Below is a roundup of news items from December 2015. Click a link below to jump to the news item:

• Public Places Bylaw adopted
• Council to consider Awakeri Hall issues and options
• CBD Parking amendments adopted
• Sullivan Lake Reserve Management Plan approved
• No 8 Road and Whetu Road renamed
• Solar heating proposal not to proceed
• Whakatāne Aquatic Centre update received
• Mātaitai Reserve Application supported
• Livestreaming of Council meetings

Public Places Bylaw adopted

After considering 30 submissions on its Draft Public Places Bylaw, the Whakatāne District Council has reviewed the provisions relating to freedom camping and overnight parking by self-contained vehicles. The purpose of the Public Places Bylaw is to set parameters for public places within the Whakatāne District, taking community health and safety and public access and enjoyment into account.

Of the 30 submissions received at last week’s Council meeting, 19 were from residents who opposed the use of the West End car park for overnight parking. Their submissions were accompanied by a petition signed by 139 West End residents and users of the reserve. Council determined that the Freedom Camping Act meant it had no option but to retain the West End car park in the list of ‘Restricted Areas for Self-Contained Overnight Parking’, amended the proposed restrictions to prohibit that activity during the peak summer period, which will now extend from the beginning of the third week of December to 31 March. Council also agreed to retain the current status of Port Ōhope Reserve in the list of ‘Restricted Areas for Self-Contained Overnight Camping’ in the Public Places Bylaw.

The bylaw prohibits overnight parking in a number of areas in Whakatāne and Ōhope. Full details are available here.

Council to consider Awakeri Hall issues and options

Following its ‘in principle’ decision in October to divest the Awakeri War Memorial Hall and land, Council was presented with submissions and feedback on the future of the Hall from directly-affected stakeholders. While the submissions were strongly in favour of retaining the hall for community use, the Council has asked for further information on asset liabilities relating to the hall, before it makes a final decision on its future. Negotiations on the potential sale and purchase of the Awakeri War Memorial Hall were unsuccessful and the Council has determined that it would not progress with the divestment of the Hall at this time. An Awakeri War Memorial Hall Issues and Options report is expected to be presented to the Policy Committee early in 2016.

CBD Parking amendments adopted

The Council has formally approved proposed changes to the parking restrictions applying to various Whakatāne CBD streets and parking areas. Some 128 parking places in Richardson Street, the northern end of Commerce Street and the car park to the west of the Civic Centre (excluding The Strand and the northern end of Boon Street), have now been extended from one to two hours. The CBD changes will be in place from Wednesday, 23 December, with signage installed to advise motorists of the new restrictions. Signage in other areas will be installed early in 2016.

Other parking restriction recommendations adopted by the Council’s Policy Committee last week included:

• The introduction of a two-hour parking restriction on Pyne Street
• The introduction of all-day parking to replace a two-hour restriction on Louvain Street
• The introduction of a 180-minute restriction on parking spaces on Stewart Street, adjacent to Whakatāne Hospital
• The introduction of a 180-minute restriction on parking spaces on Francis Street, adjacent to Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi
• The relocation of the bus stop on The Strand East further to the east
• The formalisation of a temporary bus stop in front of the Whakatāne Intermediate School
• The introduction of loading zones on Commerce Street, adjacent to the Global Thai restaurant, and on the eastern side of the Shapley Place service lane

Sullivan Lake Reserve Management Plan approved

Council adopted the Sullivan Lake Reserve Management Plan, following its presentation to the Projects and Services Committee earlier this month. Prior to that, the draft Plan was made available for public consultation and amendments were made to take account of the feedback received. These included the addition of measurable actions to give goals more weight, and the inclusion of storm water and silt management policies and consequent action plans.

No 8 Road and Whetu Road renamed

The Council has approved the renaming of No. 8 Road and Whetu Road to Kawekawe Road and Te Whetu Road respectively. The reasons for renaming were to address an inconsistent decision in the naming of No 8 Road and to correct an error in the naming of Whetu Road. Council also agreed to revise its Road Naming and Property Addressing Policy to allow similar cases in the future.

Solar heating proposal not to proceed

A proposed solar heating installation for the Whakatāne District Aquatic Centre, which was initially approved in 2013, will not proceed. The Council had provided funding in the Annual Plan for the solar water heating project, with a budget provision of $200,000, 50% of which was expected to be funded from other sources (grants). The project assumed that the roof was available and suitable for an unglazed collector system, and the estimated energy savings were based on 2013 energy use. However, the roof has since been deemed unsuitable for the unglazed collector system and a new boiler has also resulted in significant energy efficiencies for the outdoor pool. These factors, combined with an estimated 22-25 year payback period for the project, led to Council adopting a recommendation not to proceed at this time.

Whakatāne Aquatic Centre update received

An update report on the operations of the Whakatāne Aquatic Centre highlighted a steadily performance of the facility since the Council brought the management of the centre in-house in 2012. That decision was influenced by a number of issues, including the need to provide an improved service for the community and potential savings for ratepayers

Significant investment has been committed since 2012 and public use continues to increase, as does the variety of programmes being delivered to the community. Staff culture has improved with reduced staff turnover and improved organisational engagement. Services delivered by the centre to Murupara and now Edgecumbe have also enhanced the aquatic offerings in rural centres. Capital works at the facility have supported improved service delivery and operating efficiency and customer and staff feedback since the introduction of UV water treatment earlier in 2015 has been extremely positive. The focus for 2016 will be identifying and implementing further operating efficiencies and information and reporting improvements.

Mātaitai Reserve Application supported

A report on an amended Ngāti Awa Mātaitai Reserve application concluded that there was insufficient information provided to allow a Council submission in support of the proposal. A Maitaitai Reserve is one of a suite of management tools created under the Fisheries Act 1996 and is designed to give effect to the obligations stated in the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Claim Settlement Act 1992 (to develop policies to help recognise use and management practices of Māori in the exercise of non-commercial fishing rights).

A Mātaitai Reserve excludes commercial fishing (though that can be permitted through regulations) but does not exclude recreational fishing or require recreational fishers to obtain permits or prevent non-Māori from fishing. It also does not prevent access to beaches or rivers not on private land, but does allow for bylaws to be made.

Council agreed to put forward a submission to the Ministry of Primary Industries stating its wishes to be recognised as an interested party in the process and acknowledging that the proposed Mātaitai Reserve area covers approximately 28km of coastline within the Whakatāne District Council area. The Council has noted in its submission that it has numerous responsibilities, activities and assets in the vicinity of the proposed area and it was uncertain about the implications of the Mātaitai and future bylaws on the dredging of the harbour, or the Council’s treated wastewater ocean outfall discharge. 

Livestreaming of Council meetings

Whakatāne District Council intends to trial the livestreaming of Council and committee meetings in 2016. This will enable members of the public to keep informed about decision-making processes, without needing to be present at meetings, and will also create a digital record of proceedings through the recordings provided. Subject to the availability of cost-effective filming arrangements, meetings will be recorded and available for viewing online.