Newsline 267 - 27 January 2012

Friday 27 January 2012

Read articles from the January 27 edition of Newsline.  

Newsline 267 - 27 January 2012

A Storm Like No Other 

rainfallTasman was drenched in record rainfall from 13-15 December 2011, causing floods and devastating slips, particularly in the east of Golden Bay. It could have been much worse. This is a report by Tasman District Council hydrologists Martin Doyle and Monique Harvey on the big storm.

On the evening of Tuesday 13 December 2011, MetService advised: "Rain should become persistent and heavy overnight Tuesday. In the 36 hours from 9.00 pm Tuesday to 9.00 am Thursday, expect 300 to 400mm of rain in the ranges west of about Motueka and 150 to 250mm in the remainder of Nelson."

By next morning 190mm of rain had already fallen at Takaka, but the forecast remained the same, predicting a further 300 to 400mm of rain in the western ranges.

This was seen by the hydrology team as a very serious forecast. Duty hydrologist Matt McLarin spent the day before the event checking equipment and alerting Civil Defence and other key people.

Rainfall Highest Near Coast

The storm was very unusual in that rainfall was highest near the coast. Normally the largest totals are seen at higher altitudes, usually around twice as much as observed at low altitude. In this case in the Takaka area, the totals at altitude were only 40% of those seen in Takaka itself.

A third of Takaka’s normal annual rainfall (674mm) fell over two days. The other part of the District that suffered from the deluge was the coastal strip from Brightwater to north of Hira, including the hills behind Nelson. At Richmond, 280mm was measured over 48 hours – more than a quarter of Richmond’s normal annual rainfall.

The Takaka 48-hour total is only likely to occur around once every 500 years on average. It was more than twice as much as anything previously recorded in the town over the past 50 years.

In this storm the heaviest rainfall was only some 2-5km from the coast, when usually this rainfall would occur 15-20km inland. There were two reasons for this; unusually warm and moist air in the lower levels of the atmosphere, and a relatively low wind speed.

The low level of moisture is the first to rise over the hills, and as such it cools and condenses into rain first, falling closest to the coast. In comparison a strong wind holding moisture at higher elevation will drop rain further inland, as seen in the 2011 Aorere flood and the 1983 Takaka flood.

Land Saturated

The larger rivers monitored by hydrology staff were not affected greatly during the storm because the rainfall was so coastal. Instead the lower country, which is unaccustomed to such heavy rain, became saturated and bore the brunt of the damage. This was mostly caused by slips and debris flows, and the flood waters that did cause problems were more a result of streams spilling water on account of being choked with silt, rock and logs. On some occasions very high flows will have occurred as a surge as debris dams released.

The Richmond/Stoke/Nelson areas were very lucky to not receive greater damage. Streams were becoming choked to an extent where they were about to, or had just started spilling into urban areas. Of the larger rivers, the main Takaka River did not even reach an annual flood level.

One effect of the storm was to raise groundwater levels on the Waimea Plains to levels not measured before. Areas that don’t usually pond at all had water sitting in them for a number of days after the rain stopped. There was overland flow across parts of the plains, something that rarely happens.

Large parts of Rabbit Island, including much of the picnic area, remain flooded five weeks later.

Flood Warning

The equipment and processes operated by Council worked well. The recent upgrade of equipment and power supplies meant no voltage issues were experienced despite the prolonged nature of the storm. One Council team operates the rainfall and flow recorders across both Council districts. The value of this is apparent during a large flood, with all information coming to one central area, and staff having built experience over many years in both districts.

Hydrology staff recognised and correctly advised that large rivers were not likely to flood and efforts were able to be concentrated on the coastal areas receiving damage.

Once again the lack of a rain radar that operates effectively in our District leaves staff to infer information about the spread of rainfall, leaving a gap in the knowledge of those making predictions. The Wellington radar appears to be partly effective around Nelson, but not Golden Bay.

Some Rainfall Totals Measured by Tasman District Council 13-15 December 2011

Location 

24 hour maximum 

48 hour maximum 

Average December Rainfall 

Aorere at Devils Boot 

202 mm 

287 mm

230 mm

Takaka at Kotinga

454 mm

674 mm

207 mm

Anatoki at Happy Sams

370 mm

531 mm

284 mm

Waimea Plains at Appleby

182 mm

241 mm

75 mm

Brook at Third House

329 mm

493 mm

220 mm

Richmond at Tasman District Council Office

205 mm

281 mm

85 mm

Roding at Caretakers

323 mm

445 mm

118 mm

Wakapuaka at Hira

238 mm

369 mm

201 mm

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Mayor’s Comment 

The first edition on Newsline for the year usually leads with good wishes from the Mayor for the future, however, like last year, I’m going to focus on the resilient nature of Tasman residents who once again were hit with a natural disaster.

This time the whole region was affected with the major impact coming from land slips driven by rain in volumes we have never seen before. Some of our waterways and land could not deal with the relentless tropical rain, the scars of which will remain visible on our landscape for years to come.

What was evident though was the seamless way the shared resource Nelson Tasman Civil Defence Emergency Management operated. Staffed predominantly by personnel from both Councils and  supported by staff from other Councils, emergency services and related Government Departments the operation swung into action very quickly on the morning of 14 December when it became evident the event was going to escalate and rapidly – a great example of one of many shared services within the region.

As we have experienced in the past the recovery will take a number of forms depending on the affected community. Each have their unique and distinct needs and each will have their priorities as to the clean up in their area amongst the plans to reinstate essential infrastructure – something Tasman’s engineers are very well aware of.

Once again it was the communities that rallied to help their friends, relatives and neighbours often going above and beyond to ensure safety and some comfort. It is this caring for each other that makes Tasman unique. I commend everyone for this demonstration of support and resilience.

The year was already going to be a busy one – it has now taken a step up in order of magnitude as we prepare to deliver Tasman’s long term plan in an environment where the cost effective delivery of essential services is a priority. We will be talking to you soon about this process.

Until then please enjoy what the District has to offer, it is outstanding, unique and we all deserve a break.

- Mayor Richard Kempthorne

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Huts and High Places exhibition – the Cobb and Beyond 

The latest Golden Bay Museum exhibition, Huts and High Places introduces the Cobb Valley, a stunning environment of mountain beech, tussock and alpine flora within the Kahurangi National Park.

The Cobb Valley is an ancient landscape. Its rocks and fossils tell a story of tumultuous geological change over the last 600 million years.

Prospectors and graziers opened this area from the 1860’s for the geologists, botanists and trampers who came later, to discover and record its uniqueness. Through their efforts and exploration North West Nelson gained the status of a National Park in 1996 to become a sanctuary for its unique plant and animal life.

The exhibition runs until the beginning of May 2012. Golden Bay Museum, Commercial Street, Takaka. Museum opening hours are 10.00 am – 4.00 pm, 7 days a week (weekend opening hours may vary depending on volunteer availability).

Phone 03 525 6268 for further information. Entry is free with donations appreciated.

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Mapua in Line for New Pumpstation 

Mapua’s ageing and vulnerable sewage pumpstation is to be replaced, at a cost of $1.6 million, to tie in with the development of the new waterfront park.

The existing pumpstation at the wharf is in poor state and under capacity, has no emergency storage, no odour control and no back-up power generation – so could overflow to the estuary in the event of a power cut.

The new station will have emergency storage, a high-tech odour control system, a backup generator, advanced electronics, and be located further away from the seashore and cafes.

The above-ground components (electrical cabinet, odour control etc) will be out of view behind the existing water booster pump building, and disguised with a decorative facade. Chamber lids will be low-lying and inconspicuous.

Construction will be undertaken by Ching Contracting Ltd and is expected to commence on the 1 March 2012. The construction of the pumpstation will be completed by the end of June 2012. The remaining landscaping work and beautification of the water booster pumpstation building will follow.

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Hands Across the Sea 

The latest group of Kiyosato students arrive in Motueka on Tuesday 7 February 2012 and will be here for six days.

The annual exchange is part of the two-decade “friendship agreement” between the towns that has forged a strong bond. Fourteen Japanese students, two teachers and one Board of Education representative will be accompanied by Glen Lancaster, an ex-Motueka boy who was an exchange student himself and now teaches English at primary schools in Kiyosato.

The students will do a day-tour of the District, learning about horticulture, fishing, farming etc, and attend Motueka High School for two days, sharing classes and showcasing some of their culture, says Motueka organiser Mary Lafrentz. Students experience life with their host family at the weekend, plus go shopping and face a “knowledge test” of the Motueka business centre (with help from hosting students) on the Saturday morning.

Motueka student Jessica Jensen will travel back with the Japanese group and attend school in Kiyosato this year. Group member Yuna Makino will remain in Motueka for her year at the high school.

Many Motueka exchange students go on to study Japanese at a tertiary level or return to Japan. Likewise, the Kiyosato students often come back to New Zealand. Yoshie Isokawa, who was an exchange student in 1993, has spent the past year working in Motueka and plans to return again this year.

 

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Long Term Plan 2012 – 2022 

Council has been working through a number of workshops since late last year as part of the process of planning and preparing the next Long Term Plan (LTP) and the activity contained in it. The activity in the draft of the LTP 2012 – 2022 will also be affected by the recent flood disaster and the obligations on the Council within the regional recovery plan.

The Draft Plan is expected to go to Council on 15 February 2012 for approval. The draft will then go out for public consultation with the process beginning 23 February 2012 and closing 30 March 2012.

Throughout the process there will be a number of public meetings held around the District.

These meetings are for the public to come along and ask questions of Councillors and staff to help inform their submissions and discuss the plans put forward. In addition a special edition of Newsline will contain a summary of the Draft Plan.

Hearings will be in held in late April/early May 2012 for those submitters who wish to speak to their submissions.

What is the Long Term Plan?

The Long Term Plan (LTP) is the key strategic planning document for councils in New Zealand.

The LTP describes how each council will fulfil its responsibilities under the Local Government Act 2002 to promote the well-being of its community, and enable democratic local decision-making.

The Long Term Plan:

  • is produced every three years;
  • sets out the Council’s intended programme of activity for the next ten years;
  • details all of the Council’s activities, and how activities contribute to community outcomes;
  • describes the local authority’s financial strategy, explaining what the local authority plans to spend over the next ten years, and how it will pay for its activities;
  • describes activities and expenditure in detail for the first three years, and outlines the next seven years.

The LTP brings together in one document all the Council’s activities, and how they are paid for. It also describes the Council’s community outcomes, and tells the community how the Council’s activities will help achieve these outcomes.

Councils consult widely with their community when preparing the LTP. It is the main opportunity for local people to have their say in local decision-making. The Plan is given direction by what the community thinks is important, as described by the community outcomes. Once adopted, major changes to the LTP can only be made after appropriate consultation with the community.

Draft LTPs are audited by the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General. Auditors check that the LTP complies with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002, that the underlying information is robust and that the Plan is useful for its purpose. The auditor’s report is published as part of the Draft LTP.  (Local Government Act s94)

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Marine Biosecurity Across the Top of the South Island 

One of the major attractions of living in the Top of the South Island is the ready access to the sea, whether for boating, sailing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, diving, or just walking and cycling around its estuaries. The marine environment is highly valued for its richness and diversity.

The development of aquaculture in its waters has provided substantial economic benefits and employment opportunities. The arrival of marine pests like the seaweed Undaria and the sea squirt Didemnum have led to a greater awareness of the importance of protecting these waters from marine invaders.

Marine biosecurity is challenging as vessels move freely between ports, large vessel inspections can be difficult and time-consuming, many marine pests are difficult to identify, their larval forms are microscopic, the tides move the organisms around, and control tools are limited.

In 2009, a group of interested stakeholders set up a marine biosecurity partnership covering the Top of the South Island. Tasman District Council is one of four funding partners, along with Nelson City Council, Marlborough District Council and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Peter Lawless was contracted to produce a Marine Biosecurity Strategic Plan and Dr Don Morrisey and Sheryl Miller from NIWA were contracted to review the existing information on marine biosecurity.

Two-year contracts have been awarded to regional coordinators to implement the Strategic Plan and develop an Operational Plan. The first contract was awarded to Mincher-Campbell Ltd in July 2009 and this was completed in June 2011. The second contract was awarded to Peter Lawless and Associates in August 2011. Besides Peter, the team includes Dave Rees, Matt Malloy, Simon Graves and Sterling Cathman. This team will also be responsible for programmes for advocacy and surveillance, and working with marine users, stakeholders and other agencies.

This will include a comprehensive survey of marinas, aquaculture installations, and all vessel movements in the top of the south. The objective of the co-ordination team is to get an accurate picture of how marine users and stakeholders can work together to reduce the risk of marine pests. Ongoing education in the public and private sectors will ensure that this message gets through - “You can help protect our coastal waters from the impacts of marine pests”. A copy of their latest newsletter is available from: sterlingscience@hotmail.com

If you believe you have found something unusual in the water, collect a sample if you can and contact MAF Biosecurity New Zealand on
Ph. 0800 80 99 66.

For further information, contact Lindsay Vaughan on Ph. 03 543 8400.

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Joint Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 

Consultation period ending soon

As featured in the 16 December 2011 edition of Newsline, Tasman District Council and Nelson City Council are working together to develop a plan to create community responsibility for minimising and managing waste in our region. Copies of the plan can be found at www.tasman.govt.nz. They are also available for viewing during normal office hours at Tasman District Council's Richmond office, Council service centres and libraries. Submissions from the public on the plan are accepted up to 31 January 2012.

View the draft plan and have your say.

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Get on your Bike This February and March! 

Bike Wise is back again and it’s a great time to get on your bike and take part in one of the free and fun activities happening during February and March in the Tasman District.

Go by Bike Day 15 February

These are being held at various locations in the District and anyone out and about on their bike on the morning will receive a free breakfast snack.

  • Takaka – Outside The Quiet Revolution Cycle Shop, 7.30 am - 9.30 am
  • Murchison - Outside the Tasman District Council offices on Fairfax Street, between 8.30 am and 9.30 am
  • Richmond – Outside Village Cycles on Queen Street, between 7.00 am and 9.00 am

Bike Wise challenge

The Bike Wise Challenge runs during the month of February 2012. This is a free competition open to any organisation (business, school or other organisation) in New Zealand with the aim to get as many colleagues to ride a bike for just 10 minutes or two kilometres sometime in February. Winners are calculated on the percentage of participation in their department or organisation (based on the total number of staff/members in the organisation).

To register for this challenge or to find out more information log in to the Bike Wise website www.bikewise.co.nz/bike-wise-challenge

Family Fun Rides

  • Motueka – Saturday 25 February 2012
    The ride starts at the skate park on Old Wharf Road in Motueka at 1.00 pm. There are two routes so will suit those just starting out and those who can cycle a longer distance.
  • Takaka – Sunday 4 March 2012
    The ride starts at Central Takaka School at 1.00 pm. Cyclists will cycle together to the East Takaka Domain and then can cycle back at their leisure to the school.

For further information or comment please contact:
Krista Hobday, Tasman District Council Ph. 03 543 8400 Email: krista.hobday@tasman.govt.nz

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