WAITOMO DISTRICT COUNCIL MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE WAITOMO DISTRICT COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, QUEEN STREET, TE KUITI ON FRIDAY 27 MAY 2011 AT 9.00AM PRESENT: Mayor Brian Hanna, Council Members Phil Brodie, Charles Digby, Allan Goddard, Pat Hickey and Lorrene Te Kanawa IN ATTENDANCE: Michelle Higgie, Executive Assistant; John De Luca, Group Manager Community Services; Rebecca Whitehead, Manager Community Development and Kit Jeffries, Group Manager Corporate Services and MEDIA AND PUBLIC: David McPherson, Waitomo News 1. Council Prayer File 073/040 2. Apologies File 073/040 Resolution The apology from Councillor Guy Whitaker be received and leave of absence granted. Moved/Seconded Te Kanawa/Goddard Carried 3. Supplementary Business Paper: Hearing of Submissions to the Waitomo District Council Draft 2011/12 Exceptions Annual Plan Late Submissions File 037/013/14A Council considered a business paper presenting two late submissions received on 24 May 2011. Resolution 1 The Supplementary Business Paper: Hearing of Submissions to the Draft 2011/12 Exceptions Annual Plan Late Submissions be received. 2 Council accept the late submissions and refer them for consideration as part of the Council s Deliberation Meeting on Wednesday 1 June 2011. Moved/Seconded Goddard/Te Kanawa Carried Page 1 of 5 Doc 250914
4. Hearing of Submissions to the Waitomo District Council Draft 2011/12 Exceptions Annual Plan File 037/013/14A Council considered a business paper setting out the process for the hearing of submitters and heard Submitters as follows: 9.10am Peter Keeling Peter Keeling tabled a handout and expanded verbally on his written submissions. Marlene Perry and Jo Douglas entered the meeting at 9.20am. 9.20am John Kaati An apology was received from Mr John Kaati. 9.30am Marlene Perry and Jo Douglas Marlene Perry, Manager, Regional Centres and Jo Douglas, Director of Planning and Enterprise (Wintec Te Kuiti and Otorohanga) spoke in support of their written submission. Felicity Brough entered the meeting at 10.37am. Marlene Perry and Jo Douglas left the meeting at 9.42am. Monica Louis entered the meeting at 9.42am. 9.42am Felicity Brough Felicity Brough spoke in support of her written submission and advised that she did not wish to see library charges increased. Elinor Percival entered the meeting at 9.45am. Kelly Martyn, Federated Farmers Regional Policy Advisor; Chris Irons, Waitomo Branch Federated Farmers Chair and Bevan Proffit entered the meeting at 9.47am. 9.48am Monica Louis Monica Louis spoke in support of her written submission and briefed Council on a Rugby World Cup initiative with a focus on the French dignitaries and media to promote Maori history in the King Country. Felicity Brough, Peter Keeling and Monica Louis left the meeting at 9.55am. 9.55am Elinor Percival Elinor Percival spoke in support of her written submission recommending that if the hours are to be changed that they be: 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm Saturday 12pm to 4pm Sunday Elinor Percival left meeting at 10.03am. Page 2 of 5 Doc 250914
10.05am Waikato Federated Farmers Chris Irons, Bevan Proffit and Kelly Martyn spoke in support of Federated Farmers written submission. The Hearing adjourned for morning tea at 10.30am Bruce Tobeck and Liz Cowan entered the meeting at 10.35am. Kelly Martyn, Chris Irons and Bevan Proffit left the meeting at 10.47am. The Hearing adjourned for morning tea at 10.47am 10.47am Destination Waitomo (Bruce Tobeck) Bruce Tobeck and Liz Cowan (Destination Waitomo) spoke in support of the written submission from Destination Waitomo. Kiri Goulter and Alistair Calder entered the meeting at 10.53am. Nick Andreef entered the meeting at 10.55am 11.00am Nick Andreef Nick Andreef spoke in support of his written submission. Monica Louis re-entered the meeting at 11.07am. 11.15am Hamilton International Airport The Hearing adjourned at 11.25am. Kiri Goulter and Alistair Calder noted the apology from John Birch, Chairman, Hamilton International Airport and spoke in support of their written submission. They also received provide Council with an update on the future structure of the Waikato Region RTO; Rugby World Cup preparations and the outcome of WRTO attendance at TRENZ in Queenstown. Christine Manns and Robert Tahi entered the meeting at 11.27am. Bruce Tobeck and Liz Cowan, Nick Andreef; Kiri Goulter, Alistair Calder and Monica Louis left the meeting at 11.27am. Five representatives of Piopio Retirement Trust Board entered the meeting at 11.30am. The Hearing reconvened at 11.35am. 11.35am Tourism Holdings Ltd Christine Manns and Robert Tahi spoke in support of Tourism Holdings Ltd written submission. Christine Manns and Robert Tahi left the meeting at 11.45am. Page 3 of 5 Doc 250914
11.45am Piopio Retirement Trust Board Ellie Voyce, Sue Wagstaff and Brien Turner spoke in support of the written submission from Piopio Retirement Trust Board. Sue Wagstaff also noted the similarities with the Piopio Retirement Trust Board s situation at St Andrews Court. Kylie Harcourt, Marketing Manager and Dan Harcourt, Pilot of Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance entered the meeting at 11.47am. Five representatives of Piopio Retirement Trust Board left the meeting at 11.55am. 11.55am Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance Kylie Harcourt spoke in support of the written submission and tabled a handout with further information. The Hearing adjourned for lunch at 12.05pm. The Group Manager Community Services and Manager Community Development left the meeting at 12.10pm. Stu Kneebone entered the meeting at 12.40pm. Kylie and Dan Harcourt left the meeting at 1.00pm. The meeting reconvened at 1.05pm. 1.15pm Waikato Regional Council Stu Kneebone, Councillor, Waikato Regional Council spoke in support of the written submission from Waikato Regional Council and provided a quick brief on: Fish Farming proposals in the Coromandel Name Change for the Regional Council Suggested amalgamation of Pest Management and Catchment Committees Matthew Cooper and Dede Downs entered the meeting at 1.26pm. Stu Kneebone left the meeting at 1.32pm. 1.30pm Sport Waikato Matthew Cooper and Dede Downs spoke in support of the written submission from Sport Waikato and gave a brief update on progress with the Velodrome proposal. Matthew Cooper and Dede Downs left the meeting at 1.42pm. Page 4 of 5 Doc 250914
Resolution 1 The business paper on Hearing of Submissions to the Waitomo District Council Draft 2011/12 Exceptions Annual Plan be received. 2 Council note the verbal submissions made by the following Submitters: Peter Keeling Marlene Perry and Jo Douglas Felicity Brough Monica Louis Elinor Percival Waikato Federated Farmers Destination Waitomo (Bruce Tobeck) Nick Andreef Hamilton International Airport Tourism Holdings Ltd Piopio Retirement Trust Board (and St Andrews Court) Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance Waikato Regional Council Sport Waikato and refer the submissions for consideration as part of the Council s Deliberation Meeting on Wednesday 1 June 2011. Moved/Seconded Hickey/Digby Carried There being no further business the meeting closed at 1.45pm Dated at Te Kuiti this 28 th day of June 2011. BRIAN HANNA MAYOR Page 5 of 5 Doc 250914
NOTES FROM HEARING 9.10am Peter Keeling Peter Keeling tabled a handout and expanded verbally on his written submissions. Marlene Perry and Jo Douglas entered the meeting at 9.20am. 9.20am John Kaati An apology was received from Mr John Kaati. 9.30am Marlene Perry and Jo Douglas Marlene Perry, Manager, Regional Centres and Jo Douglas, Director of Planning and Enterprise (Wintec Te Kuiti and Otorohanga). Experience in Northland tourism routes bring major business to outlying communities. Twin Coast Discovery Highway has brought huge benefits to Hokianga and Kaipara which in no way could promote their own areas. Urge Council to keep some Destination Waitomo around about 20 years they should be listened to on how to move Waitomo Village forward. Don t think to disestablish Community Partnership Fund allows Council to partner with other people i.e. Wintec. A small la can feel victimised by levels of compliance enforced upon us. Should lobby for levels of compliance for small coms compared to large centres. Need to get out of feeling victimised. Library open every day but shorten hours. One of most positive things community has to say about council is that it has a library. Same with i-site if open at 10am have phone outside direct link to Council for anything required prior to 10am. Does all of the F Funding get used in Waikato? Brian R Funding is all gone. 18 months ago. It was part of improvements at awakino funded jointly by taranaki/waikato. If become pro-active council and start challenging some of these things. Ratepaying us out no-one will come to live here. Need to be more proactive about how run things. From water point of view back to OSH is it healthy to drink the water of not. Felicity Brough entered the meeting at 10.37am. Rural Broadband initiative coming through Waikato (14 June at WRC with Telecom/Vodafone) if have any particular barrows to push need to be at that meeting. Jo live all around NZ Te Kuiti friendliest town ever lived. Marlene Perry and Jo Douglas left the meeting at 9.42am. Monica Louis entered the meeting at 9.42am. 9.40am Felicity Brough Congratulate Council on a great library. Hillview use library for outings for residents. Elinor Percival entered the meeting at 9.45am. Library provides access to outside world. Nice friendly quiet space. Reduces sense of rural isolation previously lived in Melbourne. See the library as a measure of a towns vibrancy what your town is like. Actions speak louder than words was does cutting hours say about Te Kutii. Allan opinion on level of fees? FB would not want to see them any higher don t want to make library availability more exclusive. Page 6 Doc 250914
How feel about small fee for reference books, at moment free FB not affect me would be better to speak to teachers as school children take reference books out. Three members from Waikato Fed Farmers entered the meeting at 9.47am. (Kelly Martyn, Regional Policy Advisor; Chris Irons, Waitomo Branch Chair and Kevin Crocket, 9.45am Monica Louis Whenever doing anything like Com dev it important to remember not about us about subject about com dev proud past Mayor and current Mayor understand not about them is about subject. CFP really important for smaller communities that funding available for initiatives in these smaller communities. Benneydale wall of stars already have next initiative where put wall of stars could be in park. Sending really bad message if scrap fund saying that communities not worth it. Mosaic wall of stars real community connection. Keep kitty. If no ideas come up reserves build up but please don t scrap funding. Tourism (handout) very little cost to Council. With radio where I work have started making contacts re kc history. Feel good opportunity to get Maori history out there and focusing on one overseas group (French). Invite Manipoto radio inviting all French media to facilitate anyone wanting Maori history with local marae, mountain park, pa harakeke, host on marae hope film this and take it back and tell French somewhere in nz is an area like in the asterix story = kc. Try and see if 16, 17 o 19 sept enough French dignatories around to have a one day event where we might even try to have some of French team might need civic centre, might need to invite dignatories maori dignatories, have advanced quite a bit on htat aspect as well. Presentation handed out. Felicity Brough, Peter Keeling and Monica Louis left the meeting at 9.55am. 9.50am Elinor Percival i-site effect myself in comm most. Worked at i-site prior to cncl takeover and since. Stated hours 48 hours over 7 day week. Xmas day only day closed. Suggest before any changes made meet with VIN. Hours have been operating on since takeover open at 10am detrimental to cncl and com. Two bus companies leaving town early. Sometimes people waiting at doors at 8.30am to purchase tickets. Best tool at i-site is explore Waitomo brochure. Could be enhanced and update easily. Becoming know as place to shop locally. Buy local so don t double up. Always getting comments our i Site one of best. Rec hours 9-5 mon-fri 10-2 sat and 12-4 sun. Elinor Percival left meeting at 10.03am. 9.55am Waikato Federated Farmers Road Rate want to stop borrowing. Raise UAGC back to 30% cap. (this dif would take care of rating for roading) Agree rising trigger funding assistance smaller rural coms is a price you pay for living rural Don t want an upgrade of water plant which will - support Delaying Piopio Water TP only concern of escalating costs of delaying upgrade i-site agree reduce op hours - question of core service of Council? If council want to run it should be a targeted tourism rate. District gets benefit from tourists, but also get benefit from farmers. Library agree think good opp to advertise in school newsletters of new hours could be good way of getting people in doors in winter while in town for sports. Do not agree contribute WRTO main benefactors are tourism industry they should be paying don t think we have money to put into it as a district target tourism sector (as farmers pay levies to Meat NZ tourism operators should pay levies through Tourism NZ) Com Fund P/ship are lots of other charitable orgs that could fill this void for com good. Agree savings to be offset against borrowing. Concerns about statement in Intro to AP re ICL. Hope new BoD of ICL can put ICL in positive position without any further financial input from Council. Ave sheep and beef farmer producing 100 lambs to pay rates. Challenging year for farmers high prices but low lambing % - to think farmers having a good time is not realistic. Better year yes but extra $ catching up on past bad years. Asking that councils treat FF as special stakeholder in policy development can have valuable input/ideas - consultation stage too late. Phil - ICL if was possible rqmt for capital do you have limit? How far should stick neck out? Chris: like to think district could get out as cheaply as possible. Already cost us a lot of capital over last few years. As councillos have to make decision have advised will consult with community what is best Page 7 Doc 250914
way forward is it best capital inject to keep it going or wind up and try to get best value out of sale. Personally, little as possible. Is what weve got at moment Alan - FF push for 90% FAR Rate is this realistic? Kelly think that it is. Depending on how many councils get behind it without two pronged approach to get anywhere. Brian FF could help cncl by putting figures around ecomomic value of roads in district. Kelly at end of day what FF want is an increase in assistance for roading. Start point 90% - are flexible but want further assistance. Ratepayers are not always users of roads. Fuel and road user charges are road users. Brian most of points regarding reduction of services. Once elected responsible for entire community wellbeing. Trying to strike a balance. Kelly no need to reduce to tourism services but have a targeted rate. The Hearing adjourned for morning tea at 10.30am Bruce Tobeck and Liz Cowan entered the meeting at 10.35am. Kelly Martyn, Regional Policy Advisor; Chris Irons, Waitomo Branch Chair and Kevin Crocket, left he meeting at 10.47am. The Hearing adjourned for morning tea at 10.47am 10.45am Destination Waitomo (Bruce Tobeck) Bruce Tobeck and Liz Cowan (Destination Waitomo) read from written submission in support of submission lodged. Need to think about more than just tourist spend local businesses tradesmen, local labour, etc. tourism labour intensive industry. Kiri Goulter and (1) entered the meeting at 10.53am. Strongly urge council to commit and increase its commitment to tourism. Lcao businesses are also contributing directly to wrto. Nick Andreef and (1) entered the meeting at 10.55am Strongly advocate that council acknowledge its obligations around water and wastewater at Waitomo village. Brian Brian and CVR had meeting with Shelley Katae and Robert Tahi about water and wastewater progress is now in their court. Cncl can do it but will be at a cost options they can explore would be much cheaper than council can do it. Allan previous submission targeted rate on tourism sector for paying for promotions? Bruce accept targeted rate may be the way to go. Personal opinion would have to be debated by Destination Waitomo. Brian acknowledge work that DW do on communities behalf of promoting Waitomo. Council committed to forming stronger relationship with Waitomo. 11.00am Nick Andreef As independent operator greater benefited by wrto and dw. My sub from ind operators view. Visting media only way through Tourism NZ and down through rtos. Brings in millions of advertising too hard to quantify exactly. Participation in overseas agent trips can only be done through rto. Enables us to do our job. Know locally that with fortunate ground product, Waitomo is often largest benefit of Waikato tourism funding. No sign will change in any hurry either. The hobbit will only increase high profile. Increased visitors landing at hia. 80% come from Auckland airport. Two campaigns dw could not have conducted without assistance of wrto. Page 8 Doc 250914
Had Tourism NZ do extremely elaborate film in cave which is going on tourism boards front page could not do without wrto. Rugby RTO world cup cloud show case best of NZ: only two tourism products - Waitomo and Kaikoura. Monica Louis re-entered the meeting at 11.07am. WRTO has also proven its benefits and has gained operators support. Allan whats your view on use of target rates for district promotion. Nick biased, tourism underdeveloped resource in this area. Waitomo as a village collectively rested on laurels for way too long that needs to change. Any support we get will be paid back in spades. 11.15am Hamilton International Airport Kiri Goulter and Alisatair (apologies John Birch, Chairman, HIA) Commend council on commitment to tourism leadership in Waitomo. Believe wrto is regional concept it will give you much stronger presence participation will add value and raise value in GNZTR. Value dw and being able to work with them. Our role to add value, training and development. Structure moving forward undertaken independent review rec was that it be operated as a CCO of region. From region perspective time is not right proposal is and have support of all partners will operate independent entity under the HIA. Had 1 july deadline are on track to hit that. Are building team of five around Kiri to assist her. Structure ultimate is a CCO then building whatever we want. Next best is that (HIA doesn t want to be in tourism, HIA board wants focus on other issues. Need to have management focused on that) so have subsidiary of HIA which can do very quickly can almost do overnight and then put SLA agreement back with partners from their. Have a Board with a very strategic focus. Rugby World Cup Kiri have worked with travel agents. Over 2000 media coming already working very closely around what those media will be looking for. Expecting to be really busy and looking to local operators to work with us. NZ Festival making sure we are involved in all different facets around World Cup. TRENZ in Queenstown 250 international buyers. Good update from market tough time out there. Are having to work really hard to get market share. American dollar having big effect. Very cheap for Aus and NZ to go America. The Hearing adjourned at 10.25am. Christine Manns and Robert Tahi entered the meeting at 10.27am. Bruce Tobeck and Liz Cowan, Nick Andreef and Kiri Goulter and Alistair and Monica Louis left the meeting at 10.27am. 5 representatives of Piopio Retirement Trust Board entered the meeting at 10.30am. The Hearing reconvened at 11.30am. 11.30am Tourism Holdings Ltd Christine Manns and Robert Tahi spoke in support of THLs written submission. 11.45am Piopio Retirement Trust Board Ellie Voyce, Sue Wagstaff, Brien Turner and Brodie. Sue Wagstaff St Andrews Court situation a bit similar. Sue a trustee of SAC. Village consists of 9 own your own homes Lic to occ issued by Trust Board. In 2008 rates $13,122 in 2009 to $21,691 at 61.3% inc in rates. Tried for rate rebate sympathetic but a govt problem. Approached local MPs all quote govt ruling back to us except Mahutu. Ask council for a rate rebate and was does draft EAP mean does this mean that you are proposing to put funds aside for this? I would estimate approx 7 people eligible from both villages for rate rebates. If council is unable to fund this I respectfully request that you raise this issue at your conference. Page 9 Doc 250914
Kylie Harcourt, Marketing Manager Dan, Pilot of Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance entered the meeting at 11.47am. 11.55am Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance Spoke in support of submission. Tabled handout. No Central Govt funding at all. Until now have never had to apply to Local Govt either. Seeking $25,000 from each of the LAs in the Waikato Region. Allan is there a double up with local councils and regional councils? Kylie have indicated to WRC if LAs turn down funding then they will be requested $250,000 from WRC. The Hearing adjourned for lunch at 12.05pm. The Group Manager Community Services and Manager Community Development left the meeting at 12.10pm. Stu Kneebone entered the meeting at 12.40pm. Kylie Harcourt and Dan left the meeting at 1.00pm. The meeting reconvened at 1.05pm. 1.15pm Waikato Regional Council Stu Kneebone straight forward submission basically endorsing WDC s deap. Advice from Central Govt to double number of sites being monitored will have significant cost implications on WRC. Will mean will increase no. of sites not complying. Stu provided briefing and answered questions in relation to fish farming proposals in the Coromandel. Gave personal opinion on name change of the regional council. Personally was not in favour of it, but was surprised at amount of negative feedback. Matthew Cooper and Dede Downs entered the meeting at 1.26pm. Has been talk around future of Pest Management Committees. Has been suggestion of amalgamating with Catchment Committees. Stu Kneebone left the meeting at 1.32pm. 1.30pm Sport Waikato Matthew Cooper thanked council for its ongoing support of Sport Waikato. Regional sports trusts my view knowledge hub for sport and recreation and are go to places for sports clubs. Do align to SPARC but our outcomes neutral and independent of SPARC. SPARC funding is only 25% of Sport Waikato i.e. not driven by Wellington on how provide service. Want to be innovative and look for solutions. Update on Velodrome progress. Extn granted for due diligence. If outcome of due diligence positive then Matthew Cooper and Dede Downs left the meeting at 1.42pm. Page 10 Doc 250914