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Tararua District Council news

Saturday 31 January 2009, 9:49AM

By Tararua District Council

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DANNEVIRKE

January 28 meeting Staff report

Fibre optic: A report outlining criteria for connecting to the district’s fibre optic network is to be presented to councillors. Cr. Warren Davidson queried the process of accessing the network due to considerable interest in the Eketahuna community. The Inspired Network/Council fibre was to be fully operational by the end of January, councillors were advised.

Sportsperson of the Year: Organisers are about to confirm a speaker for the annual Tararua Sportsperson of the Year Awards to be held on May 8 at the Dannevirke Town Hall. Six categories are available for nomination with forms available from February 23 from Sport Manawatu and Sport Tararua and all council offices.

Pahiatua Town Hall: Heating options for the town hall and the Pahiatua library are being investigated in a feasibility study. Possible options are the conversion of a natural gas boiler to LPG or electrical heating.

Pahiatua sewage pond: An aerator that has been temporarily installed in the no. 3 pond appears to be successfully dissolving oxygen. Low wind flows had caused the pond to turn anaerobic. Meanwhile in an attempt to reduce phosphorus levels to the required levels during times of low stream flows a pilot treatment plant is being trialled on the Dannevirke sewage pond.

Dogs: While dog service requests continue to rise – 58 in December compared to 32 and 24 in 2007 and 2006 respectively - unregistered numbers are reducing from 121 in November to December’s 93.

Date set for Hearing of District Plan Submissions

A date and a hearing committee for submissions to the District Plan have now been established.

Council has accepted a three person committee structure, comprising Crs Lea (Chair), Matthews and Southgate, to hear submissions commencing from May 4th.
Mike Brown, manager Environmental Services expects that it will take up to three weeks to hear and decide on submissions to the proposed District Plan.

Seal Extension Postponed Pending Subsidy

A lack of subsidy funding from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) - due to limited budgets - has prompted the council to postpone its seal extension programme.
The only exception to its decision would be if the proposed seal extension would deliver a high safety benefit, NZTA has advised.


The council’s decision will affect plans for the Coast Road and Ridge Road Central as they do not meet the required safety benefits.

Instead the council will place its $100,000 seal extension allocation in the roading reserve until N-funding is restored.

Restricted/Prohibited Fire Season For Tararua

Prompted by rapidly drying conditions Tararua district is now in a restricted fire season - apart from the eastern Route 52 and coastal side which is prohibited.
In the restricted area, a permit is required before an open-air fire can be lit but it must also be attended at all times and have ready access to water.

The fire threat is being managed but at present the conditions are “very volatile”, principal rural fire officer Noel Mingins said.

He welcomed “the responsible attitude” of people who were contacting the council for advice and information before lighting a fire.

For further information please check out the Tararua District Council web site www.tararua.govt.nz.

Wind Farm Commissioners Appointed

Three commissioners have now been appointed to determine the Waitahora Wind Farm application with Cr David Lea appointed for Tararua.

The Waitahora Wind Farm proposal by Contact Energy is a joint application between Horizons Regional and Tararua District Councils.

Cr Lea joins Horizons Regional Council appointed Cr Vern Chettelburgh and independent technical commissioner, panel chairperson, lawyer, part time lecturer at Victoria University and author on resource management matters Chris Mitchell, Waikanae.

Transfer Station Consent Notice Is Time For Concerns

Residents with concerns over the proposed Pahiatua transfer station should submit them when the resource consent is notified formally advises the council’s manager district assets Stephen Taylor.

Mr Taylor has received a number of letters expressing concern at the proposal despite the site being on industrially zoned land.

The council purchased the 8,408 square meters section in November because the location of the current Pahiatua landfill is unsuitable for a transfer station.

The landfill is due to close in November 2010.

Mr Taylor said he expected the resource consent for the transfer station would be notified between March and May this year.

As a transfer station is not a permitted activity under the District Plan the council is obliged to apply for a consent wherever it was located regardless of zoning.