Co-funding for the Franz Josef Resilience Project
Background
During the COVID-19 lockdown Central Government announced an economic stimulus package which included funding for resilience projects that were “shovel ready”. Council submitted for a total of $45.1 million funding to the Crown Infrastructure Projects fund, which included a $24 million project for the Franz Josef community.
A total of $18 million was made available from Central Government provided that $6 million of co-funding could be secured. The proposed breakdown of the $6 million co-funding was: $3.6 million from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), $1.9 million via a Rating District, and $250,000 from both the West Coast Regional Council and Westland District Council.
The proposal also sought the merger of the two existing rating districts, as well as extending the current boundaries. The proposed boundary extension includes the old Canavan Knob Rating District as well as an extension of the northern boundary to Lake Mapourika.
Feedback
Based on the feedback received, Council made the following recommendations at their Council meeting on Tuesday, 10 November 2020:
- That Council will strike a targeted rate to meet the co-funding requirements of the infrastructure project;
- That Council will merge and extend the Franz Josef and Lower Waiho Rating Districts based on the boundary consulted on;
- That Council will add a differential to the ‘Stony Creek extension’ area;
- That Council will engage with the Westland District Council, Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, Department of Conservation and Waka Kotahi to form a Franz Josef Rating District Joint Committee to oversee development of a strategy and action plan for inclusion in Council’s 2021-31 Long Term Plan consultation;
- That Council will engage a community liaison representative, or representatives, to the Franz Josef rating district joint committee;
- That the strategy and action plans developed in consultation with Council addresses the concerns raised pertaining to Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
