Dear Members,
Happy New Year!
I hope you all have been able to spend some quality time with family and friends and are feeling well-rested because we need all the energy and support for the coming year in trying to sort out Coastal Hazards.
For those of you that were unable to attend the CRU AGM last November, the Mayor - Janet Holborrow attended along with Councillors Prvnov, Wilson, Kofoed, Cooper and Community Board member Jonny Best.
The Mayor's attendance signalled to CRU a change in the Council's approach in terms of moving forward constructively.
In addition, our keynote speaker, Kathy Moody - spoke to her presentation regarding new climate change/coastal Adaptation Areas that the Council have identified through Jacobs. The Takutai Kapiti project along with the Coastal Adaptation Panel Chaired by Jim Bolger have now identified these areas as affected by inundation and flooding associated with sea level rise and its potential future effects on groundwater. The science regarding sea level rise that Jacobs is using has been found by the IPCC to be implausible - but in Council's wisdom - anywhere between 5000 - 10 000 homes/businesses/lands are now in these Adaptation Areas.
Kathy's presentation can be found on our website Tab 2022/CRU AGM. You will also find my annual report there as well.
Since the AGM, we have been informed by the Office of the Ombudsman that our complaint from last year has now progressed to the senior investigation team. To recap, Council's contract with Jacobs was to provide a coastal hazard and risk assessment, instead, Jacobs undertook a susceptibility and vulnerability assessment. When CRU queried the change - Council staff admitted that they held no records as to why the contract deliverable had been changed - also Jacobs did not have any records for the change either.
On 7 December, I was finally able to make contact with Jason Holland, District Planning Manager. We had a brief discussion about the changes within the Council regarding the Coastal Team. The oversight of Takutai Kapiti has now been placed in the planning department, removing Sean Mallon. And Lyndsey Craig (the previous programme manager) has resigned. We agreed to meet early in the New Year to discuss the changes, meet the new staff members and discuss issues of concern to CRU.
On 13 December, I wrote to the new CEO, Darren Edwards, requesting a meeting. To date, I have not received an acknowledgement of my email, and no response yet from his Office.
We have put in 2 substantial Official Information Requests. One is based on Takutai Kapiti's December Newsletter regarding flooding (see Kathy's presentation) and the second is about the costs related to the Coastal Adaptation Panel. Both will be made available on our website in due course.
On 18 January, Quentin, Mr Roger Foley and I met with the Raumati Community Board, Karl Webber from the Paraparaumu Community Board (the meeting organiser) and Councillors Kofoed, Spiers and Handford at the Kapiti Airport. This was a very good opportunity for us to raise the issues regarding CAP, Jacobs Reports, and Statutory Obligations and to work through some of these complicated issues. Our discussion lasted almost 2 hours and the comments from the elected members were of shock and disbelief at the current state of affairs. My meeting notes will be available online in the coming week. The outcome, however, was that Councillor Kofoed would take these matters forward and there was a concerted effort by all three Councillors that Purpose 2 of the CAP's terms of reference be removed: "guide the development of the district plan provision to manage coastal issues...future coastal plan change." This would allow CRU to work directly with the Council on its statutory obligations regarding coastal hazards and allow CAP to continue down its non-statutory path.
We will be keeping a watching brief on this issue and will keep you informed on developments as they occur.
I would like to thank Joanna Poole, a CRU committee member for all her help and support. We are sad to see her leave our committee.
I would like to welcome Ruth Henschel who joined the CRU committee - I look forward to the new energy and expertise that she will bring to CRU.
We are always looking for more hands on deck. If you or anyone you know are able to lend a helping hand, it would be much appreciated.
We have a lot of work ahead of us and our strength has always been in numbers.
For those of you who have paid your subscriptions, thank you!
Don't forget to recruit your neighbours!!!
Regards,
Salima Padamsey
Chair
