Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Community Voice For Flood Protection Formalised

Waikato regional councillors have today voted to formalise a community advisory voice by setting up subcommittees in areas paying the most for flood protection and drainage assets.

Two advisory subcommittees will meet on matters relevant to the council’s flood protection programmes in the Lower Waikato and Waihou-Piako zones, and two drainage advisory subcommittees will be established in each of the Waikato and Thames Valley catchments.

Stu Husband, chair of the council’s river and catchment management committee, had convened informal stakeholder group meetings in the Lower Waikato and Waihou-Piako zones during early March.

At today’s council meeting he got a majority backing from councillors to formalise an advisory arrangement.

“Since disestablishing the catchment and drainage committees last November, we’ve been exploring new ways of obtaining effective input from community members and stakeholders targeted to our most significant regional assets.

“It’s become clear that we do need some sort of formal process in place, but one that’s not going to come at a big cost,” Cr Husband said.

The four advisory subcommittees to the river and catchment management committee will comprise a mix of targeted ratepayers, iwi representatives and stakeholder interests.

The terms of reference for the subcommittees, including how appointments will be made, is still to be decided. But to curtail meeting costs, members will not be compensated.

“Landowners in these catchments pay a fair amount of money through targeted rates for significant flood protection and drainage assets. It’s their money and their land being protected, and that’s why it’s so important they have an avenue to provide us with advice, support and feedback,” Cr Husband said.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

He said other parts of the region remained within the scope of the river and catchment management committee.

Waikato Regional Council chair Russ Rimmington said the move reflected the organisation’s vision, agreed last month, of ‘empowering our people, caring for our place’.

“Since being elected last October, we’ve taken a hard look at our strategy for the next 10 years and we’ve committed to encouraging communities to take action. Setting up these subcommittees is keeping us in step with our new strategy. We want to walk the talk and that’s what we’ve done today,” Cr Rimmington said.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.