Latest news with #WakaKotahiNZTA
Scoop
30-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Wheeled Excavator Programme Clears The Way For Safer Roads In Hurunui
A new 'light-touch' initiative to improve roadside drainage across Hurunui District is already proving its worth, with 150 kilometres of roadside cleared in just the first month of Council's wheeled excavator programme. 'Water is the biggest enemy of the roading network,' said Council's Chief Operations Officer Dan Harris. 'The wheeled excavator programme is helping to move water away from our roads as quickly as possible, making a real difference to road safety and road quality.' 'It's a smart, light-touch approach,' said Council's Roading Manager Charlie Hutt. 'We're opening up culvert ends, getting water moving and making note of the roads needing a little more.' Hutt said the work often occurs where large-scale drainage work would have been too costly or disruptive. Two wheeled diggers are employed to carry out the roadside drainage improvements, reshaping and clearing culverts, removing trees and opening up blocked drainage channels. Each digger is accompanied by a spotter, armed with a shovel and a sharp eye, ensuring targeted, efficient maintenance. Councillor Robbie Bruerton, Chair of the Operations Committee, described the initiative as a 'good piece of work, done the right way.' 'The biggest complaints we were getting were about drainage and road deterioration.' The programme had tackled those issues, with real cost savings, Bruerton said. The programme follows a trial undertaken in 2023, with an additional pilot carried out in 2024 around well-known hot spots in the district that were prone to flooding. Hutt said these previously problem areas were performing well, even after recent rain. Funding for the current and next two financial years has been budgeted for in the Long Term Plan. Part of a further year will be funded by Resilience Improvements money granted by Waka Kotahi NZTA, on Council's Vulnerable Roads. Mayor Marie Black welcomed the success of the trial. 'This is a great example of innovation and partnership delivering better outcomes for our communities.'
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Hurunui Council Reveals Average Rates Increase Of 3.37%
Hurunui ratepayers will see an average rates rise of 3.37%, with Council adopting its Annual Plan for 2025/26 yesterday. The Plan outlines how Council will pay for key infrastructure and services over the next financial year, and signals key changes from Year 2 of the Long Term Plan. The biggest change is the reduction of the average rates increase from the 14.49% forecast in the Long Term Plan down to 3.37%. This reflects changes to anticipated funding from Waka Kotahi NZTA coming in lower than hoped for, resulting in a reassessment of the Roading programme. Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black congratulated Council officers and elected members for their diligent work in achieving the balance between progressing significant capital works and 'understanding and respecting the needs of our community'. The Annual Plan was delivered with an unbalanced budget, with Council's Chief Financial Officer Jason Beck noting that rates could have been set higher but a decision was made in the interests of being fiscally prudent on behalf of the community. Operational spending is set at $74,474,564, against operating revenue of $68,363,190. This has resulted in an operating deficit of $10,353,719, with Council staging in the funding of depreciation. Total rates for the 12 months ahead have been set at $34,355,661. Council CEO Hamish Dobbie added his congratulations. 'The government wants to put on rate capping as a tool to rein in rates increases but this Council has worked really hard to come up with a plan that is affordable.' The average rates increase is slightly adjusted from the 3.31% forecast in the draft Plan following Council deliberations on submissions. Hurunui communities were consulted on the draft plan from 30 April to 30 May 2025. A total of 43 written submissions were received. Following deliberations, the following changes were made to the draft 2025/26 Annual Plan budget: $20,000 increase to the Contestable Fund allocation for the South Ward. Reforecasting of the operational budget for the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa. New footpaths for Cheviot, to be funded through the reintroduction of the Cheviot Roadside Construction Rate. The deferral of the Glass Collection Rate for the Amberley township until 1 July 2026. Forecasting the capital expenditure in the 2024/25 year for the Amberley Beach Proactive Relocation project. Making provision for the proposed sealing project for Maskells Road with the 50% funding coming from the affected ratepayers. Provision of grant funding of $20,000 to the Queen Mary Hospital Historic Reserve Charitable Trust. Additional grant funding of $5,000 to the St James Trails Trust. Council at its meeting also adopted the Fees and Charges for 2025/26, including, for the first time, the Soldiers' Block building at Queen Mary Hospital Historic Reserve. The final Annual Plan 2025/26 and Fees and Charges will be published on Council's website at and will also be available at Council's service centres and libraries.
