Regional council posts near $17m surplus in ‘turbulent year’
From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
The West Coast Regional Council has posted "an unexpectedly large" surplus of $16.6 million in its delayed 2020-21 annual report.
The draft, cleared by Audit NZ, will be tabled on Tuesday at the audit and risk committee meeting, and is expected to be formally adopted next month.
The report is late due to Covid-related constraints on the auditing process. The reporting time was relaxed nationally through a law change for a large number of affected local authorities.
Chairman Allan Birchfield described 2020-21 as a "turbulent year" as the long-term impacts of Covid were felt throughout the region.
Revenue was greater than budgeted by $17.4m, mainly due to the transfer of the Greymouth floodwall assets from the Grey District Council to the regional council. The floodwall has since been valued at $15.6m.
The addition of the floodwall increased the infrastructure asset base to $103.7m, and dominated the council's balance sheet.
Subsidies and grants were $1.1m more than budgeted because of higher than expected funding from the Government for infrastructure projects.
Investment income was up $679,000 because of better than expected returns on investments.
Expenditure was up $809,000, mainly due to unforeseen spending on infrastructure. In particular, $452,000 was spent on modelling for the Westport flood warning forecast, part of the requirements for the proposed flood protection scheme.
In the year to June 30 last year, part-year remuneration for then chief executive Vin Smith totalled $168,115 (2019-20 it was $255,729).
Mr Smith left during July 2021, and therefore any related severance pay will not be disclosed until next year's annual plan.
Total costs for the council's 73 staff was $6.5m (75 staff and $5.8m the previous year).
Elected representative costs were $409,454 (2019-2020 $372,718).
Three staff members earned between $160,000 and $280,000. The council also had eight staff receiving between $100,000 and $159,999; the previous year it had six in that pay bracket.
Current chief executive Heather Mabin said 'governance' costs of $642,152 were over-budget by $220,149.
Ms Mabin said that reflected increased costs of finalising the 10-year long-term plan.
The increased governance cost was predominantly audit fees, she said.
Birchfield said the council was successful in receiving $900,000 in 2020-21 to fund flood resilience projects in the Hokitika, Greymouth and Westport rating districts.
Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?
We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
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Food and product recalls
These items have been recalled during the last month. If you have any of these items at home, click on the title to see the details:
Product recalls
Avanti, Malvern Star & Raleigh bicycles
Yoto Kids Speaker
Anko Kids Pyjamas
Battery drill chainsaw attachment
Industrial pedestal misting fan
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Food recalls:
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Matakana Smokehouse gravlax/salmon
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We hope this message was helpful in keeping your household safe.
Penguin protocol overlooked during emergency rock works
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A local penguin trust had to intervene during emergency repairs to a temporary rock buffer, north of the Hokitika seawall, where Kororā are known to nest.
The West Coast Regional Council rockwork buffering the Hokitika Beach headland, behind the Revell Street residential area, was undermined following a storm which hit the region from April 9-12.
The section of beach - between Beach and Hampden streets - was scoured out leaving a rock overhang, which posed a potential fall risk for beach users below, council said.
Acting catchments manager Shanti Morgan said the emergency work in the past 10 days to fix that had included re-positioning rock moved during the recent storm and adding extra material to remediate the worst erosion.
The area is an active habitat for the kororā or little blue penguin, which breeds and moults on the Hokitika foreshore.
Morgan said the council had worked with the West Coast Penguin Trust and the Department of Conservation (DOC).
However, West Coast Penguin Trust manager Inger Perkins said they only became aware of the work after the Kororā habitat in beach head vegetation had been disturbed the day after the work started on April 12.
She said the breeding cycle for Kororā in vegetation on the foreshore was quite broad, meaning the presence of penguin at any time.
"Fundamentally, they could be in their nests at any time of the year."
Perkins said she was disappointed given the trust and the council had agreed protocols around emergency rock work in penguin habitats.
The council's decision on April 12 to start work meant the trust was not on the ground to point out the area is still an active breeding area, she said.
"The decision was made quite quickly without the people being involved who know that."
Perkins said when she became aware of the work the following day she asked the contractor to stop clearing vegetation due to the penguin nesting site.
The contractor was "very responsive".
Perkins said there had been no need to remove vegetation to do the emergency work, based on their previously agreed protocol with council around access to such work areas. The protocol was to construct a ramp to get access down to the beach.
"It was hugely disappointing that all the submissions, all the collaboration with council putting in signs and the GPS (co-ordinates), that none of that had come before those that were making an urgent decision. It is just frustrating ... why isn't this front of view?"
However, Perkins said council had then been "immediately responsive" when the issue was raised.
Morgan said the team considered all adverse environmental impacts prior to works occurring, including assessing the time of year penguins typically nest (July-November).
"Being outside this key season, there is very little penguin presence in the area."
Morgan said the work was completed under emergency consent conditions as a risk to public safety was identified.
"Overhanging rock that could potentially fall on beach users was removed and the site secured, making the best use of onsite material.
"Disturbance of overhanging vegetation was kept to a minimum and only removed what was necessary to ensure public safety."
Meanwhile, a proposal to do further work would be discussed at the first meeting of the Hokitika Joint committee on May 6.
This would detail options for reinstating protection against the coastal hazard.
A long-term solution and advancing a consent application is in train to extend the existing 2013-built Hokitika Seawall north as well addressing coastal inundation on the Hokitika River side.
"A hearing date to be set by the Independent Commissioner is currently pending."
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