Dear Sir/Madam

Please find attached Council’s acknowledgement of your request for
information.

Kind regards

 

Joe Mack
Personal Assistant to CEO and Chair

Taranaki Regional Council
47 Cloten Road | Private Bag 713 | Stratford 4352, New Zealand
P 06 765 7127 | F 06 765 5097 | [1]www.trc.govt.nz [2]Link to
Facebook [3]Link to Twitter [4]Link to YouTube
Working with people | caring for Taranaki

 

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[3]Talking Taranaki - Taranaki Regional Council newsletter

Taranaki Regional Council newsletter - December 2018

Chairman's chat

Keep up the good waterways work! 

Ka mihi nui ki a koutou katoa, greetings to you all. Our latest annual waterways
report card was published last week and I hope you have an opportunity to look
at it.

The report notes that once again, we’re seeing best-ever gains in the
all-important ecological health of our waterways. Other indicators are currently
more variable, reflecting the wetness of the past couple of years. That’s why
it’s important to keep an eye on overall trends as well as day-to-day results.

Crucially, ecological health is the prime measurement of waterway quality, and
the improvements we’re seeing here are testament to the foresight, commitment
and energy of the people of Taranaki. Our farmers are investing much time and
effort in fencing and planting, and in switching to land-based effluent
disposal. Our communities and industries also made big investments over many
decades to eliminate or dramatically reduce the impact of wastewater discharges
and improve environmental performance.

That’s why we can report such encouraging results. It’s also why we’ve been able
to tell the Government there are no ‘at-risk catchments’ in this region
according to Wellington’s own criteria.

But there are still gains to be made and a lot of work to do. At the Taranaki
Regional Council we’re fully engrossed in a review of our Freshwater and Land
Plan, to tease out issues and fixes. There’s been a raft of scientific studies
and hui with iwi and others.

So never let anyone tell you that Taranaki’s doing nothing about its waterways! 
Check out the waterways report card:
[4]www.trc.govt.nz/taranaki-waterways-updates/

- David MacLeod, Chairman

Taking Taranaki forward

[5][IMG]
Woodleigh School's awesome rat catchers.
An awesome job for biodiversity

The region’s schools and their students have embraced our Towards Predator-Free
Taranaki project, and they’re doing fantastic work trapping predators and
spreading the word.

Woodleigh School in New Plymouth is just one example. Students aged eight and
nine made this short video showing how they're protecting native birds and
wildlife by trapping rats at school and at home. It’s worth a watch.

We need as many people as possible to get involved if we are to achieve our end
goal of restoring Taranaki’s native birdlife and plant diversity in all its
glory and richness.

Towards Predator-Free Taranaki will thrive on the sort of enthusiasm and energy
shown by the Woodleigh students, and countless others all over the region. And
you don’t have to be a student or a youngster. More and more households are also
taking up the cause.

If you’d like to support these children and their schools helping local
biodiversity, you can buy a $10 rat trap and box from a school near you and get
trapping in your own backyard.

For a list of Taranaki schools selling traps as a fundraiser, go to
[6]www.bit.ly/trapschools   

If you are among the hundreds of Taranaki people already involved in Towards
Predator-Free Taranaki, remember to register on the Trap.NZ website, and record
your trapping catches there. Download a handy how-to guide at
[7]www.bit.ly/TrapNZ

Improving lifestyles

[8][IMG]
You'll find plenty of family fun at Pukeiti

Perfect for kids young and old

Secret hidey-holes, tree houses, a roving quiz challenge, aerial platforms,
kid-friendly artwork, interactive touch-screens and oodles of space . . .
Pukeiti has enough to keep the most energetic of youngsters absorbed over the
long summer break.

Open all day, every day and with free entry, it’s an ideal spot for a family day
out or to take out-of-town visitors young and old. Bring a picnic or enjoy the
tasty fare at Founders Café.

“It’s a place where no child will be bored and there’s plenty for grown-ups to
enjoy too – a world-class collection of rhododendrons in a beautiful and unique
New Zealand rainforest setting,” says Greg Rine, Regional Gardens Manager for
the Taranaki Regional Council.

“It’s all looking great for the summer holiday season, as are our other two
iconic heritage properties, Tūpare and Hollard Gardens.”

Check out their websites at [9]www.trc.govt.nz/gardens, or follow each of them
on Facebook.

The 2019 schedule of public events and workshops, most of them free, has been
finalised for each of the gardens, and there’s something for everybody. See the
details at [10]www.trc.govt.nz/whats-on/

Around & about the region

Highway advocacy pays off

Taranaki’s Regional Transport Committee has long been pushing for SH3 safety
improvements between Bell Block and Waitara, and warmly welcomes last month’s
announcement of $29 million in Government funding for the project. “We agree
with the Minister, the Hon Phil Twyford, that there’ve been too many deaths and
injuries,” says the Committee Chairman, Cr Craig Williamson. “It’s an important
road, one of the busiest in Taranaki, and it needs to be made as safe as
possible.” In his announcement, Mr Twyford acknowledged that the community had
been asking for safety improvements for some time.

[11]SH3 SAFETY BOOST WELCOMED

Buses for Christmas shoppers

With gift-buying season reaching its peak, the Taranaki Regional Council is
providing extra Saturday bus services for those needing to hit the shops. Nine
New Plymouth Citylink services, including Bell Block/Waitara, and the Connector
service linking Opunake, Hāwera, Stratford, Inglewood and New Plymouth, will run
on the  three remaining Saturdays before Christmas.

[12]WWW.TARANAKIBUS.INFO

[13]Surfwatch - www.taranakisurf.nz

We're webbing the surf

The Taranaki Regional Council has launched a new online Surfwatch, offering
real-time and forecast data covering wind, swell, tides, weather and water and
air temperature at nine key surfing locations spanning the entire Taranaki
coastline, with live webcams at some. The new tool, which functions as a
smartphone app when users save it to their home screen, incorporates the
Council’s own real-time wind data, as well as forecasts or data from NIWA and
MetOcean Solutions’ SwellMap covering swell conditions, air and water
temperature and weather. Some sites also feature Primo Wireless webcams.

[14]WWW.TARANAKISURF.NZ

Your Councillors

New Plymouth Constituency

[15]Tom Cloke

[16]David Lean

[17]Charlotte Littlewood

[18]Bev Raine

[19]Craig Williamson

Stratford Constituency

[20]Matthew McDonald

North Taranaki Constituency

[21]Mike Davey

[22]Donald McIntyre

South Taranaki Constituency

[23]Michael Joyce

[24]David MacLeod (Chair)

[25]Neil Walker
 
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Copyright © 2018 Taranaki Regional Council, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you have had interaction with the Taranaki
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Our mailing address is:
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47 Cloten Road
Stratford, Taranaki 4352
New Zealand
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References

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4. Taranaki waterways report 2018
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5. https://govt.us11.list-manage.com/track/...
6. Schools selling rat traps
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7. How to register on the Trap.NZ website
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8. https://govt.us11.list-manage.com/track/...
9. Taranaki Regional Council public gardens
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10. Taranaki gardens events calendar
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11. SH3 safety boost welcomed
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12. Taranaki bus information
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13. https://govt.us11.list-manage.com/track/...
14. Surfwatch
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Dear Old Skool

 

Attached is our response to your information request.

 

If you require any further information, please contact me.

 

Nga mihi

 

Mike Nield
Director Corporate Services

Taranaki Regional Council
47 Cloten Road | Private Bag 713 | Stratford 4352, New Zealand
M 027 454 9120 | P 06 765 7127 | F 06 765 5097 | [1]www.trc.govt.nz
[2]Link to Facebook [3]Link to Twitter [4]Link to YouTube
Working with people | caring for Taranaki

If you are not the intended recipient, any use, distribution or copying of
this message is prohibited. Please notify us immediately and erase all
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[3]Talking Taranaki - Taranaki Regional Council newsletter

Taranaki Regional Council newsletter - February 2019

Chairman's chat

Region on path to Stadium solution 

Ka mihi nui ki a koutou katoa, greetings to you all. The time has come to talk
about potential fixes for Yarrow Stadium. We're going to be seeking your views
on the options next month as we prepare to decide on a solution so work can get
under way.

We’ll be putting eight options to the community during consultation on the
Council’s Draft Annual Plan for the financial year starting 1 July. Our
preferred option is borrow up to $55m to reinstate the stands and update venue
facilities. Households would pay $51 to $76 a year, depending on location, to
service the required 25-year-loan.

Other options range from demolishing the stands and replacing them with grass
banks ($6m) to a completely rebuilt Stadium with roofed pitch ($271m). But
anything costing more than $55m would require co-funding from another party or
parties, so the realistic choices are Options 2, 3, or 4 if the region wants a
fit-for-purpose Stadium.

The Council is committed to returning Yarrow Stadium to full operational
capability as soon as reasonably possible – we believe the region deserves no
less. Option 4 looks to be the best in terms of the benefits it would bring, but
a co-funder would be needed. So Option 2 has to be our preferred option – we can
go ahead with it but leave the door open for Option 4 if outside funding becomes
available in the next 18 months.

However, it’s important to hear what the community has to say.

We're keen to move ahead as quickly as possible. We know that many people are
anxious to see something done, and are wondering why it’s taken so long to get
to this point. But complex engineering and geotechnical issues emerged from the
closure of both the Stadium’s stands when they were found to be quake-prone. 
Specialists have needed time to assess and analyse the problems and potential
solutions.  The Council has also needed to consult economic and financial
analysts to satisfy ourselves that any preferred solutions are cost-effective,
affordable and sustainable. So a lot has been going on, and the work continues.

Options, their pros and cons and their costs will be set out in a Consultation
Document and public submissions will run from 18 March to 23 April (the Tuesday
after Easter). Details will be available on the Council’s website,
[4]www.trc.govt.nz, in community newspapers and at District Council offices and
libraries.

The options for consultation are:

 1. Demolish both stands, replace with grassed banks ($6m).
 2. Repair stands and update facilities (up to $55m).
 3. Repair stands, add extra uncovered seating capacity ($56.3m).
 4. Repair stands with extra seating and additional facilities ($69m).
 5. New East Stand, extended West Stand, new South Terrace ($121m).
 6. New East Stand, extended West Stand, new North Stand, new South Terrace
($133m).
 7. New Stadium ($167m).
 8. New Stadium with roof ($271m).

- David MacLeod, Chairman

[5]Option 2 - preferred option
Option 2 - preferred option

[6]Option 4 - potential preferred option if co-funding secured.
Option 4 - potential preferred option if co-funding secured.

Taking Taranaki forward

[7][IMG]
Future Taranaki: Towards Predator-Free Taranaki.
Trapping yields social bonus

Schools and communities in the region are enjoying unforeseen social benefits
from Towards Predator-Free Taranaki, less than a year into what is a long-term
project.

The project is bringing neighbours together, igniting the enthusiasm of
youngsters at school and creating new employment opportunities.

“We know that reducing rats, stoats and possums to low numbers will make the
single greatest difference to Taranaki’s biodiversity, but this social impact is
a valuable additional outcome,” says Towards Predator-Free Taranaki Project
Manager Toby Shanley.

“It’s fantastic, the enthusiasm we are seeing so early on.“

The region-wide project began in June last year and aims to restore Taranaki’s
biodiversity by removing rats, stoats and possums from rural, urban and
conservation land.

It’s being co-ordinated by the Taranaki Regional Council, supported by $11.7
million from Crown company Predator Free 2050 Ltd.

Watch the video to see how the project is already paying dividends for
communities and schools.

It’s easy to take part! Pick up a $10 rat-trap (in pet-proof and child-proof
box) at Mitre 10 Mega in New Plymouth, or go to
[8]www.trc.govt.nz/pf-taranaki2050/ to see which school you can get one from.
Towards Predator-Free Taranaki is also on [9]Facebook.

Improving lifestyles

[10][IMG]
Family fun at Hollard Gardens.

Hop to Hollards - kids will love it

Hollard Gardens is the answer to any parent’s prayer as the season of fine days
and long evenings lingers in Taranaki.

Kids of any age will love exploring Hollards and will be delighted with what
they discover … a bug hotel, cool outdoor play equipment in the Family Corner,
perfect picnic spots and free barbecues, and plenty of room to play!

The grown-ups can enjoy the huge range of native and exotic plants that make
Hollard Gardens a horticultural oasis in the heart of dairy country. They can
learn all about its founder, renowned plantsman Bernie Hollard, and gain some
inspiration for their own home gardens.

Hollard Gardens is at 2290 Upper Manaia Rd, Kaponga. It’s open all day, every
day and entry is free. See [11]www.hollardgardens.nz or search for Hollard
Gardens on Facebook.

Along with Tūpare and Pukeiti, Hollard Gardens is owned and administered by the
Taranaki Regional Council on behalf of the people of the region. See
[12]www.trc.govt.nz/gardens for more details.

Around & about the region

Six out of six for Tūpare

Premier heritage garden Tūpare has earned the NZ Gardens Trust’s highest
six-star rating – a distinction shared by only 13 other locations nationally.
The Trust warmly commends the New Plymouth property for the way it portrays its
history while meeting the needs of a modern public garden, and it says the
gardening and maintenance are of excellent quality. “The whole region can be
proud,” says Greg Rine, the Council’s Regional Gardens Manager.

[13]WWW.TUPARE.NZ

Click to get the Connector

An improved online booking system is allowing users of the popular
cross-Taranaki Connector bus service to ensure there’ll be a seat for them.
Bookings are essential for those wanting to catch the first or final services of
the day, or for WITT students using the Connector at any time. The bookings
allow the Council and its contractor, Pickering Motors, to assess expected
demand. The Connector makes four Hāwera-New Plymouth return trips each weekday,
extending from and to Opunake on the first and last.

[14]WWW.TRC.GOVT.NZ/MYCONNECTOR/

More bush jewels recognised

A fifth of the privately owned native bush in Taranaki now falls under the
Council’s voluntary Key Native Ecosystem (KNE) programme and is thus targeted
for ongoing protection. Eleven new sites gained KNE designation this month,
taking the total to 276 covering more than 122,000 hectares. Of these, 223
covering 12,743 hectares, are privately owned, representing 20% of Taranaki’s
indigenous vegetation in private ownership. The Council has worked with the
owners of 131 KNEs to draw up Biodiversity Plans, under which assistance may be
obtained for fencing, predator control and revegetation.

[15]WWW.TRC.GOVT.NZ/KEY-NATIVE-ECOSYSTEMS/

Your Councillors

New Plymouth Constituency

[16]Tom Cloke

[17]David Lean

[18]Charlotte Littlewood

[19]Bev Raine

[20]Craig Williamson

Stratford Constituency

[21]Matthew McDonald

North Taranaki Constituency

[22]Mike Davey

[23]Donald McIntyre

South Taranaki Constituency

[24]Michael Joyce

[25]David MacLeod (Chair)

[26]Neil Walker
 
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Copyright © 2019 Taranaki Regional Council, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you have had interaction with the Taranaki
Regional Council in the past, and your feedback is important to us.

Our mailing address is:
Taranaki Regional Council
47 Cloten Road
Stratford, Taranaki 4352
New Zealand
[39]Add us to your address book

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References

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9. Towards Predator-Free Taranaki Facebook page
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10. https://govt.us11.list-manage.com/track/...
11. Hollard Gardens website
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12. Taranaki Regional Council public gardens
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13. Tūpare website
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14. Connector booking form
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15. All about Key Native Ecosystems
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[3]Talking Taranaki - Taranaki Regional Council newsletter

Taranaki Regional Council newsletter - April 2019

Recreation survey - win a break at Pukeiti Lodge!

[4]Pukeiti Lodge

Tell us about the Taranaki beaches, rivers and lakes you head to for fun and
relaxation - and go in the draw for a two-night break for two at the new Pukeiti
Lodge! The survey should take only seven to 10 minutes:

[5]Be part of the survey

Chairman's chat

[6]Port Taranaki visitors, from left: Chairman David MacLeod, Cr Craig
Williamson, TRC Director-Corporate Services Mike Nield, Cr Michael Joyce, TRC
Chief Executive Basil Chamberlain, Cr Matthew McDonald, Cr Donald McIntyre, Cr
Bev Raine, TRC Director-Resource Management Fred McLay and Cr Tom Cloke.
Port Taranaki visitors, from left: Chairman David MacLeod, Cr Craig Williamson,
TRC Director-Corporate Services Mike Nield, Cr Michael Joyce, TRC Chief
Executive Basil Chamberlain, Cr Matthew McDonald, Cr Donald McIntyre, Cr Bev
Raine, TRC Director-Resource Management Fred McLay and Cr Tom Cloke.

A region of busy people 

Ka mihi nui ki a koutou katoa, greetings to you all. From the Council table we
can see and appreciate how people and organisations across Taranaki are working
hard to improve their environment and their region.

It’s this can-do attitude that made us confident about launching Towards
Predator-Free Taranaki last year. And as we expected, the community has embraced
this long-term project to restore Taranaki’s biodiversity by removing rats,
stoats and possums from rural, urban and conservation land. Elsewhere in this
newsletter you can read an update on the project, and find out how to get
involved if you aren’t already.

You’ll also find out about a major survey we’re running to build a picture of
where and how Taranaki people have fun and get their exercise at the region’s
beaches, rivers and lakes. The results will help us to ensure our environmental
monitoring and regulation remain effective and relevant, so please take part! It
will take 10 minutes maximum and you’ll go in the draw for a two-night escape at
the delightful and newly rebuilt Pukeiti Lodge.

Turning from the rainforest to the coast, Councillors were recently given a
close-up look at Port Taranaki, of which the Council is the 100% shareholder.
The port is a key economic asset regionally and its annual dividends to the
Council help to offset rates. As Port Taranaki Ltd’s most recent half-yearly
report shows, trading patterns and cargo volumes remain volatile but the
company’s operational and financial prospects are strong in the short to medium
term.

Last but by no means least, public consultation on our Yarrow Stadium proposals
closed this week and we will carefully consider all the submissions you’ve sent
us. There’ll also be a hearing in May for those who wanted to put their
arguments to us in person. Then it will be time for us to make a final decision.
So watch this space!

- David MacLeod, Chairman

Taking Taranaki forward
[7]Some of the volunteers at the pre-Easter workshop

Champion effort for biodiversity

If you live in New Plymouth, don’t be surprised to hear from a neighbour or
near-neighbour who’s fired up about Towards Predator-Free Taranaki.

A pre-Easter workshop drew about 45 people keen to volunteer as either community
champions or to check traps in public parks and reserves. The community
champions will play a key role supporting backyard trapping efforts in their
neighbourhood or suburb and ensuring catch data is gathered and collated.

And it was clear at the workshop that they’re also keen to broaden the effort.
“These people are passionate about expanding the project and we’re confident
their enthusiasm will rub off on those living around them,” says Project Manager
Toby Shanley. “It’s great to be able to harness this solid grassroots energy.”

The region-wide project began last winter and aims to restore Taranaki’s
biodiversity by removing rats, stoats and possums from rural, urban and
conservation land. It’s being co-ordinated by the Taranaki Regional Council,
supported by $11.7 million from Crown company Predator Free 2050 Ltd.

Since the launch, backyard predator control has been gaining momentum in urban
and rural New Plymouth, using child-proof and pet-proof trap tunnels supplied
under the project.

However, more willing hands are needed – the goal is to have traps in one of
every five New Plymouth households. To get involved, go  to
[8]www.trc.govt.nz/pf-taranaki2050

The project will expand around the region in coming years.

Improving lifestyles

[9][IMG]
Tūpare in autumn

Tūpare on a seasonal high

Tūpare is the place to be right now as its stately trees put on a fantastic
seasonal colour show. It's a delight to be among the warm hues of autumn,
watching the maples and other deciduous trees lay down their leafy quilt of
amber, burgundy and golden tones.

Tūpare's Head Gardener, Mitch Graham, certainly enjoys autumn, as he explains in
this video.

Visit Tūpare at any time of year and you'll see why it recently earned the NZ
Gardens Trust’s highest six-star rating – a distinction shared by only 13 other
locations nationally. The Trust warmly commends the New Plymouth property for
the quality of the gardening and maintenance, and for the way it portrays its
history while meeting the needs of a modern public garden.

You can experience that history for yourself by taking part in one of the
popular High Tea at Tūpare events. It's a fun afternoon, a chance for you to
dress in your finest and relive Tūpare's splendour days. These events raise
funds for Mangorei School and bookings are essential.  They run at 2pm on the
first Sunday of every month from May to October Tickets are $20 a head and
available from BlackBird Society, 79 Devon Street East, New Plymouth. Follow the
link for more information: [10]www.bit.ly/NPhightea

Tūpare is at 487 Mangorei Rd, New Plymouth. It's open all day, every day and
entry is free. [11]www.tupare.nz

Your Councillors

New Plymouth Constituency

[12]Tom Cloke

[13]David Lean

[14]Charlotte Littlewood

[15]Bev Raine

[16]Craig Williamson

Stratford Constituency

[17]Matthew McDonald

North Taranaki Constituency

[18]Mike Davey

[19]Donald McIntyre

South Taranaki Constituency

[20]Michael Joyce

[21]David MacLeod (Chair)

[22]Neil Walker
 
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New Zealand
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Taranaki Regional Council's two-monthly newsletter. This edition focuses
on Yarrow Stadium.

[1]View this email in your browser

[2][IMG]
[3]Talking Taranaki - Taranaki Regional Council newsletter

Taranaki Regional Council newsletter - June 2019

[4][IMG]
 

Nominations for the 2019 TRC Environmental Awards close on 19 July
- talk to your friends and colleagues about making a nomination!

[5]Awards info & nomination form

Chairman's chat

Getting Yarrow Stadium back to work 

Ka mihi nui ki a koutou katoa, greetings to you all. After a busy and tough few
months, I’m delighted that Taranaki has taken the first step to restore Yarrow
Stadium to its rightful place as New Zealand’s leading regional venue for
national and international events.

Weighing up everything we’ve seen, heard and read, all of us at the Council
table are confident the community largely shares our vision for Yarrow Stadium:
The best non-metro stadium in the country for national and international sports,
entertainment and community events, offering a quality experience for all who
use it.

And I’d like to thank the many people whose research, expertise and informed
insight fed into what has been one of the Council’s most momentous decisions in
recent history.

We heard from a lot of different people with a lot of different views, some of
them more informed than others.

It’s always challenging to assess a large number of opinions and suggestions,
but I was glad so many people took the opportunity to participate. And we made
significant changes to the original proposal as a result of what we’d been told.

After we’d heard from everyone, we asked ourselves again what we need to
achieve. After a lot of discussion and deliberation, we concluded that the
vision adopted in 2015 still applies. That vision is:

* The best regional stadium in New Zealand that regularly hosts national and
international sports and entertainment events.
* A stadium for both major events and community events and the premier outdoor
field for team sports codes.
* A stadium that is loved by sports fans and the local community.
* A stadium that is a quality experience for event promoters, participants and
spectators, which is achieved through superior event facilities,
presentation and management and through the early adoption and smart use of
technology.

So it was clear to us that we must reinstate Yarrow Stadium to what it was, with
refurbishments that are necessary to meet current and foreseeable requirements
for such venues.

Not everyone agrees, of course. That’s part of being in a democracy. But as
discussion continues, it’s important that we all respect the facts and respect
each other. And I invite you to read and consider the Yarrow Stadium questions
and answers in this newsletter.

It’s been a tough decision – one of the toughest the Council’s faced. But I’m
confident it’s the right decision.

I look forward to the first big event at the repaired and refurbished Yarrow
Stadium, as do thousands of others in Taranaki.

- David MacLeod, Chair

Taking Taranaki forward
Yarrow Stadium questions & answers

The information below addresses a number of questions that have been raised in
public discussion following the Council’s decisions on Yarrow Stadium last
month.

Why not just fix the grandstands for $36 million and leave the refurbishments?

Fixing the stands and doing nothing else is not an option because the Stadium
would still not be fit for purpose:

* The refurbishments are essential for the Stadium to host the sort of events
the region wants to attract. Replacing end-of-life lighting with up-to-date
LED fittings is but one leading example. There are also things like extra
toilets and space for more food options, which users tell us have long been
needed.
* This work simply continues a programme developed in consultation with the
wider sporting community before the earthquake-prone issue arose. Nothing
has changed – apart from an opportunity to get work done cost-efficiently
and more easily while repairs are under way.
* The refurbishment programme was being funded from the previous Yarrow
Stadium rate, which is now replaced by the new rating arrangement that also
covers the cost of grandstand repairs.

Why spend so much on a facility that’s only for rugby?

[6]Top-grade football at Yarrow StadiumIt’s understandable that people associate
the Stadium with rugby but:

* The Stadium has been the venue for other top-level sport including NRL
league games, FIFA Under-20 World Cup games, Phoenix soccer fixtures (one is
pictured), T20 cricket fixtures and extreme motorsport exhibition events.
These have had a total estimated attendance of 130,000 people, a Business &
Economic Research Ltd (BERL) analysis shows.
* Attendance at non-sport events – conferences, exhibitions, trade shows,
conventions, corporate functions, weddings and community events – rose from
16,397 in 2014/15 to 33,310 in 2016/17. There were 51 functions,
conferences, expos and community events in 2014/15 and the number more than
doubled to 128 in 2016/17. This growth is expected to continue.
* In any case, rugby remains important to Taranaki people – the BERL analysis
also notes that the region has the nation’s highest rugby engagement rate of
any region in New Zealand.
* Rugby is the Stadium’s major paying tenant. Without it, the region would
struggle to establish and maintain a facility like this. The Stadium can’t
succeed without rugby.
* Most rugby facilities will be destroyed as part of the repair project –
these will be replaced in a way that allows users to make the best use of
space in the grandstands.

What about other sports? They’re becoming more popular and are desperate for
better facilities.

* The Taranaki Regional Council funds Yarrow Stadium as the region’s platform
for national and international events. As already noted, the Stadium has
been used by a variety of codes. They’ve all indicated they want to return.
* Soccer is developing its own regional facility near New Plymouth airport. It
envisages continuing to use Yarrow Stadium for the sort of top-class
fixtures already seen there.
* As the options analysis revealed, it would be prohibitively expensive to
develop the Stadium as a venue also suitable for codes with specialised
playing-area requirements.
* Community sport has valid wants and needs, in terms of infrastructure and
facilities, that they tell us are unsatisfied. These issues need to be
addressed at the local level, not the Regional Council level.

What about insurance? What about liability? Surely someone must be held to
account.

Insurance:

* The grandstands were NOT closed because they had sustained damage. They were
closed because they were found to be earthquake-prone, exposing staff and/or
spectators to an unacceptable risk of death or serious injury should they be
on-site when a quake occurs.
* Because no actual material damage has been sustained, there is nothing to
claim insurance on. The situation is the same in similar situations
elsewhere, for example Wellington Public Library.
* The Stadium has had and will continue to have insurance coverage for any
actual damage that occurs in an earthquake or in other circumstances.

Liability:

* The law imposes a 10-year limitation on liability claims – that is, you
can’t seek damages if 10 years or more have gone by. The Stadium was built
almost 20 years ago.
* The Council continues to investigate whether any options remain for a lawful
claim. But it would be unwise to expect this to result in any financial
compensation.

More information: [7]www.trc.govt.nz/yarrow-stadium

Your Councillors

New Plymouth Constituency

[8]Tom Cloke

[9]David Lean

[10]Charlotte Littlewood

[11]Bev Raine

[12]Craig Williamson

Stratford Constituency

[13]Matthew McDonald

North Taranaki Constituency

[14]Mike Davey

[15]Donald McIntyre

South Taranaki Constituency

[16]Michael Joyce

[17]David MacLeod (Chair)

[18]Neil Walker
 
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Copyright © 2019 Taranaki Regional Council, All rights reserved.
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Our mailing address is:
Taranaki Regional Council
47 Cloten Road
Stratford, Taranaki 4352
New Zealand
[31]Add us to your address book

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Taranaki Regional Council's two-monthly newsletter.

[1]View this email in your browser

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[3]Talking Taranaki - Taranaki Regional Council newsletter

Taranaki Regional Council newsletter - August 2019

In this issue: Taranaki's large-scale streamside (riparian) fencing and planting
project is getting accolades - and getting results!

Taking Taranaki forward

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Paradise regained on Opunake farm

One of the first Taranaki dairy farmers to start riparian planting and fencing
in the 1990s was 83-year-old Gordon Symes. He still lives on the Opunake farm,
which is now run by his daughter and son-in-law, Megan and Matt Symons.

“This is our little slice of paradise, but it wasn’t always like this,” says
Megan, who grew up on the farm and has seen first-hand how the water has
improved as streambanks have been fenced and planted.

“I can remember trying to cross the river and the rocks would be all slimy and
slippery and the water level was low and warm, like unnaturally warm – it’s
because there wasn’t the shade. Now it’s a pleasure (since the streambank
planting and fencing) that my children get to enjoy this and they love coming
here and swimming.”

Megan and Matt’s property is one of about 1700 dairy farms in Taranaki, which
all have a riparian plan with recommended fencing and planting.

Watch the video to find out more.

Community effort judged excellent

A national environmental excellence award is the latest accolade for Taranaki’s
mammoth efforts to improve freshwater health at a landscape scale.

And crucially, scientific monitoring continues to show the region’s rivers and
streams are the healthiest they’ve been for two decades, thanks largely to the
Riparian Management Programme, a 25-year voluntary project by farmers, iwi,
schools and community groups to fence and plant waterways.

The programme earned the 2019 Excellence Award for Environmental Well-Being from
Local Government New Zealand for the strong leadership behind it, its proven
results and its ‘profound effect’ on community well-being.

The voluntary scheme keeps stock out of waterways, cuts down effluent and
nutrient run-off and shades streamwater to encourage native biodiversity.

More than 15,400km of Taranaki streambanks – about the length of New Zealand’s
coastline – are covered under the voluntary programme. NIWA scientists say it’s
likely to be one of the largest and longest-running restorative freshwater
projects in the world. The figures are certainly staggering:

* $128 million programme – 70% funded by landowners.
* 5.6 million native plants.
* 2,500 properties with a riparian plan, including all dairy farmers.
* 13,207 kilometres of fencing on streambanks.
* 6,000 hectares of native habitat protected.

Since the 1990s, the Taranaki Regional Council has worked with farmers to
prepare fencing and planting plans individually tailored for each property. The
Council also provides suitable native plants at cost and monitors progress and
provides advice as plans are implemented. The Council can also coordinate
contractors for farmers who opt to use them.

An independent NIWA report in 2018 found that Taranaki’s riparian protection
work to date has contributed to improved freshwater health and a reduction in
bacteria levels. And with the latest monitoring results (for the 2017-2018
year), long-term trends in waterway ecological health show significant
improvements at 27 of the 59 sites monitored by the Council, and no significant
decline at any of them.

Ecological health is regarded as the prime measure of freshwater quality and is
assessed by examining what sort of tiny creatures are living in waterways.

Excellence award: [5]www.trc.govt.nz/excellence

Ecological monitoring results: [6]www.trc.govt.nz/monitor2019

Improving lifestyles

[7][IMG]
The Hāwera-New Plymouth Connector
Bus service keeps region connected

The Hāwera-New Plymouth Connector bus service clocked up nearly 30,000 passenger
trips in the 12 months to 30 June, and it's proving particularly popular with
SuperGold Card holders who travel for free between 9am and 3pm.

The Connector makes four return trips between Hāwera and New Plymouth each
weekday, extending from and to Opunake on the first and last trips respectively.
It's a truly region-wide service taking in Normanby, Eltham, Stratford,
Inglewood, Egmont Village plus minor settlements along SH3. Watch the video to
learn more.

The Connector is so popular that you need to book if you want to catch the first
or last service of the day. And it’s easy to reserve your seat online!

You can also use our online journey planner to find out where and when to catch
the Connector, or any of the Citylink or Southlink bus services also provided by
the Taranaki Regional Council.

Journey planner: [8]www.planmybus.nz

Connector bookings: [9]www.trc.govt.nz/myConnector

Connector timetable: [10]www.trc.govt.nz/Connector

Around & about the region

[11]Vote 2019 local elections

[12]Pōti 2019 | Nga Pōtitanga Ā-Rohe

Exercise your democratic right

Council elections take place in October 2019. The people who are elected make
important decisions that impact on all our daily lives and our region’s
environment and economy. So have your say! If you haven’t already received a
voter information pack, go online to enrol. To read the Council's Pre-Election
report or find out about standing for election, go to the TRC website.
Nominations close at noon on Friday, 16 August..

[13]WWW.VOTE.NZ
[14]WWW.TRC.GOVT.NZ/COUNCIL-ELECTIONS-2019/

Act now for biodiversity

Towards Predator-Free Taranaki is now into its second year and it's already
having an effect. Rat and possum numbers in urban New Plymouth have declined
since the ommunity-based campaign began at the end of May last year, and the
trapping network in both rural and urban areas is expanding rapidly. It's a
10-year project so it's not too late to get involved - find out more on the TRC
website.  If you are already involved, please remember to record your catches on
the TrapNZ website.

[15]WWW.TRC.GOVT.NZ/PF-TARANAKI2050/
[16]WWW.TRAP.NZ

Something for all at the gardens

Gardens are ideal places for quiet relaxation - and a lot more in the case of
Pukeiti, Tūpare and Hollard Gardens. Their calendars are packed with organised
public events, many of them free. In the coming weeks you can enjoy a workshop
on garden design at Tūpare, traditional French raclette three-course meals at
Pukeiti and Hollard Gardens, a botanical art class at Pukeiti or workshops on
ornamental pruning (Hollard Gardens), garden borders and landscaping (Tūpare) or
growing edible flowers (Hollard Gardens). See the TRC website for all the
details..

[17]WWW.TRC.GOVT.NZ/WHATS-ON/
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You are receiving this email because you have had interaction with the Taranaki
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Our mailing address is:
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47 Cloten Road
Stratford, Taranaki 4352
New Zealand
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