Note from the Chair

Dear Members,

First welcome to new members, welcome back to those who have renewed their membership and thank you to those who have continued to support CRU over the last several years.

I am happy to report that our leaflet drop was a great success and our membership numbers have increased substantially.

Down to Business!

Takutai Kapiti

Council last year have embarked on the Takutai Kapiti Process which includes coastal hazard as part of its scope.

Council have engaged Jacobs Engineering to carry out Kapiti Coast Coastal Hazard Susceptibility and Vulnerability Assessment. To date, Jacobs has produced Volume 1: Methodology and we are awaiting Volume 2, the assessment.

Upon receiving Volume 1, CRU Science Team produced a technical review and was submitted to Jacobs, Greater Wellington Regional Council and KCDC in the first week of July. This review can be found on our website (https://www.cru.org.nz/file-share) and on our Facebook page.

I wrote to the Mayor and Councillors in reference to our technical report.

One of the issues raised was:, “It is vital that our elected representatives understand the key issues that the review raises, as this affects hundreds of families, all of whom are members of CRU.

Read the full letter at:
https://www.cru.org.nz/post/letter-from-the-cru-chair-to-all-councillors

On 27 July, I received an email from Kapiti Council’s Coastal Team:

By way of update. We have asked Jacobs to review the feedback you emailed on 7 July 2021.

We will be in touch to provide the date on which you will receive the Jacobs review. We will also look to arrange a meeting to discuss the feedback on the CRU technical review. Our preference would be to include Jacobs in that meeting so that the relevant experts can confer.

We will provide some time and date options once we hear back from Jacobs.

Ngā mihi nui

Coastal Team

To date, we have not had any further update.

The Mayor responded on 5 August, stating “AP will at the end of their deliberations make a formal report and recommendations to council.

Read the full letter at

https://www.cru.org.nz/post/5-august-2021-letter-from-the-mayor-and-councillors-to-the-cru-chair

Coastal Adaptation Panel (CAP)

Council have formed CAP that comprises of 6 Community Members. This process has been constantly delayed. To date, Council have yet to make public the Mayor and Deputy Mayor’s selection to the panel.

I wrote to the Mayor and Councillors in reference to CAP. I raised the issue of direct communication with our elected officials, “Direct communication with you, the Councillors, is, therefore, the only viable channel.

Read the full letter at:

https://www.cru.org.nz/post/3-of-4-13-august-2021-letter-from-the-cru-chair-to-the-mayor-and-councillors

The Mayor responded on 17 August, stating, “Allow me, therefore, to say that I do not wish my self informing process to be dominated by your jaundiced interpretation of reality.

Read the full letter at:

https://www.cru.org.nz/post/4-of-4-17-august-2021-letter-from-the-mayor-and-councillors-to-the-cru-chair

Current Status

CRU is keeping a watching brief on the Takutai Kapiti Process. On 10 December, I spoke to the full Council – below is an excerpt

"But what I do know and I can say with confidence is that the 2014 Council Resolution regarding CAG and these 2020 Recommendations regarding CAP are two different beasts. CAGs focus was on coastal hazard risk assessment and district plan rules as required under the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement and the RMA, whereas CAP is developing a coastal adaptation plan, a non-statutory plan. You Councillors need to know that the legislative, or statutory planning process required to be completed by Council – and now well overdue is not a part of the CAP project."

Membership Participation

CRU’s membership has always been rich with knowledge and experience! We need to draw on that expertise. If you think that you have skills that would benefit CRU, we need to hear from you.

You can reach me directly at spadamsey@yahoo.com

Regards,

Salima