Dear Member,
This note is long overdue, and I wanted to thank you for your patience.
A lot has happened since our AGM last November, so there's quite a bit of information to catch you up. I apologise for the length of this note. I hope you'll take the time to read it all.
Coastal Hazard Risk Assessment
We successfully raised the necessary funds to engage Waikato University by the end of November 2023.
On behalf of the CRU committee and myself, I wish to extend sincere thanks to all those who provided financial contributions, which played a pivotal role in achieving this successful outcome. Your support has been invaluable and deeply appreciated.
For your reference, I have included the University’s Terms of Reference (attached).
The University is still finalising its report, but I would like to share with you a summary of the initial findings:
Coastal erosion is a significant concern for the Kāpiti Coast, particularly in areas south of Tikotu Creek. The erosion primarily affects the southern Kāpiti coast, with concerns about erosion near the apex of the cuspate foreland. Community concerns about erosion have led to a focus on managing this hazard.
Coastal inundation: While coastal inundation is a minor concern compared to flooding from intense rainfall events, it is still considered a hazard for the Kāpiti Coast.
Storm surges and tides can lead to coastal inundation, especially in low-lying areas.
Tsunami: The Kāpiti Coast is recognised as having local sources of potential tsunamis, making it a hazard for the area.
Earthquakes and associated hazards: Earthquakes can cause rupture, liquefaction, and slope failure, posing a risk to human life and property in the Kāpiti Coast District.
Floods: Flooding is identified as the most common natural hazard in the Wellington Region and Kāpiti Coast District. It is linked to intense and prolonged rainfall events and can impact floodplains but has little impact on the higher dune areas along the coast.
Other hazards: Climate change is identified as a hazard modifier, leading to more intense storms and rising sea levels.
Additionally, extreme weather events such as storm waves, storm surges, and strong winds (including tornadoes and waterspouts) can pose hazards to the Kāpiti Coast.
It is important to note that the document mentions limitations and uncertainties associated with hazard assessments.
The report does not set out to achieve all the requirements of Policy 24, as it is challenging to predict the future with certainty.
Complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman
Reference 561464 – remains open. This complaint refers to the fact that the Council hold no documentation regarding the commissioning of the Jacobs Volume 1 and 2:
“As I understand it, the Council has refused both [information] requests under section 17(e) of the LGOIMA, as it considers the information does not exist.” Office of the Ombudsman.
It is my understanding that the Council resolved this matter within the last couple of months, and we are awaiting further information from the Ombudsman and the Council.
In March of this year, the Office of the Ombudsman initiated an investigation of the Council, reference 008701. I have attached the outline of 008701 for your reference.
Considering the ongoing nature of the investigation, I kindly request that you treat this document with the utmost confidentiality and refrain from forwarding or sharing it.
Communication with Council
On 30 April, I was in copy of an email from Mr Darren Edwards, CEO of the Council, in which he stated the following:
“I note you have expressed concerns about the Coastal Adaptation Areas. We have received a number of emails about these areas, and I also note that CALM’s list of questions which you forwarded to us makes reference to those areas. I can confirm to you that:
the purpose of the Coastal Adaptation Areas was simply to help the Coastal Advisory Panel focus their work
Coastal Adaptation Areas are not “Hazard Areas”, nor are they relevant for district planning purposes
further, as their meaning and purpose is not relevant to LIMs, they are not mentioned on LIMs and Council has no intention of mentioning in future.”
On 7 May, I received the below email from Kris Pervan, my counterpart at KCDC:
We are shortly going out to market to seek planning support to initiate the District Plan change for the Coastal risk chapter. We are intending to go live with our procurement on 10 May, seek applications through to 10 June, and select a provider by 31 July 2024.
The key deliverables, along with indicative milestone timings pending confirmation by Council of the required timeframes for this plan change, will include: a full draft version of the plan change: to be issued for feedback no later than 28 February 2025; and a proposed plan change and section 32 evaluation report: to be presented to Council for approval to publicly notify no later than 30 July 2025.
We are anticipating discussing the District Plan change with you and CRU; and anticipate that you will wish to discuss how the work you are progressing presently with the Waikato University aligns to and/or informs this work.
Both correspondences indicate that the Council has recognised that the work arising from the Takutai Kapiti process, despite being presented as guiding the district planning process, is no longer applicable. Furthermore, the Council is now fulfilling its obligation, established in the Environment Court in 2016, to conclude the Coastal Hazard Chapter for the District Plan.
Both announcements are received positively; we will diligently monitor the progress and provide you with regular updates.
Coastal Adaptation Submission
This month, CRU submitted to the Inquiry into Climate Change by the Finance and Expenditure Committee (attached).
Our submission focused on the implementation of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement (NZCPS) and the failures in addressing coastal hazards and climate change risks.
Some of the key points we raised in our submission are:
Coastal Ratepayers United (CRU) is a community group representing over 500 Kāpiti ratepayers committed to ensuring local hazard risks are appropriately assessed and managed based on good science, good planning, and good law.
The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement (NZCPS) 2010 is a policy statement under the Resource Management Act (RMA) that addresses coastal hazards and introduces a probabilistic/risk-based approach to hazard management.
The NZCPS 2010 and the Department of Conservation (DOC) guidance on it are being poorly implemented, leading to complex, costly, and poorly targeted assessments and responses by central and local government and consultants.
The assessments and management responses to climate change effects are preoccupied with remote and highly unlikely risks, which is not in line with the NZCPS and the Climate Change Response Act (CCRA).
Poor implementation results in poor-quality, untargeted, and expensive outcomes. Ratepayers and taxpayers bear the direct costs, and property owners face significant indirect costs from planning restrictions based on unrealistic long-term projections.
CRU Experts
Over the preceding seven months, our team of proficient individuals has dedicatedly worked, contributed, supported, and engaged to ensure the production and submission of reports and documents by CRU exemplify exceptional quality.
I wish to extend my gratitude to them for their unwavering commitment, particularly in their interactions with me, which have occurred frequently.
Council Meeting – 20 June @13:00
The Takutai Kapiti Project will present its final report and recommendations to the Council this Thursday – 20 June at the Council building.
I will be speaking at the upcoming meeting along with Quentin Poole. If your schedule permits, we kindly request your presence at the upcoming meeting. Your attendance would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for dedicating time to review this note in conjunction with the accompanying documents.
Regards,
Salima Padamsey
CRU Chair
