Northland local body elections: Balancing growth with the environment key issue

Wednesday, 28 August 2019

Rawene in the Hokianga is one of 40 towns and villages which make up the sparsley populated Far North.

Unpaid loans, rising debt, climate change and rapid growth: Northland's four councils have plenty of challenges for hopeful councillors to face.

Voting for the triennial local body elections runs from September 20 to October 12.

Northland's three district councils and one regional council have each produced pre-election reports summarising key issues and plans for the upcoming three years.

Northland Regional Council biodiversity advisor Brooke Hartigan shows students traps used to catch pest fish at Lake Waiparera. Managing biodiversity while allowing economic growth is a key issue for Northland Regional Council.

Here is a summary of the major challenges.

The Northland Regional Council is backing a $15.5 million redevelopment of a former supermarket in Whangārei's Kensington - one of many projects to support growth in the region.

The Northland Regional Council is saying goodbye to a $820,000 loan, lent to a logging processing start-up.

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REGIONAL COUNCIL'S BAD DEBTS

Whangarei District Council's 2019 Pre-Election Report says a growing population, rising expectations and climate change are key issues.

Northland Regional Council's pre-election report outlines its challenges as economic growth vs environmental sustainability, reducing inequalities, climate change risks and mitigation, an ageing population, and protecting biodiversity, biosecurity and water.

One issue not specifically identified in the report is the regional council's bad debts.

Last week it decided to write off an $820,000 loan to timber processing start-up Resource Enterprises, which was lent the money in 2014 to set up a sawmill at Marsden Point.

The company stopped trading in May 2017, in part due to a spike in local log prices.

A huge housing, retail and commercial subdivision is planned for Mangawhai by Viranda Partners, adding to the growth in the area.

The money was from the regional council's $6 million Investment and Growth Reserve, and means there will be fewer funds to reinvest in Northland ventures.

Another pertinent issue is genetic engineering, with the regional council voting in July to not put controls on genetically modified organisms in Northland.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern travelled to Otamatea Marae in January for Kaipara's Provincial Growth Fund announcements.

The decision is now being appealed by the Whangārei District Council and GE Free Northland.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS IN WHANGĀREI

A snapshot from Far North District Council's 2019 Pre-Election Report shows the spread of the population.

A growing population and rising expectations for civic amenities are key issues, according to the Whangārei District Council's pre-election report.

To meet rising expectations, the council has introduced stronger road maintenance contracts, more funding for road sealing, started building a new $25 million drinking water dam, is building a new civic centre, and supports projects like the Hihiaua Cultural Centre and Hundertwasser Art Centre.

Te Whare Rūnanga at Waitangi Treaty Grounds is one of many whare in the Far North, where more than 40 per cent of the population is Māori.

To help fund these projects, the Whangārei District Council plans to double debt levels, from $125 million in 2018 to a peak of $242 million in 2026. This pushes the council to its maximum debt per capita limit.

Other issues for Whangārei outlined in the report include dealing with climate change – the council has recently declared a climate emergency – along with historically low infrastructure investment, managing increasing capital spending, pressure points like road sealing, central car parking and traffic congestion, and adapting to government funding changes.

GROWING PAINS IN KAIPARA

With a population growth of 3.1 per cent in 2018, Kaipara is the fastest-growing region in the North Island, according to the Kaipara District Council's pre-election report.

This growth – which is eclipsing long-term predictions – will put some strain on the district and council services, with future councillors needing to decide how to fund the growth.

'Council's biggest challenge remains the widening gap between the increasing cost of providing core services and the population able to fund it,' chief executive Louise Miller says in the report.

Keeping rates affordable is another key issue, along with providing core infrastructure, especially roading.

Kaipara District Council is also developing a new district plan – which will signal where growth will occur and how the land is to be managed.

Funding through the Provincial Growth Fund allows for opportunities in Kaipara, including an investment in roading, wharves and food businesses.

THE SPREAD OF THE FAR NORTH

Providing affordable infrastructure to a district with a large spread is the greatest difficulty for the Far North District Council, according to its pre-election report.

The district's 64,000 residents are spread across more than 40 towns and villages, meaning rates are sparse and making many services unaffordable, according to chief executive Shaun Clarke.

'Compounding this challenge is the need to meet rising environmental standards, deal with frequent and damaging adverse weather, and adapt to climate change.'

Challenges outlined in the report include maintaining core infrastructure, with many of the Far North's wastewater schemes not meeting environmental rules and the district having 1650km of unsealed roads.

Other challenges include keeping rates affordable, partnering with iwi (Māori make up 41 per cent of the population), planning a sustainable future through a new district plan, lifting economic and social development, and the council lifting its own performance.