Operations Committee - 21 August 2025
7.3 Community Infrastructure Activity Report
Information Only - No Decision Required
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Report
To:
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Operations
Committee
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Meeting
Date:
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21
August 2025
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Report
Author:
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Mike
Schruer, Waters and Wastes Manager; Jamie McPherson, Transportation Manager;
Russell McGuigan, Programme Delivery Manager; Grant Reburn, Reserves and
Facilities Manager; Nick Chin, Enterprise and Property Services Manager;
Richard Kirby, Group Manager - Community Infrastructure
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Report
Authorisers:
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Richard
Kirby, Group Manager - Community Infrastructure
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Report
Number:
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ROC25-08-3
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1. Summary
/ Te Tuhinga Whakarāpoto
1.1 This
report provides a summary of Community Infrastructure Groups activity since the
last report to the Operations Committee on 10 July 2025
2. Recommendation/s
/ Ngā Tūtohunga
That the
Operations Committee
1. receives
the Community Infrastructure Activity Report ROC25-08-3.
Health and Safety Lead Indicators (Audits/site
observations) – 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026
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Measure
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Enterprise
and Property Services
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Programme
Delivery
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Reserves
and Facilities
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Transportation
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Waters
and Wastes
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Total
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H&S
Observations
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1
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17
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4
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21
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H&S
Briefings (also as part of regular meetings)
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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20
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Number
of H&S courses attended by staff
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3
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3
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Recovery
3.1 The
heavy rainfall events over later June early July and the consequential damage
to council’s infrastructure, particularly roading, has been significant.
3.2 The
scale and specifics around this damage is outlined in the various activity
sections of this report.
3.3 The
Group Manager, Community Infrastructure (Richard Kirby) and the Chief Operating
Officer (Steve Manners) are leading the recovery effort on behalf of Council.
3.4 Council
has specifically resourced the recovery effort with the following temporary
staff:
· Recovery Support
Manager – Rylee Pettersson
· Navigator
Functions – Katie Sellars, Annie Leather and Gael Gordon
· Community Funding
Coordinator – Lianne Nicholls
Recovery Report – Thursday 7 August
– Thursday 14 August
Social Workstream/Pou
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Indicator
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Impact
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Progress
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Source
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Isolated
Communities
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3 properties
remain isolated
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Hinetai Road
- Slip removed and road opened.
Graham Valley
Road – Council working with DOC on remedial options. Isolated residents
have made arrangements for their welfare.
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TDC
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Rural
Communities
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ETFG
(Enhanced Taskforce Green) in week 3 of 12-week deployment
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Positive
reception: funding sought for Taskforce Kiwi
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TDC
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Temporary
Accommodation
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21
registrations; 12 active
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Anticipated
increase in registrations
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MBIE TAS
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Financial
Support
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Mayoral
relief fund - $440K fund; $63K paid to 37 applicants
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Application
deadline extended; comms strategy underway
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TDC
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Health System
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Monitoring
ongoing; public health messaging active
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Surveillance
for flood-related illness continues
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HNZ
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School/ECE
Closures
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4 schools, 6
ECEs closed
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All reopened;
damage assessments underway
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MoE
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Psychosocial
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No surge in
demand
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Monitoring
continues; messaging promotes support services
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HNZ/TDC
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Navigators
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3 contracted;
80 individuals supported
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30
individuals still receiving support
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TDC
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Animal
Welfare
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All cases
closed
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—
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MPI
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Built Workstream/Pou
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Indicator
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Impact
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Progress
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Source
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Waste
Management
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Emergency
works completed
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Funding may
be sought from MfE
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TDC
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Residential
Property
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9 red, 45
yellow placards
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MfE assisting
with waste funding
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TDC
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Roads &
Bridges
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SH closures
and 14 local road closures
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Recovery
underway; 150 staff active
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NZTA/TDC
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Other Built
Indicators (Ports, Telecoms, Cultural Sites)
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—
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Reporting
pending
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CDEM
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Natural Environment Workstream/Pou
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Indicator
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Impact
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Progress
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Source
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Rivers/Stopbanks
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Cleanup
ongoing
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Aerial survey
commissioned
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TDC
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3 Waters
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E. coli risk
in private bores
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Residents
request continued testing; Taumata Arowai involved
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TDC
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Silt
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—
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MfE assisting
with waste funding
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MfE/TDC
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Other Natural
Indicators (Restoration, Waterways, Soil)
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—
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Reporting
pending
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CDEM
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Economic Workstream/Pou
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Indicator
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Impact
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Progress
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Source
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Business
Closures, Employment, Income Loss, Primary Industries
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—
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Economic
impact assessment underway
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TDC/NRDA
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Tourism
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—
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MBIE Tourism
Evidence Centre engaged
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MBIE
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Insurance
Claims
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Multiple
categories affected
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NHCover and
general claims being processed
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ICNZ/NHC
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NZ Claims
Resolution Service
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5
registrations
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Expected to
increase
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MBIE
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Recovery Transition Period
3.5 The
28-day Recovery Transition period finished on Thursday, 14 August.
Given the recovery work still required in the rivers and with ongoing silt
disposal requirements, it was agreed that the Recovery Powers may still be
needed beyond Thursday, 14 August 2025. The Transition Period has
therefore been extended for another 28 days to Thursday, 11 September 2025.
Community Infrastructure
3.6 This
month we welcome Katherine Rose into the Waters and Waste team as a water
billing officer; Katherine started in the team on 4 August 2025. Katherine has
replaced Jacqui Patchett who left last month. We also welcome Michael Wilkins
who starts in the Reserves and Facilities team on the 25th of
August. Michael replaces Tim Goh who left earlier this year.
Utilities Trends
WATER SUPPLY
Activity
Highlights
· The June-July 2025
weather events have resulted in increased reactive maintenance measures across
the district.
· A service strike
Wednesday, 2 July 2025, in Motueka by drilling contractor.
· Two water main
bursts in Fairfax Street, Murchison.
· Realignment of the
Richmond potable and raw water mains.
Compliance
4.1 In
relation to the flood events and subsequent damage and water outages, the water
regulator, Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai and the Public
Health Service were kept informed in accordance with legislated requirements.
Both agencies have taken a keen interest in the Council’s activities to
manage water quantity and safety during and following the events and are
participating in subsequent recovery meetings.
4.2 On
Monday, 7 July 2025, the Resource Scientist – Groundwater joined the
Water Quality and Safety team for a short-term secondment. The primary aim of
this secondment is to undertake a data collation and review of the Source Water
Protection Zones focusing groundwater sourced drinking water supplies in the
Waimea Plains and Motueka/Riwaka Plains. This will enable a better
understanding of catchment risks for these supplies from a science perspective.
Progress into this data collation and review is well underway.
Enforcement
Since the
previous Activity Report, the following events have been
recorded:
4.3 An
unauthorised connection was discovered on a property on Teapot Valley Road,
Brightwater. It appeared to be an existing connection that had been in place
for several years and the responsible party could not be determined. The
current landowner was made aware of the requirements of the Council’s
Public Water Supply Bylaw and the connection was subsequently removed.
4.4 There
were two instances of accidental damage recorded since the last update. The
first was a report of a damaged water toby in Atkins Street, Motueka. It
appeared to have been damaged during heavy vehicle movements on the site and
inquiries are ongoing. The second instance was a fencing contractor who hit a
water pipe on the Dovedale supply in Upper Moutere. A follow up investigation
is underway but a pipe locate had previously been requested for the property
and it was noted that the damaged section of pipe was installed at less than
the minimum recommended depth. Even had the pipe been at the required depth it
is likely that it would have been damaged, and a pipe locate should have been
requested if they had no record of the previous pipe locate.
Operations Update
4.5 At
approximately 3:30pm on Friday, 11 July 2025, a 150mm PE water main burst at
the corner of Martin Farm Road and Kahu Close in Kaiteriteri. The pipeline,
installed 10 years ago, rapidly drained the main reservoir within 90 minutes,
prompting an urgent response. Repair efforts were initially delayed due to
local road closures; however, Civil Defence arranged emergency drinking water
deliveries via tanker for affected residents. Upon arrival, contractors first
suspected that a washout on Martin Farm Road had damaged the pipe. Further
investigation, however, confirmed the pipe was intact at that
location—the rupture had occurred further down the line. High water flows
through a nearby swale had scoured the surrounding ground, causing the pipe to
be exposed and unsupported resulting in the pipe burst. The damaged section was
repaired, and full water service was restored by approximately 12:30pm on
Saturday, 12 July 2025.
Figure 1: Kaiteriteri Burst Corner of Martin
Farm Road and Kahu Close
4.6 Since
the first weather event on Friday, 27 June 2025, the Dovedale water supply
intake was overwhelmed by high creek flows and large volumes of sediment, which
blocked both the intake and the raw water pipeline. Contractors were deployed
to clear the intake and the immediate upstream section of the creek to restore
flow to the Dovedale Water Treatment Plant. However, the volume of sediment
continued to make maintaining flow extremely difficult. As water levels in the
creek rose further, it became unsafe for contractors to continue work, and
attention was required at other impacted sites. Although Dovedale has reservoir
storage and properties are required to have seven days onsite water storage,
after two weeks of continued issues maintaining supply into the network,
concerns were raised that some households could be running low. In response,
emergency water tankers were dispatched on Monday, 14 July 2025 to supply
affected residents. Once creek levels subsided, contractors returned and
successfully cleared the intake, restoring flow to the treatment plant on
Wednesday, 16 July 2025. Water supply was systematically reintroduced to the
network due to the risk of pipe breaks and washouts following the intense
weather event.
Figure 2: Dovedale Intake Before and During
Event
4.7 During
the weather event on Friday, 27 June 2025, the southwestern bank of the bridge
at the intersection of Thorns and Neudorf Road was washed out, exposing the
trunk main that supplies 85% of the Dovedale Water Scheme. While contractors
were backfilling and repairing the damaged road, the main burst, requiring the
replacement of a three-metre section of pipeline. During a subsequent rainfall
event on Friday, 11 July 2025, both sides of the same bridge washed out, once
again exposing the trunk main. Backfilling and road repairs were completed
without issue to the pipe, with all repairs completed on Monday, 14 July 2025.
Figure 3: Thorns/Neudorf Road Intersection
Washout 14 July
4.8 Treatment
at Pōhara water supply’s membrane filtration plant was paused
automatically due to high turbidity with rainfall on Friday, 11 July 2025. Due
to rainfall, high stream flows, and slips increased sediment aggraded directly
behind the intake weir and deposited in the settling chambers, blocking flow.
This necessitated a major cleanout with an excavator and truck – carried
out by contractors on Monday, 21 July 2025.
Figure 4: Winter Creek intake before sediment
removal and after.
4.9 The
weather event on Friday, 27 June 2025, affected the source water quality in
Tapawera, which resulted in a precautionary boil water notice being issued to
residents. Additional issues were also being attended to, such as power outages
and loss of communications. Flood damage to the water treatment plant building
was minimal but highlighted the need to raise equipment above flood level to
provide resilience for future events. Sampling was carried out on 8/9/10 July
to lift the boil water notice issued on Friday, 27 June 2025, but was extended
to cover the subsequent weather event. Three days of further sampling detected
no signs of bacterial contamination at the plant or within the network, and
some forced turnover of the reservoir allowed the notice to be lifted on
Monday, 21 July 2025.
4.10 On
Wednesday, 2 July 2025, contractors installing power ducts on Totara
Park Avenue, Motueka accidentally drilled through a 100mm PVC water main. Our
contractors responded quickly to isolate the issue; however, the water
treatment plant had already shut down, draining its storage tanks and causing a
water outage across the entire township from approximately 2:00pm. Repairs were
carried out on the main, and the plant was brought back online with water
supply fully restored by 5:00pm.
Figure 5: Service strike at Totara Park Avenue
power duct install site
4.11 On
Wednesday, 30 July 2025, at approximately 5:30 am, a 150mm asbestos cement
water main burst near 178 Fairfax Street, Murchison. The affected section
of the network was isolated for repairs, leaving approximately 60 customers
without water supply. A hydrant upstand was set up as a temporary drinking
water source for affected customers. The repair involved replacing a 6m section
of asbestos cement pipe with a 150mm PVC pipe. Water supply was reinstated at
4:15 pm.
4.12 On
Thursday, 31 July 2025, at around 4:00 am, the same water main burst again near
136 Fairfax Street. The network was isolated at the intersection of Hotham
Street and Fairfax Street, as per the previous day. The repair involved
replacing a 4m section of asbestos cement pipe with a 150mm PVC pipe. Water
supply was reinstated at 11:45 am. Further investigations are underway into the
cause of the bursts.
4.13 Eighty-Eight
valley water supply experienced multiple effects from the heavy rainfall events
since June. Scaffolding at the Parkes Stream intake was damaged. The raw water
strainer was blocked multiple times, reducing flow to the network, most
recently on Thursday, 31 July 2025. Pipework was exposed downstream of the
intake at the creek crossing and at Church Valley Road creek crossing
(damaged). There is limited access to the treatment site, due to a washaway
resulting from overland flow from a blocked culvert on private farmland and a
change in stream alignment, upstream of Council’s treatment buildings.
4.14 On
Tuesday, 22 July 2025, contractors finished installing a chlorine gas safety
upgrade at Wakefield WTP. The system works off a gas detector at floor level
that triggers automatic shutoff actuators on the chlorine gas cylinders, via a
safety control panel when a leak is detected at 3ppm.
4.15 Richmond
water supply had some planned shutdowns to accommodate the relocation of water
services for the Lower Queen Street – Borck Creek bridge project. The
most significant was a 24-hour shutdown on the Waimea raw water main which
involved a 100% take from the Richmond bore field. Tanks were filled in advance
as a precaution to keep nitrates at acceptable levels. Work continues with
shutdowns on the Richmond raw water main and treated mains.
4.16 The
rainfall event on Friday, 11 July 2025, resulted in a second round of severe
flooding in the Wai-iti catchment above Wakefield. Flood waters threatened the
Wakefield Water Treatment Plant site again and the power was isolated as a
precaution. However, only a small amount of water encroached inside the
building and no electrical assets were damaged. The flooding from the river in
the domain and carpark adjacent to the bike park resulted in poor water quality
supplied from the infiltration gallery and well. The source water quality was
outside what installed treatment is capable of treating. Bird Road pumpstation
was utilised for four days to supplement Wakefield from Brightwater while
groundwater conditions recovered.
Figure 6: Wakefield WTP Friday 11 July
WASTEWATER
Activity
Highlights
· The June flood
event and subsequent July events have highlighted the vulnerability of private
bore water supplies to contamination from overland flows, particularly in parts
of Motueka.
· The two major
storm events, Friday 27 June and Friday 11 July, overwhelmed many of the
district’s wastewater networks. In the June event we experienced
overflows at 22 of the district’s 80 wastewater pump stations (WWPS).
During the July event this increased to 48 WWPS.
· A supercritical
ultraviolet (SCUV) unit has been ordered for the Motueka wastewater treatment
plant (WWTP) to increase the treatment capacity and avoid over pumping to the
wetlands in future.
Compliance
4.17
A group of Motueka residents whose properties had been affected by wastewater
overflows during the extreme rain event in June expressed concern about
potential contamination of their private water supplies which access the
shallow aquifer in the area. Because of this concern, it was determined that
sampling of bores in the Ledger Avenue area would be conducted. Subsequently,
44 bores were sampled and tested for bacterial indicators. Six of the 44
contained E.coli bacteria, indicating that at the time of sampling,
those bores were contaminated to a degree by faecal material. Because
historical sampling of similar bores within the same aquifer has also shown
contamination from time to time, it is not possible to determine whether the
sewage overflow in the vicinity caused the current contamination or whether
those bores are contaminated at other times as well. It has highlighted however
that private groundwater water supplies in the District are vulnerable to contamination
from any overland flows, especially if they are drawing from a shallow water
source. The Council’s Environmental Health team in conjunction with the
Water and Wastes team, have developed and sent out communication to raise
awareness of these risks. This has been encouraged and supported by the Water
Services Authority and Public Health Service who have insisted on a boil water
notice until further notice in Motueka.
4.18 Due
to the scale of the storm event, especially during the two large ones, we had
overflows at many WWPS around the district. In the June 2025 event we had
overflows from 22 of the district’s 80 pump stations, during the July
event the number increased to 48, partly because of an extended district wide
power outage. It was impossible to exactly quantify the volumes that overflowed
but they would have been very large, in some of the locations in the order of
1,000’s of m3. At a limited number of locations, where
feasible, we were able to do controlled discharges to nearby receiving waters,
minimising wastewater overflow to private properties.
4.19 Over
the past month, elevated faecal indicator microbial concentrations have been
recorded at monitoring sites downstream of the Murchison, Tapawera and Takaka
WWTP’s. It is likely that the results at the latter two sites are due to
the flood event. The monitoring bore headworks at Murchison have been damaged
and this is believed to be the cause of the higher numbers at this site.
Further investigations are planned.
Operations Update
4.20 Overflows
aside, the wastewater infrastructure suffered surprisingly little physical
damage. The most significant was to the surrounds of the WWTP outfall structure
on the banks of the Motueka River.
Figure 7: Damage to Motueka WWTP outlet
structure
4.21 This
damage occurred during the June 2025 storm event but prompt work by contractors
had this protected with rocks preventing significant damage during the
following rainfall events.
4.22 The
new rising main installed by the Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit (NRSBU)
from Beach Road, Richmond to the Saxton Road pump station significantly reduced
the risk of wastewater overflows at the pump station and in upstream network.
4.23 At
Motueka WWTP the monthly volume loading, inflow plus rain falling onto the pond
surface, was the highest recorded. For July 2025 this was 224,000 m3,
the average for this month is 100,000 m3. The average daily loading
during July 2025 was 7,230 m3/day of which the membrane filtration
plant processed 3,250 m3/day. This left approximately 4,000 m3/day
still to be treated. This was accumulating in the oxidation pond quickly taking
up all available storage volume. Without by-pass pumping we would very quickly
have had a significant uncontrolled overflow from the oxidation pond, with an
associated risk of damaging the pond wall. By-pass pumping to the nearby
infiltration basin prevented that possibility. However, his meant that we were
discharging partially treated wastewater, with a higher pathogen load to the
nearby basin. This was the least bad option available to us.
4.24 To
reduce the risk of by-pass pumping in the future, an eight module Supercritical
UV unit has been ordered for the Motueka WWTP. This unit can substantially
reduce the pathogen loading for any wastewater that has to by-pass the membrane
filtration (MF) operation. The unit can process up to 4,600m3/day
4.25 In
Brightwater and Wakefield areas, investigations are being carried out to
determine where stormwater and overland flow enter the wastewater reticulation,
resulting in flooding of wastewater on to private land. CCTV is being used in
two areas of Brightwater and a walk over survey was completed from SH6 to Bird
Road, Wakefield.
STORMWATER
Activity
Highlights
· Heavy rain on
Thursday, 26 June, Friday, 27 June and on Friday, 11 July 2025 caused runoff
that exceeded the capacity of our urban stormwater networks, causing overland
flow and flooding in many of the urban drainage areas, including Richmond,
Brightwater, Wakefield, Tapawera and Motueka.
· We are continuing
to compile flooding reports of property and buildings.
Figure 8: Comparison of rainfall significance for June (over 48 hours)
and July (over 12 hours)
Compliance
4.26 Due
to the focus on flooding, and given the very high rain rates, no discrete
monitoring was undertaken for this period. However, it was noted that our
permanent monitoring stations in Jimmy Lee Creek, Richmond recorded multiple
unusual discharges not associated with rainfall. No sources of these
contaminant events could be identified.
Operations
4.27 The
focus over the past six weeks has been on a response to and recovery from four
rainfall events.
4.28 Over
the two larger rain events, from Thursday, 26 and Friday, 27 June and on Friday
11 July, our urban stormwater systems were challenged and, in many locations,
were overwhelmed. Contractors were kept busy clearing debris screens and
ensuring our stormwater networks were operating as best they could. Staff and
contractors were also busy immediately afterwards cleaning up and preparing for
the next rainfall event.
4.29 Some
of the remediation of stormwater management areas, such as gravel removal from
detention dams, will occur when there are drier conditions.
4.30 In
the 26/27 June rainfall event, the Motueka tide gates were activated into storm
mode and operated as expected. Motueka experienced surface flooding due to the
network being overwhelmed, and not due to tide gate operations. On Friday, 11
July the gates were activated into storm mode, but for a period we lost
communication with the gates due to a widespread power outage during this
event.
4.31 In
the 26/27 June event the Easby Park inlet overflowed, due to blockage of the
screen with vegetation and gravel, and overflows entered several properties on
Polglase Street and Hill Street. When we were alerted to high water levels at
the intake, we were unable to mobilise equipment quickly enough to the intake
to prevent an overflow. Prior to the Friday 11 July event we proactively
pre-positioned an excavator on standby, although no blockage occurred.
4.32 In
both larger events, flooding in parts of Brightwater, Wakefield, Tapawera and
Tākaka were largely due to overflow from rivers and streams.
4.33 These
events also highlighted the vulnerability of our older stormwater networks and
lack of structured overland flow paths in Richmond and Motueka. Newer networks
generally performed well, with overflow channels and streams operating when the
reticulated networks were full.
4.34 The
Council has recently awarded a contract to improve the infrastructure at Easby
Park and Selbourne Avenue, to minimise the effects of these events. This work
is due to start during August. Plans are underway to install a new debris
screen that will make the inlet safer and less prone to blocking. In the medium
term we will also need to consider further upgrades and improved design for
overland flow in the Reservoir Creek catchment.
4.35 On
the evening of Wednesday, 30 July the Wharf Road, Motueka gates were activated
into storm mode in advance of the tsunami advisory for New Zealand.
Figure
9: Easby Park current infrastructure
WASTE
MANAGEMENT AND MINIMISATION
Activity
Highlights
· Recycling
contamination at our Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) has increased; from
14.8% in April 14.4% in May, 14.2% in June and 17.3% in July 2025.
· In response to the
rainfall events, we have implemented a Waste Management Action Plan to deal
with waste arising from the flood events.
· We are applying
for funding from the Ministry for the Environment to assist with the cost of
waste disposal from the flood events.
· We are continuing
work to transition to our new waste management contract, which commenced in
July 2025.
Compliance
4.36 There
have been no known compliance issues this month, although some reporting and
sampling has been delayed due to recent events.
Operations Update
4.37 Kerbside
collections generally continued as normal through the reporting period although
some properties in Mārahau and Tokongawa Drive were unable to be serviced
in the week following the Friday, 11 July 2025 event.
4.38 A
fleet of new kerbside collection vehicles started arriving in the district from
July as we transition from Contract 1020, which concluded on Monday, 30 June
2025, to Contract 1440, which commenced on Tuesday, 1 July 2025.
4.39 On
the afternoon of Monday, 30 June 2025, the ownership of the MRF at Richmond and
commercial customers transferred to the Council.
4.40 A
total of 418 kerbside recycling audits were undertaken during July 2025, 79%
passing and 21% failing due to contamination – this is a decrease in pass
rate on the previous months audits. 87 failures out of the total of 88 failures
were for non-recyclable materials being placed in recycling bins.
4.41 Site
activities have focused on event recovery, with receiving materials in response
and construction of hard standing areas at the Māriri Resource Recovery
Centre (RRC) to accept an increase of flood damaged materials and silt
management sites at the Ngātīmoti Reserve, the Mariri closed
landfill, Riwaka Rugby Grounds and land at Best Island owned by the NRSBU.
4.42 In
July, we have constructed a 560m² concrete pad at the Richmond RRC to
enable us to accept scrap metal and the rear access road to the site has been
resurfaced.
Figures 8 and 9: New concrete pad (L) and road
re-surfacing (R) at Richmond Resource Recovery Centre
4.43 The
June and July 2025 rainfall events caused minimal damage to operational sites,
with minor slipping at the Māriri site. The Māriri site also closed
for a short period of time when Robinson Road closed due to flooding and slips
onto the road.
4.44 Over
the weekend of Saturday 28 June and Sunday 29 June 2025, following the initial
flood event, staff liaised with staff at Hastings District Council, NEMA and
the Ministry for the Environment to develop a Waste Management Action Plan and
to prepare an application for emergency waste funding. The initial phase of
this plan focused on disposal of flood damaged household waste, silt around
residential properties and recovery of coastal and marine debris.
4.45 From
Monday, 30 June 2025, with the approval of the Recovery Manager, RRC’s
have been accepting flood damaged household goods and materials, at the
Council’s cost. For the period 30 June to 3 August 2025, a total of
215 tonnes of materials have been received, with a value of $77,400. As shown
in the following figure, volumes have dropped to less than two tonnes per day.
4.46 Three
silt management sites have been open to the public in the weeks following the
flood events. The Riwaka site has been very busy, with around 1,200 m3
of silt being received from around homes in the surrounding area. The
Ngātīmoti and Māriri closed landfill sites have been very quiet,
with little demand for silt disposal.
4.47 The
June flood event washed significant debris into Tasman Bay and onto the
shoreline. Debris included significant numbers of apple bins, netting, fence
posts and other horticultural materials. In the initial response staff worked
with the Harbourmaster and the Emergency Operations Centre to recover these
materials.
4.48 High
flows in the Moutere River in the June and July 2025 events caused further
erosion to the Māriri closed landfill. In early July 2025, the Group
Manager authorised emergency works to prevent further erosion of this site, and
the repair was completed in the week of 21 July 2025.
Figures 10 and 11: Erosion at Māriri closed
landfill (L) and new rock erosion protection (R)
Figures 12 and 13: New hardstand areas at Māriri
Resource Recovery Centre and Ngātīmoti
Figures 14 and Figure 15: New entrance, fencing and hardstand
area at Māriri closed landfill
Figure 16: Silt management at the Riwaka Rugby
Grounds site
4.49 In
the following phases of the plan, we are developing processes to manage fencing
materials, agricultural and horticultural plastics, woody waste, vehicles,
tyres, hazardous wastes, demolition materials and horticultural silt in high
need areas.
Waste Minimisation (funded by the Waste Minimisation
Fund)
4.50 This
reporting period has been dominated by the flood response and recovery. Flood
related activities included:
· Attending
community events, providing waste advice and responding to requests from
community.
· Supporting
development of a response and recovery waste plan.
· Supporting
the Harbour Master to recover coastal flood waste by mapping reported waste and
coordinating waste disposal.
· Supporting
the Project Delivery team in recycling of posts recovered from Waimea Estate
and coastal clean-up, for distribution back to flood-affected members of the
community.
· Setting up
of council funded agricultural plastic recycling.
4.51 The
Tasman Reconstruct Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste diversion
trial at the Richmond RRC continued to operate during this period, with an
average of 1.6 tonnes of divertible material received per day of operation
since March 2025.
4.52 A
planned market day selling the reuse C&D material back into the community
was postponed until after the flood recovery has progressed sufficiently. The
next market is now planned for Saturday, 9 August 2025. To reduce the reuse
stockpile during this delay, the district’s schools were all invited to
collect materials at no cost. This was received very well, and we distributed
four tonnes of material during July 2025 as a result.
4.53 We
have received, from the Ministry of Environment, a draft amendment of the
funding deed for the C&D trial. This amendment will set a new project
completion date in September 2025, and reduced material diversion targets for
subsequent years to reflect changes in the project’s operating
environment, such as the construction industry downturn.
4.54 We
coordinated and chaired a bimonthly national meeting of Territorial Authority
waste minimisation staff which focusses on C&D waste. The meet was well
attended and included a presentation by the Ministry for the Environment on the
recently released report establishing a national construction waste baseline.
4.55 The
Tasman Reconstruct trial period concluded on 30 June 2025. Review of this
trial’s results has identified that untreated timber, and plasterboard
comprises 75% of the total material received. These materials can be cost
effectively recycled in large quantities. We are now finalising plans under the
new waste contract to focus on these two streams in our future C&D
diversion operations.
4.56 Both
Weka Peckers and Nelson Environment Centre have received renewed e-waste
diversion grants (Annually $15,000 to Weka Peckers, $10,000 to Nelson
Environment Centre).
4.57 We
are continuing to work with Nelson City Council through a business case for
diversion of household food waste from landfill. We have recently received the
draft business case and are reviewing this. Recommendations from this work will
feed into Long Term Plan (LTP) considerations in the new year.
4.58 We
are investigating options for diverting the food waste generated at the
Richmond council office building. This waste was previously diverted to
compost, but our composting service provider has withdrawn, and this waste is
currently going to landfill. We are working with the Properties team to find a
solution.
Roading Activity Update
5.1 The
teams are all still busy working through the response phase from the recent
series of extreme weather events, which will transition into the recovery phase
in mid – August 2025. As of drafting this report the NZTA board were
about to meet to discuss our request for an increased Funding Assistant Rate
(FAR) to help us meet the estimated $20 million cost of road response and
reinstatement. We are hoping to be able to report on their decision at the next
Operations Committee meeting.
Alliance
Contract Area
5.2 Storm
response has obviously been at the forefront over the last several weeks.
Previous presentations to the Council have described the significant impact
this had on the road network.
Figure 1: Sunday Creek Road Figure
2: Stanley Brook Stream
5.3 This
has led the entire local team, up to 16 subcontractors and out of district
crews to mobilise to open roads, and in quite a few cases open roads a second
time after clearing the previous materials.
Figure 3: Edwards Road/Moutere intersection Figure
4: Paton Road
Figure 5: Moutere Highway
Figure 6: Robinson Road
Figure
7: Wai iti
River Bridge, Pigeon Valley Road
5.4 It
is critical that we continue to deliver the planned routine maintenance and
renewal programme for 2025/26 to keep the overall network in satisfactory
condition and avoid spiralling future maintenance costs. We are structuring the
Alliance to include a Roading Recovery Manager to manage the surge in resources
to deliver the reinstatement works, freeing up existing staff to focus on
business-as-usual while also taking opportunities to coordinate work and find
efficiencies across the entire programme.
5.5 Renewal
planning is well underway. The wider team has been working on the pavement
renewals, and the designs are progressing. Physical work is planned for January
and February early next year.
5.6 Our
sealed pavement repair season planning has been ongoing. All of the reseal
sites have had the defects assessed and verified, and the programming of the
sites is being worked through now with the start planned for August 2025.
5.7 Unsealed
maintenance grading has started again, the grader has worked through the
Tapawera area and is now in the Moutere area, moving to Tasman later next week
Figure 8 & 9: Hewetson and Flaxmore Roads
5.8 The
school speed limit changes were initially due for completion in July 2025, but
due to storm response reprioritising staff duties, this was delayed into August
2025. The planning for the upgrade was significant, there were over 260 signs
either being upgraded or new posts installed.
Non-Alliance
work
Streetlighting
5.9 Planning
is underway to undertake infill lighting to nine streets in Motueka,
approximately 35 new lights. This work involves installing additional
streetlights in streets where the lights are spread further apart, providing
poor lighting and inconsistent light levels. The work often involves using
existing utility poles to attach streetlights to and in some cases, installing
new dedicated streetlight columns. Similar work was undertaken in the 24/25
financial year in Motueka.
5.10 There
have been several light outages recently which have been outside
Council’s streetlight contractor’s hands to resolve. This involved
Network Tasman Ltd’s hardware requiring its own contractor to undertake
the work. One of these problems was the ripple control system used to switch
lights on and off at set lighting levels.
Jubilee Park South Carpark & Walkway, Moturoa Island,
Motueka Top 10 & Tasman Fire Station Carpark
5.11 A
number of jobs were tendered recently for the repair and resurfacing of
carparks and accessways to various council assets. This work will start once
temperatures warm up.
Hill Street Path and Vehicle Crossings Renewal –
northern side from Queen Street to Lorimer Lane
5.12 This
work involves renewing in asphalt the old deteriorating footpath and accessways
including reconstructing the kerb vehicle crossings. The work was put out to
the market in early June with four tenders being received. The work is planned
to start in mid-August.
Cautley Street Path and Kerb Renewal
5.13 This
project is currently out for tender and involves renewing the old asphalt path
and a section of kerb including all the vehicle access crossings on both sides
of the road between Waverley Street to near Hunt Street. This work is to be
completed by mid-December later this year.
Golden
Bay and Murchison Area
5.14 Programmed
work that was completed before the heavy rainfall event included:
· Aggregate
spreading on Thurlow, Owen Valley West, Limestone, Lammas, and
Collingwood-Puponga Roads
· Digouts were completed
on Collingwood-Bainham Main Road and deformation and depression levelling on
Matakitaki Road
· Vegetation maintenance
(spraying)
· Drainage renewals (new
cuverts) on Tutaki Road South, Pakawau Bush Road and Dry Road
· Completion of the
inspection and programming of reseal sites for pre-reseal repairs.
· Installation of the new
30kph school speed zone signage.
5.15 Crews
have been busy clearing slips, treefalls and taking stock of many areas of
aggregate and pavement damage. The clean-up will be ongoing throughout the next
few months.
5.16 Golden
Bay and Murchison crews did a fantastic job during the flood event to get the
network back to drivable condition.
The key areas which have significant damage are listed
below:
5.17 The
Braeburn Track had two sections where the river washed out, the road bench and
a section of the road where the stream jumped out of its channel and washed out
the road (1m trenches on both sides of the road). Work has been completed on
this road and the road has been reopened (see below photos).
Figure 10 & 11: Braeburn Track
5.18 Mangles
Valley Road had a large-scale dropout. The road has been reduced to a single
lane under priority control traffic management (see below drone photo).
Figure 12: Mangles Valley Slip
5.19 Matiri
Valley overslip. We have received confirmation from NZTA that they will fund
the repair of this slip under the increased subsidy rate being applied to the
June-July 2025 events as it progressed under the very wet conditions prior to
and during the events. Work to reopen the road is planned to start on 11 August
2025. This will require the removal of an estimated volume of 22,000m3 of
material and is expected to take about 6 weeks to complete (See below
drone photo).
Figure 13: Matiri Valley
5.20 Cobb
Valley Road and Cobb Dam Road received significant damage with a major washout
just before the Cobb River Bridge and a major slip above the Powerhouse, along
with several culvert washouts (see below photos).
Figure 14 & 15: Cobb Valley Road and Cobb Dam Road
Figure 16 & 17: Cobb Dam Road, Culvert washout &
major slip above the powerhouse
5.21 The
Ligar Bay global slip on Abel Tasman Drive moved 2-3 metres during the heavy
rainfall event. The saturated material has been cleared from the road and the
water channels cleaned out again. This is likely to be an ongoing issue
following future rainfall events (see below drone photo).
Figure 18: Ligar Bay slip
5.22 Golden
Bay has all roads open, but it has a significant task ahead clearing the Ligar
Bay slip and the Cobb Valley & Cobb Dam Roads over the next month.
Murchison has reopened all roads, except for the Matiri Valley Road, which is
expected to reopen by the end of September.
2024/25
Customer Service Request Summary
Figure 19: Sealed road service requests
5.23 Sealed
road service requests are lower compared with 2023/24. We expect this to be
related to the increased amount of maintenance that has been possible with
increased maintenance budgets from 2024/25.
Figure 20: Unsealed road service requests
5.24 Unsealed
road service requests spiked as expected with the wet weather from April-June.
This also coincided with efforts to limit maintenance over expenditure across
the road maintenance programme.
Figure 21: Drainage service requests
5.25 Drainage-related
service requests spiked with the wet weather in April-June 2025.
Figure 22: Vegetation service requests
Figure 23: Footpath service requests
5.26 Footpath-related
service requests are variable although a slight increasing trend is noticeable
and coincides with reduced funding for footpath maintenance.+
Road Safety
5.27 The
financial year ended with no further fatal or serious crashes occurring on our
local road network since the previous report. The total of three fatal and 21
serious crashes results in an increase of eight crashes over last year’s
total of 16 serious crashes, meaning we have not achieved our service
performance goal of reducing the number of fatal and serious crashes on our
network. The chart below shows an increasing trend over the latest five
financial years. Our most common crash type remains loss of control on a bend,
with 61% occurring on our rural roads.
Figure 24: Fatal and serious Crash count
Figure 25: Crash Type
5.28 The
chart below shows which users are being injured in these crashes, they are
predominantly in vehicles and motorcycles (which are overrepresented given
their relatively low numbers on our roads).
Figure 26: Casualty Type
5.29 The
latest six years have seen an increasing trend in fatal and serious crash numbers.
Figure 27 below shows that there is natural variability over the longer term
with a low around 2014 and 2015, and generally higher crash numbers prior to
1994. Note this shows data for calendar years rather than financial
years.
Figure 27: Long Term Crash Trend
Tasman’s Great Taste Trail
5.30 Some
sections of the trail suffered significant damage in the June – July 2025
flooding events. We are working to achieve having all of the trail open by
Christmas pending funding, except the section between Wakefield and Belgrove.
This section is likely to be a longer-term project to confirm feasible options
for reinstatement. The map below shows the trail status as of 30 July
2025. The Motueka River West Bank Road is expected to be opened in August.
The Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment (MBIE) do have an Extreme
Event Funding stream available for great rides. We have hosted MBIE staff and
submitted a funding application.
Figure 28: Tasman Great taste trail status
5.31 Sections
of trail that are closed are:
5.31.1 Lower
Queen Street to Rabbit Island. The raised bund that the trail is on between the
Council Stop Bank and the Waimea suspension bridge has a significant gap in it.
This will be reinstated once ground conditions have dried out. The photograph
below shows water flowing through a gap in the bund that forms the cycle trail
Figure 29: Lower Queen Street to Rabbit Island, water flowing
through a gap in the bund that forms the cycle trail
5.31.2 Higgins
Road (Wakefield) to Edward Street. A bridge on this section has suffered
relatively minor scour around the bridge abutment. Repair of the bridge
abutment is underway which will allow this section of trail to open.
Figure 30: Higgins Road (Wakefield) to Edward
Street.
5.31.3 Wakefield
to Quail Valley Road. The Wai-iti River has moved significantly in places
removing sections of trail and damaging the suspension bridge on this section,
as seen in photos below. The section will require an assessment of feasible
options for reinstatement and won’t be achieved this year.
Figures 31 & 32: Wai iti River Suspension bridge
5.31.4 Spooners
Tunnel. Significant treefall has occurred on Tunnel Road and forest owner
One Forty One are commencing salvage operations. This is expected to be
completed by Christmas. A stream at the southern portal of the Tunnel has moved
significantly towards the portal since the trail has been operating. The stream
requires resilience work to ensure it does not move further and destabilise the
tunnel portal as shown in pictures below.
Figures 33 & 34: Spooners
5.31.5 Spooners
Tunnel to Kohatu. There have been both treefall and significant slips along
this section of trail. Straightforward re-route of the trail away from slips
and forestry salvage would allow the trail to open by Christmas.
Figure 35: Spooners Tunnel to Kohatu
5.31.6 The
Pokororo to Ngatimoti section of trail has sections with significant silt
deposits and some trail surface damage to reinstate. The Pokororo
suspension bridge requires some components to be renewed.
Figure 36: Pokororo to Ngatimoti section of trail
5.31.7 The
section through the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park is closed due to slips as shown
in photo below.
Figure
37:
Kaiteriteri Mountain bike park
Road
Opening Permit Management
Corridor Access Requests
5.32 The
graph below shows the number of corridor access requests processed and approved
by month for the 2024/25 and current 2025/26 financial years.
5.33 Numbers
were down in July, partially due to contractors being busy on storm recovery
works.
Figure 37: Corridor Access Requests
Property Transactions
6.1 To
date, 160 land transactions are in progress. The largest category of
transactions are 59 leases (figure 1).
Figure 1: Property transactions August
2025
6.2 Jobs
more than 3 years old have reduced slightly to 29 (figure 2). Most of these are
property acquisitions and easements associated with water supply and
wastewater. These can be lengthy and complicated transactions.
Figure 2: Property Job over three years
6.3 The
property transactions team have been focusing on several water supply projects
requiring landowner co-operation. These are existing water supply
operations that do not have easements. These are specifically in the
rural water supply areas where during installation the then property owners
approved location of pipes within their private properties to minimise
costs. Subsequent property owners , which is historical and a
consequence of . As a result replacements and/or upgrades are very
complicated. This is particularly so where pipes are under private land
whose owner may not benefit from the upgrade.
Fleet
6.4 A diesel
van has been purchased for the newly established Animal Control team. A
van meets the need for animal control. While this decision does not align
with the Fleet Carbon Reduction Strategy, there are currently no suitable
hybrid or electric van options currently available in New Zealand.
6.5 An
additional ute has been allocated to the rivers team to support ongoing
recovery efforts. Replacement utes are programmed for next financial year
so one has been purchased earlier to cater for this need.
Facility Maintenance
6.6 Murchison
Recreation Centre - We received a wide range of prices to repair the
leaking roof. The winning price was less than a tenth of the highest price. All
work should be completed by the end of this month. The Insulated Roofing
system has condensation problems and will require remedial works in the near
term.
6.7 Motueka
Recreation Centre - Following the report from WSP Engineers, we have
received proposals with a range of solutions and costs. A business case
is being prepared for consideration and adoption in the next budgeting cycle.
6.8 Takaka
Community Arts Building - Earthquake strengthening and waterproofing is
underway for this Category 2 Heritage building. Completion is expected this
month.
6.9 Murchison
Service Centre - The old air-conditioning system was replaced this month as
it was no longer repairable.
6.10 Building
compliance streamlining - We are rationalising the number of contractors
carrying this work out to reduce costs and improve accountability.
6.11 Fire
evacuations were conducted in Takaka and Motueka recently without any issues.
Events - Port Tarakohe
6.12 The
official opening for the Port Tarakohe services facility was postponed
following the July 2025 storm events. A blessing by Mana Whenua ki Mohua
took place in early August 2025 to allow staff to move into the building.
A formal opening will take place when the Minister is available.
6.13 Very
impressive artwork was donated by Robin Slow for the new building.
6.14 Port
users are delighted with the new building.
Figure
3: Port
Tarakohe Blessing Figure
4: New Artwork donated by Robin Slow
Figure 5: New Port Tarakohe Services building
7. Reserves and Facilities
Community Housing
7.1 There
have been several tenant movements this month which is quite typical in winter.
What is unusual is the number of waitlist applicants who have declined units
for various reasons.
Community Housing Waitlist
|
Date
|
1 November
2024
|
1 January
2025
|
1 March
2025
|
1 April 2025
|
1 May 2025
|
1 June 2025
|
1 July 2025
|
|
Richmond
|
73
|
72
|
71
|
68
|
79
|
68
|
60
|
|
Motueka
|
30
|
28
|
35
|
39
|
35
|
29
|
23
|
|
Brightwater/Wakefield
|
9
|
9
|
7
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
|
Golden Bay
|
24
|
25
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
|
Murchison
|
4
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
|
Total
|
140
|
138
|
141
|
139
|
143
|
126
|
113
|
Community Halls
7.2 Lord
Rutherford Park Pavillion was the only community hall to be inundated with
flood water, and this has been assessed by the loss adjuster. The level of
damage did not reach Council’s cover threshold for an insurance claim, so
quotes are being arranged to progress the repairs. As this is unbudgeted
costs, repairs will be funded from the Hall repairs and maintenance account.
This will impact on the annual requests for upgrade and improvements from the
various Hall Committees limiting what can be accepted.
Storm damaged trees
7.3 The
focus over the last few weeks has been securing storm damaged trees, the damage
is relatively widespread, and information on effected trees can be slow in
reaching the team, however many individual trees have been made safe with a few
exceptions where the work is extensive
Figure 1: Tree Damage at Best Island
7.4 Most
storm-damaged trees around Richmond have been cleared, with the exception of a
two-hectare block of macrocarpa in Dellside Reserve that sustained extensive
damage. The remaining standing trees are now vulnerable to moderate weather
events in this high-use public area and will need to be felled. Any salvageable
timber will be sold to help offset the associated costs.
Figure 2: Dellside Reserve
Figure 3: Easby Park
7.5 The
play unit at Easby Park in Richmond will be removed as part of flood control
works scheduled to begin on 18 August 2025. In its place, a small bund will be
constructed to redirect water away from the remaining playground area, helping
to protect it from future flooding. Some existing play equipment will be
relocated on site, and staff plan to either reinstall the original play unit or
replace it with a new one.
Wakefield
Reserves storm damage
7.6 Flood
damage clearance efforts have focused primarily on addressing safety concerns
and areas where ground conditions permit machinery access. Work has commenced
in Baigent Reserve, Pigeon Valley, including reinstating fencing to prevent
vehicle entry and clearing the carpark for limited public use.
Figure 4: Baigent Bush main entrance
Campgrounds
McKee Memorial Reserve
7.7 McKee
Memorial Reserve was impacted during the recent weather event. As in 2022, the
campground was inundated with surface water runoff from the cliff areas behind
the camp and this required pumping to drain it.
7.8 A
slip occurred on the cliffs above the camp, pulling down the pipe that connects
the campground to its water supply tank located at the top of the cliff. As a
result, the camp had to be temporarily closed due to the lack of water supply.
7.9 The
existing tank is now being decommissioned and removed. A new water tank will be
installed within the campground, behind the caretaker’s office, to
improve resilience and accessibility.
7.10 On
the seaward side, recent storm surges eroded the protective clay bank, washing
out beach access points near the playground. The bund has since been
reinstated, primarily using material from nearby slips, with support from
colleagues in Land Transport and Downer.
Figure 5: McKee Campground Bund
Kina Beach
Reserve:
7.11 A
large titoki tree fell onto the caretaker’s house bus at Kina Beach
Reserve and fortunately, no injuries occurred. An arborist has since removed
several other large titoki trees identified as vulnerable to strong winds.
Additionally, the small wooden bridge that crossed the stream to the grassy
tent camping area was washed out to sea and will need to be replaced.
Owen River Campground
7.12 The
campground experienced flooding, with water reaching approximately one metre
inside the existing shower and toilet units. These facilities are at the end of
their asset life and will need to be replaced with units that can be relocated
in the event of future flooding.
Figure 6: Toilet unit at Owen River Campground, showing the water line
on the wall following recent flooding.
Kingsland
Forest Park.
7.13 Many
storm-damaged trees have been cleared from the mountain bike tracks. However, a
section of the “Escalator” climbing track remains closed and
requires further assessment and remedial work by our contractor. This area
contains numerous tree defects in close proximity to the track.
7.14 Winter
planting is nearly complete, thanks to the efforts of our contractors and the
volunteer group Keep Richmond Beautiful. The attached photos
highlight recent planting activity in front of the fire pond and the skid site
on Henry Road. 34,500 will be planted by the end of August.
7.15 A
weed control programme has just been awarded to several contractors for the
next 12 months.
Figure 7: Kingsland Forest Park Planting
Figure 8: Kingsland Forest Park Planting
Moutere
Waimea Ward
7.16 The Council
plans to take over the responsibility for opening and cleaning the Wakefield
Recreation Reserve toilet, a task recently managed by the Wakefield Football
Club. This change is intended to ease pressure on the nearby Faulkners Bush and
Whitby Green toilets, which have seen increased usage in recent months. A
particular concern is that people accessing the Faulkners Bush toilet are often
driving into the reserve near areas where children are playing, potentially
increasing the risk of accidents. While this change aims to improve safety and
accessibility, it will have a financial impact on the Reserves and Facilities
Operational Budget, estimated at $8,000 to $10,000 per annum. As a result,
staff will need to reprioritise other operational work or identify savings
elsewhere to accommodate the additional cost.
Rabbit
Island / Moturoa
7.17 Floodwater
in the front beach reserve area is draining very slowly, and road restrictions
remain in place. Water quality testing has confirmed that the freshwater is not
contaminated. However, it is expected to take several weeks for the water to
subside, and potentially several months for the ground to fully dry out and
regain firmness.
7.18 Cleanup of
numerous fallen, leaning, or snapped trees is scheduled to begin the week of
August 11. This work was delayed due to recent flooding. Estimated costs are
between $15,000 and $20,000.
Figure 9 & 10: Rabbit Island Picnic Reserve areas
Figure 11: Disc Golf Area at Moturoa
