Okaihau to Horeke it will use a combination of road berm and track through private land. Since this is a government funded economic development initiative every support is being given to individuals and organisations to help leverage the economic opportunities arising from visitors coming to experience and enjoy the outstanding scenery experiences that the cycle trail offers.
The Pou Herenga Tai Cycle Trail is expected to be fully functional by October 2013.
Work to be done 2013/14: Ongoing discussions are taking place with the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust to access a connection from Kawakawa to Opua.
Converting waste to fuel
Council is exploring cost effective solutions and technologies to convert waste into products of value. The district has a rich source of wood waste from forestry harvesting operations and technology is now available to convert this woody biomass into automotive diesel and synthetic fuels for electricity generation. Another advantage is to reduce liability for carbon taxes imposed by Central Government by diverting and using the 17,000 tonnes of district waste which goes to landfills each year. As part of the review project, Council will examine the correct business model for waste collection and processing with a view to refining, where possible, and ensuring that adequate controls/incentives are in place to achieve an efficient and effective waste disposal operation.
Council’s research to date indicates that it is unlikely to be a viable option at this stage.
Work to be done 2013/14: Continue to monitor the development of the technology and the cost benefit associated.
Bay of Islands wastewater treatment project
While the original concept was proposed for Kerikeri with an upgrade to the Paihia Treatment Plant in the 2009/19 Long-Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP), Council is now considering further concepts for an increased area of benefit for Kerikeri, and incorporating the ability to add to the scheme to meet future growth demands. For the purposes of this discussion, the projects are now all referred to as the Bay of Islands Wastewater Treatment Project (BOIWWTP)
Hearings around the consent were protracted with numerous litigants to be addressed and issues resolved. The strong community interest in the issue raised the standard of discharge required to one of the highest in New Zealand with the consent finally awarded in June 2012 becoming effective from 2014/2033.
In 2007 Council made an initial application under the Sanitary Wastewater Scheme (SWSS) for funding from the Ministry of Health to mitigate the establishment cost of upgrading the treatment process and extending the areas of benefit (reticulation) in Kerikeri that were close to water and for which there were high incidents of failure of septic tanks in the area. The SWSS scheme has a primary focus of protecting the environment from contamination by human effluent. The 2007 application was further refined in 2009 with Ministerial approval for a reduced contribution confirmed in 2011.
During the 2012/13 year, Council advanced the planning for the upgrade of the Paihia-Waitangi Treatment Plant well aware of its responsibility to give effect to the recently amended Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 that requires (Section 3d) “local authorities to play a broad role in meeting the current and future needs of their communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses”.
Given the likely interest and impact on the affected communities, Council completed an intensive consultation with ratepayers in July/August 2013. To inform the community for these discussions Council will have developed a range of options identified proposed new areas of benefit to be included in the scheme, and the indicative cost impact on Council and the ratepayer of the proposed works.
The conclusions derived from these consultations will be used to inform and develop key cost elements in the 2014/15 Annual Plan.
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Shared responsibility
Council is always looking for opportunities to work closely with communities and share responsibility for services and facilities, to help keep rates down.
As part of the Civil Defence Emergency Management structures and processes in place to deal with potential events and emergencies Council arranged funding and installed Tsunami warning sirens within the vulnerable communities and increased community participation, preparedness and resilience through community based emergency planning.