Newsline 256 - 29 July 2011

Friday 29 July 2011

This page contains articles from Issue 256 of Newsline.
Download as a PDF: Newsline 256 - 29 July 2011

More People In Tasman Are About To ‘Get Moving’

New region wide initiative focused on getting people walking, running and cycling.

Tasman and Nelson residents are set to become fitter and healthier thanks to $300,000 from SPARC’s Active Communities fund for the “Get Moving” project. Tasman District Council, Nelson City Council and Nelson Marlborough District Health Board will add to that funding to create a total investment of $450,000 over the three years of the project.

“Get Moving” aims to encourage more people in our region to walk and cycle, plus to connect them with local clubs and sports organisations. Council staff time and volunteers will contribute to the campaign.

“Our region is already an active one” says Mike Tasman-Jones, Tasman District Council’s Community Recreation Adviser and leader of the Get Moving Project. “What we want to achieve with Get Moving is to get even more people cycling, walking and running on a daily basis for recreation and sport.”

Get Moving will develop a range of entry level activities and events to encourage people to participate. It’s known that safety concerns, lack of knowledge of routes, lack of support and having no-one to participate with are key barriers to getting involved. Get Moving addresses this by creating and promoting fun, local and flexible opportunities. The “have a go type” events across the region will be a first step but we will be encouraging participants to challenge themselves by getting into entry level competitive events run by local clubs, event organisers and Get Moving.

Alongside these activities a coordinating framework will be developed so that clubs and event organisers can work better together ensuring that the community can easily find out what’s on and how they can get involved.

“Councils are continuing to invest in wonderful sports infrastructure across the region including walk and cycle paths, sports fields and athletic tracks” said Mike, “with projects like Get Moving we want to ensure all the community get the opportunities to enjoy and benefit from this investment”.

Get Moving is an initiative of the Tasman District Council with input and support from local cycling and athletic clubs and organisations, Nelson City Council, Nelson Marlborough District Health Board and Sport Tasman. The target is to get over 200 people participating in activator programmes, 1000 in Ride and Stride, 500 in guided walks and rides and 1000 in Get Moving walking and cycling events.

The first Get Moving initiatives are targeted for Spring 2011. Look out for opportunities to join in and get active.

Mayor’s Comment

As the closing date for submissions to the Local Government Commission draws closer the level of interest in the draft reorganisation plan issued by them for the union of Tasman and Nelson has grown - and rightly so, as it is a once in a generation, or possibly lifetime, decision.

In the meantime the Council has written an open letter to the Commission asking them to correct the many and fundamental flaws in their informing reports. We have done this to ensure all people, not just those in Tasman, have the correct facts in front of them when they come to express their opinion about what is proposed.

Some commentators have accused us of being intransigent and having our heads in the sand in taking this action and our position overall. We, however, do not agree as it is our duty to ensure that the best interests of the District are served and we do not believe this proposal achieves this.

At the beginning of this process people were told that all the options would be investigated, this has not happened. What we have is a proposal that has raised a number of concerns regarding its treatment of the District’s representation, of the many and varied communities of interest in the District and region and the proposed costs to the average ratepayer.

Prior to, and continuing throughout, the process a great deal of rhetoric has been heard. However, as evidenced by the letter within this Newsline, we are concentrating on ensuring residents have clear and accurate facts in front of them. This is especially important if they are going to be asked to make a decision next year.

If people have issues with their respective governance bodies they are in a far better position to make truly beneficial changes in the current environment and not take the risk that some are asking you to take and accept a proposal that comes with unquantifiable costs attached.

– Mayor Richard Kempthorne

Takaka Fire Main Commissioned

Over forty Takaka business owners, volunteer fire personnel and Council staff braved a mid-winter day of rain and wind to celebrate the commissioning of the township’s fully reticulated firefighting water main.

Recognised as a community need after the disastrous Fonterra fire of 2005 and highlighted by the Commercial Street fire last year, the new system is designed to service the fire protection needs of the Takaka central business district.

In performing the opening honours, retired Councillor Noel Riley spoke of the thorough consultation process Council had carried out with the Takaka community to ensure this important asset was achieved. “The Council and Community Board along with the New Zealand Fire Service personnel worked well together to ensure that everyone had their say in the best firefighting water supply for our town”, he said.

The project cost $1.065 million and the water is sourced from wells behind the Takaka fire station. It provides local and immediate access to water supplies required by the fire brigade. Chief Fire Officer, Phillip Woolf acknowledged “former Chief Fire Officers who all worked hard towards this day when the reticulated water main has been commissioned”. He also praised the Council, the Community Board and Council staff for their support of the Volunteer Fire Brigade to finally build this important water supply. “We no longer have to rely on the water tanks on our trucks to do the job for our community”, he said.

The design and construction phase was also significant in regard to the consultation with the affected business community. The timing and management of the project was agreed to by all parties to minimise disruption within the busy Christmas period and construction season.

Council Asks Commission To Correct Union Reports Errors

The reports that were used by the Wellington based Local Government Commission (LGC) to create its draft reorganisation scheme for the union of Nelson City and Tasman District contain a number of significant factual errors, omissions and unsubstantiated assertions.

It is vitally important that the LGC corrects these errors and its subsequent findings to make sure that the final proposal, which all residents in Tasman could be asked to vote on early in 2012, is a correct and accurate document that you can have faith in.

Paul Wylie, Chief Executive at Tasman District Council, has written a letter on behalf of the full Council to the LGC highlighting the errors, which we have printed below. Appendices to this letter, which contains details of about 70 errors in the Strateg.Ease report, can be found at the link below if you want to view them.

Information for Residents on the Tasman District Council website

Letter on behalf of Council to the LGC

Dear Sir

Proposal For The Union Of Nelson City And Tasman District

Tasman District Council elected members and staff have now had the opportunity to review the draft reorganisation proposal for the union of Nelson City and Tasman District, the Commission’s decision report and the two supporting reports. We have identified what we consider are a number of factual errors, omissions and unsubstantiated assertions in the reports, particularly the Strateg.Ease report, that we wish to bring to the attention of the Commission.

Council is concerned to ensure that members of the public are able to submit on the draft reorganisation proposal in the context of information contained in the reports being correct. We also wish to clarify with the Commission that our interpretation of the reports is correct through raising these matters with you.

Please note that this is not the formal submission of Tasman District Council on this matter. It is an interim communication raising some concerns about the factual basis of the reports.

Tasman District Council will consider whether to make a submission on the draft reorganisation proposal in due course.

Council notes that at the same time as the Commission’s report and the draft scheme were released, the Commission released two reports, the first a report dated May 2011 from Strateg.Ease and the second, an internal report from presumably staff at the Local Government Commission entitled “Background Report on Communities of Interest and Planning in Relation to the Proposal for the Union of Nelson City and Tasman District” dated 13 June 2011.

Release of these two reports by the Commission indicates clearly that the Commission intended that, to inform the public submission process, these reports be read at the same time as its decision report and its draft reorganisation proposal.

As noted above Council has identified a number of factual errors, omissions and unsubstantiated assertions, particularly in the Strateg.Ease report, which may lead the public to draw inappropriate, and at times false, conclusions about the existing situation with regard to the provision of good local government in the Nelson and Tasman region/district. Council’s analysis of the Strateg.Ease report is set out in tabular form in an appendix attached to this letter.

The report entitled “Background Report on Communities of Interest and Planning in Relation to the Proposal for the Union of Nelson City and Tasman District” also contains statements that are inaccurate. While we have concerns relating to these matters, we recognise that this report is more subjective and we may, therefore, address our concerns in any submission the Council may decide to make.

The most significant factual errors, omissions and unsubstantiated assertions in the reports include:

1. The ability of the existing local authorities to borrow to discharge their responsibilities more efficiently and effectively.

The Strateg.Ease report claims a new merged council would have a far stronger balance sheet, and therefore be able to do things that the two independent Councils cannot do. In the Executive Summary, the report implies that one of the key benefits of amalgamation is that it will enable the new Council to “fund an extra $177.4 million of expenditure” through additional borrowing capacity.

We have looked carefully at this claim. The reality is that the whole is only as good as the sum of the parts. Just bringing two things together does not change the debt, or the assets, or the ability of ratepayers to afford the debt servicing costs. At the moment Tasman District Council’s policy is to limit its debt to no greater than 20% of its assets. Nelson City Council uses different limits which are more restrictive than Tasman’s. For some reason the consultants have suggested that a new council could increase the limit to 25%. The existing Councils could change their debt ratio limits to enable them to raise more debt. Higher levels of debt will not be any more affordable whether one or two councils govern the same number of people. The Strateg.Ease report also identifies that both Councils currently have sufficient borrowing capacity to meet current and future needs.

Council’s calculation of the so called “additional borrowing capacity”, based on its existing policy limit of “no greater than 20% of its assets” is $119.3 million. This is only marginally more than the sum of the existing additional borrowing capacities, available to each of the two councils as they are now, calculated on the same basis. As the claimed additional borrowing capacity of $177.4 million is suggested as one of the major benefits of amalgamation, the report should explain to the public why 25% was chosen and what the potential implications of the increase in debt would be for ratepayers.

Council has grave concerns about the number of errors in the debt figures and information within the Strateg.Ease report, particularly around the use of the inaccurate current debt figures. These matters are outlined in detail in the Appendix attached to this letter.

2. The extent of the proposed savings as a result of the predicted reduction in staff numbers.

The Strateg.Ease report states that it is possible to make a gross saving of $4.7 million, through a significant number of staff reductions across the two Councils. In the summary it assesses the savings from this area as $3.7 million. This is partially offset by an acknowledged but underestimated increase of $400,000 in costs of elected members.

When the consultants calculated what they believed was an appropriate number of staff for a new merged council, they benchmarked their figures against the staff employed by Tauranga, Palmerston North and Dunedin City Councils. They considered that these Councils’ populations were about the same as a combined Nelson – Tasman Council.

A key error in this analysis is that all three of these City Councils are not unitary authorities. They have regional councils with associated staff (and other resources) to carry out the regional functions that Nelson City and Tasman District Councils currently undertake, the latter over a very large area. If the staff needed to undertake the regional council functions were added to the Strateg.Ease numbers, they would have finished up with significantly higher staff numbers.

Tasman District Council is concerned that the consultant’s comparison of the two existing medium sized unitary Councils and then one merged unitary council, with city councils that have no regional responsibilities is flawed. It is a misleading and highly optimistic comparison and it does not seem to be evidence based. Ultimately the staffing numbers will be determined by any new Council. Is there further evidence to suggest why Strateg.Ease has used the staffing numbers they have in the report? Is there any justification for why the staff required to undertake the regional council functions seem to have been ignored?

Council is concerned that a balance between costs and savings is not achieved in the report. Staff savings are identified as a benefit, but many of the costs are not identified or quantified, for example:

the transition costs of joining two organisations together, particularly in light of the Auckland experience with IT costs and integration of various systems (e.g. rating systems)
the additional costs of an increased number of elected members and the extra support and infrastructure they will require\
the potential other costs or loss of income (e.g. 2% reduction in New Zealand Transport Agency funding)
the cost of integrating planning documents, bylaws, long term plans, etc.

The report appears to imply that all the costs fall in the first year but savings continue on into the future. However, national and international experience indicates that many of the transition costs may be significant and may continue on into the future.

Statements on assumed savings without detailing potential increases in costs are likely to have a major influence on ratepayers’ perceptions of the overall benefits of the reorganisation proposal. Therefore, it is important that accurate and balanced information is provided to the public.

3. The extent to which the combined region is suffering from the local authorities existing inabilities to advocate regionally or grasp opportunities.

The report fails to identify where there have been lost opportunities to the region and why those opportunities have been lost. It appears that the report authors have picked up unsubstantiated views raised in submissions. The report should be more specific on the opportunities that have been lost through having two Councils rather than one. It should demonstrate that the specific reasons for these opportunities not being taken up are a result of having two Councils rather than one.

4. Impact on rates

Nowhere in the reports is there a clear discussion on the impact of rate changes on the ratepayers in Tasman District or Nelson City. This is likely to be an important consideration for ratepayers in both areas. For example, if the business differentials are removed from the Nelson business area, there could be significant rates increases for property owners in residential areas. Another issue is the risk of increased rates for Tasman ratepayers as Tasman has the greater proportion of capital value in the region. Our figures show that as a result Tasman ratepayers finish up paying for the greater proportion of the new combined operating cost. The omission of some scenario analysis of the rating impact is a major flaw in the reports.

Summary

As noted above, Council is concerned to ensure that members of the public are able to submit on the draft reorganisation proposal in the context of correct and balanced information being contained in the reports. Council considers that the public will not have that opportunity given the substantive inaccuracies identified above and the numerous other factual errors, omissions and unsubstantiated assertions identified in the Appendix.

Council considers that it is regrettable that the Strateg.Ease consultants never came back to the two Councils to check the accuracy of their interpretation of the information provided or to ensure it was used in the correct context. While some of the matters raised in the Appendix could be construed as fairly minor and individually may not be significant in terms of the conclusions, we have included them as collectively they paint an incorrect picture. Council considers that if consultants use numbers and information then they have an obligation to ensure they are correct, particularly when the public may use that information to make such an important decision on the future governance of the Tasman and Nelson area.

In view of these concerns Council resolved at its meeting on 19 July 2011 to write this letter to the Commission and to “ask the Local Government Commission to withdraw the Strateg.Ease report on the union of Nelson City and Tasman District which contains inaccuracies; to correct the errors, omissions and unsubstantiated assertions contained in the report; then re-issue the report, undertake publicity that the corrected report is available and extend the submission deadline”.

A delegation from Tasman District Council would be happy to meet with the Local Government Commission to assist with factual clarification of any of the matters raised in this letter. We believe such a meeting would be of significant assistance to new members of the Commission.

Yours faithfully

Paul Wylie, Chief Executive

How do you make a submission and have your voice heard?

The draft reorganisation scheme is open to submissions until Friday, 19 August 2011 (note: all submissions MUST be sent to the LGC in Wellington and not Tasman District Council).

Submissions on the draft reorganisation scheme can be made on both the proposal made by the draft scheme as a whole and on the specific provisions of the draft scheme.

Submissions should be sent to the following address:

Chief Executive Officer
Local Government Commission
PO Box 5362
Wellington 6145
Email: info@lgc.govt.nz
Fax: 04 494 0501

Persons making submissions should clearly state whether they wish to appear before the Commission at a hearing, and should provide a daytime contact telephone number. If this information is not provided the Commission may assume that the submitter does not wish to appear before the Commission. It is the Commission’s policy to make submissions publicly available on request.

For further information on the proposed union of Nelson City and Tasman District go to www.tasman.govt.nz or www.lgc.govt.nz

Regional Alcohol Accord

Funding has been recently gained from ACC to undertake a research project that will investigate the extent of, and contributing factors to alcohol issues in the Nelson CBD. The project is anticipated to be completed by January 2012 and will provide solid information that can be used in the development of future projects in our region.

In 2008 the Nelson Tasman Liquor Liaison Group developed a Regional Alcohol Accord with the goal of promoting responsible use of alcohol and to reduce alcohol-related harm, keeping Nelson and Tasman safe and vibrant. Its objectives are:

To reduce alcohol-related crime
To reduce intoxication and disorder
To reduce underage drinking
To build good relationships and working partnerships between regulatory agencies, stakeholders and licensees

The Accord is a partnership between NZ Police, ACC, the Nelson Marlborough DHB, Tasman District and Nelson City Councils, licensed premises operators and managers. All licensed premises in the Nelson/Tasman region, including bars, clubs and taverns, restaurants, bottle stores, supermarkets and event organisers are encouraged to participate in this Accord.

The Liquor Liaison Group, which represents the key stakeholders, develops action plans and monitoring activities that promote commitment and achievement of this Accord. There have been a number of successful initiatives since the Accord’s inception including the development and implementation of the Nelson City and Tasman District Hospitality Protocol which is now expanding to include supermarkets and liquor stores, and the Mellow Yellow – Bar Safe project which is aimed at improving the safety of patrons in the Nelson entertainment district.

International Accreditation Boosts Regions Safety Profile

Tasman has gained ‘International Safe Community’ accreditation from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Barbara Graves, co-ordinator of ‘Safe at the Top’ – the regional initiative aimed at making Tasman and Nelson a safer and healthier community – says the accreditation will be “a great opportunity to promote Nelson and Tasman as a safer and healthier place to visit and live.”

Seven reviewers from the International Safe Community Certifying Centre visited our region on the 12 July 2011 to carry out the WHO assessment.

To become an international safer community, local agencies and groups must work together to improve community safety, using a WHO framework to align work, identify needs, and make the best use of available resources.

The visiting assessors were welcomed at Whakatu Marae, then introduced to family violence and alcohol-related harm prevention programmes by local police. Next, they visited the Multicultural Resource Centre in Nelson, before heading to Saxton Field. The visit concluded with sessions at Fulton Hogan, to see workplace safety projects, and Sundial Square in Richmond, to view how the Square has been designed to deter crime.

Barbara Graves says ‘Safe at the Top’ has the vision of “Our Community Leading the way to Safety” and is supported by over 80 community organisations, including the Police, ACC, Tasman District Council, Nelson City Council, Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, the Ministry of Social Development, Nelson Bays Community Law, a representative of local Iwi and Fulton Hogan.

Director of the Safer Communities Foundation, Dr Carolyn Coggan, said that the Tasman/Nelson application was extremely comprehensive. In particular, she noted the commitment of the mayors of Tasman and Nelson to the project, and the strong support from government agencies and community groups.

Mark Preston-Thomas from ACC says “Agencies working together in Nelson Bays as an International Safer Community will result in less injuries, and reduced ACC claims.”

The Tasman and Nelson community will celebrate the achievement, receiving a plaque and flag from the World Health Organization, at a planned award ceremony on 30 August 2011.

Community Recreation

Tasman Youth Council

Members from the Tasman Youth Council are set to take part in a ‘Top of the South’ Youth Council Forum. The forum provides an opportunity to meet neighbouring Youth Council representatives, share ideas and partake in a Ministry of Youth Development training seminar on ‘effective communication’. For more information on the Tasman Youth Council go to www.tyc.co.nz

Graffiti Vandalism

The Pride of Place (Graffiti Vandalism Prevention Project) has completed its second and final year of its Ministry of Justice funded contract. An external evaluation on the project conducted has concluded that, across the Tasman District there has been:

An increase in regional knowledge of ‘what works’ in addressing graffiti vandalism (GV)
A decrease in GV reported to the Police
A reduction in community dissatisfaction relating to GV
An increase in community involvement in addressing GV
An increase in spending by Tasman District Council to remove GV
An increase in youth workers deployed in public gathering spaces over the busy summer party period

To find out more about the Pride of Place project go to www.tyc.co.nz

Sport Tasman Club Recreation

SIT and be FIT Fridays 9.15 am to 10.00 am. Cost - $4

EASY BEAT Exercise Mondays & Fridays 9.00 am to 10.00 am. Cost -$4

SHAPEUP Group fitness Mondays & Fridays 10.10 am to 11.10 am. Cost - $4

WALKING GROUP meet 9.30 am every Monday. Cost - Free

CLUB50 social recreation group for older adults. Cost - $3

Venue: Richmond Recreation Centre & Town Hall (Way2Go hub!), 9 Cambridge Street. Enquiries Ph. 03 544 3955.

Community’s Vision for Tasman

As part of the development of the 2006 Ten-year Plan the community and Council developed a vision and a number of goals that residents and businesses wanted for Tasman. Council is in the process of reviewing these goals as part of the long term planning process and would like your views. One of the changes made by central government last year to the Local Government Act was that the Community Outcomes no longer needed to be only broad outcomes owned by the whole community, but should be outcomes that Council aims to achieve. Accordingly, we would like your views on whether the current community outcomes are still current and appropriate. You can have your say on the Community Outcomes by completing a short survey on the Council’s website, closing date is 5 August 2011.

Community Outcomes Survey, Tasman District Council

Or email your comments to Tasman District Council

Current Vision

An interactive community living safely in the garden that is Tasman District.

He rohi Whakaarotahie. Noho ora ana I runga I te. Whenua ataahua. Ko te rohe o Tahimana.

Current Community Outcomes

Outcome 1 – Our unique and special natural environment is bountiful, healthy, clean and protected.

Outcome 2 – Our built urban and rural environments are functional, pleasant, safe and sustainably managed.

Outcome 3 – Our transport and essential services are sufficient, efficient and sustainably managed.

Outcome 4 – Our vibrant community is safe, well, enjoys an excellent quality of life and supports those with special needs.

Outcome 5 – Our community understands regional history, heritage and culture.

Outcome 6 – Our diverse community enjoys access to a range of spiritual, cultural, social, educational and recreational services.

Outcome 7 – Our participatory community contributes to district decision-making and development.

Outcome 8 – Our growing and sustainable economy provides opportunities for us all.

Cycle Trail Takes Shape Through Rabbit Island

The Tasman Loop cycle trail (coastal section) is making progress through Rabbit Island, with Greg Winn contractors building a cycle path from the end of Ken Beck Drive through to the beachfront. Andrew Spittal, a director of Chings Contracting who is volunteering his time to the Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust, is looking after the work.

The pavement shown in the photograph above, being inspected by Dugald Ley, Tasman District Council’s Development Engineer, is a test section formed to provide a suitable surface for family trail cycling. As a Grade 1 trail the width is suitable for passing and for two cyclists to ride side by side safely. Grade 1 is used to describe a section of trail that is easy to ride on and suitable for all.

This part of the cycling trail will eventually extend back to the Redwood Road bridge and also link up with the existing cycle loop that leads to the west of Rabbit Island and the ferry crossing to Mapua. The official opening of the ferry crossing is scheduled for Sunday 2 October 2011.

The entire path on Rabbit Island will be off-road to provide a safe environment for families with young cyclists. The path from the Redwood Road bridge will complete the Rabbit Island section of the Tasman Loop.

The link between Rabbit Island and Richmond along the coast, has been submitted to the Tasman District Council for a resource consent. During this process the Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust has spent many hours in discussions with the Waimea Inlet Forum working group to ensure that the trail has minimum impact on the Inlet’s important environment and wildlife.

American-Style Party for Rugby Fans

American and Kiwi cultures will rub shoulders as the three-day Richmond Festival in September welcomes the United States rugby team, plus fans, during the Rugby World Cup 2011.

Kicking off the Festival is the Tasman 7s Invitation tournament at Jubilee Park on Sunday 25 September 2011, featuring more than 600 local and international players spread over 44 teams. They square off in three grades: Legends, High School and Open.

The event runs from 8.00 am – 10.00 pm.

Complementing the on-field action will be an evening of entertainment, featuring prizegivings, presentations, live music, cultural events and exhibitions. A traditional Kiwi BBQ, local wines and craft beers will be available.

On Monday 26 September 2011 a Stars ’n’ Stripes Block Party, sponsored by Richmond Unlimited takes over Sundial Square from noon to 10.00 pm. The fun starts with a lunchtime main street parade, followed by an afternoon of kids’ entertainment at the Richmond Mall and then street party festivities in the Square.

Finally, the All-Star Tailgate Party on Tuesday 27 September 2011 gears up towards the USA vs Italy World Cup match at Trafalgar Park in Nelson. The A&P Showgrounds in Richmond will host the American-style Tailgate Party from 2.00 pm - 7.00 pm, with USA-themed team buses transporting fans to and from the big game. Bus tickets can be bought from the Richmond Mall.

The free family event promises classic Kiwi games combined with “tailgate” traditions. Live music, performances and an opportunity to sample our regional cuisine, beverages and hospitality round off the festival finale.

In October, fans can soak up the Rugby World Cup atmosphere at the Tasman Fanzone in the Motueka Recreation Centre.

Backed by the Tasman District Council and Sport Tasman, the free Fanzone will be open for the semifinals of the tournament on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 October 2011, and the final on Sunday 23 October 2011.

Takaka Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade

Since late February this year, a working group of Councillors, Community Board members and local residents has met to resolve issues surrounding the proposed Takaka Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade.

To recap, the main issues have been the need to provide an upgrade to the treatment plant to take account of an aging system, its physical position, a growing demand for increased volumes of wastewater and visual and odour concerns.

The working party have asked Council staff to undertake further site investigations of the land acquired adjacent to the existing plant.

This investigation will be in the form of a Rapid Infiltration Basin (RIB) trial with the purpose of assessing the extent of groundwater distribution associated with future RIB use and to gather additional data to assess groundwater flow direction in the vicinity of the RIBs.

The work will include three individual infiltration tests. The first test will include distributing wastewater to a single RIB continuously over a 24-hour period. This test will essentially act as a “control” for the next two tests and will help identify any issues. Tests 2 and 3 will run continuously to measure the extent of water distribution under the RIB with certainty. This is expected to take about seven days per test. A resting period between tests will allow the groundwater levels to recover to pre-test levels. It is envisioned the three tests will be carried out over a four-five week period.

Before, during and after the testing, water and contaminant levels will be monitored in the groundwater through a series of existing and new monitoring wells.

At the conclusion of testing, the working group will consider the results and the trial RIB will be removed.

Council will further update residents after the trial has been completed.