WDC is asking residents to continue with their water conservation efforts year-round in a bid to bring the overall water consumption down and keep within the parameters of the water-take consent for the Waitomo district.

Water conservation is a top priority and some households have reduced their water use.

In December 2014, WDC monitored the water use (of un-metered properties) on a per person basis. The result for all four water supply schemes is shown below, against the water readings taken in December 2011:

2014 2011

Te Kuiti 498 L 497 L

Piopio 347 L 621 L

Mokau 212 L 171 L

Benneydale 178 L 215 L

These figures do not include commercial water use and network losses.

Benneydale resident’s are on track with their water conservation efforts when compared with the water readings taken in December 2011.

Te Kuiti and Piopio resident’s are on average using in excess of 200 litres per person, per day.

High water use places an unsustainable demand on the Mangaokewa River (Te Kuiti) and Kurutahi Stream (Piopio). These are finite water resources which must be preserved so that there is enough water for everyone now and in the future.

The financial impact of implementing universal water meters on properties across the district is significant. WDC estimates the capital cost of such a project to be $500,000 plus on-going costs to read meters on a regular basis, and to invoice customers for their water usage.

The water meter charge to ratepayers is estimated at $200 per year, per connected property. Water used over and above the accepted allocation will be on-charged to customers.

It may seem like conserving your household’s water use is a huge task and won’t make a difference. However with 1,798 properties currently connected to the Te Kuiti supply and 228 to the Piopio supply, every effort made around the home and at work to conserve water will make a difference.

Using the plug when rinsing dishes or food in the kitchen sink and turning off the tap off when you clean your teeth are easy ways for your household to save water.

June 2015

www.waitomo.govt.nz

Waitomo District Council Newsletter

Skate Park fencing The perimeter fence around the Te Kuiti

skate park will be replaced shortly, following the vandalism of several parts of the fence.

The fence is designed as a deterrent to stop people from crossing over the railway tracks, from the skate park to get to Rora Street.

We encourage people to use the pedestrian over bridge which is the safest way to get from the skate park to the main street.

Creating a better future with vibrant communities and thriving business.Like us on facebookfacebook.com/waitomodistrict

General Property revaluationThe Rating Valuations Act 1998 requires that every

property in New Zealand must be revalued for rating purposes at least once every three years.

The next revaluation will be undertaken in September 2015 by Quotable Value New Zealand (QV). The last revaluation for the district occurred in September 2012.

Every property in New Zealand has a property value that comprises the capital value and land value. Property values are one of the factors used by WDC to assess your rates.

The Capital Value of a property reflects the probable price that would be paid for the property if it had been for sale at the date of the general revaluation. This valuation does not include chattels, dairy company shares, stock, crops, machinery or trees. The valuation is deemed to include GST (if any) for residential property, and exclude GST for other property types.

Property values are assessed on behalf of Council by QV using a ‘mass appraisal’ process. This method takes into consideration your property attributes and local sales from the area around the time of the revaluation. A market trend is established and applied to similar properties.

All property owners and ratepayers will be posted notices of the revised values in October 2015. The valuation notice will detail the proposed new value of your property as at 1 September 2015.

The new values will be first used for rating purposes from 1 July 2016.

We will provide you with more information about the general property revaluation including objection close-off dates in due course.

Water conservation remains a priority

Fencing of Rail corridorKiwiRail’s contractors have erected security

fencing along the section of the rail corridor that runs adjacent to Te Kuiti’s main street.

The northern end of Rora Street; up to the Carroll Street intersection with Ward Street has now been fully fenced. This completes the fencing of the northern end of town which continues past Te Kuiti Primary School.

The identified area of fencing that is required behind the bus stop (next to the iSITE) is currently being prepared for installation.

Council signs will be installed across the district in an effort to improve public awareness of the regulations set out under the Animal Control and Public Places Bylaws.

WDC recognises that signage in public places can contribute to this while also providing direction and similar information to both local residents and visitors.

Our bylaws aim to protect the public from nuisance, promote and maintain public health and safety and minimise the potential for anti-social behaviour in Public Places.

Council also makes bylaws to manage or prevent the use of land under the control of Council and to protect such land from loss, damage or misuse.

Signs to reinforce Bylaws

Choose to slow downExcessive speed is a contributing factor in 20

percent of all fatal and serious injury crashes on New Zealand roads. It continues to be a huge public health and road safety issue. Each year, around 80 people are killed and 400 are seriously injured in speed-related crashes.

One of the current messages around road safety is ‘choose to slow down’. No one should be made to feel unsafe on or near the road.

Children walking to school, riding their bike or scooter can sometimes be hard to see in between cars or when crossing the street.

Keep an eye out for children and drive slowly around schools, when passing a school bus or approaching a pedestrian crossing.

Environmental Health ServiceWDC plays a regulatory role in promoting, protecting and

improving the health of the district’s residents. The Environmental Health Service delivers benefits to

the community by ensuring that health standards are being met for food, hairdressing salons, camping grounds and mortuary premises.

Premises selling alcohol are required to be licensed and are monitored for compliance. A detailed report is filed with the District Licensing Committee on all applications for an alcohol license and manager’s certificate. Complaints of noise and nuisances are also investigated and local bylaw’s are enforced where required.

WDC will be undertaking a new round of inspections commencing 1 July 2015 of the registered and licensed premises in the district.

In some cases there are minor house keeping matters that need attention. If there is more significant work required, then a more detailed letter is sent to the business owner and follow up inspections are carried out to ensure compliance with the relevant legislation.

Information about the Food ActThe new Food Act gives food businesses the tools to

manage food safety themselves, based on the level of risk associated with the kinds of food activity undertaken and in a way that suits their business.

The Food Act 2014 was passed into law by Parliament in 2014 but will not come into force until March 2016.

The Act will replace the Food Act 1981 and the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 which Council’s currently administer in respect to food safety and registration of premises.

The Act will be implemented in parts, between March 2016 and the end of 2019.

Council’s will continue to perform a range of roles including registration, verification (audit and inspection), investigations, advice, monitoring and enforcement, with the Environmental Health Officer approved as a verifier and Food Act Officer.

You can find out more about the Food Act by visiting: www.foodsafety.govt.nz/policy-law/food-act-2014

The purpose of the Health and Safety Reform Bill is to improve workplace health and safety and reduce the number of workplace injuries and illnesses by 25% by the year 2020.

The Bill is currently before parliament. The select committee has a report due at the end of July and then the Bill will continue its progression through the parliamentary process.

The Health and Safety at Work Act as it will be known, contains more prescriptive and defined rules around responsibilities, duties and what is expected of a workplace and an employer or employee.

Health and Safety

Phone 07 878 0800 • Fax 07 878 7771 • email info@waitomo.govt.nzCustomer Service hours Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm.

Creating a better future with vibrant communities and thriving business.

Everyone, everywhere should know the right action to take before, during and after an earthquake. All of New Zealand is prone to earthquakes. You could be anywhere when an earthquake strikes – at home, at work, at school, or on holiday.

In April, Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye launched New Zealand ShakeOut 2015, a six month campaign leading up to a national earthquake drill at 9.15am on 15 October 2015.

Over half a million students and teachers took part in the 2012 ShakeOut exercise and the aim this year is to get many other organisations involved, such as community groups, shops and businesses.

Individuals and families are encouraged to learn more about how to get through an earthquake, and take part in the drill to drop, cover and hold, a practice that could save your life.

The three large active faults that are considered ‘risky’ in the Waikato region are:

1. The Kerepehi Fault - extending along the Thames Estuary and the Hauraki Plains.

2. The Rangipo Fault - on the eastern side of Mount Ruapehu.

3. The Wairoa North Fault - running along the Bombay Hills north-east of Mercer.

There have been long gaps between earthquakes in the Waikato region. The area between Taupo and Rotorua is the most vulnerable part of our region for earthquakes. It contains many active fault lines running in a north-east direction.

If you are in an earthquake in New Zealand, Drop, Cover and Hold is still the right action to take. This is the drill that has been taught to school children for many years, and Civil Defence continues to promote this advice around the country.

If you are inside a building, move no more than a few steps, then Drop, Cover and Hold:

• DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!),

• Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and

• HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.Stay indoors till the shaking stops and you are

sure it is safe to exit. If you are outside, move away from buildings,

trees, streetlights, and power lines, then Drop, Cover and Hold. Stay there until the shaking stops.

If you are driving, pull over to a clear location, stop and stay there with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Once the shaking stops, proceed with caution and avoid bridges or ramps that might have been damaged.

You can learn more and register online by visiting www.shakeout.govt.nz/register

Mokau river jettyThere has been some recent media coverage, which in part

touched on the way in which the Mokau river jetty is used. To avoid confusion that may arise from people being misinformed,

the WDC position is summarised below.Waitomo District Council owns and provides the jetty located inside

the river mouth in Mokau. The purpose of the jetty is to assist the temporary mooring of a vessel for the purpose of loading and unloading of passengers.

The jetty is not designed to function as a wharf or to be used for mooring large vessels on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. The Regional Council’s position

Waikato Regional Council’s Navigation Safety Bylaw sets out rules for how people use lakes, rivers and harbours across the region for water activities such as water skiing, swimming, boating, kayaking; and to reduce the potential conflicts between different activities.

Section 4.5 of the Navigation Safety Bylaw outlines the responsibilities of a skipper:

‘The skipper and owner of any vessel lying at rest shall be responsible for ensuring that:

a) it is securely anchored or moored; and b) that any mooring used is of adequate specifications (size, type,

displacement) to safely accommodate the vessel to be moored.Furthermore, section 4.5.2 of the same Bylaw states that unless

otherwise authorised by the harbour master, no skipper shall moor or anchor a vessel in a location where the vessel could:

a) obstruct the passage of other vessels in any navigation channel; b) obstruct the approach to any wharf, pier or jetty; c) create a hazard to other vessels at anchor or on a mooring; or d) create a hazard for other power-driven vessels or board riders.In the event of an emergency or where there is danger to life or

property, the Bylaw allows for the detaching of the fastening securing any vessel to the dock.

We encourage skippers to follow the Bylaw and comply with WDC’s conditions for use of the Mokau river jetty; which must only be used on a temporary basis to ensure that the structure is not compromised and so access to the jetty is available to all users.

Repairs to the jetty that were identified following the recent stormy weather, are currently underway.

Parks and FacilitiesPublic spaces across the district are

maintained by WDC’s Internal Services Unit (ISU).

The ISU is a multi-functional department involved in a variety of work including mowing, planting, weeding, spraying, inspecting and repairing public playgrounds and amenities, removing graffiti and providing interment services.

The ISU mowing schedule includes the cemeteries in Te Kuiti, Mokau, Piopio, Aria and Te Waitere. In addition to this, the team supports a twice-weekly run to empty the main street litterbins in Piopio.

WDC’s annual playground audit is coming up and this provides us with an opportunity to look at the condition of the playgrounds and our level of compliance with the New Zealand Safety Standards. The audit report includes an assessment of how well the playground equipment is being maintained and recommendations to improve the equipment and layout of the playground.

Work involved in preparation for the audit will include re-mulching of the playground surfaces, water blasting the playground equipment and making repairs.

The main focus of the ISU is on maintenance mowing to reduce hazards (e.g. fire, visibility).

At certain times of the year the flushes of annual weeds grow quickly through the grass especially after rain. This can give a false impression that the grass has not been mown for a long time. However, every effort is made to get the work completed as quickly and safely as possible, with minimal disruption to the public.

To reduce safety risks to members of the public we urge people to stay clear of the areas that are being mowed and follow the advice of our staff.

The Mokau jetty is provided to assist the temporary mooring of a vessel for the purpose of loading and unloading of passengers.

Coastal erosion of reserveThe recent stormy weather brought a lot of rain and high winds for

many areas of our district. The high sea levels have resulted in coastal erosion in Mokau.

A portion of the sand turning area and the bank on the esplanade reserve (at the base of the beach access track) off Aria Terrace, has slipped away into the sea.

This area is now considerably unstable and WDC would like to urge people to stay clear of the bank and not park vehicles in this area.

Signage is currently being prepared to advise the public of the hazard.

Rock embankmentThe rock embankment located at the end of Beach and Point Road,

has held up to the recent weather events.The rock embankment was constructed in an effort to reduce the

rate of erosion of the road end, in order to secure access and to allow for a managed retreat of the affected properties.

Council recognises that the life of the structure is temporary as the entire area is subject to on-going sea erosion.

The area of the road above the rock embankment is fenced and a warning sign is in place. Council would like to remind the public that the rock embankment is unsafe and should not be fished from. Entry to this area should be avoided at all times. District cemeteries

In order to ensure that maintenance operations and future interment services are not obstructed, we ask that residents abide with the regulations outlined in Section 8 of the Public Amenities Bylaw: • All vases and containers for flowers shall be

housed in insets set into the base on which the memorial is placed.

• No planting of shrub, tree or groundcover.• No covering graves with materials such as

stones, pavers, timber edging, glass beads, artificial turf.

• Glass is a safety hazard for both visitors and staff. Please avoid bringing glass into the cemetery.

Get ready to shakeout!

Our Animal Control Bylaw is aimed at protecting the public, other dogs and animals. Your dog should not be able to freely stray from your property, at any time of the day or night. We cannot have dogs roaming around our neighbourhoods with no control or allow dogs to create a constant nuisance for other people. That is why our Animal Control Officer investigates all complaints made by the public. Report dogs wandering, barking, fouling or being aggressive by phoning Waitomo District Council on 0800 932 4357.

Dogs that are picked up by Animal Control are re-united with their owner more easily, if they are registered and micro-chipped.

Contact WDC if you have a concern about a dog

Mokau cemetery

WDC may remove damaged receptacles or receptacles of a type not approved by Council, and may also remove dead flowers and dead foliage at any time. Please respect our cemeteries and remember that they are public spaces for all people to visit.

Centennial Park