SOUTHLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL
DIPTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AREA SUBCOMMITTEE
ORDINARY/ESTIMATES MEETING
12 NOVEMBER 2014
- : -
Minutes
of the Ordinary/Estimates meeting of the Dipton Community Development
Area Subcommittee held in the Dipton Hall, 2022 Lumsden Dipton Highway, Dipton
on Wednesday, 12 November 2014 at 6.05 pm.
PRESENT: S
Melvin (Acting Chair), K English, B Russell, A Taylor and
Councillor
Bailey (Ward Representative).
IN ATTENDANCE: Mayor G Tong
Mr
L Hare (Area
Engineer)
Mrs
S Marrah (Finance Manager)
Mrs
A Hamilton (Area Officer)
1.0 APOLOGIES
Apologies for non-attendance were lodged by Messrs M Smith
and K Jukes.
Moved S Melvin, seconded B Russell
and RESOLVED THAT
THE APOLOGIES LODGED BY M SMITH AND K JUKES, BE GRANTED AS LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR
THIS MEETING.
2.0 PUBLIC FORUM
There
were no members of the public requesting speaking rights under Public Forum
section of the meeting.
3.0 NOTIFICATION
OF URGENT BUSINESS
Moved S Melvin, seconded A Taylor
AND RESOLVED
THAT SUBJECT TO SECTION 46A OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL INFORMATION AND
MEETINGS ACT 1987, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS BE CONSIDERED AS A MATTER OF URGENT
BUSINESS:-
•
Extra-Ordinary Vacancy
•
Dipton Township Information Panel
It was agreed
that these items be considered in order that any actions required can be
affected prior to the next meeting.
4.0 ACTION
SHEET
The Action sheet from the Subcommittee’s previous meetings was
circulated for Members’ information.
Moved K
English, seconded B Russell
and RESOLVED
THAT THE ACTION SHEET BE RECEIVED.
Items arising
from the action sheet included:-
14.1.8.0 Dipton
Toilets
The Area
Engineer reported the estimated costings for a proposed public toilet situated
in Dipton Township is $74,000 including installation costs and provision for a
septic tank and water tank.
Mr Hare added
$8,000 will be required annually for cleaning and maintenance.
Mr
Hare advised toilets are District funded and a report is to be forwarded to
Council seeking approval for this project.
Mr Hare
advised the subcommittee will be advised in due course of Council’s
decision.
5.0 MINUTES
5.1 DIPTON COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT AREA SUBCOMMITTEE INAUGURAL MEETING DATED 16 JULY 2014
R/14/9/12499
Minutes of the Inaugural meeting of the Dipton
Community Development Area Subcommittee held on 16 July 2014, were tabled.
Moved
A Taylor, seconded K English
and
RESOLVED THAT THE MINUTES OF THE DIPTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AREA SUBCOMMITTEE
INAUGURAL MEETING HELD ON 16 JULY 2014 BE CONFIRMED AS A TRUE AND CORRECT
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS.
5.2 DIPTON COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT AREA SUBCOMMITTEE ORDINARY MEETING DATED 16 JULY 2014
R/149/13990
Minutes of the previous Ordinary meeting of the
Dipton Community Development Area Subcommittee held on 16 July 2014, were
tabled.
Moved
A Taylor, seconded K English
and
RESOLVED THAT THE MINUTES OF THE DIPTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AREA SUBCOMMITTEE
ORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 16 JULY 2014 BE CONFIRMED AS A TRUE AND CORRECT RECORD
OF PROCEEDINGS.
6.0 REPORTS
6.1 WORKS
AND FINANCE REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
200/25/2/3
Works
& Finance Report for the period ended 30 September 2014, prepared by Mr L
Hare (Area Engineer), was tabled.
Mr
Hare advised the Subcommittee of the following;
§
Spiritburn Road and Carolyn Valley Road drainage issue
§
Budget units are on target excepting the hall budget which is
overspent due to a one off insurance payment.
§
Taskforce workers have cleaned out the ditches in the township
which has improved the flow.
§
New beam to be constructed at the Cemetery. Mrs English
commented the Cemetery is looking good.
§
Re-seal work being undertaken at the intersection of the Lumsden
Dipton Highway and Dipton Castlerock Road has been placed on hold due to the
repair work not being effective because of logging trucks turning onto the main
road and damaging any repair work. Mr Hare advised further investigations
to be undertaken in this area.
Items
raised by Members for discussion included;
§
Request for staff to investigate a missing plaque situated on the
ashes berm of the Dipton Cemetery in the name of “A Mayar”.
§
Request for staff to arrange for removal of willow branches
hanging over the Benmore Bridge.
Moved
K English, seconded B Russell
and
RESOLVED THAT THE WORKS AND FINANCE REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER
2014 FOR THE DIPTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AREA SUBCOMMITTEE, BE RECEIVED.
6.2 UNAUDITED ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE
YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2014
R/14/9/12538
Unaudited
Annual Accounts for the year ended 30 June 2014, prepared by Mr L Hare (Area
Engineer), was tabled.
§
The Area Engineer informed no general projects,
minimal maintenance in street works and no stormwater monitoring has resulted
in a small surplus to reserves rather than a deficit.
§
Members noted the accounts are now audited and no changes have
been made.
§
Following discussion it was agreed that staff
arrange to combine the Dipton footpath and general reserve accounts
Moved A
Taylor, seconded S Melvin
and RESOLVED
THAT THE UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2014, BE RECEIVED.
6.3 SPEED LIMIT REVIEWS
320/30/3/6 R/14/7/10702
Report prepared by Mr J McCallum (Roading Engineer),
advising Council is currently reviewing the Speed Limit Bylaw and seeking the
support of this Subcommittee to retain the existing speed limit in the township
of Dipton, was tabled.
The Subcommittee was advised that the Speed Limit Bylaw
2005 was introduced in compliance with the statutory requirements under the
Land Transport Rule 54001: Setting of Speed Limits 2003, and all road
speed limits that were gazetted at that time were taken over by Southland
District Council as the Local Roading Authority. The Speed Limit Bylaw
was subsequently introduced to correctly record the speed limit restrictions
within the District.
The Subcommittee was informed this Bylaw and its amendments
are now being reviewed.
The Subcommittee noted staff recommend that the existing
speed limited be retained within the township of Dipton.
Moved K English, seconded B Russell
and RESOLVED:-
(a)
THAT THE REPORT ON SPEED LIMIT REVIEWS,
BE RECEIVED.
(b) THAT THE DIPTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AREA SUBCOMMITTEE
SUPPORTS RETAINING THE EXISTING SPEED LIMITS, FOR ROADS WITHIN THE DIPTON
TOWNSHIP.
6.4 DRAFT
ESTIMATES AND LOCAL ACTIVITY PLAN INFORMATION FOR THE DRAFT LONG TERM PLAN
(LTP) 2015
R/14/10/16269
Report by Mr L
Hare, Area Engineer and Mrs S Marrah, Finance Manager, providing an overview of
the local activities and services for Dipton for 2015-2025 which are provided
under the governance of the Dipton Community Development Area Subcommittee, was
tabled.
The subcommittee
noted the report details the estimated costs of these activities over the 10
years as well as the draft rates.
It was further
noted that the draft estimates will be incorporated into the Council’s
draft Long Term Plan (LTP) which will be released for consultation in March
2015. Once the Plan is finalised (and subject to any changes resulting
from submissions), the estimates shown for 2015/2016 will be used to set rates
for the year beginning 1 July 2015 (LTP year 1).
The subcommittee
was also informed the objective of the report is to highlight issues, confirm
priorities and plan expenditure and funding for the next 10 years as part of
the Council’s LTP.
6.4 DRAFT
ESTIMATES AND LOCAL ACTIVITY PLAN INFORMATION FOR THE DRAFT LONG TERM PLAN
(LTP) 2015 (CONT’D)
R/14/10/16269
Furthermore the
report outlines a summary of all planned projects for the Dipton community for
the next 10 years as extracted from the AMPs.
The subcommittee
noted that the report is organised into four main sections as follows:
a) Overviews;
this section
includes details of the proposed rates for the Dipton community (compared to
the previous year).
b) Information;
this section is organised by rate type.
c) Planned
Projects;
this section includes a list of the
maintenance and capital projects planned for the Dipton community for the next
10 years.
d) Appendices;
contains
detailed reports in support of information in the body of the report.
Key Matters
for the Dipton Community
The subcommittee was informed the key matters
for the Dipton community for the next 10 years are:
·
In 2015/2016 it is forecasted to replace the ceiling in the
Playcentre this is to be funded from general reserves.
·
In 2018/2019 it is forecasted to external repaint the hall to be
funded by reserves and loan as the hall reserve runs out as a result of funding
this project.
In regard to the
key matters outlined above the subcommittee agreed that due to the Playcentre
ceiling replacement work having been completed that funds up to $10,000 be set
aside in 2015/2016 for hall maintenance work, as required, and to be funded
from hall reserves.
Members requested
the key matter relating to the external repaint of the hall be deleted and that
funding up to $28,000 be set aside in the 2018/2019 for a hall project and that
it be funded from hall reserves and loan monies.
Other issues
outlined in the report and drawn to the attention of the subcommittee included;
·
Options available to the subcommittee regarding the budgets as
presented
·
Consideration of Community Views; Any significant issues
affecting local communities may be included in the official consultation
document which will be publicly available from 21 March 2015 to 20 April
2015. The consultation document will be posted out to each household
throughout the District.
·
Financial considerations including funding of depreciations used
in preparing the 10 year forecast.
·
Population and Dwelling projections which outlines assumptions
about future population, use of land and occupied dwellings based upon data
from the 2013 census. These assumptions allow Council to take a
consistent approach to planning its activities over the next 10 years and what
the likely demand for services will be across the District. They also
inform the setting of levels of service for each activity.
6.4 DRAFT
ESTIMATES AND LOCAL ACTIVITY PLAN INFORMATION FOR THE DRAFT LONG TERM PLAN
(LTP) 2015 (CONT’D)
R/14/10/16269
At this point Mrs
Marrah explained the rate proposed for 2015/2016 with the proposed rate to be
collected being $17,322 ($88.83 per unit) and the hall rate to be $9,314
($49.02 per unit).
A general
discussion then took place on the financial summary and rates calculations and
also there was discussion on population data and previous submissions lodged by
the CDA in 2013/2014.
Moved B Russell, seconded K English
and RESOLVED THAT:-
(a) That the report on the
draft estimates and local activity plan information for Dipton be received.
(b) That the Dipton draft
estimates for 2015-2025 be adopted for inclusion in the Council’s draft
Long Term Plan, with the following amendments;
• Hall
maintenance in 2015/2016 with $10,000 to be allocated from hall reserves.
• Hall
project in 2018/2019 with $28,000 to be allocated from hall reserves and a
loan.
• Information
panel in 2016/2017 with $5,000 to be funded from general reserves.
(c) That
the Southland District Council be requested to include a proposal to set the
following rates and charges (including GST) for the year commencing 1 July 2015
based on the approved estimates in (b) above in the draft 2015-2025 Long Term
Plan.
|
Rate
|
Rate GST inclusive
|
|
Dipton CDA Rate
|
$17,322
|
|
Dipton Hall Rate
|
$9,314
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(d) That
the Dipton Community Development Area Subcommittee identify the following
priority projects for the local area for inclusion in the 2015-2025 Long Term
Plan consultation process;
•
Hall maintenance
•
Hall project
•
Information Panel
7.0 CHAIRPERSON’S
REPORT
Mrs
Melvin (Acting Chair) reported on the progress of a community project to erect
a War Memorial information board in the Dipton Township.
Mrs
Melvin advised funding of $1,400 has been received through the Northern
Southland Development fund and that further research work is to be undertaken.
7.0 HALL
REPORT
Mrs
Melvin reported on issues relating to the Dipton Hall. These being:-
§
A review of the electrical switchboard in the hall has recently
been undertaken with the electrician stating the board is to a high standard.
§
Informal meeting to be arranged with Council Property Officer, Mr
G Hall, to discuss possibility of the external repaint of the hall being
cancelled and the monies set aside in the LTP for this purpose being used to
paint the interior of the hall and the toilets.
8.0 COUNCILLOR’S
REPORT
Councillor
Bailey reported on matters from the District table. These included:-
§
Dangerous dog issues
§
Opening of Stage one of the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail
§
District Plan out for public consultation
§
Long Term Plan (LTP) 2015-2025 under review
9.0 MAYOR
TONG
His
Worship Mayor Tong updated on activities with which he has recently been
involved, which included meeting with the Sarah Dowie MP for Invercargill.
Mayor
Tong added Council is proactive in community consultation on projects and that
he is always available to be contacted and will attend CDA meetings when he is
able.
10.0 CONSIDERATION
OF URGENT BUSINESS
10.1 EXTRA-ORDINARY
VACANCY
Communication
from subcommittee member Mr K Jukes tendering his resignation from the Dipton
Community Development Area (CDA) Subcommittee, creating a vacancy on this
Subcommittee, was tabled.
Mrs
Hamilton advised the options available to the Subcommittee are:-
1. Do nothing – i.e. carry the vacancy until the next Triennial
meeting which would be held February/March 2017.
10.0 CONSIDERATION
OF URGENT BUSINESS (CONT’D)
10.1 EXTRA-ORDINARY
VACANCY
2. Appoint highest unsuccessful candidate at the last CDA Triennial
elections; this does not apply for this particular Subcommittee as the required
6 candidates were nominated at the last Triennial elections.
3. Subcommittee members to canvas the community for suitable nominees
to fill the vacancy.
Members
discussed options available and it was agreed that Mrs Taylor liaise with the
Chair to canvas the community for a suitable nominee to fill the vacancy on the
CDA and a recommendation of a suitable nominee be presented to the next CDA
meeting
It
was further agreed a letter of appreciation be forwarded to Mr Jukes for his
contribution to the CDA.
Moved
S Melvin, seconded A Taylor
and
RESOLVED:-
·
THAT THE LETTER OF RESIGNATION OF SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER MR K JUKES
BE ACCEPTED WITH REGRET.
·
THAT THE DIPTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
AREA SUBCOMMITTEE CANVAS THE COMMUNITY FOR A SUITABLE NOMINEE TO FILL THE
VACANCY ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND SUBSEQUENTLY A RECOMMENDATION OF A SUITABLE
NOMINEE BE PRESENTED TO THE NEXT CDA MEETING.
·
THAT A LETTER OF APPRECIATION BE FORWARDED TO MR K JUKES FOR HIS
CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND THE COMMUNITY.
10.2 DIPTON
TOWNSHIP INFORMATION PANEL
Mrs
Melvin raised the issue of establishing an Information Panel in Dipton Township
depicting historical / current events.
Mrs
Melvin suggested the Information panel could replace the existing bus shelter
which is in need of repair.
Members
concurred with Mrs Melvin’s comments and it was agreed that in the first
instance the subcommittee researches suitable relevant information to be placed
on the Panel and then liaise with the Area Engineer to progress this project.
11.0 CONCLUSION
The meeting concluded at 7.45 pm.
CONFIRMED:
|
Dipton
Community Development Area Subcommittee
01 July 2015
|
|
Freedom
Camping
Record No: R/15/6/9803
Author: Michael
Sarfaiti, Environmental Health Manager
Approved by: Bruce
Halligan, GM - Environment and Community
☐
Decision ☒ Recommendation ☐ Information
Purpose
1 To
give the Subcommittee an opportunity to discuss freedom camping in preparation
for an upcoming freedom camping review.
Executive
Summary
2 It
is expected that Council will be carrying out preliminary consultation before
drafting a new Freedom Camping Bylaw 2015, by public survey.
The Subcommittee is invited to discuss freedom camping in light of this
survey.
|
Recommendation
That the Dipton
Community Development Area Subcommittee:
a) Receives
the report titled “Freedom Camping” dated 8 June 2015.
b) Determines
that this matter or decision be recognised as not significant
in terms of Section 76 of the Local Government Act 2002.
c) Determines
that it has complied with the decision-making provisions of the Local
Government Act 2002 to the extent necessary in relation to this decision; and
in accordance with Section 79 of the Act determines that it does not require
further information, further assessment of options or further analysis of
costs and benefits or advantages and disadvantages prior to making a decision
on this matter.
d) Discusses
the draft freedom camping public survey.
|
Content
Background
3 The
Southland District Council (SDC) will be carrying out preliminary consultation
before drafting a new Freedom Camping Bylaw 2015. A draft bylaw may be
considered by Council on 5 August 2015, and if approved after a formal
consultation process, would be in force in time at the start of summer.
4 The
reason for the early review of Council’s Camping Control Bylaw 2012 is to
resolve serious concerns with the Waikawa freedom camping site, and to
standardise with the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association model bylaw.
5 Freedom
camping means camping in public places, as opposed to camping in a camping
ground.
6 Freedom
camping is defined in the Freedom Camping Act 2011 as follows:
“In this Act, freedom
camp means
to camp (other than at a camping ground) within 200 m of a motor vehicle
accessible area or the mean low-water springs line of any sea or harbour, or on
or within 200 m of a formed road or a Great Walks Track, using one or more of
the following:
(a) a
tent or other temporary structure:
(b) a
caravan:
(c) a car,
campervan, house-truck, or other motor vehicle.”
7 Therefore,
back country freedom camping cannot be regulated under Council’s camping
control bylaw. The kiwi (and local) tradition of taking a tent to a
remote area is not regulated under freedom camping bylaws.
8 Councils
can have different rules for self-contained camping (eg a motor caravan that
has its own toilet, shower, and waste water storage) and non-self-contained
camping (eg a tent, car).
9 Council
can regulate freedom camping on Council controlled land by making a
bylaw. The Department of Conservation manages freedom camping on
Conservation land.
10 Currently
in the Southland District, freedom camping is generally permitted except in
sensitive areas (townships), and also has designated camping sites as follows:
11 Camping
is currently permitted on Council controlled land in Dipton (from the Camping
Control Bylaw 2012).
Issues
Concerns from Southern Rural Fire (SRF)
12 SRF
has completed a survey that indicates that about half of freedom campers light
open fires. SRF believes that tourists may not be aware of fire rules,
and during a fire ban there is a clear risk that a camping fire has serious
implications for emergency service resources and potential loss of natural
resources to an area.
13 SRF
supports the limitation of freedom camping to designated sites that can be
controlled by signage and safe fire facilities on-site.
Waikawa
14 There
is evidence to suggest that the use of the Waikawa Domain for
non-self-contained camping should be discontinued (rubbish, effluent disposal
problems, associated costs). The freedom camping problem is expected to
worsen in Waikawa.
Non-self-contained
camping
15 There
are a number of councils that prohibit non-self-contained camping, locally
including Clutha and Queenstown. Other examples are Hastings, Kapiti,
Thames Coromandel, Tararua, and Tasman. As described in the
‘Background’ above, SDC’s current Camping Bylaw is very
permissive in comparison.
Release
of a model bylaw
16 In
November 2013, the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) prepared a
Model Freedom Camping Bylaw in consultation with Local Government New Zealand
(LGNZ), Department of Conservation and Department of Internal Affairs, and is
available for download from the LGNZ website. Council’s lawyer has
advised that the model bylaw is well written, and the proposed review process
would be a good opportunity to standardise Council’s Camping Bylaw.
This would provide a foundation for progressing motorhome friendly status of
those towns that wish to have it in due course.
Draft
public SDC freedom camping survey
17 The
draft public survey is in Attachment A. At the time of the
Subcommittee’s meeting, this survey will be live. The meeting of the
Subcommittee is an opportunity to discuss freedom camping and to complete the
survey.
Staff
comments
18 The
Subcommittee may consider the following:
· Make
a decision whether a designated site for freedom camping should be established
in or near the town. These sites can have their problems (refer Waikawa
above) but also may attract visitors. A toilet would be a prerequisite, but not
necessarily rubbish facilities. A discussion on cost-benefit is in
‘Costs and Funding’ below.
· To
incorporate any amendments into the proposed draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2015,
these areas would need to be finalised by around the first week of July.
Factors to Consider
Legal
and Statutory Requirements
19 There
are no legal considerations.
Community
Views
20 Feedback
is currently being sought from some Community Boards and Community Development
Area Subcommittees. A public survey is proposed. A draft bylaw
would go through the special consultative process.
Costs
and Funding
21 Decisions
to restrict freedom camping in our district have a range of economic impacts,
including:
· Costs
to ratepayers to maintain facilities and pay for rubbish collection.
· Reduction
in demand for the services of local accommodation providers.
· As
well as owners of commercial accommodation sites, others in the local community
can benefit. Commercial accommodation sites employ local people, pay
local rates, and buy goods and services locally. This creates a flow on
effect into the broader business community in the local area through the
purchase of supplies and services.
· Concerns
that users of free camping areas contribute far less to the local community
than users of commercial caravan parks. Such users may come with supplies
purchased in other areas and may not contribute to the local economy at all.
· Conversely,
there is an argument that although commercial accommodation providers may
benefit from additional restrictions to freedom camping, communities may benefit
from the camper expenditure.
22 As
well as the economic costs, social impacts should also be considered.
Social impacts include the limited use of reserves and facilities for locals as
a result of fouling and other camping related activities.
Policy
Implications
23 There
are no policy implications.
Analysis
Options Considered
24 The
options are whether or not to complete the survey.
Analysis of Options
Option 1 - To complete a survey (note - do not use
the draft in Attachment A as it may not be the same as the live version)
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
|
· It
would be helpful for the Council to know the views of the Subcommittee with
respect to these matters.
· An
opportune time to have a say on local freedom camping issues.
|
· None
identified.
|
Option 2 - To not complete a survey
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
|
· Inverse
of the above.
|
· Inverse
of the above.
|
Assessment of Significance
25 This
issue is not significant in accordance with Council’s Significance and
Engagement Policy.
Recommended Option
26 Option
1 is recommended.
Next Steps
27 If
the Subcommittee accepts the recommendation of this report, then this issue can
be progressed by staff.
Attachments
a Draft
Public Survey View
