Land Drainage

What is the Land Drainage activity and why is the Council involved?

The common purpose of land drainage and flood protection and control activities is to retain the productive capability of land, therefore these activities are incorporated into one Land Drainage activity. It is believed that Land Drainage is an appropriate name for this activity, as it is easily understood by those who are affected. The legislative requirement for the Flood Protection and Control activities is set out in section 2 of schedule 10 of the Local Government Act, 2002. Land Drainage is a particularly significant activity for Hauraki District Council, more so than for most other local authorities in New Zealand. The Council has Land Drainage standing committees that have representatives from both the Council and users; these committees advise the Council on land drainage and flood protection and control matters.

Land drainage and flood protection and control are key functions of the Council’s operation, as a considerable portion of the northern Hauraki Plains lies at or below the normal high tide level in the Firth of Thames. The remainder of the land on the Hauraki Plains is only slightly above this level, so protection against high water tables, extreme weather events, high tides and river floods is essential to the continuing occupation and use of the land for residential, agricultural and horticultural purposes.

Flood Protection Flood protection in the Hauraki District is provided by the river schemes of the Waikato Regional Council, except in the northwest part of the District (Waitakaruru to Miranda) where it is provided by Hauraki District Council. The assets that provide direct protection from river and tidal flooding include stopbanks, floodgates and pump stations, and are referred to as primary flood protection assets.

Land Drainage Land drainage assets collect runoff from the catchment areas of the District and lead it to the primary flood protection assets which discharge it direct to river or sea outlets. In addition to the drainage network, land drainage assets can include stopbanks, floodgates and pumps. The latter drainage assets perform a land drainage function, e.g. pumping from a minor drain into a major drain; they do not provide direct protection from river and tidal flooding, and are referred to as secondary protection assets.

These services are provided by the Council in four Drainage Districts:

 The Western Plains Drainage District - situated between the Piako River and State Highway 27, from the Firth of Thames to the District boundary with Matamata-Piako District Council.  The Eastern Plains Drainage District - situated between the Piako River and the Waihou River, from the Firth of Thames to the District boundary with Matamata-Piako District Council.  The Paeroa Rural Drainage District - comprises three smaller, former drainage districts east of the Waihou River. The former districts were the Komata North, Opukeko and Tirohia Rotokohu drainage districts.  Taramaire Drainage District - a small drainage district south of Kaiaua that the Council became responsible for as part of the Auckland City re-organisation.

The Land Drainage activity provides for public safety and effective protection of property, farmland and roads by draining excess surface water and managing ground water levels. The activity delivers sustainable services which the community needs to function productively and comfortably on a day to day basis, which meet high community health and safety standards, and which promote continuing productive use of the land.

How does the Council provide the Land Drainage activity?

The Council performs the Land Drainage activity by maintaining drains, canals, control structures, floodgates, flood pumps, culverts and stopbanks. Maintenance of the drains ensures that the agreed level of service is achieved by effective performance of the drainage system in removing surface runoff. Council drains are maintained by a combination of spraying and machine cleaning programmes, conducted by the Council’s Construction and Maintenance business unit.

Each drainage district, other than Taramaire, has its own advisory committee of members elected to represent ratepayers specifically on drainage matters in their area. The Western Plains Drainage Committee also has responsibility for the management of the flood protection aspect of the activity. The drainage committees report directly to the Council, establishing levels of service with the Council and the community and recommending the annual or ongoing works programme. The Council then sets the rates to be collected on their behalf to fund these works.

The Council currently owns and maintains:

 the land drainage schemes which have a replacement value of approximately $11million (excluding land value). Assets include 651 km of drains, 49km of stopbanks, 93 flood gates and control gates, and 4 pump stations  the Flood Protection schemes which have a replacement value of $4.3million (excluding land value). Assets include 43km of stopbanks and 31 floodgates, and one pump station.

Hauraki District Council also provides administrative support to the locally managed Taramaire Drainage District.

Map of Hauraki Land Drainage Districts and Flood Protection area

Taramaire

Flood Protection

Komata North Western Plains

Opukeko

Eastern Plains

Tirohia Rotokohu

The information contained in this document has been reproduced from a variety of sources. The varying data collection methods Approx. Scale 1:330,000 can lead to inconsistencies in the spatial relationship between the Hauraki District various datasets. The information is supplied in good faith. Land Drainage However, Council accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Wednesday, 25 May 2011 It is the users responsibility to ensure that the data contained Districts herein is appropriate and applicable to the end use intended.

Key legislative drivers and guidelines

 Land Drainage Act, 1908  Civil Defence and Emergency Management Act, 2002  Resource Management Act, 1991  Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act, 1941 (and Amendment Act, 1946)  Climate Change Response Act, 2002  Health Act, 1956  Governments Sustainable Development Action Plan  Local Government Act, 2002  Local Government Act, 1974  Building Act, 2004  Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act, 2014

Relevant Policies, Plans and Strategies

 Land Drainage Asset Management Plan  Hauraki District Plan  Hauraki District Council Consolidated Bylaw  Asset Management Planning Policy  Waikato Regional Council Regional Policy Statement and Regional Plan  Hauraki District Council Engineering Manual  Climate Change Policy  Infrastructure Strategy

Demand Management

The Council’s drainage systems are nearly fully developed and are currently on a programme of maintenance and renewal. Capital works therefore focus mainly on programmed renewals. Development of land in the District for agricultural purposes has now been largely completed. As the Land Drainage activity essentially serves areas rather than population, very limited effect is expected on the future demand on the Council’s system of canals, drains, stopbanks and flood control structures as a result of population changes.

It is likely that climate change will impact on the Land Drainage activity over time and may affect future extensions to and/or maintenance of this asset. The Council’s adopted assumption is that average annual rainfall is likely to slightly decrease over the next 100 years; however major rainfall events are predicted to intensify. Change is expected to be gradual and not to have a significant effect on the asset during the life of this Plan.

As peat shrinks and the land contour changes, some re-orientation of the drainage network will be required. In addition a contribution to the capital cost of the pump project may be required.

Increased drainage pumping capacity may be needed in time, to counteract the possible impact of climate change and rising sea level, in addition to that needed to provide for lower ground levels on the settling peat soils of the Hauraki Plains.

While there is unlikely to be any major drainage development in the foreseeable future, small additions to the drainage network can be expected from time to time. The cost of these additions will be met by the beneficiaries of the additions. Provided that a number of conditions are met, the completed drain addition will be added to the network.

The Council is aware that the predicted impacts of climate change could have significant effects on the foreshore and lower river stopbank requirements for the Regional Council’s river schemes. This may lead to the need for additional flood control measures and structures in the drainage districts. Given the relationship between the river schemes and the drainage districts, the Council will work closely with Waikato Regional Council to develop appropriate responses over the life of this Plan to mitigate the

possible consequences of climate change. As well as addressing structural issues, funding issues will also need to be considered if additional works or assets are required. This could impact on the land drainage rates for users in the land drainage areas in the future.

What are the significant negative effects on the local community?

 The cost of compliance with standards can impact the level of cost passed on to the ratepayers who receive the service.  Intensive farming made possible by the land drainage activity leads to loss of natural wetland habitat thereby reducing biodiversity.  Some productive land is lost to drainage channels.  Potential pollution from fertiliser runoff and chemical sprays conveyed through the drainage network negatively impacts water quality.  There is the potential for loss or destruction of historic sites through the provision of land drainage.  There are high rate costs to the beneficiaries of this service.

Collaborative Projects Relationship with Waikato Regional Council Most of the Council’s drainage districts lie within the catchments covered by the Piako River or the Waihou Valley Schemes, which are operated and maintained by the Waikato Regional Council. The associated structures (such as the floodgates and pump stations) provide the outlets for the Council’s drainage districts. The Council’s own flood protection and control

works lie outside the area of the river schemes.

Drainage of the Hauraki Plains areas depends entirely on the Waikato Regional Council’s river scheme assets for protection from tidal and river flooding and for discharging runoff through the primary flood gated outlets and pumps. The scheme assets (stopbanks, floodgates and pumps) are owned by the Waikato Regional Council, which has the responsibility for provision, maintenance, and depreciation funding of the assets. Waikato Regional Council funds only the power company’s network charges to their pumps. Hauraki District Council has responsibility for and funds the energy component of the power company’s charges and the weed clearing maintenance of the pump screens.

The urban areas of Kerepehi, Ngatea, Paeroa and Turua all discharge to the Waihou or Piako Rivers via Waikato Regional Council floodgates and pump stations. In the Plains townships, the main drainage outlet channels also convey runoff from upstream rural catchments. The maintenance of these channels is the responsibility of the appropriate drainage committee. In Paeroa, the primary urban drainage channel is the Hape Stream (Paeroa Main Drain) which is maintained under the urban stormwater budget. This channel also conveys upstream rural catchment runoff.

The two organisations cooperate closely. The Council appoints a representative to the Waikato Regional Council Waihou-Piako Zone Liaison Subcommittee. There are also additional local community representatives, often from the Hauraki District, that are appointed to the zone subcommittee. Staff of both Councils share the routine monitoring, inspection and minor maintenance of the pump stations. In times of flood events the two Councils’ staff and contractors cooperate closely to deliver the level of service.

Levels of Service and how the Council will measure them

Community Method of Baseline Levels of Service Target 2015-25 Outcome measurement (2013/14)

The Council provides Land Drainage services at agreed levels of service.

Measure: Annual 2014: 75% of 2015-25: Equal to Percentage of affected customers customer customers or greater than satisfied with the land drainage satisfaction satisfied 75% of customers services. survey satisfied Drainage services meet regulatory requirements. Measure: Number of New measure 2015-25: The land drainage service is operated in abatement  No abatement compliance with regulatory notices and notices or requirements. enforcement enforcement notices received notices received.

Protection is provided to the community and the environment. Measure: Field survey 92% 2015-25: 100% of Stop bank networks are maintained at undertaken 10 stop bank length or above the design flood level. yearly exceeds the design flood level. Pasture protection is provided. Measure: Service Request No verified 2015-25: No Drainage schemes reliably maintain database customer verified customer pasture production on land that would complaints complaints about otherwise flood after 38mm or less of received flood duration of >3 rainfall over a 3-day period. (2013/14) days are received. Timely response to customer requests. Measure: Service Request  Emergency: 2015-25: Customer requests are responded to database no incidents  Emergency within target timeframes:  Urgent: call outs:  Emergency call outs: resolved <1 100% 100% hour  Priority:  Urgent  Urgent customer requests: 100% customer response <1 hour  Routine: requests: 80%  Priority customer requests: assess 100%  Priority <4 hours customer  Routine customer requests: call requests: 80% back <3 working days  Routine customer requests: 85%

Mandatory Performance Measure (2015-25)

The following table includes the Government’s mandatory performance measures that all councils are legislatively required to measure annually and report on in their Annual Reports.

Method of Baseline Measure Target measurement (2013/14) The major flood protection and control works that are GPS Survey of 92% 100% or more of the maintained, repaired and renewed to the key stopbank level. stopbank length, on standards defined in the local authority’s relevant Design flood inspection, is greater than planning documents (such as its activity management level from the design flood level. plan, asset management plan, annual works statistical programme or long term plan). analysis of tidal records, and

Method of Baseline Measure Target measurement (2013/14) hydraulic design of flood profiles.

Changes to Levels of Service

The Council has made several changes to levels of service since the last Hauraki Long Term Plan was developed for the 2012-22 period. Levels of service help the community understand what service they can expect to receive from the Council. The table below explains how the levels of service have changed between the last Hauraki Long Term Plan and Annual Plan, and this proposed 2015-25 Hauraki Long Term Plan.

Levels of Service Changes in Levels of Service

Timely response to Across the Council’s network activities, the customer can now expect the same level customer requests. of service for response times to emergency, urgent, priority and routine call outs and service requests. This is a change in level of service wording (for the purposes of clarity and transparency) for the activities of Water Supply, Stormwater, Land Drainage and Wastewater.

Possible future changes to Levels of Service

This Hauraki Long Term Plan proposes levels of service which reflect community needs and expectations for the years 2015-25. Changing circumstances may in some cases impact on these service levels in unforeseen ways. The table below shows the possible future changes to Levels of Service.

Levels of Service Possible changes to Level of Service

The Council provides Climate change will force a review of the cost of providing the current level of service Land Drainage services for the Land Drainage activity. Changing circumstances may mean higher costs to at agreed levels of provide the same level of service. service.

Future Directions

The Waikato Regional Council seem the most appropriate authority to operate the flood protection component of the Land Drainage activity. The Council’s current level of service is less than that of the Regional Council’s and there would be a significant capital cost to ratepayers to raise the level of service to match the Regional Council standard. This may be a matter for future consideration by relevant land owners and the Council.

Future reviews of the Council’s climate change policy could result in changes to the design elements for this activity.

The current Treaty of Waitangi Settlement negotiations between the Crown and the Hauraki Collective include negotiations for the establishment of a Joint Co-governance entity that will have an oversight and policy setting role in resource management matters for the Waihou, Piako and Coromandel catchments. This body will contain representatives from Hauraki and upper catchment iwi, the Regional Council and the territorial authorities covering these catchments. At this time the final role of this entity is not known, but once finalised it will have an input to the policy framework that this activity works within.

Programmed actions for 2015-25

Capital Works - Over the 10 year period, the Council has planned $1.276million of capital expenditure for the Land Drainage activity. This is predominantly to upgrade existing networks

and to provide for the replacement of assets on the networks that have reached the end of their useful lives. The majority of the expenditure ($1.1million) is to be spent in the Western Plains area. The breakdown of the capital projects is detailed below and further information, broken down year by year, can be found in the full capital projects listing on the Council website www.hauraki-dc.govt.nz

Taramaire Flood Protection Rate - When the Taramaire Drainage District was transferred into the Hauraki District from the ex Franklin District, no provision had been made for Land Drainage rating in the Franklin District Council’s last Annual Plan, and the previous classified rating system for the area therefore lapsed. The Hauraki District Council introduced a drainage rate in 2013/14 for the Taramaire Drainage District and subsequently investigated, with the landowners, the introduction of a Flood Protection Rate to fund the operation of the Taramaire Flood Protection assets. In November 2014 the Council resolved that a proposed Flood Protection Rate be included in the 2015-25 Hauraki Long Term Plan.

The total of the Drainage Rate and the Flood Protection Rate, both based on land value, will be comparable to the previous land area based classified rate.

Capital Works Schedule – by Drainage District Western Plains Drainage District In the 2015-25 period, A total of $1.1million is planned to be spent on the Western Plains Drainage District, comprising the following:

Type of Capital Project Year Total Cost Expenditure 2015/16, 16/17, Renewal Karito Canal stopbank renewals $45,000 20/21 2016/17 – Renewal Hot Springs Canal stopbank renewals $63,000 2017/18 2018/19 – Renewal Foreshore stopbank renewals $45,000 2019/20 2018/19 – Renewal Miranda stopbank renewals $45,000 2019/20 2020/21 – Renewal Miranda North stopbank renewals $30,000 2021/22 Waitakaruru Right Bank stopbank renewals 2022/23 $54,000 Renewal Maukoro Canal Left Bank stopbank Renewal 2015/16 $10,000 renewals Smythes Floodgate renewals 2019/20 $293,000 Renewal 2015/16 – Renewal Poaurua Maukoro structures renewals $304,000 2016/17 Hopai West pump renewals 2016/17 $16,000 Renewal Central North pump renewals 2016/17 $16,000 Renewal Miranda pump renewals 2016/17 $36,000 Renewal 2020/21 – Renewal Pump screens renewals $192,000 2022/23

Eastern Plains Drainage District A total of $84,000 is planned to be spent on the Eastern Plains Drainage District, comprising the following:

Type of Capital Project Year Total Cost Expenditure

Type of Capital Project Year Total Cost Expenditure Terrace stopbank renewals 2015/16 $74,000 Renewal 2016/17, 18/19, Renewal Haitch Drain culverts renewals $10,000 20/21

Paeroa Rural Drainage District A total of $44,000 is planned to be spent on Paeroa Drainage District, comprising the following:

Type of Capital Project Year Total Cost Expenditure Komata North Drainage District Alexander Renewal 2015/16 $10,000 Canal stopbank renewals Tirohia Rotokohu Drainage District Level of service 2015/16 $34,000 Ngahutoitoi Marae Road piping

Additionally, in 2015/16 the Council will contribute $110,000 towards the Muggeridge pump project. The Council’s contribution is 5% of the estimated capital cost of $2.2million. The Council will fund its share from the sale of assets, most probably the balance of the land the Council owns where the pump and feeder drain are to be located.

The full list of capital works is in the “Capital Works Schedule” which forms part of the “Financial Statements”. This is available at www.hauraki-dc.govt.nz

What are the costs of operating the Land Drainage activity?

Budget Forecast Forecast ForecastForecastForecast Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000

EXPENDITURE Vegetation Control 182 182 191 198 206 215 225 235 247 260 273 Maintenance/Fencing/Culverts 12 14 12 13 13 14 15 15 16 17 18 Mechanical Cleaning 182 180 187 194 202 211 221 237 242 255 268 Floodgates 27 29 30 31 33 34 35 37 39 41 43 Pumps 253 247 267 277 288 301 314 329 345 362 381 Overheads 202 211 215 220 224 230 235 241 247 254 261 Other 54 59 61 63 65 67 70 73 76 80 84 Depreciation/Assets written off 258 232 232 247 247 247 268 268 268 295 295 Interest (72) (118) (117) (121) (139) (155) (159) (174) (191) (207) (230) 1,098 1,036 1,078 1,122 1,139 1,164 1,224 1,261 1,289 1,357 1,393

REVENUE Fees, Charges and Other Income 0 ------External Subsidies 0 ------Targeted Rates 1,047 934 966 1,000 1,032 1,063 1,096 1,132 1,169 1,207 1,246 General Rates 188 164 169 175 181 186 192 198 205 211 218 1,235 1,098 1,135 1,175 1,213 1,249 1,288 1,330 1,374 1,418 1,464

OPERATING SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) 137 62 57 53 74 85 64 69 85 61 71

Funding Impact Statement for the Land Drainage activity

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Annual Plan Forecast Forecast ForecastForecast ForecastForecast Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 SOURCES OF OPERATING FUNDING General rates, uniform annual general charges, rates penalties 188 164 169 175 181 186 192 198 205 211 218 Targeted rates 1,047 934 966 1,000 1,032 1,063 1,096 1,132 1,169 1,207 1,246 Subsidies and grants for operating purposes ------Fees and charges ------Internal charges and overheads recovered ------Local Authorities fuel tax, fines, infringement fees, and other receipts ------Total Operating Funding (A) 1,235 1,098 1,135 1,175 1,213 1,249 1,288 1,330 1,374 1,418 1,464

APPLICATIONS OF OPERATING FUNDING Payments to staff and suppliers 711 711 747 777 809 842 880 926 967 1,014 1,068 Finance Costs ------Internal charges and overheads applied 129 92 98 98 85 75 76 67 56 47 31 Other operating funding applications ------Total Applications of Operating Funding (B) 840 803 845 875 894 917 956 993 1,023 1,061 1,099

SURPLUS (DEFICIT) OF OPERATING FUNDING (A - B) 395 295 290 300 319 332 332 337 351 357 365

SOURCES OF CAPITAL FUNDING Subsidies and grants for capital expenditure ------Development and financial contributions ------Increase (decrease) in debt - 48 (59) (289) (248) (16) (224) (261) (230) (357) (365) Gross proceeds from sale of assets ------Lump sum contributions ------Other dedicated capital funding ------Total Sources of Capital Funding (C) - 48 (59) (289) (248) (16) (224) (261) (230) (357) (365)

APPLICATIONS OF CAPITAL FUNDING Capital Expenditure - to meet additional demand ------to improve the level of service - 34 ------to replace existing assets 55 309 231 11 71 316 108 76 121 - - Increase (decrease) in reserves 340 ------Increase (decrease) of investments ------Total Applications of Capital Funding (D) 395 343 231 11 71 316 108 76 121 - -

SURPLUS (DEFICIT) OF CAPITAL FUNDING (C - D) (395) (295) (290) (300) (319) (332) (332) (337) (351) (357) (365)

FUNDING BALANCE ((A - B) + (C - D)) ------

Reconciliation of Cost of Service Statement to Funding Impact Statement

OPERATING SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) 137 63 58 53 72 85 64 69 83 62 70

Depreciation/Assets written off 258 232 232 247 247 247 268 268 268 295 295 Subsidies and grants for capital expenditure ------Development and financial contributions ------Vested Asset Income ------SURPLUS (DEFICIT) OF OPERATING FUNDING (A - B) 395 295 290 300 319 332 332 337 351 357 365