Horizons and Rangitīkei councils find ways to collaborate

Horizons chair Nikki Riley says Horizons councillors have been meeting with their counterparts at city and district councils in the region over the last few months, as part of an annual programme to meet one-on-one. 

“These meetings are a chance for us to share what we are doing, and to hear from them about any areas that could do with some clarity or attention,” says Cr Riley.

“We recently met with Rangitīkei District councillors and were able to discuss a range of topics. As we face amalgamation in the future, these types of meetings are more important than ever as they allow us to build on existing relationships and strengthen awareness of what is happening for each council 

“We covered issues relevant to both councils right now, such as local government reform, rates capping and other challenges, and shared how we are each progressing our Long-term Plans (LTP)."

“We spoke about topics that are important to our community, such as pest plant and pest animal control, public transport and the dumping of rubbish under bridges.

“There was particular interest in river management activities, including ongoing work within the Lower Rangitīkei River Scheme, the second largest of the region’s 34 river and drainage schemes.

“Rangitīkei District councillors asked about the build-up of logs at Scotts Ferry and whether intervention was required. Ongoing monitoring, including through site webcams, has shown that these accumulations can be redistributed naturally during significant river flows, as occurred during Cyclone Gabrielle. We will continue to monitor the area and manage it as part of our broader river management programme. 

“We discussed the impact of February’s storm event near Hunterville, including the performance of the dam network that helps protect the township, debris removal completed following the event, and the additional recovery work undertaken within the Porewa Scheme — which provides flood protection for Hunterville. Councillors were also updated on further work planned within the scheme.

“Councillors were also updated on the ongoing maintenance and repair programme delivered across Horizons’ river and drainage schemes, which collectively include more than 3,900 flood protection and drainage assets. 

“One of the points raised during our discussions was community expectations for river management and the importance of balancing levels of service, risk reduction and available funding across the region. Prioritising investment where it delivers the greatest benefit remains an important part of managing our river and drainage schemes.”

The discussion with Rangitīkei District councillors was constructive, providing an opportunity to share information, discuss local priorities and strengthen collaboration on issues that are important to the Rangitīkei community, says Cr Riley. 

Rangitīkei District Council deputy mayor Dave Wilson says it was important to have conversations like those had with Horizons.

“We both agreed it was important our local communities know we are working together, sharing ideas and collaborating to provide solutions for them,” says Cr Wilson.

“It was a good opportunity to hear from Horizons about what they are doing, and for us to highlight things we know our community want us to focus on.

“We welcome the opportunity to continue to work collaboratively and share our knowledge,” says Cr Wilson.