HANMER SPRINGS COMMUNITY BOARD Hanmer Springs Community Board MEETING AGENDA. 1.00pm Monday 15 December 2014

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1 HANMER SPRINGS COMMUNITY BOARD Hanmer Springs Community Board MEETING AGENDA 1.00pm Monday 15 December 2014 In the Gallery, Hanmer Springs Library, Amuri Avenue, Hammer Springs. Community partnership in growth and wellbeing.

2 Committee Membership: David Smith (Chairperson) Cr Jason Fletcher Janice Clyma Rosemary Ensor Sarah Gardiner Michael Malthus Quorum: no less than 3 members. Purpose of local government (1) The purpose of local government is (a) (b) To enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities and To meet the current and future needs of 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. (2) In this Act good-quality, in relation to local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions, means infrastructure, services and performance that are (a) (b) (c) Efficient: and Effective: and Appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances (Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012)

3 HANMER SPRINGS COMMUNITY BOARD MONDAY 15 DECEMBER 2014 AT 1.00PM 1.00pm 3.00pm 3.15pm Meeting Starts Afternoon Tea Public Forum a representative from Thrillseekers will join the meeting at this time. ITEM ORDER OF BUSINESS Pages Apologies Announced Urgent Business Conflict of Interest Declarations 1. Minutes for Confirmation Action Sheet Decision Items: 3.1 Heritage Pond Report 4. Discussion Items: 4.1 Financial Report to be circulated prior to the meeting 4.2 Roading Issues update 4.3 Water quality update 4.4 Tourism Strategy Information Items: 5.1 Project Summary List 5.2 Correspondence: Inward Hanmer Horses Outward M Clemens N Ockwell 5.3 Council Updates 30 October and 13 November 5.4 Board Portfolio Reports Councillor s Report 6. Public Forum: A representative from Thrillseekers will join the meeting to discuss the disbursement of funds from the Ferry bridge account. 7. Urgent Business: 8. Next Meeting date

4 Meeting Hanmer Springs Community Board Time and Date 1.00 pm, 17 November 2014 Venue The Gallery, Hanmer Springs Library, Hanmer Springs Members Present In Attendance Part Meeting Apologies Absent Conflict of Interest Declarations Urgent Business 1. Minutes David Smith (Chairperson) Cr Jason Fletcher, Janice Clyma, Rosemary Ensor, Sarah Gardiner, Michael Malthus Bruce Yates (Manager Amenities and Special Projects), Judith Batchelor (Manager Environmental Services) and Maree Hare (Board Secretary) Frank Chen (Stormwater Engineer), Sean Crocker (Senior Planner), Andrew McLennan (Planner), Brian McManus (Team Leader Roading), Andrew Mercer (Operations Engineer Utilities), There were no apologies. Nil Nil D Smith - Item 3.1 Holiday Homes in Hanmer Springs Township Cr Fletcher Item 3.1 Holiday Homes in Hanmer Springs Township THAT THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 20 OCTOBER 2014 WITH THE FOLLOWING CORRECTIONS ARE NOW CONFIRMED. Page 3 Playground Report last paragraph replace sports pavilion with Chisholm Reserve. Ensor/Malthus CARRIED 2. Action Sheet Fairy Lights it was agreed that M Malthus speaks to the Hanmer Springs Business Association regarding the stewardship of the Fairy Lights as there appears to be some confusion about this. Cr Fletcher agreed to replace the bulbs as required but noted that it will be necessary to purchase more bulbs. THAT CR FLETCHER PURCHASES MORE BULBS FOR THE FAIRY LIGHTS. Smith/Malthus CARRIED

5 3. DECISION ITEMS 3.1 Holiday Homes in Hanmer Springs Township 3.2 Lucas Lane walkway lease Bennett Family David Smith and Cr Fletcher declared a conflict of interest in this item and left the meeting for this discussion. Sarah Gardiner took the Chair for this item. The report from the Senior Planner reminded Board members that they had sought a review of the existing control of holiday homes within the township following concerns raised about clarifying what is defined as a residential dwelling house in the Hurunui District Plan and whether the definitions extends to capture holiday homes. The report advised that the relevant Council document controlling development on private property is the Hurunui District Plan (The Plan) of which a review has been carried out. The review of The Plan showed that the effects from holiday homes are no different to those associated with residential dwelling house activities. It allows for the establishment of Residential Activities and Visitor accommodation of up to five bedrooms on any residential zone of Hanmer Springs Township without requiring resource consent. There is no definition of Holiday Homes in The Plan and Council currently informally includes holiday homes as residential dwelling houses. The Plan does not require property owners to register their use of the dwelling house with Council as a holiday home therefore Council has no record of the number of holiday homes in Hanmer Springs. Case studies of Taupo District Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council were considered in the report and the conclusion was that the District Plan is not the means to mitigate social issues generated from short term accommodation within holiday homes and that the status quo should remain. The Senior Planner spoke to his report reminding the meeting that the Board had requested the report at the August meeting following issues raised by a Resource Consent application. THAT THE COMMUNITY BOARD AGREE TO RETAIN THE EXISTING STATUS QUO AS ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS FROM HOLIDAY HOMES ARE CONSISTENT WITH RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGHOUSES AND PROVISIONS IN THE HURUNUI DISTRICT PLAN ARE SUFFICIENT TO MITIGATE THE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS IN HANMER SPRINGS TOWNSHIP. Malthus/ J Clyma disagreed with the Resolution stating that she believes there should be some type of documentation/registration for the safety of people in holiday homes to ensure no liability can come back on Council and the Community. Seconded / Ensor David Smith and Cr Fletcher rejoined the meeting. CARRIED (Clyma against) The report from the Manager Environmental Services reported that as part of the work in forming a loop track from Lucas Lane to Conical Hill a track was formed outside of the legal road reserve on to private land. A number of

6 options have been investigated including rerouting the formation onto the legal alignment however the presence of some wet swampy areas will make this work very expensive. The owners of the land involved (the Bennett family) have been approached regarding an easement over their property for the incorrectly formed track to which they have agreed suggesting that Council may wish to lease the area between the easement and the legal road as this is landlocked by the easement. The report advised that the annual lease of $ has been calculated as 6% of the land value for 1877m2 and the Bennetts have indicated a preliminary acceptance of the amount as an annual rental subject to bi-annual review. The report was taken as read and there were no questions. THAT THE HANMER SPRINGS COMMUNITY BOARD AGREE TO LEASE 1877m2 FROM THE BENNETT FAMILY FOR THE ENCROACHMENT OF THE LUCAS LANE WALKWAY. THAT THE HANMER SPRINGS COMMUNITY BOARD AGREE TO PAY AN ANNUAL RENTAL OF $ FOR THE LEASED AREA TO BE REVIEWED EVERY TWO YEARS. Fletcher/Malthus CARRIED 3.3 Courtesy Crossings and Speed Zone Assessment Offer of Service The Team Leader Roading advised in his report that OPUS was engaged to do the concept and construction drawings for the threshold extensions and the speed zone assessment. Two design options were received and Option 1 was adopted and forwarded to three Contractors for tender pricing. The Tenders for the work close on Friday November 7 th and the Team Leader Roading tabled a further report updating his original report and containing Tender submissions for the updating of the Courtesy Crossings in Hanmer Springs. The following points were noted The original Opus Engineers estimate was $42, and Fulton Hogan quoted $86, with the Civil and Land Tender quote at $161, Concerns were expressed about the difference in the original estimate and the final tender prices and the Team Leader Roading advised that he has asked for an explanation of this. The various options recommended were discussed and it was agreed that the third option would not change the courtesy crossing near the Bus stop. The meeting discussed the 30 km sign in the area and it was suggested that this needs to be moved nearer to the Hanmer Inn. It was suggested that there needs to be a visual barrier to stop people from just walking out on to Jacks Pass Road and temporary kerbing was discussed. It was also suggested that the yellow no parking lines be cross hatched to make them more visible. THAT THE HANMNER SPRINGS COMMUNITY BOARD ACCEPTS OPTION THREE IN THE REPORT - TO REVIEW THE TENDER PRICES; TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND SEEK PUBLIC FEEDBACK AS TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NEWLY INSTALLED SPEED INDICATING DEVICE; TO INSTALL ROAD MARKINGS (SOLID YELLOW LINES); TO REMOVE CARPARKING ON THE APPROACHES TO THE COURTESY CROSSINGS AND TO MOVE THE 30KM SIGN ON JACKS PASS RD TO

7 THE VICINITY OF HANMER INN. Malthus/Gardiner CARRIED The meeting agreed that a public update in the Village News would be appropriate following this meeting. Cr Fletcher queried the progress on The Saints carpark noting that this was first raised three years ago and the Team Leader Roading advised that no progress had been made - ACTION SHEET 3.4 Stormwater Report The report from the Stormwater Engineer provided a summary of the current stormwater budget and work schedule, stormwater issues and future capital works. The report advised of the following Current work schedule - the current work schedule includes more inspection and cleaning work of drains to alleviate identified blockages and constraints in the network. The approved budget for the 2014/15 years was provided and it was noted that $15,480 of the stormwater budget has been carried over from the 2013/2014 year. The application of the global discharge consent for Hanmer Springs is expected to be lodged by the end of The newly approved budget for capital works ($45,000) will be used for the most urgent upgrade works including the culvert crossing upsize under SH7A. Stormwater network issues include access to the streams and drains; Stormwater pipes in steep terrain; flat areas at the south and east end of Hanmer Springs and water quality in wet ponds. The meeting discussed the water quality in the Heritage Pond and it was noted that half of the area is located within private land and the other half is public reserve. Suggestions were made regarding how to improve the water quality and the Officer agreed to report back to the Board on this matter. THAT THE INFORMATION BE RECEIVED Malthus/Fletcher CARRIED 4. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4.1 Financial Report (circulated separately to the Agenda) The Report from the Manager Financial Services providing an update on the Board s financial status was considered and it was noted that the report was circulated separately from the Agenda and there were no matters of concern at this time. THAT THE INFORMATION BE RECEIVED Malthus/Fletcher CARRIED

8 4.2 Provision of a Waste Disposal Facility at the entrance to Hanmer Springs The Report from the Waste Manager provided a background to the costs of installing a pay to dump facility adjacent to the caravan waste disposal point and information on whether the installation of two litter bins would be more appropriate and cost effective for that location. The meeting considered the report and the following points were noted The feasibility of providing a pay to dump bin outside the Hanmer Springs Transfer Station was considered previously in Two methods were considered a) a coin operated unit which could only be leased with the minimum lease period of three years at a cost of $180 plus GST per month and b) a standalone coin operated bin which could be hired at a cost of $235 plus GST per month. The report advised of an alternative option for the disposal of refuse which was to install one or two lockable bins in the Layby area. Feedback from other councils on this facility was provided in the report for the information of the Board. It was noted that Council does not have funding for the provision and on-going running costs of a pay to dispose unit and it is not possible to estimate the level of income such a unit would generate or its running costs however a single litter bin (to match those currently in use outside the Thermal Pools) could be purchased and installed for approximately $1,000. The meeting agreed that it will be obvious in a short time if the installation of the waste disposal facility on the site is successful and it can then be either removed or a second one installed. THAT THE HANMER SPRINGS COMMUNITY BOARD FUNDS THE INSTALLATION OF A WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY (SIMILIAR TO THOSE OUTSIDE THE THERMAL POOLS) ADJACENT TO THE CARAVAN WASTE DISPOSAL POINT AND THAT THE FACILITY BE MONITORED. Fletcher/Ensor CARRIED 5. INFORMATION ITEMS 5.1 Hanmer Springs Design Standards District Plan Review. The report from the Planner was to update the Board on the changes to the Hanmer Springs Design Standards that have been proposed as part of the Hurunui District Plan Review. These changes include the following - Allowing similar colours or materials which will allow Council to assess a particular colour or material and determine whether this product would achieve the same design result as a permitted colour or material. Review of current colour and material labels to ensure that these colours and materials are still being produced, and to update any name changes provided the colours or materials are still exactly the same. Requiring design standards for garage doors which will ensure that metal garage doors will meet the colour requirements set out in the design standards.

9 The Planner spoke to his report advising that Council will formally discuss the changes however he advised that feedback from the Board would be very useful. The meeting agreed that bullet points one and two are to help people rather than restrict and that the bullet point concerning bringing Garage Doors within the definition of trim is to close a loophole in the current Plan and there is a need to be consistent. THAT THE INFORMATION BE RECEIVED. Malthus/Ensor CARRIED 5.2 Project Sheet The Project Sheet was provided for the information of the Board It was agreed that the Village Entrance signage project be deleted off the list and the project abandoned. It was noted that Thrillseekers are part of the group that decides on how funds from the Ferry Bridge are spent and it was agreed that a representative from that business be invited to attend the next Board meeting. 5.3 Correspondence It was suggested that the sign at the Medway Downs Road intersection with SH 7A needs to be moved Chair to ask the Roading Team Leader to have this done. Inward N Ockwell re the long term use of the Hanmer Springs Memorial Hall at a reduced rental. It was noted that Mrs Ockwell wants to use the Hall for KidsFun Hanmer Springs for 6 weeks in the school holidays and is seeking a discounted rental. It was suggested that this is a commercial operation but noted that Mrs Ockwell is a Hanmer resident and the entertainment for children will be a service to the community. The fees and charges for the Hall were consulted and it was agreed that Mrs Ockwell be charged half the set rate i.e. $60 per day for the hire of the Hall for 6 weeks from 27 December to 8 February M Clemence (gobus) re a new miss incident involving a School bus on Amuri Avenue. The meeting discussed the issue noting that the law requires that motorists stop where a clear way can be seen and that the recently installed speed indication sign should help keep the speed down to the 30 speed limit. It was agreed that the tree in question has some historic significance in the township. The meeting agreed that the Team Leader Roading be asked to provide a report on this intersection and that a reply be sent to M Clemence advising that the Board are seeking further advice but noting that if drivers obey the law there should not be any problem at the intersection.

10 Hanmer Springs Combined Sports Club Inc. acknowledging the payment of the insurance for the facility by Council. Outward Nil AGREED THAT THE CORRESPONDENCE BE ACCEPTED. 5.4 Council Update No Council updates were available for this meeting. 5.5 Portfolio Reports Reports from Board members were considered Chairperson The Chair advised of a current move within the community regarding the provision of services for the elderly and suggested that the Board may need to get involved in the mechanics of this in time. S Gardiner Noted that the concerns expressed in her Portfolio report have been addressed in the Stormwater report. The Operations Engineer Utilities then spoke to the meeting regarding water quality in Hanmer Springs and advised the following a number of tests have been carried out and none have indicated any deterioration in the water quality. Further filters have been bought in and these have shown a fine sediment which is currently being tested for identification. the current treatment plant is producing water that meets the drinking water standards however there are still a few technicalities that need to be addressed. All upgrades of the Telemetry monitor have been completed. The meeting was advised There is a new operating system which means there will no longer be a Utilities Operator in Hanmer Springs but rather a team based coverage. The person assigned to Hanmer Springs is Gary Harris who is very capable. The meeting was assured that a major break in the service would be responded to in no more than two hours. But that does depend on where the staff member is when called. The committee were reminded that all faults/leaks/breaks must be reported through the Customer Services Request system and it was suggested that details of this service should be communicated to the community. The Officer advised that he will provide a formal report on Water Quality to the next Board meeting. J Clyma Taken as read Cr J Fletcher reported on the last Council meeting.

11 5.6 Urgent Business The meeting then discussed and agreed that the Village News Report will include the following - Remind the community about the Customer Services Request News on the new Electronic Speed signs Courtesy Crossings update Working party report to Council on the Queen Mary Hospital Water quality update Meeting Ended 4.30 pm. The next meeting will be 15 December 2014

12 Action/Task Date initiated Cr Fletcher to replace bulbs, M Mlathus to consult with HSBA re stewardship of the lights J Fletcher Aug-14 HANMER SPRINGS COMMUNITY BOARD ACTION SHEET Person responsible Due by Project/Work area References - Minutes & Reports etc Fairy Lights in Amuri Avenue B Yate to prepare a report on the options for access to the Reserve Sept B Yates Dec-14 Tarndale Reserve Invite a member of Thrillseekers to the next Use of Funding from Board meeting. Nov D Smith Dec-14 the Ferry Bridge Move the sign at the intersection of Medway Road and Report in Agenda Nov D Smith Dec-14 SH 7A. Report in Agenda?? B McManus Saints Carpark Reply to letters Replies in Agenda Nov-14 M Hare Dec-14 received Water quality Report in Agenda Nov-14 A Mercer Dec-14 concerns Water quality in Report in Agenda Nov-14 F Chen Heritage Lake

13 To: Hanmer Springs Community Board Date: 15 December 2014 Significant Decision: No Stormwater Report Recommendation Executive Summary Background THAT THE COMMUNITY COMMITTEE AGREES TO OPTION 7; TO PROVIDE A BUDGET OF $10,500 TO MITIGATE THE CURRENT ALGAL BLOOM AND WATER QUALITY ISSUES PREVAILING IN THE HERITAGE POND At the last Community Board meeting, it was agreed that this pond has Amenity value and the algae issue needs addressing. This is a brief report regarding the algal bloom and water quality issues in the Heritage Pond. A number of mitigation options are listed in this report for the Community Board to consider and decide upon. Two separate detention ponds were constructed within the Hanmer urban area, as part of the public stormwater network in Hanmer Springs. They are behind the lodge complex, off Rutherford Crescent (Heritage Pond) and between Chisholm Crescent and St James Avenue (Chisholm Pond) (refer to Figure 1 below). Figure 1: Stormwater pipes in northern part of Hanmer Springs A stormwater report was presented to the Hanmer Springs Community Board on

14 the 17 th November One of the four stormwater issues raised in this report was the water quality issue in the Heritage Pond. As a result, A stormwater report to address this issue and provide mitigation options was required. Current state of Heritage Pond Possible causing factors Mitigation Options Half the area of the Heritage Pond is located within private property and the other half is within the public reserve. The ownership of this pond and the responsibility of maintenance and upkeep is not clearly or well defined in any agreement. There was an algae bloom reported in the Heritage Pond earlier this calendar year (February 2014). A site visit to the pond was done by HDC s Stormwater Engineer. Another site visit was done by HDC s Stormwater Engineer to investigate complaints received early in November Photos were taken both times and they are attached as Appendix B for comparison of deterioration of water quality over this time period. It was confirmed by Sian Barbour (ECan) that the algae in this pond appears to be filamentous green algae (probably Cladophora) with duckweed fern Azolla (floating red coloured). Both of these are not toxic and therefore not a risk to human or animal health. They are however, an indication of increased nutrient loading (eutrophication) within the pond. The algal bloom problems are very common in urban man-made lakes or pond environments. The water quality in this pond is believed to be poor and it has lots of contributing factors. The Heritage Pond takes stormwater run-off from the north-eastern part of the town area. With the small outlet, the water in this pond has a long residence time and thus allows nutrients that enter the ponds to accumulate and be cycled within the pond. The lawns surrounding the pond are very green, so fertiliser (superphosphates) has probably been applied to them. Duck faecal matter would be another probable source from the surrounding banks. These lawns are mowed right to the edge, so during rainfall, these sources of nutrients would be washed down into the pond without any interception. The first mechanism of control would be to prevent nutrients from entering the pond. It is recommended to leave an un-mown grass strip (at least 1 meter wide) that could take up some of this entering nutrient loading, before being washed into pond. There are other management methods, but there is no guaranteed success in applying them, as there are many other factors to take into consideration. Some of the more-considered management methods are listed in Appendix A for reference. Some options have been developed by HDC s Stormwater Engineer and are listed as below for consideration: Option 1: Trees/plants are to be planted around the pond to provide shade which will lower the pond s ambient temperature through reduced the sunlight penetration (estimated cost $5,000). Advantages Enhance amenity value Possibly reduce the extent of algal bloom Disadvantages Additional cost to Community for unbudgeted works No obvious changes to nutrients level and current algal bloom issues which could affect the same outcome, resulting in possible low public

15 satisfaction Can only happen subject to the current private property owner s approval Option 2: Undertake pond surface skimming to remove algae, thus reduce the surface scum (estimated cost $5,000). Advantages Immediate visible results. Reduce potential odour issues in later stages Disadvantages Additional cost to Community for unbudgeted works Requires specific and proper equipment to undertake these works Short term solution only Option 3: A trial treatment to improve the water quality of this pond by using wax blocks products (Water Cleanser Ltd.) to accelerate the growth of microbes which eats the algae. It was quoted to the Stormwater Engineer from a local company which costs approximate $5,500. Advantages Reduce the risk of algal bloom in the coming year Disadvantages Additional cost to Community for unbudgeted works No immediate results Need further consultation Option 4: Increasing the natural inflow by inputting fresh water from a water connection or hydrant (from the water supply scheme) to dilute the level of nutrients in the pond. (estimated cost $5,000) Advantages Reduce the level of nutrients and the risk of algal bloom Easy to implement Disadvantages Additional cost to Community for unbudgeted works No immediate results Short term solution only High treated-water demand from scheme to dilute the issue

16 Option 5: Construction of a floating artificial wetland (used extensively in Lake Rotorua) (estimated cost $15,000) Advantages Reduce the risk of algal bloom and improve the pond water quality Disadvantages High cost to Community for unbudgeted works Needs regular harvest Takes a long time to establish Option 6: Stock silver carp or grass carp or Koi (estimated cost $15,000 including consent fees) Advantages Fish will consume algae and reduce the risk of algal bloom Preference for silver carp more effective. Community pond enhancement with fish Disadvantages High cost to Community for unbudgeted works Lack of support information and needs a consent delay due to consent process Pond may need to be made deeper (additional costs) to provide habitat to sustain fish life Option 7: Carrying out combined work as described in Option 2 and Option 3 above (estimated total cost $10,500) Advantages Immediate visible results. Reduce odour issues at a later stage Reduce the risk of algal bloom in the coming year Disadvantages High cost to Community for unbudgeted works Requires specific and proper equipment to undertake these works On-going operational costs (wax blocks) Desired Outcomes Risks The desired outcome is to reduce the risk of algal bloom and improvement water quality in the long term for this pond. Further monitoring is required and will be carried out by HDC s Stormwater Engineer. Initial consultation will be had with all abutting property owners prior to the start of any works to ensure that all affected ratepayers are fully aware of what is happening, why we are doing it and when it will happen. This should improve customer satisfaction and enhance the overall amenity value of this pond. It is difficult to eliminate the algal bloom issue and risk completely and it is a long term process to improve the water quality in this pond. There is no guaranteed

17 success for these mitigation management methods, as there are many other factors to that need to be taken into consideration. The issue of algal bloom may come back in the next year or after a few years of treatment. People may not understand the complexity of this issue and question the method we recommended and used. The water quality of Chisholm Pond is not great either. Work may be required to accommodate the same issue in this pond, dependent upon its determined Amenity value to the Community. Financial Consideratio n Conclusion Appendices All the estimated costs for these options are desktop studies and are only for the initial establishment and proposed treatment. No quotes were received except for Option 3. The costs of these options may change when more formal quotes are made from contractors. Any pursuant treatment or long-term improvement is not included in the provided estimate costs. HDC officers have worked through and completed the HDC Stormwater Asset Management Plan review so as to update the draft Long Term Plan (LTP) The water quality issues in the Heritage Pond were included as a capital project for the year Due to a need to expedite this report and hopefully the proposed ensuing works, consultation has not yet been undertaken with all parties affected. Works have been identified and an investigation undertaken by an HDC officer through initial engagement (including for historic eye witness accounts provided during the site visit, and conversations with on-going affected residents and through conversations with Cllr Jason Fletcher and other Board Committee members). It is essential to leave an un-mown grass strip (at least 1 meter wide) around the pond to reduce the amount of nutrients from entering the pond. Option 7 is recommended to provide immediate visible and effective results and to reduce the risk of algal bloom in the coming year. The water quality issue in the Heritage Pond was included as a capital project in the HDC Stormwater Asset Management Plan and it will be dropped into the budget process of the draft Long Term Plan (LTP) Appendix A - Summary of Waterbody Management Methods Appendix B Photos of Heritage Pond Report Prepared by: Frank Chen Stormwater Engineer Report Reviewed by: Officer in Attendance: David Edge Manager Roading and Utilities The Stormwater Engineer will be in attendance to speak to this report.

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21 To: Hanmer Springs Community Board Date: 15 th December 2014 HSCB Roading Related Issues - Update Recommendation Executive Summary Board Members Roading Issues THAT THE INFORMATION BE RECEIVED. The attached information is a summary of an Officer s responses to: 1. Proposed Courtesy Crossing - update 2. Village Speed Limits Investigation - update 3. Carparking Area on Jacks Pass Road in front of the Alpine Village Inn the Powerhouse Café and the Saints Restaurant. 4. Response to Michelle Clemence (Gobus Ltd) over concerns raised regarding the Oak tree on the corner of Amuri Ave (East) and Jacks Pass Road. 5. Query regarding the location of a sign on the corner of Medway Road and SH 7a. 1. Proposed Courtesy Crossing - update. Officer response: Further to instruction from the Board, tenders were sought for the construction of 3 courtesy crossing upgrades that had been designed by OPUS and were intended to improve the pedestrian traffic safety about the village. Three contractors were approached to supply prices namely; Civil and Land Ltd; Downer Ltd; and Fulton Hogan Ltd. Downer indicated they weren t able to submit a tender due to their current work commitments. Table 1. Opus Engineers Estimate $42, Fulton Hogan Ltd $86, Civil and Land Ltd $161, The prices received from Fulton Hogan and Civil and Land Ltd greatly exceeded the OPUS Engineers estimate of $42, and the Board then requested that the Roading Officer approach Fulton Hogan (lowest conforming tender) to see if they could do something with their price to lower cost to a level that might be attainable. Fulton Hogan s response was as follows; Received 03/12/14

22 Hi Brian, Thanks for the reply, and apologies on the delay in getting back to you. We have reviewed our schedule, with the prices we provided and unfortunately are unable to come down on those rates. The travel and use of subbies out of Christchurch are not allowing many opportunities to reduce the tendered costs. I have also gone through the engineer s estimate, and although some of the rates may be feasible (some not) for us to do in the centre of town, many of them are not feasible in Hamner Springs; Our subcontractor provided rate to pour 100m of kerb is $82.35/m, which does not include setting the sumps and the cut-downs (which are an extra $15/m). Our rate includes this price, as well as a price to base up and prep for the kerb and channel also. Therefore the supplied estimate of $70/m is well short of what is required. When it comes to laying the pavers, we can either; supply and lay all new pavers (recommended as they all look the same), or relay the pavers that are there, topping up the extra area with new pavers. The second approach can be very laborious as all the pavers need to be cleaned as they are pulled up. The rate in the estimate (assuming 150m2) allows $26.67/m2 for the Holland s pavers. I got a price for subcontractors to supply and lay Holland s Pavers, and was given a rate of $130/m2, leaving a large difference in the estimated and quoted rates. Other items of interest are the street furniture rates. The estimated cycle stand rate of $350, which includes the supply and install, does not even cover the supply of these rails which was quoted from the manufacturer as $364 per rail. These are some of the more obvious examples of the large differences in the price and estimate provided. We have the same issue when Opus provided designs with an engineer s estimate in the Banks Peninsula. They have frequently come in considerably lower forcing us to re-price. All based around the same issues; pricing Opus just don t allow for. I hope it has helped you in some respect, and I am more than happy to discuss the job further to see what can/ cannot be done and whether there are any parts of the job that can be dropped/altered to cut costs. Regards, Cameron Olliver Maintenance Engineer Fulton Hogan Ltd

23 Recommendation - The Board needs to decide (now), if they wish to engage Fulton Hogan to carry out the proposed works as designed by OPUS at the tendered price of $86, or carry out further discussion with Fulton Hogan Ltd to see what compromises or changes in scope of works can be reached. It is unlikely that any significant cost savings would be realised and the tendered costs would still remain in excess of $75,000. N.B/ Opus Professional Services costs to date for these works are $6,400 + GST. 2. Village Speed limits investigation - update. Officer response: Further to the Board s carried motion on the 21 st of July 2014, the speed audit and evaluation around the village was commenced on the 1 st of December. Six counting stations were established on the following roads after consultation with board members Cr Fletcher and Chairman David Smith: Argelins Road Jacks Pass Road x 2 Jollies Pass road Scarborough Terrace Conical Hill Road It is hoped that the findings and recommendation from the report will be available before the Xmas break. It is also hoped that the findings are consistent with the recent relocation of the 30km threshold sign on Jacks Pass Road to the entrance of the Chisholm Block. The accepted quotation for these works from OPUS was $3, GST. 3. Carparking Area on Jacks Pass Road in front of the Alpine Village Inn the Powerhouse Café and the Saints Restaurant. Officer s response: Further to the HSCB s request, the Roading Department investigated the possibility of laying A/C (Asphaltic Concrete) on those carpark areas located in front of the establishments, as listed above. The cost received from Downer Ltd at the time was in the order of $38,000. This was thought to be excessive by the Board at that time. After further investigation and consultation/discussion with NZTA, the Roading Department has managed to convince NZTA that the areas in front of the kerb and channel, as opposed to the areas in front of the existing concrete channel, are in fact roading reserve and are subject to joint funding (i.e. co-investment funding from NZTA, with local match share from HDC). Effectively this meant that of the 515m2 that needs to be treated, the Roading Department is able to cover the cost for 298m2. Another contractor was approached to carry out the works (Civil and Land Ltd) and they came back with a price of $35, GST to do the complete works. They also confirmed they would be able to complete the

24 works and fully reinstate the area prior to the Xmas Break. With the Roading Departments ability to contribute, this would mean the total (quotation) cost to the Board would be in the order of $14, This was put to the Board s Chairman David Smith, and it was agreed that the works should proceed without delay. 4. Response to Michelle Clemence (of Gobus) regarding the Oak Tree on the corner of Jacks pass and Amuri Avenue The following correspondence has been received by the Secretary Maree Hare, from Michelle Clemence of Gobus Ltd, a company that operates school buses throughout the Hurunui District. Good afternoon Maree, I am wondering if you can table this at your next community board meeting. One of my school buses was involved in a near miss the other day whereby a car travelling down Amuri Ave had to stop suddenly to avoid hitting the bus as it came out of Jacks Pass Road. When I questioned the driver, he told me the tree on that corner is a major issue as it disrupts the line of sight and so one has to inch out to see if the road is clear. The other driver also referenced this in her complaint. I understand the tree is a feature of the town, is no doubt a lovely feature and that the current risk assessment conducted by the Board has it as low due to the 30KPH speed limit, but this is a topic that has arisen before. I personally have no opinion of the matter as I am not a resident however if my driver comes to me with a concern I must act on it. I am aware that the cargo we carry is the most precious there is and part of my role is to mitigate any risk around this. I simply have to put my driver and our passengers first. Upon speaking with the chair of the Hanmer Springs Community Board, he suggested that he would ask Brian McManus to assess this further if the Board agreed. May I also suggest you engage the CVIU / Local constabulary to make the call as this will take all emotion out of it. Thank you for your consideration on this matter Kind regards, Michelle Clemence Depot Manager Officer s response: The Oak tree currently located on a small traffic island at the intersection of Jacks Pass and Amuri Ave (East) has been assessed and does represent a traffic hazard. However the risk that arises from it is considered to be of a minor nature given the low speed environment in which it is located and the fact that there are 2 Regulatory stopping signs at the intersection controlling the flow of traffic.

25 It worth noting that no reports of any accidents (minor (non-injury) or otherwise) have been recorded at this intersection that can be attributed to the tree in question. Having said that, Council staff will investigate the issue further to see what other action or actions may be taken to increase the safety factor further (i.e. the removal of lower limbs, the extension of existing kerb lines, etc.). A report detailing the Departments recommendations will be forwarded to the Board s next meeting for consideration. 5. Query regarding the location of a sign on the corner of Medway Road and SH 7a. Officer s response: A query has been raised regarding the location of a sign on SH7a and the intersection to that of Medway Road. The Roading Department will be investigating this on the 08/12/14 and report back to the Board on what, if any, action is required. Report Prepared by: Brian McManus Roading Department Team Leader Report Reviewed by: Officer in Attendance: David Edge Manager roading and Utilities The Roading Team Leader will be in attendance to speak to this report.

26 To: Hanmer Springs Community Board Date: 15 December 2014 Hanmer Springs Drinking Water Quality Update Recommendation Executive Summary Water quality THAT THE INFORMATION BE RECEIVED. Several customers have reported a perceived deterioration in water quality in the Hanmer Springs water supply network during the last six months. These observations have been recorded as customer complaints, and an investigation is underway to identify and resolve this issue. The primary water source for the Hanmer Springs water supply scheme is the Rogersons Stream catchment. This source of water is characterised by reasonably consistent water quality, which can be adversely affected during heavy rain events. The large settling ponds and raw water diversion pipework allow for buffering poor water quality events, and the granular media pressure filters at the water treatment plant provide further particle removal. Turbidity is the primary reference parameter for water quality, as a measure of WTP process performance. Online turbidity meters are located at the raw water intake, upstream of the filters, and downstream of the filters. Data from these turbidity meters is monitored securely online, and provides an important real-time confirmation of the quality of water leaving the Water Treatment Plant (WTP). Water quality is also monitored routinely by an independent and accredited contractor, in accordance with the monitoring requirements set out in the Drinking Water Standards New Zealand (DWSNZ). Routine sampling includes for laboratory analysis of turbidity levels and the presence of e.coli and coliform bacteria, as a measure of faecal contamination in the water supply.

27 Customer complaints Several customer complaints have been received during the last few months, relating to perceived poor drinking water quality. Most complainants have observed the water quality to have deteriorated due to premature blockage of their point-of-use filter system cartridges. These customers have noticed that the filters had previously lasted 6-12 months before blocking; but now block up within a few weeks or months. The standard procedure for responding to complaints relating to water quality is to check system performance for anomalies, then visit the property and observe their drinking water quality, or open a fire hydrant nearby and observe the quality of water discharged directly from the supply pipe network. On each occasion the water discharged was observed as very clear, with no observable mobilisation of sediments from the pipe. Assessing the problem Sediment samples taken from blocked filters provided by customers were analysed by a specialist microbiological laboratory. The laboratory determined that the sediment includes a significant concentration of single-cell microorganisms known as diatoms. These diatoms are associated with natural water systems, and are too small to be filtered at the Hanmer Springs WTP. We do not yet know why the presence of these diatoms is greater now than they were in previous years. We will be collecting additional samples to refer to another specialist lab for confirmation of diatom species, which should provide an indication of origin and risk. Resolving the issue While we continue to investigate the species and origin of the diatom identified in the filter cartridge sediments under microscope, we will also be carrying out a range of works to reduce the presence of sediments and diatoms in the drinking water supply network. This work includes for draining and cleaning the reservoirs, as well as a flushing regime using the fire hydrants. Report Prepared by: Andrew Mercer Utilities Operations Engineer Report Reviewed by: Officer in Attendance: Brett Beer Utilities Team Leader The Utilities Operational Engineer will be in attendance at the meeting to talk to this report.

28 THAT To: Hanmer Springs Community Board Date: 15 December 2014 Significant Decision: No Hurunui Tourism Strategy Recommendation Executive Summary THAT THE INFORMATION BE RECEIVED AND THAT THE HANMER SPRINGS COMMUNITY BOARD GIVES CONSIDERATION TO MAKING A SUBMISSION TO THE DRAFT TOURISM STRATEGY The draft Hurunui Tourism Strategy is now open for consultation and the Community Board is invited to make a submission to this process. The closing date for submissions is 19 December 2014 and the Tourism Board will consider all submissions on Tuesday 3 February Report Prepared by: Maree Hare Committee Secretary Report Reviewed by: Audrey van der Monde Manager Community and Corporates Services

29 HURUNUI DISTRICT TOURISM STRATEGY

30

31 Tourism in the Hurunui DRAFT T 3 History The Hurunui district has a long history in tourism primarily centred on the thermal waters in Hanmer Springs. The first visitors the waters attracted were travelling Maori. Pioneers discovered the thermal waters around 1850 and they became such a popular bathing spot, a tin changing shed was built there in A sanatorium, The Lodge, was developed in the village in 1897 laying the foundation for the area s reputation as a wellness centre. By the early 1900s the New Zealand Department of Tourist and Health Resorts had identified Hanmer Springs as one of its Official Tourist Destinations and the Government further invested in the village with the development of Queen Mary Hospital in Visitor numbers grew from 1930 to 1950, although tourism took a back seat to Hurunui s farming sector, which flourished in the 60s and 70s. In 1981 the first vines were planted in the Waipara Valley, an area that would become a major wine producing region and a jewel in Hurunui s crown. In the late 1980s the Hurunui District Council renewed its focus on investment in Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa (HSTPS). There have been several phases of development since, each bringing an increase in visitors to the district which in turn has led to the creation and growth of more tourism-related services, from accommodation to activities and eateries.

32 Tourism in the Hurunui (cont) 4 Current The Tourism Industry Association s Tourism 2014 Election Manifesto shows the sector plays a significant role in Canterbury s economy. Visitors spend $2.099 billion in Canterbury every year equivalent to 8.2% of the region s gross domestic product. The same document says 13.4% of jobs in the Hurunui depend on tourism. For the year ended January 2013, there were 340,000 guest nights in the Hurunui. While that is down by 10,000 on the year before, overall the district s guest nights have increased by 8% between 2011 and The average length of stay is now 1.65 nights. While Hanmer Springs village and the Thermal Pools and Spa remain the primary drivers, there are growing tourism products and visitor numbers in the Waipara Valley. Waipara Valley wineries are producing award-winning wines that are attracting international attention. The winery restaurants offer the ultimate dining experience and the increasing number of other tourism products is helping attract visitors and cement the Valley s reputation as Christchurch s wine region. Hurunui district is also home to a number of successful smaller tourism operators, historical buildings and some stunning scenery. From Amberley to Cheviot, down to Gore Bay and through the Greta Valley; from Culverden to Rotherham, Waiau and Mt Lyford; through the central towns of Hurunui, Waikari and Hawarden, there is a wealth of opportunities for tourists to really experience the Hurunui. Events such as the Christmas Country Fete in Culverden and Waipara Valley Wine and Food Festival are also successfully drawing visitors to the region.

33 Tourism in the Hurunui (cont) DRAFT 5 Operators There are more than 400 tourism operators spread across Hurunui an increase of nearly 5% from One in three operators is based in Hanmer Springs, demonstrating its place as the backbone of Hurunui s tourism sector. As well as those operators listed below, Hanmer Springs also has a high number of holiday homes which provide more than 1,500 commercial beds. The positioning of accommodation operators in every area presents the opportunity to promote touring the district as a whole. TABLE 1. TOURISM OPERATORS ACROSS HURUNUI Hanmer Springs Culverden /Hurunui Hawarden /Waikari Waipara Valley Amberley /Leithfield Greta Valley Cheviot Area Rotherham /Waiau /Mt Lyford TOTAL per sector Accommodation Attractions Shopping Tours & Transport Services & Trades Wine & Dine Artists Wineries TOTAL per area

34 6 Hurunui Tourism Board The Hurunui Tourism Board is a Hurunui District Council committee. Members are chosen to represent the entire district and selected for their business skills, tourism sector insight and local knowledge. MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD COMPRISES: The Mayor Three Councillors A representative of the Hanmer Springs Business Association A representative of the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa Management Committee A representative of the Waipara Valley North Canterbury Winegrowers Inc Two independent members The board is responsible for the development of a district-wide Tourism Strategy. This strategy, which will run for the period , has been created to replace the previous ( ) strategy.

35 The Guiding Principle DRAFT 7 The national document that guides this strategy is Tourism 2025: Growing Value Together, the vision and framework document from the Tourism Industry Association 1. This sets out the aspirational goal of reaching $41 billion total tourism revenue by 2025, achieved by improving the competitiveness of New Zealand tourism. 1 Available at

36 Context 8 Tourism Tourism activity during the period of the previous strategy ( ) was mixed. Total tourism revenue now sits at $24 billion per year nationally revenue from domestic tourism makes up the bulk of that ($14.2 billion) 2. Nationally, for the period , total international visitor arrivals increased by 8% 3. However, the average expenditure per international visitor dropped to $2,300 4 (from over $2,500) and tourism is no longer New Zealand s top export earner. Between 2010 and 2013, total tourism expenditure in Christchurch declined by $230 million 5. Christchurch International Airport passenger numbers decreased from just over 6 million in 2010 to just over 5.5 million in The fall has been greatest in international arrivals over this period around 19%. The decreases are clearly a result of the earthquakes that hit the region in 2010 and This is significant for the Hurunui given a high proportion of our visitors come to us via Christchurch. Despite that, accommodation statistics indicate that Hurunui has experienced a period of growth that is now flattening out. A significant portion of the growth experienced can be attributed to the earthquakes when growing numbers of people sought short breaks from Christchurch. TABLE 2. Total guest nights (Commercial Accommodation Monitor, CAM) Year End Marlborough Nelson /Tasman Hurunui Mackenzie Timaru West Coast Accommodation 679,387 1,246, , , ,493 1,223,217 Attractions 658,626 1,230, , , ,817 1,114,268 Shopping 646,249 1,227, , , ,394 1,094,868 Tours & Transport 659,318 1,198, , , ,097 1,081,586 Services & Trades 703,804 1,204, , , ,461 1,139,768 Change YE10 to YE14 3.6% -0.5% 14.6% 17.5% 13.3% -6.8% Year End Wanaka Queenstown Waitaki Central Otago Dunedin Clutha Fiordland Southland Accommodation 592,071 2,463, , , ,234 84, , ,122 Attractions 637,114 2,440, , , ,792 75, , ,060 Shopping 680,603 2,471, , , ,861 81, , ,990 Tours & Transport 665,331 2,648, , , ,000 83, , ,500 Services & Trades 646,858 2,908, , , ,381 77, , ,219 Change YE10 to YE14 9.3% 18.0% 21.1% -2.0% -1.1% -7.5% 7.7% -18.9% 2 TIA Tourism MBIE New Zealand s tourism sector outlook TIA Tourism TIA Tourism CIAL Christchurch International Airport Annual Report 2013

37 Context (cont) DRAFT 9 TABLE 3. Hurunui Guest Nights Year End Domestic International TOTAL YE Jun ,749 93, ,198 YE Jun ,305 98, ,839 YE Jun ,591 95, ,110 YE Jun ,975 99, ,381 YE Jun ,704 85, ,884 Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa (HSTPS) customer numbers over this period show that visitors peaked at 531,000 in Visitors in the last financial year ( ) dropped to 518,000. This again illustrates the effect the Canterbury earthquakes had on visitor numbers and is a peak that is now expected to flatten out. The majority of the visitors to Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa are domestic. For the last financial year the percentages were: Canterbury - 51% Other South Island - 7% North Island - 7% International - 35%

38 Context (cont) 10 Forecasts for International The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is forecasting a 25% increase in annual tourism spending by This would bring the annual spend to $8.3 billion. The Ministry also expects 31% growth in total international visitor arrivals between 2013 and 2020, or about 3.9% 7 per year. Much of this growth is expected to come from the Australian (31.6%), Chinese (122%) and US (22.7%) markets. The 2015 Cricket World Cup is also expected to lift demand from the UK temporarily and gives an opportunity to showcase New Zealand to the world s media. As the Christchurch rebuild progresses, the number of international visitors to the city is expected to rise which should lead to an increase for Hurunui too. Domestic Data on domestic tourism forecasts is harder to come by, and the Tourism Industry Association concedes that New Zealand is insight poor in this respect. We do know that while New Zealanders spending on international travel has increased by 66% since 2003, their spending on domestic tourism has increased by just 37% 8. The Tourism Industry Association expects domestic tourism spending to increase in the future, particularly as more baby boomers move into retirement 9 and look to travel more. Hence, there is a push for domestic tourism operators to become more competitive. Promoting authentic and unique experiences (for example, cycle trails) to this market is seen as key. The size of the spend and expectations of domestic tourism growth reflect how important it is for operators, Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) and District Tourism Organisations (DTOs), including Hurunui Tourism, to target the domestic market. 7 MBIE New Zealand s tourism sector outlook TIA Tourism TIA Tourism 2025

39 The Goal DRAFT 11 To drive more tourism and tourism-related business to the greater Hurunui district. Hiking Mountain Biking MICE Mid Week HURUNUI Touring Routes Basic Infrastructure Hanmer Springs New Zealand s Alpine Spa Village Waipara Village Christchurch s Wine Region Communications Information The Hurunui Tourism Board has three core strategies to achieve this goal: 1. To feature Hanmer Springs as a key product of the region. 2. To feature Waipara Valley as a key product of the region. 3. To continue to support and enhance tourism in the entire Hurunui district by working alongside operators and identifying opportunities. The rationale Comparatively, Hurunui Tourism is a small district tourism organisation (DTO) so it is important resources are targeted carefully. A focus on promoting both Hanmer Springs and Waipara Valley will showcase some of the best products and experiences the Hurunui has to offer. It will draw visitors to the district. Ensuring our promotional tools include the key attractions that exist outside of these two areas will encourage longer stays in the district and leverage business for operators across Hurunui. To achieve all of the proposals in this document, Hurunui Tourism will need a budget increase. The budget is set by the Hurunui District Council and will be discussed in upcoming Council workshops. Some of the proposals in this strategy may need to be dropped depending on the outcome of those budget discussions.

40 Our Customers/Target Audiences 12 Hurunui Tourism has a wide customer base. Our offering is high quality and diverse so we appeal to both domestic and international travellers, young and old, people with passive lifestyles and those with active lifestyles. Within that, we have identified some market segments that will be our primary focus. 1. Families Hurunui is an ideal holiday location for families from across the South Island. This is evidenced by the peaks in visitor numbers being aligned with school holidays. Hanmer Springs has long been a popular holiday destination for Canterbury families with many older Cantabrians having fond memories of visiting the village as a child. Recent research 10 shows this market has a real affection for and a sense of ownership of Hanmer Springs and its pools complex. The redevelopment of Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa to include the freshwater pools and Super Bowl has increased its popularity and potential with families from further afield. Marketing Hurunui to domestic families will focus on highlighting the district s accessibility, affordability, the fact it offers something for everybody, and that there s always something new to see as well as some best-kept secrets. There is also scope to market Hurunui to families from international markets, particularly Australia and the United Kingdom. Reaching out to those who are visiting friends and relatives in the South Island will form a key part of this strategy. 2. Couples With the growing number of boutique accommodation providers and unique visitor experiences, there is increasing opportunity to market Hurunui as a destination for couples. This market segment includes both parents and childless couples of all ages and lifestyles and even couples travelling in groups. Key messages will again focus on the Hurunui s accessibility, natural beauty, broad product offering and, for South Island markets, the ease and affordability of taking a break away locally. The opportunity to market to couples applies to both domestic and international markets though, as demonstrated above, messaging will be targeted differently. 3. Special Interest Hurunui District, and especially Hanmer Springs, is well equipped (having the necessary infrastructure and accommodation) to host special interest groups. These include sporting groups, people attending special celebrations and groups of friends / families going away together. There are also opportunities to target groups attending events in nearby destinations (including Christchurch and Nelson). Marketing Hurunui and Hanmer Springs to special interest groups will focus on the district s accessibility and convenience (90 minutes from Christchurch), affordability and range of attractions and activities ideal for groups. 4. Meeting and Celebrations Hanmer Springs is well-positioned to host small to medium-sized meetings and special celebrations. There are also venues in other parts of the district that have marketing potential. The sheer beauty of the Hurunui makes it a natural and 10 Research First HSTP&S Brand perspectives August 2014

41 Our Customers/Target s/ta rget Audiences (cont) DRAFT DRAFTes 13 spectacular backdrop for weddings particularly for South Islanders wanting a destination wedding. It is also a popular option for other celebrations including milestone birthdays or pre-wedding parties. Corporates have long recognised Hanmer Springs as an ideal option for conferences, particularly small to mediumsized meetings. The village has plenty of smaller function rooms and organisers, its alpine setting provides an excellent atmosphere for attendees to concentrate and there is a huge range of activities for team building or break out exercises. A key benefit of attracting meetings is that they will take place mid-week when the village is at its quietest. 5. Events Events are an important part of any district s tourism sector they can attract large numbers of tourists from outside the region, from a number of different niche markets, who often have high expenditure. Hurunui District currently has a leisure events calendar with a number of small to medium events supplemented by a few larger events (for example, Christmas Country Fete, Art in a Garden). Many of these have been built up from scratch by volunteers. Hurunui Tourism is available to help those developing or overseeing both current and future events with advice on everything from resourcing to promotion. 6. Internationals The target audiences identified above apply to overseas markets. There are also a number of opportunities in emerging markets around the world. Tourism 2025 identifies China, India and south-east Asia as emerging markets where the growing middle classes are leading to huge growth in demand for overseas travel. Hurunui Tourism will actively target these markets as well as our existing international markets, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

42 Hanmer Springs 14 New Zealand s Alpine Spa Village Hanmer Springs village is uniquely positioned to drive tourism growth across the district. Situated at the northern end of the district, only 90 minutes drive from Christchurch, visitors approaching from the south must travel across the district to reach Hanmer Springs. Hanmer Springs has long been recognised as a destination for active relaxation a place with mountains, forests, clear air, outdoor opportunities and the iconic Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa. The village has the necessary infrastructure to continue to drive tourism growth in the area. There are plenty of food and beverage options, a range of established accommodation providers with associated conference and event facilities and boutique shopping. There is an opportunity to further position Hanmer Springs as New Zealand s alpine spa village. This is the village s unique selling point and sets it apart from other New Zealand tourism destinations. It is self-explanatory and when used properly can conjure not only a visual image but an emotive response. Hanmer Springs is ideal for marketing to our target audiences, all ages and all lifestyles (passive and active). Specific objectives: Develop the Hanmer Springs proposition in relation to the Hurunui brand. Develop support material specifically for the MICE industry. Market the village to the cycling/mountain biking communities Increase awareness and consideration of Hanmer Springs outside of the Canterbury region.

43 Waipara Valley DRAFT 15 Christchurch s Wine Region Waipara Valley is 45 minutes drive from Christchurch and well positioned to capitalise on its proximity to a city of nearly 440,000 people. The area s distinctly different geology with gravelly deposits, loams and limestone derived clays has literally formed the foundation for a now-thriving wine region. Waipara Valley has 74 vineyards, 21 wineries, 12 cellar doors and 4 winery restaurants and a new 16-kilometre cycling/walking trail. Many wines grown in the region are award-winning and attract international attention. The Waipara Valley has some outstanding attractions and assets that are well suited to the Christchurch market. These include some of the iconic wineries and winery restaurants but also the historic Weka Pass Railway and Iron Ridge Quarry Sculpture Park. It is an excellent destination for a weekend drive. The long term strategy is to build a stronger relationship between Christchurch and Waipara Valley marketing the area s wine to this metropolitan audience, similar to the way Martinborough is Wellington s wine region or the Barossa Valley is Adelaide s wine region. Specific objectives: Develop the Waipara Valley proposition in relation to the Hurunui brand. Decide on the future of North Canterbury Food and Wine Trail. Investigate a joint venture with Waipara Valley North Canterbury Winegrowers Inc Establish and continue relationships with tour operators in Christchurch. Develop and implement an annual plan to promote Waipara Valley to Christchurch. Assist with development of Waipara Valley specific collateral. Annually Annually

44 District-wide Support 16 Enabling and growing tourism in any district starts with laying down a solid foundation of infrastructure, promotional tools and support for operators. Hurunui Tourism leads the creation of that foundation in our district. OUR KEY FUNCTIONS ARE TO: Educate markets on what our district offers Create promotional tools that provide compelling reasons to visit Build relationships that raise awareness/promote our district Support operators Work to ensure industry infrastructure is in place. Create promotional tools that enhance the customer experience when visiting the region. 1. Basic Infrastructure The backbone of any district s tourism industry is to ensure basic infrastructure is in place from road signage to specific promotional tools to market the district. Specific objectives: Enhance Hurunui District s presence at the Hanmer Springs i-site. Enhance the smartphone app to promote the district. Review and improve signage in the area so roads and attractions are clearly signposted Replace the information boards located around the district. Develop and implement an annual marketing plan. Publish and distribute the Official Visitors Guide. Maintain and enhance the website, Update community township maps. Work with council officers to address areas of concern regarding tourism infrastructure. Annually Annually / Biennially Ongoing Annually Ongoing

45 District-wide Support port (cont) DRAFT Communications Hurunui Tourism will continue to assist tourism operators throughout the district with advice and support. To assist in further achieving this goal, there will be a renewed focus on engagement and communication. Specific objectives: Undertake regular visits to, meetings with and networking functions in our communities. Consolidate tourism industry information from national and regional organisations (e.g. TIA and CCT) and interpret it for Hurunui operators. Utilise the information garnered from operators to enhance their profile. Enhance relationships with key tourism organisations, specifically CCT, Waimakariri, Kaikoura and the West Coast DTOs. Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing

46 District-wide Support (cont) Attracting cyclists and walkers Road cyclists, mountain bikers and walkers are viewed by the Tourism Industry Association as being key target markets for New Zealand tourism. The success of products like the Central Otago Rail Trail show their potential to boost domestic tourism by drawing visitors back to a region they may have already been to and offering them a completely new experience. Likewise, cycling and mountain biking in New Zealand s beautiful environment holds great appeal to international visitors. Between 2008 and 2012, 318,000 international tourists participated in cycling sports 10. Cycling tourists are also high value visitors, spending an average of $3,800 per trip compared with the average of around $2,300 and a portion of cycling visitors are of higher value still. Tourism New Zealand figures show 22% of international cycling tourists spent over $5,500 on their trip. Specific objectives: Identify and profile any stand out walks and cycling trails in the district. For example, the St James Cycle Trail. Increase the profile of all walks and biking information for the region both domestically and offshore. Work with key mountain biking and walking stakeholders in the district the Department of Conservation, the Hurunui Trails Trust, Hanmer Springs Mountain Biking Club and Track Network Group to identify key trails, issues that they need assistance with and potential future developments Annually 4. Profiling and establishing touring routes Road trips are also of great appeal to both domestic and international tourists and the growth in Free Independent Travellers (FITs) lends itself to using the Hurunui s greatest road trip, the Alpine Pacific Triangle touring route, to attract more visitors here. The route is an easy drive that takes in some of the South Island s greatest scenery between Hanmer Springs, Waipara Valley and Kaikoura. Already promotion of road trips has been met with success. For example, Tourism New Zealand s 2013 campaign The South Island Road Trip yielded more than 43,000 referrals to travel sellers from Australians 12. It is imperative that Hurunui, in conjunction with nearby RTOs and SOUTH (Christchurch Airport s marketing initiative), works to establish strong top of the South Island touring routes. Specific objectives: Utilise the established Alpine Pacific Triangle touring route as a key route for promotion. Develop further touring routes to promote to the market. Work with Christchurch International Airport (CIAL) and its subsidiary, SOUTH, on initiatives to promote road trips in international markets. Continue to work with Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism (CCT) and neighbouring District Tourism Organisations (DTOs) including West Coast, Kaikoura, Nelson/Tasman to profile the top of the South Island Annually Annually 11 Tourism New Zealand website 12 Tourism Business Feb/March issue

47 District-wide Support port (cont) DRAFT Improving Measurement As identified in the Tourism Industry Association 2025 strategy, insight driven by quality data is key to developing tourism. Capturing solid data tells us everything from who our different visitors are, how long they are spending in the region, where they are going and the sort of experiences they are after. Such measurement enables effective management and marketing of specific tourism assets. In recent years, Hurunui Tourism has used a variety of data sources and benchmarks: Commercial Accommodation Monitor (CAM) statistics. Hurunui Visitor Indicator (HVI). Holiday homes occupancy. Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa statistics. It is important that these sources are consolidated and regularly reported on to enable the Hurunui Tourism Board to make informed decisions. Specific objectives: Evaluate current sources of statistics. Establish a consolidated reporting structure Investigate the possibility of new measurements, for example of the hospitality sector. Provide a regular consolidated report to the Hurunui Tourism Board. Annually

48 District-wide Support (cont) Growing our MICE share The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) industry provides a number of opportunities to bring customers to Hurunui. Participants in this industry are hugely valuable as tourists as the following statistics 13 show: Domestic convention delegates spent an average of 3.2 nights away from home. International convention delegates spend an average of 8.5 nights in New Zealand (5.0 in the host region and 3.4 in other regions). On average each international delegate spent a total of $3,094 in New Zealand, spend per domestic delegate was $1,545. As the Christchurch and Canterbury rebuild continues, the opportunity for the region to host more conferences both large and small increases. Leisure events are also major drawcards. Hurunui is competing with other districts to attract participants in events such as mountain biking, marathon running, wine, food and other festivals. It is vital that Hurunui Tourism supports the development of events in the district. The level of support and how it is applied are yet to be determined. Specific objectives: Develop tools and relationships to attract additional MICE to Hurunui. Evaluate and identify MICE being held in nearby markets for leveraging. Analyse the events industry as it relates to Hurunui District to determine the role of Hurunui Tourism in the events market Implement a support plan (not necessarily monetary) to develop the events portfolio in Hurunui District. Maintain digital support for all events in the district. Manage and profile the established calendar of the Hurunui s key events. Annually Annually 7. Boosting mid-week business Statistics have consistently shown that Hurunui district tends to be very busy on weekends and quieter during the week. This is an opportunity that has been identified by operators in Hanmer Springs where the Business Association has launched new tools to draw visitors to the region mid-week. Specific objectives: Research the size, characteristics and opportunities of the mid-week market. Develop and implement a specific mid-week marketing plan MBIE Covec Convention Delegate Survey 2012

49 Draft Hurunui District Tourism Strategy Submission Form Please write your comments here: We welcome your submission by 5pm Friday 19 December 2014 Online submissions are encouraged through: Tick one box I wish to be heard in support of my submission If you need more space please turn over and continue on the reverse. I do not wish to be heard in support of my submission If others make a similar submission I would/would not (delete one) be prepared to consider presenting a joint case with them at any hearing. Full name of submitter: Postal address: Phone; Signature Signature of person making submission or authorized agent Date: If you wish to be heard, you will need to keep your presentation to 5-10 minutes. The Tourism Board will have read your written submission prior to the meeting. If you intend presenting additional material during the hearing you will need to supply 12 copies at the time Hurunui District Council, PO Box 13, Amberley 7441 submission@hurunui.govt.nz, Questions? P: (03)

50 PLEASE NOTE: Submissions to the Council are normally made public and may also be required to be disclosed in response to any requests under the Official Information Act. If you are an individual, as opposed to an organisation, we will consider removing your personal details from the submission if you tick the box below. Be aware that by doing so, you will NOT be able to speak to your submission. Please consider removing my personal details from the submission

51 Summary Tourism in Hanmer Springs and the Hurunui adds major economic value to our district. The Hurunui Tourism Board has put together a Draft Tourism Strategy for to help support the sector and maximise the opportunities the Hurunui has to grow tourism. The full strategy is available online at hurunui.govt.nz or for viewing at Hurunui District Council service centres and libraries. This document contains an overview of it. Submissions are now being taken on the proposals before final decisions are made. The Goal To drive more tourism and tourism-related business to the greater Hurunui district. The Hurunui Tourism Board has three core strategies to achieve this goal: 1. To feature Hanmer Springs as a key product of the region. The draft strategy proposes ways to achieve this, including increasing the awareness of Hanmer Springs outside Canterbury, developing support material for the meetings and conference industry and marketing the village to cyclists and mountain bikers. 2. To feature Waipara Valley as a key product of the region. Proposals to achieve this include promoting Waipara Valley as Christchurch s wine region and developing specific collateral to promote the area. 3. To continue to support and enhance tourism in the entire Hurunui district by working alongside operators and identifying opportunities. Among the proposals to achieve this are the development of an annual marketing plan, the continual upgrade of the district s website, tourism app and village maps and ongoing support for tourism operators. The rationale Comparatively, Hurunui Tourism is a small district tourism organisation (DTO) so it is important resources are targeted carefully. A focus on promoting both Hanmer Springs and Waipara Valley will showcase some of the best products and experiences the Hurunui has to offer. It will draw visitors to the district. Ensuring our promotional tools include the key attractions that exist outside of these two areas will encourage longer stays in the district and leverage business for operators across Hurunui. To achieve all of the proposals in this document, Hurunui Tourism will need a budget increase. The budget is set by the Hurunui District Council and will be discussed in upcoming Council workshops. Some of the proposals in this strategy may need to be dropped depending on the outcome of those budget discussions HURUNUI DISTRICT TOURISM STRATEGY

52 What do you think? The Hurunui Tourism Board welcomes comment on the Draft Tourism Strategy and invites those with a view to make a submission in writing. Submission forms and a copy of the full strategy can be viewed at any council service centre or library. It s also available online at Submissions must be made in writing and need to be received by 5:00pm 19 December Hurunui District Council 66 Carters Road PO Box 13 Amberley 7441 IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION Vanessa Nelmes Tourism Marketing Officer Hurunui Tourism T vanessa@visithurunui.co.nz The board will consider all submissions and hear oral submissions on Tuesday 3 February HURUNUI DISTRICT TOURISM STRATEGY