2011 Annual Report

Our aim for residents of our clean green city, is to ensure a great place to work and play while keeping it affordable for you.

A report on our last year would not be complete without a mention of Christchurch’s devastating earthquakes. These have impacted on all property owners in New Zealand in terms of insurance, and on most businesses with building strengthening requirements. People here were especially anxious to help with the recovery. Napier and Hastings District hosted 1000 Christchurch people for much needed respite, paying for airfares, in addition to the $250,000 the region sent for relief. What a wonderful community response. Thank you.

The big project of the year, was the completion of $3.6million upgrade of Taradale. The user-friendly clean lines of the retail centre met with a positive response from both the public and the businesses.

At the other end of the heritage scale, the King George Hall turned 100 and the Bay View community celebrated with style. Significant improvement to the Bay View stormwater management has been completed by upgrading drains that link to the detention area on the Landcorp farm.

The Council made land provision at Onekawa Park for the ‘one-stop’ Plunket facility. Construction is now underway.

Napier people continue to increase the amount of rubbish they recycle, reducing tonnage to the landfill by more than 3,000 tonnes in this year, and effectively tending the environment. You are achieving great results with more than 30% diverted from the landfill in the last 5 years.

The ‘greening of Napier’ continues, with trees planted appropriately on reserves and by walkways. Pathways also continue to be built, providing a wonderful network that stretches across our city and beyond. We are delighted the government has jumped on board.

Napier is a tourist town and marketing through campaigns aligned to the Napier Life magazine, keep visitors coming. This year the focus was on Australia and the domestic market. Tourism facilities continually add product to the industry and in spite of the closure of the HB Museum and Art Gallery, while the $18 million upgrade is underway, visitor interest is strong.

Roading projects include improvement and reconstruction of Hill Road, Golding Road, Normans Lane and Stafford Street. The Council remains concerned that the New Zealand Transport Agency have not yet approved subsidy for the Prebensen Drive four laning projects, which has a high priority in the Regional Transportation study.

The Overland drain is now an important operative part of the city’s stormwater disposal. It performed extremely well during the heavy rain event in April.

Our wastewater focus was obtaining consent for the $30 million upgrade. One of the milliscreens was replaced at the Awatoto Sewage Treatment Plant, and major renewal of the Taradale Road sewer main was completed.

Major improvements were made to the Redclyffe Transfer Station layout and weighbridge.

The first stage of the Awatoto Trunk Main project has been completed. This facility allows us the ability to source water from that area and adds flexibility to the city’s reticulation system.

Ongoing demand for sections in the Parklands subdivision has remained above expectation in the current economic climate. Revenue from Parklands has allowed Council to put funding provision into planning for upgrades of areas of Marine Parade.

The actual redevelopment of the Marineland site has stalled because of legal review undertaken by the Friends of Marineland. Napier City Council offered mediation and a meeting, but this was declined.

Activity in our streets and neighbourhoods is what affects us most and consultation in this year on the Te Awa Structure Plan, the Hill area and Jervoistown, saw many residents involved. Hearings will be held and the proper process followed, but the Council was left in no doubt as to how the majority of Jervoistown and Hill residents saw their community’s future.

Five hundred Council workers take pride in our city and work to make a difference, from the cleanliness of our streets, to the eye-catching floral displays, the flow of clean water and safe streets and neighbourhoods. A huge provision of services to the 60,000 residents of our city and our important visitors.

This is all good news for Napier and our robust financial position has once again improved in this financial year. An external debt level of $4 million means a very sustainable Council, while still constructing major infrastructure and amenity projects for our city.

Thanks to the whole team, the community and the Council who do make ‘this city’ the best place to live.

Full copies of the adopted Annual Report are available from the Napier City Council Receptionist, by phoning, 06 835 7579

View Annual Report.