Co-funding for the Westport Advanced Flood Warning System
Background
During the COVID-19 lockdown the Government announced an economic stimulus package which included funding for resilience projects that were “shovel ready”. The West Coast Regional Council submitted for $45.1 million of funding to the Crown Infrastructure Projects fund for projects across the West Coast, including a project for an advanced flood warning system to achieve up to eight hours warning for the evacuation of Westport.
Up to $400,000 of funding was made available from Central Government provided co-funding from the community of $155,000 was secured. Council proposed the $155,000 be funded via the establishment of a Westport Rating District.
Community consultation was undertaken in September for a proposed rating district to be formed under the Local Government Act 2002 and governed by a newly established Westport Joint Committee to make future recommendations to Council. BT Mining Limited very generously provided the $155,000 community co-funding contribution.
Feedback
Based on the feedback received, Council made the following recommendations at their Council meeting on Tuesday, 10 November 2020:
- That co-funding of the $155,000 from the Buller District Council for the Advanced Flood Warning project was accepted;
- That a Westport Rating District would be formed on the boundary consulted on and would have a zero targeted rate for the 2021/22 financial year (based on the $155,000 received in full);
- That the Westport 2100 Working Group would be reconvened to identify priority recommendations;
- That the Regional Council would engage with Buller District Council, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae and Waka Kotahi to form a Westport Joint Committee to oversee development of a strategy and action plan for inclusion in Council’s 2021-2030 Long Term Plan consultation; and
- That any future projects or recommendations from the Westport Rating District Joint Committee or Westport 2100 Working Group would be consulted on with the community at the time of proposal.
A summary of the feedback received can be found here:
