assets & services committee - marlborough · packing up road cones cable strike plant damage...

Information Package

Assets & Services Department3 May 2016

Contents

Marlborough Roads ...................................................................................................................... 1Local Road Asset Management Report – March 2016 ...............................................................................1Passenger Transport .................................................................................................................................6

Rivers and Drainage Section – Activity Report........................................................................... 7Flood Damage...........................................................................................................................................7Wairau River .............................................................................................................................................7Wairau Floodplain and Tributaries .............................................................................................................9Drainage .................................................................................................................................................11Floodway Reserves.................................................................................................................................15Picton, Sounds and Awatere....................................................................................................................15Investigation and Miscellaneous ..............................................................................................................15Gravel Extraction.....................................................................................................................................19Quarries ..................................................................................................................................................20

Services and Operations ............................................................................................................ 21Education Report Term 1, 2016...............................................................................................................21

Reserves and Amenities Section Activity Report..................................................................... 23Blenheim Parks and Reserves.................................................................................................................23Public Conveniences...............................................................................................................................30Cemeteries..............................................................................................................................................31Memorials ...............................................................................................................................................32Rangers’ Report ......................................................................................................................................32Contracts.................................................................................................................................................33Road Safety Coordinator Update.............................................................................................................34

Assets & Services Committee – 3 May 2016

Marlborough Roads

Local Road Asset Management Report – March 2016(Information prepared by Frank Porter) R800-007-02

GeneralDuring March steady progress has been made undertaking pavement renewals with the sealing programme nearing completion and the renewals underway. All works are expected to be completed in April. Some works were deferred on Queen Charlotte Drive to ensure no interference with the running of the Graperide.

11 Grape spills were recorded in March.

A storm event on 24 March caused widespread surface flooding but with only minor damage resulting.

The proposed thin asphalt surface treatment in Hutcheson Street adjacent to the new ASB Theatre has been deferred pending final safety audits. This deferral has enabled a section of pavement in Alfred Street and a short section in Maxwell Road by St Mary’s School.

Health and safety remains a key discussion topic with all issues and potential issues elevated androbustly discussed.

The Tyntesfield Bridge contract awarded to Downer is underway following consultation with neighbours. This now enables Downer to get works underway with on-site works to commence in April. The building consents for renewal of the Godsiffs and Waitaria Bridges in the Kenepuru and the Para Bridge on Para Road are issued. Fulton Hogan’s programme is for site works to commence in April for the Para Bridge and in May for the Kenepuru bridges. Despite some procedural delays Fulton Hogan expects to have all three bridges substantially completed by the end of June.

Financial CommentaryExpenditure on Maintenance and Renewals in both the subsidised and non-subsidised roading programme is within but very close to budget.

Graphs for maintenance and renewal expenditure are provided below. Despite inflation escalation payments, Marlborough Roads expects to be within budgets at year end.

Assets & Services Committee – 3 May 2016 – Page 1

Maintenance graph

Renewals Graph

There are no issues completing the non-subsidised roading and road related works.

Monthly Activities

Network Outcomes ContractThis contract continues to run satisfactorily. The KRA assessment for the period ending the Feb 2016 has been completed with the preliminary assessment rating performance for the period as ‘Best Practice’. This rating is still to be ratified by the Transport Agency’s Regional Network Performance Group (RNPG).

The contractor continues to focus on Health and Safety to minimise risk to its employees and sub-contractors. The TRIFR score (health and safety measure of incidents) remains low and is an excellent result.


HEB and their subcontractor have made good progress with urban and rural reseals. These reseals are 85% complete as at the end of March. Some issues have arisen with loose chip at reseal sites.The contractor is managing this through.

Bells Road, Port Underwood (Karaka Point), and Awatere Valley Road area treatments are proposed for April.

In March, the Operational Performance Measures independent audit has identified four non-conformances on the state highway network (three heaves and shoves and one for a blocked culvert) and one on the local roads network (car park cleaning). In the previous month there were three non-compliances on the SH network and one on local roads (unsealed road shape). This performance measure remains well below threshold levels.

Marlborough Roads ActivitiesKaye Smith is acting in the Senior Administrator position following Debbie Topliss’s resignation. A recruitment process is underway to find a replacement for Debbie.

The Corridor Access Request (CAR) process is providing excellent value delivering high quality pavement reinstatement.

The Parking Administrator is preparing the new parking contract documentation. The current contract finishes on 30 June.

The Marlborough Roads Manager attended the West Coast Network outcomes Contract Board meeting.

Project Status

State HighwaysThe design for the proposed Spring Creek SH 1 Roundabout now has agreement from KiwiRail approval. Marlborough Roads is lodging the application for construction funding.

The Prime Minister has announced that construction of the Opawa Bridge can proceed. Investigations are nearing completion. Construction is likely to commence early in 2018.

The Strategic Case for improvements to the Picton to Christchurch SH 1 route is complete and proposed to be considered by The Transport Agency’s Value Assurance Committee in April 2016.

Construction funding for the Spring Creek to Grovetown cycle path has been sought but as yet not been approved.

Local RoadsConstruction of the Tyntesfield Bridge is back on track following discussions with residents.

The contract for the replacement of three smaller bridges (Godsiffs, Waitaria No.2 and Para) will get underway in April.

Works are now complete on the Picton Lookout walkway expected to be complete mid-March. Excellent comments have been received from public.


Picton Lookout Walkway

CommunicationsMarlborough Roads staff have consulted with many sectors of the community. The following table identifies some of those contacts made during the month.

Grassmere Residents Grassmere Road - StockKiwi Rail Rail crossing SafetyMarlborough Lines Issues meeting (routine)Marlborough Lines Contract renewalTyntesfield Residents BridgeWairau Valley Community Group Township proposalsKenepuru Residents Barge Site

Customer Database InformationThe following information is taken from the Transport Agency’s CRMS database for January 2016 based on 149 contacts.

Compliment 1%Comment 73%Requests 13%Complaints 8%Feedback 3%Other 2%


Road Safety

All CrashesReported crash incidents are low for January and February. Data for March is not yet available as there is usually a lag between police attendance and data entry into the national database. The following information is current at time of reporting.

Zero HarmThe Transport Agency continues to develop its Zero Harm Policy and is working with its suppliers to improve Health and Safety Outcomes. HEB Construction are part of a trial with the Transport Agency to develop best Health and Safety practice referred in the General section at the start of this report The following is now part of the HEB/Opus JV reporting:

Near Misses (Involving Vehicle):

Vehicle hit Stop/Go paddle

Near Misses (Not Involving Vehicle):

Slipped on step Saw Blade Stolen road sign Packing up road cones Cable strike

Plant Damage Only:

Plate fell off roller Digger door blew open in strong wind and window broke

First Aid Injury (FAI)

Cut finger loading signs


Medical Treatment Injury.............................. Nil

Restricted Work Injury (RWI)........................ Nil

Lost Time Injury (LTI) .................................. Nil

Fatality......................................................... Nil

The TRIFR Score for the last nine months is 4.47 and represents best practice.

Marlborough Roads have reported no near miss incidents. All staff are attending defensive driver training.

Passenger Transport(Information prepared by David Craig) R800-003-004-02

The Total Mobility Scheme’s purpose is to provide subsidised taxi fares for people with permanent disability or impairment.

Council subsidises participant’s fares by 50%, or to a maximum of $20 per one way trip, whichever is the lesser.

The subsidy is jointly funded by Council (40%) and Central Government (60%).

Eligibility to the scheme is based around a hypothetical journey. To be eligible, an individual must have an impairment that prevents them from using public transport (if it was available) unaccompanied in a safe and dignified manner.

It must be the individual’s impairment, not the absence of a bus, train or ferry service in the area, which prevents the individual from using conventional public transport.

The scheme currently has 1,063 registered participants, who are serviced through a number of “support agencies” such as Age Concern, Blind Foundation and CCS Disability Action.

The 2015/16 annual budget for the scheme is $120,000, including $10,000 for administration incorporating voucher printing costs, production and supply of photo identity cards and reimbursements to support agencies for individual eligibility assessments.

The travel costs are monitored throughout the year and expenditure summaries are provided to member agencies on a regular basis. Year to date expenditure to February 2016 was $82,008, which is $8,675 (12%) above the corresponding budget.

To minimise the over-expenditure during the remainder of the financial year, a number of control measures have been undertaken, including:

• High end users have been asked to voluntarily reduce the number of trips they make.

• The acceptance of new individuals to the scheme has been suspended for the three month period April to June 2016.

• All users have been restricted to one book of 25 vouchers per month.

These controls were discussed with Councillor Andrews prior to their implementation.

Council continues to subsidise existing clientele on an ongoing basis.

An additional $10,000 budget has been included in the 2016/17 Annual Plan.

Some further dialogue will be had with member support agencies with a focus on the eligibility criteria.


Rivers and Drainage Section – Activity Report(Information prepared by Geoff Dick, Steve Bezar, Kevin McFall, David Aires, Jan van der Vliet,Hai Trieu) R700-014-01

Flood DamageA report on 18 February 2016 and 24 March 2016 flood events has been prepared and will be presented to Committee as a separate agenda item.

Wairau RiverFairway spraying is complete for this season. Approximately 25 ha of target area has been covered and proving to be extremely effective at opening up the active fairway and increasing flood capacity and minimising adverse braid alignment causing berm edge erosion.

Photo looking downstream from SH 6 showing a clear fairway encouraged by ongoing annual fairway spraying operations – and recent flood events!


Wairau DiversionFurther tree removal work has been completed along the true left bank. Piles will be burnt over winter.

Lower Wairau The snout rock line at Botham’s Bend suffered damage during the flood event of 18 February 2016and was repaired using 174t quarried rock. This was subsequently damaged again during the smaller flood event 24 March 2016 resulting in a scour hole 18 m long and 4 m deep which is currently under repair once again. This rock line, which allows the erodible bank to operate efficiently, is proving to absorb a significant amount of pressure at bank-full river flows.

The erodible diversion bank at SH 1 requires further reinstatement work following flood event 24 March 2016. This will be completed once necessary reinstatement work has been completed on the snout rock line. Further rock repair work is also required at the head of the erodible bank. This will be completed once necessary access permits have been obtained from KiwiRail.

The flow split channel also needs improving and this will be done once the aforementioned works have been completed.

An initial hit on Old Man’s Beard (OMB) control has been completed along a section of Peninsula Road from Ferry Road Bridge to approximately 850 m upstream. The purpose of this work is firstly to release the existing willows being strangled and weight-loaded by the vine and secondly to stop further seeding. Some of the existing willows have felled and are dying. There is only one effective line of willows and they are perched well above average water levels therefore their longevity is critical to cost-effective bank stabilisation control. This work will be ongoing annually.

Work has also been done to remove trees under the overhead powerlines adjacent to Ferry Road Bridge. This was completed after a request from Marlborough Lines.

Photo showing positive effects of controlling Old Man’s Beard, Peninsula Road.


Wairau Floodplain and Tributaries

Fairhall DiversionFurther tree removal work and stopbank repairs have been completed. This has been year three of this programme of work which involves felling aging poplar trees, fully removing the rootball and rootsystem, repairing holes in the stopbank and re-grading the berm to assist with waterproofing the stopbank toe.

Tree removal and minor channel improvement works were completed along the reach of the Fairhall River from New Renwick Road Bridge downstream to Grahams Road.

Work in full flight, Fairhall Diversion

Gibsons Creek (just downstream of Waihopai intake)River intakes were reinstated 30-31 March for both intakes following the flood event 24 March 2016. Wilding willows along the intake canal were cut and swabbed to prevent re-growth.

In addition to follow up flood repair works a 300 m section at 95 Blicks Road had trees removed and channel capacity improved.

School Creek, RenwickThe final tazz-run and general waterways maintenance works have been completed for this financial year.


Taylor River: (Dam to Burleigh Bridge)Channel improvement works have been completed to ensure maximum designed flood capacity of the Blenheim Riverside Railway Society’s (BRRS) bridge is in place. Small improvements to abutment guide bank rock rip rap were also made. The BRRS has agreed to a contribution to this work.

Work underway to maximise flood carrying capacity of riverside railway bridge

Wither Hills A meeting with Emergency Management staff was held to look at measures that may be needed

to be implemented including vegetation management and grazing to reduce fire loadings within gully systems and around walking tracks. With recent rains the burnt over area has greened up.

Various Contractors have been requested to price aspects of vegetation control (dead and dying trees from burn areas, weed control) as a measure for fire reduction work which includes the recent fire, the fire 18 months ago and the Mountain Bike Park.

Sprayed out areas where Chilean Needle grass has been found have been direct drilled with clover and lucerne which will be part of the green belt being established around the perimeter of the farm park with the urban boundary.

Treatment of tunnel gullies has occurred in part of Mapp’s and Dungey’s gullies with cultivation and reseeding scheduled to occur this month.

Erosion control matting has been ordered to enhance stability recently cultivated land. Lime has been applied to the worked up areas.

A culvert that was discharging onto a neighbouring property causing flooding of the property has been removed and the water directed to a safe outlet. Planning for two debris traps is underway for the lower Dungey’s gully.


Fence maintenance on a gully on the east of the property has been undertaken to ensure plantings proposed for this winter are not affected by grazing. Spraying for the Corsican pine planting scheduled for this winter has been completed also.

Limited hand spraying of gorse and broom has occurred around the mid slope access road where small areas had started to show up.

The small skyline garage adjacent to Cobb Ridge gully has been removed.

Progress is being made with the potential supplier for a new woolshed. The final stages of the design plans are being worked through.

Mountain Bike Park where fire reduction control work is required

Drainage

Network upgrade New scheduled drains, Flatlands and Willies have been excavated and necessary culverts

installed – a total of 752 m. These drains are two of the new drains being added after the network review.

Preparatory survey and works for Hollow Dr, Adrian’s Drain, Doctors Creek culvert clearance and Noname Drain is underway.


Upper Opawa River:Brand new control gate frame at Upper Opawa Loop has been built, then it will get a marine anti-corrosion coated before reinstall in early May, in time before injection of diquat in the Opawa below SH 1 to control aquatic weed growth.

Lower Opawa River:Summer weed cutting programme at Lower Opawa has been finished. The weedcutter will be inspected by Able Ships Ltd this week for its safety check and induction into the new MOSS safety system.

The upgrade of the stopbank beside the Boathouse Theatre is essentially complete. The asphalt walkway has been laid and the back of the stopbank by the loop outlet screen reshaped and dressed with soil. The only items remaining are some minor finishing works including bollard replacement, repair of a small sink hole in the new ashphalt and sowing to grass the dressed stopbank. Wadsco Commercials are now free to complete their development including the new boundary fence.

Taylor River: Town AreaUrgent repairs have been completed to a stopbank section at 16A Hiley Street. A former owner excavated quite a large portion of the landward toe over the years. At the worst point about 50% of the stopbank cross section had been lost giving an increased failure risk in a design Taylor River flood event.


Stormwater Pumping Stations

Dublin Street stormwater, PictonPump 53 has now been refitted with new gland packing, new shaft, cutless and sleeves. Pump 52 has subsequently been taken out for a similar maintenance overhaul.

Riverlands IndustrialPump sump pressure transducer recalibrated.

Chaytors, Rouses, RobertsLaser Electrical has been awarded a contract to install telemetry equipment in these pump stations. Time frame for this job will be three to four months to complete. Chaytors pump shed will be extended at the back to accommodate a new telemetry and electrical cabinet.

At completion this will provide real time data back to the office about pump operation hours, outages and whether additional pump capacity may be required/justified in future.

WineworksPower supply provider has shifted from Trust Power to Genesis, Council’s supplier.

Grovetown 1Leaking and rotten gravity wooden gate has been replaced with a brand new gate made of three layers of tongue and groove timber, and a marine ply diaphragm in between. The original straps and hinges were sandblasted and coated before fitting to the new gate.


Wither Hill StreamsGravel and silt has been cleared at an existing sediment dam at Snake Gully. This structure was constructed to prevent sediment being transported into town waterways (Co-op Drain) in heavy rainfall events. 700 m3 material has been excavated, transported then spread out just upstream of working site with the landowner’s agreement. The channel also has been redefined to ensure storm flows donot outflank the very important concrete drop structure.

Drainage MaintenanceWork completed includes:

Lower Riverlands Co-op excavated 0-1850 m


Upper Riverlands Coop weed raked - 2892 m

Marris Creek outlet cleared twice

Sandhills Outlet weed raked 800 m

Set Marukoko weir to winter mode

Clear town drains of urban debris following March rain event

Drain spray programme 60% completed by the new contractor who is having a great run with the settled weather.

Jet cleaned a section of Drain D that is piped at Grovetown, with Jetco the specialist contractors, to confirm the pipe’s condition and efficiency.

Floodway Reserves Remedial fertiliser applied to Res 47 Upper Opawa to balance soil nutrients following winery

discharges.

Public boat launching ramp cleared and cleared at Blenheim Rowing club following the second river fresh.

Some residual debris removed from the RSA Olive Grove area at Burleigh.

Clearance of windblown and fallen trees at the Ferry Bridge Spring Creek.

Picton, Sounds and AwatereA routine-maintenance-run down the two main waterways at Ngakuta Bay has been completed to remove rubbish, blockages and trim back overhanging vegetation.

Similarly a one off mowing of the recently developed river reserve area by the Wakamarina River at the Trout Hotel was completed. A long term arrangement for maintenance of this very visible picnic/parking area needs to be agreed with the local residents.

Rai RiverRequest by various locals throughout the Rai and Pelorus River catchments have been made to Council. Staff will respond with an inspection to determine if any infrastructural assets are at risk.

Waikawa and Waitohi RiversThe third and final round of waterway maintenance-runs has largely been completed, including weed-eating, mowing, tree removal, spot weed spraying and rubbish removal. Work is being done to make suitable arrangements for access through port compound at Waikawa marina where access is restricted currently for Council’s contractors.

Investigation and Miscellaneous

Lower Wairau River Stopbank Improvement Works

“Ngati Rarua Reach” Progress (True Left Bank) The archaeological authority application to Heritage NZ was lodged on 23 February 2016.


The application will cover the geotechnical investigations and subsequent ‘major’ constructionworks.

Simultaneously consultation will take place with Te Runanga a Rangitane o Wairau and Ngati Kuia. Although not directly affected by the proposed works their “interests” are directly located downstream of the project area.

Heritage NZ has requested further clarification on the consultation process completed to date particularly with regards to the point above.

Photo taken from the true left stopbank, facing in-land south-south east, down stream of the Parerarua.The grassed area between the road and the trees on the edge of the

stopbank are likely to be disturbed by earthworks and might contain historical archaelogical features.

Consultation with Ngati Rarua, Te Runanga a Rangitane o Wairau, Ngati Kuia and other affected landowners are continuing as an ‘ongoing process’, ie; partnership approach.

Geotechnical investigations are now being planned for the beginning of June 2016 to ascertain the availability of material, along the river reach – both banks, to construct the stopbank upgrades. Alternative sources of material are being investigated, eg; Pukaka Quarry.

ProgrammeThe tasks to be undertaken by Aurecon Consulting Engineers include:

Build a 3D model of two alternative alignments to give a total of three options – to date

Prepare concept details for revetment works, stopbank strengthening around pump station

Generate volumes to enable cost estimates to be produced for each alignment, based on material sourced locally (on-site) and materials imported from off-site (Pukaka Quarry).

Prepare drawings for each of the three alignment options, showing stopbank construction details, revetment works, strengthening around the pump station.


Prepare schedule of quantities and estimates for each of the alignment options.

Prepare a concept design report to accompany the drawings.

Time to complete the above tasks – six weeks.

Renwick Lower Terrace – Flood Risk Assessment and Mitigation Options DevelopmentAurecon Consulting Engineers commenced the project at the end of August 2015; the projected completion date of the analysis and final report is the beginning of May 2016.

PHASE 3 Developments of mitigation upgrade options; concept design, costing and methodology/priority

of implementation: Mitigation Options Report – COMPLETED.

A workshop was held on 8 April 2016 to discuss the mitigation options and agree on the preferred option. It was agreed that the outcome / reports of the Phase 1, 2 and 3 reports will be amalgamated in to one report (Phase 4), ie; a “stand-alone report”

PHASE 4 Draft of the final report which summarises the current flood risk assessment mitigation options,

selection process and priority programme of implementation, including identification of residual risk: Renwick Lower Terrace – Flood Risk Assessment & Mitigation Report – ONGOING.

The final report will become the integral part of the recommendation to the Regional Planning & Development Meeting on 16 June 2016 on the way forward for any further development of the lower terrace area.

Omaka River – Hydraulic Model and Level of Service (LoS) AnalysisLand River Sea Consulting Ltd was commissioned to build a hydraulic model of the Omaka River, in order to determine whether the expected Level of Service (LoS) of the existing channel was as understood. The model also enabled us to investigate likely over flow paths for ‘over design events’, including potential climate change impact, and what needs to be addressed to obtain the 100 year ARI level of protection in accordance with the Rivers & Drainage Assets Management Plan – 2015.

Newspaper photo of 1904 flood event - July 1904 – (Acknowledgement - ' Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19040714-11-3.)

A draft final report was received at the end of March 2016 with a view of being finalised, including recommendations, by the end of April 2016.


A summary of the draft findings to date are:

(i) It is apparent from the model results that the existing stopbanks do not provide a consistent 100 year level of protection as was initially thought. In general most stopbanks will need to be raised by some degree in order to achieve the desired 0.45 m freeboard.

(ii) The model shows that with the likely increasing intensity of rainfall due to the effects of climate change that several properties are at an increased risk of being inundated; these included a number of properties within Renwick as well as in Woodbourne and the surrounding area. Therisk to these properties increases as the degree of warming increases.

(iii) Flood hazard maps have been generated based on the Queensland Reconstruction Authority(QRA, 2012) flood hazard categories. Several hazard categories were explored in consultationwith Mark Stone from AURECON (Gibson’s Creek Investigations).

Draft recommendations being:

A more detailed hydrological assessment is made by 2020 using at least 25 years of gauged data in order to reduce uncertainty in the flood frequency estimation.

The Omaka flow gauge is calibrated in higher flow events if possible.

A rainfall/runoff model of the catchment is developed in order to allow for an assessment into the likely increase in peak flows due to the expected future increase in peak rainfall.

The practicalities of raising the existing stopbanks are investigated.

Consideration into the future effects of climate change is taken into account in the design of all future works on the Omaka River.

Draft Flood Hazard Map at the confluence of Gibsons Creek


1989 aerial photo of flood extend in the Renwick Area

Modelled 100 year flood extent (+2ºC Climate Change) in the Renwick Area

The stopbank upgrades to bring the floodway up to full 100 year capacity from the Hawkesbury Bridge downstream is not specifically provided for in the Rivers Section 10 year budget plan. A separate report with recommendations is proposed once we have options and cost estimates for the upgrade works.

Gravel Extraction The annual gravel allocation year commences on 1 March each year.

Gravel extraction figures for the 12 month period up to 28 February 2016 is as follows

Wairau River - “Waihopai River confluence to the Ferry Road Bridge”, where the annual allocation has been reduced to 109,000 m3 for 2015/16.

99,758 m3 = 91.5% of annual allocation

Other rivers within in the district (incl. Sounds, Upper Wairau & Awatere) 71,198 m3

Total volume of extraction for the Marlborough District is: 170,956 m3

Gravel extraction is below the annual allocated volume of 109,000 m3. Gravel extraction did not pick up to any significant extent to the end of allocation year on 29 February 2015 (see plot below).

The Wairau River bed levels are currently being surveyed to enable the 2017 gravel allocation review.

Gravel sales from MDC stockpiles up to 28 February 2016 are 67 m3.


Proposed Extraction 2016/17 The proposal to extraction 15,000 m3 from the Wairau River at Wratts Road was advised in the

22 March 2016 A&S Information Package.

Suitable access for gravel trucks from Wratts Road to the riverbed needs to be established. This will be done over the next few weeks following the grape harvest. Fulton Hogan will undertake some of the access track work up to MDC’s stopbank with Simcox undertaking the remainder out to the riverbed. Adjoining landowners have been supportive.

A letter was sent to all landowners along Wratts Road advising them of the proposed gravel extraction and the likely increase in gravel truck traffic. Only one resident rang back with some queries and advising they have young children and would appreciate the trucks keeping their speed down.

Quarries

PukakaThe quarry’s explosive magazine and the detonator magazine have been certified as meeting the required standards under current legislation.

Upper levels the quarry last benched over 30 years ago are showing increasing signs of becoming unstable threatening the hard rock operations below. The only way to mitigate this safety issue is to rework the upper benches to widen them and remove loose rock.

The initial assessment is that the work is feasible and adequate space within the current quarry land boundary is available to undertake this work. It is proposed to construct all three existing top benches and create one new one to stabilise the upper 40 metres. This will have the benefits of making the quarry safe but also potentially releasing another 250,000 m3 plus of resource for armour rock and crushing material extending the life of the existing operation.

The work is estimated to take up to six weeks and will require a large part of the stockpile/crushing area to be bunded off to make safe. The budget and exact timing of the work is being worked through so to minimise disruption of supply of rock and aggregates, and also to estimate the “one off” development cost of the work.


Services and Operations

Education Report Term 1, 2016(Information prepared by Annie McDonald, Education Officer) E340-001-001

EnviroschoolsAims: To successfully manage and facilitate all Enviroschools in the programme.

Outcomes: Seven workshops were held with schools setting up the Enviroschools’ programme for 2016

and planning for delivery of theme areas.

Transition meetings were held with Bohally and secondary schools to look at ways we can support their Enviroschools’ programmes and resource action projects to provide local onsite opportunities for students.

Leadership workshops have been held with students at five schools. This year we have replaced our one day regional leadership workshop with workshops at individual schools. This allows for greater numbers of students to take part and workshops can be tailored to the school’s needs.

Meetings have been held to prepare for the Maori Perspectives teacher workshop in early term 2. Good links have been made with Waikawa Marae and the Resource teacher of Maori who will be supporting the workshop.

Some scoping has been done with the new community advisor to look at options for integrating rural schools into the planning of community outcomes.

The three day Enviroschools’ Hui was attended in Auckland and during this time we had the opportunity to input our ideas into the next proposal for strategic direction and funding for the Enviroschools’ programme nationally.

A waste/upcycling workshop was run with the Marlborough Kindergarten Association.

A workshop for teachers is being run by DOC and supported by us at Momorangi Bay in the school holidays looking at ways teachers can use resources to deliver programmes in the environment and back at school.

General Schools ProgrammesAims: To encourage schools to reduce waste and conserve water use and provide opportunities for learning.

Outcomes: We have been working with Bohally to look at options to reduce waste in their school.

We are planning a whole school water topic delivery programme in term 2 with Bohally.

A worm farm and Bokashi programme was set up at Montessori.


Kids’ Edible GardensAims: To successfully manage and facilitate the Kids’ Edible Garden programme. This includes developing resources to support the programme, training and professional development for teachers and facilitators.

Outcomes: Ward School has joined the Kids Edible Gardens programme and training is underway with

their new facilitator. A teacher workshop will be run in the holidays.

New term planners have been developed which integrate both the facilitator and class programmes.

Almost all Kids Edible Schools are now successfully using large EM Bokashi systems to deal with food waste which is recycled into the edible gardens.

Sustainable LivingAims: To link the Sustainable Living single topics to the Enviroschools’ theme areas. This allows for schools to offer single topic seminars to their school community on topics that students are studying from the Enviroschools’ theme areas which include waste, water, living landscapes, ecological buildings and energy.

Outcomes: Planning is underway to deliver two public workshops on EM Bokashi composting in term 2.


Reserves and Amenities Section Activity Report(Information prepared by Rosie Bartlett, Robert Hutchinson, Robin Dunn, Grahame Smail, Mark Witehira, Robyn Blackburn, Murray Morgan, Brad Molony) R510-009-000-01

Blenheim Parks and Reserves

Pollard ParkAutumn time has started in the park; the cooler nights have started the process in the deciduous tree changing colour with them starting to drop their leaves. This means a busy few weeks ahead with the grass growing like it is spring time as well as the leaves falling and needing to be removed. The leaves are picked up and taken to be composted before returning to gardens.

The compost that is ready has just been screened for this planting season. The compost is added to all of the annual beds and dug in once a year.

Weeding and maintenance is the main priority in the park at the moment to keep the park up to date.

Pruning on the Golf Course is continuing as work programmes allow. Trees are being lifted for safety of the Greens Keeper and to help make balls more playable.

SeymourThe annuals have been removed from Seymour Square flower gardens to make way for the RSA white crosses to reflect the Field of Remembrance.

There was an advertisement in the paper advising the public to come in a take any annuals they wanted from gardens, there was a great public turn out with around 3000-3500 plants being taken way.

Replanting in the annual beds will take place after ANZAC ceremonies. The rest of park has been weeded and tidied for ANZAC Day.

The upgrade of the fountain and clock lighting is all but done, currently just waiting for the last two lights for the clock tower.

The new lights in the clock will have the ability to be changed in colour by remote control for events and remembrance days.

As well as new lighting behind the clock faces there is new lighting in the bell tower and also a sound system has been installed.

The sound system will play commemorative music at just after 6.00 pm every night, this will include the “Ode” followed by the “Last Post” and finishing with the “Reveille”.

The light on the clock tower and fountain will turn to red at this time and then back to normal after the music.

Oliver ParkRugby League will be the only winter sport played here this year as Football has moved four fields to Rewi Murray Polo Park.


Riverside ParkThe boathouse walkway is open again, small section of fencing yet to be undertaken.

Walkway Boathouse Theatre

Ballinger ParkThe returned stolen slide from Burleigh Park has replaced the smaller well-worn slide at Ballinger Park

Slide Ballinger Park


Skate ParkRenowned Skate park designer Dave North has been engage to work with local skaters to finally complete the upgrade of the Blenheim Skate Park.

Bowl Blenheim Skate Park

Wither Hills Farm Park

EventsVarious events continue to be held within the farm park.

Mountain Bike and Walking Track Upgrade and Additional SignageA short new Mountain Bike trail called Cam’s Trail, just above the Stock Yard Track has been installed by the Mountain Bike club members and was hand dug.

Weed ControlFurther gorse control within the Mountain Bike Park is planned with additional mulching and sprayingbeing organised.

Awatere and Flaxbourne Reserves

AwatereMinor vegetation clearance has been commenced around the Seddon War Memorial by Downers to have the memorial ready for ANZAC Day commemorations.


A line marking machine has been loaned to the Awatere Rugby Club for the marking of the Rugby fields on the Seddon Domain - Downer are sponsoring the line marking paint for the season.

Work continues on the rebuild of the Awatere Sports Pavilion.

Seddon sport pavilion

Seddon sports pavilion

FlaxbourneA renewal of the Community Facility Contract is being progressed with the Flaxbourne Settlers’Association.


CBD Upgrade Projects

Mitchell Sports SiteSeating is now on site and the sports equipment and area is getting a good work out from people using the area.

Council Reserves Ranger has visited some shop surrounding the site following concerns with people tossing equipment onto the rooves and then climbing up to retrieve it.

Seating Mitchell sports

City Hotel SiteThe wildflower gardens have now been constructed, planted and sown.

Wildflower Beds City Hotel


And the Blackboard is getting a lot of use.

Black Board City Hotel

Bythell PlaceNELMAC is finalising construction specifications with tender for advertising at end of April.

Market PlaceDetailed design works have begun.

Upper Market/Alfred StreetDiscussions continue with Urban Design Consulting Company Aiken Taylor Ltd to progress this work.Any designs will be brought back to the Committee.

Symons’ QuaySymons’ Quay is the soon to be developed section of Riverside Park and was named such as part of the redevelopment of the area in 2007.

Below is comment from John Orchard.

“Symons’ Quay. (Not Symon’s). Named after merchant, ship-owner and Nelson businessman, John Symons. He purchased James Wynen’s wharf, wharf shed, and hotel later in the 1850s. (I can locate a date when you need it.) When Symons’s Quay was formed, there was no Symons’ Street as per today. As a roadway, Symon’s Quay still partly exists as the footway between the riverbank and the WINZ building. It ran from Alfred to High Street until at least the late 1960s. With the published concept drawing showing a pathway between Alfred and High Streets, it would be very appropriate to name the pathway, or the Park, or both, Symon’s Quay.”

Staff are working through the project with Studio Pacific to have the project completed by early December.


Uncoloured Plan Symons’ Quay

Picton Reserves

Queen Charlotte LookoutLike other key sites in Picton, the lookout has been well used over the past few months. Revamping of the interpretative signboards is being progressed. Concerns around the effectiveness of preventing a fall through the chain infills (between the barrier posts), and ways to improve public safety in this regard are being investigated. Replacement flags have been installed.

Picton Foreshore The Picton Foreshore Reserve has continued to receive high visitor usage. Pressure on the natural and built areas has triggered additional maintenance and care of some aspects of the reserve along with greater monitoring of the effects additional foot traffic is having overall. Work to develop a master plan that will consider the reserve’s management plan objectives and a need to refresh aspects of this key regionally significant site is progressing.

Shelley BeachShelley Beach continues to be well used and recent beach nourishment work is thus far allowing continued ease of access to the beach and reserve area.

Victoria Domain

Pest ControlWeed control operations on a wide range of species are currently underway above the Picton marina and Shelley Beach by Weed Solutions. Control of other specific sycamore and other invasive tree weed species is also well underway above Hampden Street. Consent forms have been sent to several property owners along Hampden Street requesting removal of seed source sycamore trees, as this is where the weed problem has stemmed from.


This work is being done in conjunction with Totora for Totoranui and their proposal to enhance the Domain’s native vegetation and re-establish totora and similar tall tree species.

It is planned to target other sycamore trees on Council land within Picton and Waikawa as resources allow and also encourage property owners to do the same.

The Picton Dawn Chorus Trust has recently established with the mandate to rid Victoria Domain, Picton and the Wedge of animal pests to further protect Kaipupu Point Wildlife Sanctuary and to bring back native birds in the area.

The increasing community interest in Victoria Domain is heartening and will surely assist Council in managing this significant recreational and ecological open space.

Walking and Bike TracksAdditional signage and replacements are being installed within the Picton track network to ensure the signs are accurate and current for all users.

RoadwayGorse control along the margins of the main one-way roadway is programmed to be carried out.

Endeavour Park PavilionIt has been a very busy summer season for the Port Marlborough Pavilion.

There was another fun gumboot games for the winter codes in September as well as hosting the PICNIC football tournament – which is now the largest club football tournament in New Zealand.

Picton Cricket fielded a team this year and at the end of their season gave very high praise to the pavilion and the services provided to them.

There have been five successful weddings – one of which will be covered in the Woman’s Day of Renee Maurice’s wedding.

Along with continuing regular programmed activities during the week, there have been birthday parties, a Christmas function, a family reunion and a funeral.

The highlight of the past six months was the annual Support a Sport function. This year staff from the pavilion organised the event – as in 2014 – and with the help of volunteers from all of the winter sports codes, $8000 was raised at the Black Tie Dinner and Auction. It was fantastic to see all of the codes working together on the night and a huge bonus to have such a great financial result. This meant not only are all the clubs membership fees to the pavilion covered, there was also raised enough to cover the building and installation of a brand new trophy cabinet.

Public Conveniences

GeneralHigh use public toilets across the district have received a recent spring clean and minor repairs and maintenance were required. Asset management planning work to better understand the public conveniences activity across the district is being progressed.

Queen StreetDevelopment of a men’s urinal area utilising part of the current storage area is being progressed. This will improve the overall toilet capacity of the three existing unisex toilet units and would allow two of


these units to be designated ladies only. The addition of suitable privacy screens in front of the toilet unit doorways is being considered as part of this improvement work.

Picton Toilets GeneralUse and impact on the public toilets over the past few months has been considerable. In the Picton CBD and foreshore areas particularly, increased tourist numbers and cruise ship visits have both attributed significant increase in usage and pressure and infrastructure. The toilet activity has coped by ensuring the facilities are kept well serviced (with additional cleans programmed as and when required), and any minor maintenance issues are dealt with promptly or prevented if possible. Looking forward and against this background some thought (a strategic approach), would be worthwhile in respect to public toilet provision, particularly in the Township CBD and foreshore areas, to ensure such is linked to other development initiatives or projects being considered.

Havelock Minor beautification (tree and shrub garden maintenance) was carried out at the main street toilets. A new sign pointing to the toilets is due to be installed on the eastern side of the highway.

Sounds

Ohingaroa BayWork to establish a new toilet at Ohingaroa Bay is progressing with the main on the ground work programmed for May and June.

Torea BayBackground work to allow consideration of a toilet establishment at Torea Bay is progressing and a report will be provided to the Committee once all the necessary information is gathered.

CemeteriesAcross all the cemeteries and particularly the Services areas were given extra attention for ANZAC.

AwatereWork to tidy up the entrance gateway is being progressed.

FairhallFinal concrete work and regressing around the Niche wall is completed or programmed.

A bulk amount of soil was screened for topping up graves and routine maintenance work on the new plantings adjacent to the natural burial area is ongoing. A landscape development master plan for the cemetery to guide future development, heritage tree replacement, heritage interpretation and the like is being progressed. As key part of the master planning will be to ensure our cemeteries continue to be fit for purpose and maintain or further enhance a park like look and feel.

HavelockWork to tidy up the entrance gateway, tree work, seating and signage is being progressed.


OmakaWork to tidy up the former Sextons House site is progressing and a landscape development master plan is being progressed

PictonGood progress is being made with the cemetery and graves restoration project. The main entrance sign and completion of the entrance wall is being progressed.

WardResearch work re the restoration of the Parsons Family Lychgate that was earthquake damaged is progressing.

MemorialsAcross all the war memorials additional ground work, tree and shrub garden maintenance and other improvement work was carried out for ANZAC.

Rangers’ Report(Prepared by Murray Morgan/Kevin Hawkins) R510-006-02, R510-005-04

In the last month there has been a reduction in the number of people using our reserves and openspace recreation areas due to the cooler weather and daylight saving finishing. The summer period saw large numbers throughout the district, especially Blenheim and Picton.

Illegal dumpings have remained low to average with nothing really remarkable to report on.

With the cooler weather approaching there have been more instances of illegal firewood cutting of standing trees within some reserves, especially the Wairau River Floodway Reserve.

There has also been damage to areas from four-wheel drive vehicles, a usual occurrence when the ground gets a bit wetter and muddy.

Of concern at present is the recent spate of fires being lit in the Blenheim area? Some of these have been on the Taylor River Reserve and environs. Rangers are working with the Police on this matter and regular nightly foot patrols are being carried out at present.

GraffitiThe graffiti statistics are once again very low, however, in the first few days of school holidays there was an episode of tagging at the end of Monro Street and in the Taylor River Reserve area.

Freedom Camping There have been a large number of freedom campers throughout the district again this season with numbers at least as high as in previous years. It is interesting to note that NZ had 4.1 million visitors for 2015, with 450,000 arrivals in the month of December alone. With these ever increasing visitor numbers and the prevalence of freedom camping type scenarios trending upwards, the challenges associated with managing and monitoring the freedom camping activity will have to be carefully considered and addressed, especially given Marlborough’s unique situation as gateway to the south.


Numbers have started to drop off now with only the camping areas on State Highways eg; Koromiko and Rai Valley continuing to show consistent numbers

The Freedom Camping Trial finished on 4 April and submissions to the proposed bylaw closed on the 8 April. Staff will work with the Freedom Camping Group to analyse the submissions and run a hearing for those that want to speak. The proposed draft Bylaw will be reported back through the Asset &Services Committee. Staff will attend the national Freedom Camping Forum in April. With increasing numbers of freedom campers nationally it will be beneficial to get a national perspective.

Contracts

Street Trees and Plots MaintenanceAs part of the Marlborough Landscape Group project, planting of three initial sites is underway along Grove Road. The planting is largely being done on private land, as road corridor width is limited.A licence agreement has been signed with each property owner and planting has been done on a cost share arrangement. Council contractors will undertake on-going future maintenance to ensure consistency.

Private Vegetation ControlExtensive advertising has been run during April to advise property owners of the need to check and prune overhanging growth.

Inspections of all properties in urban centres will take place in May and letters placed in letter boxes where non-compliant, with follow-ups every 21 days.


Road Safety Coordinator Update(Information prepared by Robyn Blackburn) R800-005-03

Safe MotorcyclingAn ACC ‘Dressed Scooter’ was on display at the Blenheim Library for the month of March as part of ACC’s and Marlborough Road Safety’s efforts to get scooter riders wearing enough clothes so that if they come off their bikes

their skin can have some protection.

The Marlborough Motorcycle Road Safety Group discussed the issue of having service cover lids in the road in motorcycle and cycle riding lines at intersections. While anti-slip mouldings are used now riders report that even the newer

lids can be a hazard to motorcyclists and cyclists especially in the wet.

Data will be gathered about those covers that put motorcyclists most at risk including location and ownership of asset. Any Council owned asset cover identified will be checked for age and design to determine if there is potential to cover with a non-slip product such as has been done in the road on the corner of Seymour and Alfred Streets. The product is wearing well and Marlborough Road Safety will then work with the Transport Agency’s Road Safety Engineer and the Tasman/Nelson Motorcycle Road Safety Group to develop a plan of action to address this issue.

Safety of Young DriversRYDA was successfully held on the 9 and 10 of April at the Waterlea Racecourse in dry and fine conditions.

Local driving instructors, Public Health staff, Brain Injury NZ staff, and the Police were all available to deliver road safety messages to all Year 12 students participating from Marlborough Girls and Marlborough Boys Colleges. All schools with Year 12 students are invited to attend.

Dorothy Conner from Road Safety Education who manages the Rotary Young Driver Awareness programme came down from Auckland for the two days

to act as Day Manager later commented;

“What a mammoth effort last week! You all did an amazing job especially as most of you only do this once a year. It is a real testament to your skill that you presented the sessions so professionally.

The feedback from the schools was positive. So I am sure that the students gained valuable information that will benefit them and your community”


Drink DrivingA SADD (Students Against Dangerous Driving) Marlborough workshop was held at Council on 3 March 2016. Victoria (SADD South Island Coordinator) welcomed all new SADD students and took them through a presentation about SADD and some ideas for events that local students might want to run with this year. Marlborough Road Safety offers a local contact for support, ideas, and resources.

The Know Your Limit (KYL) campaign has been completed for the 2015/16 year. A draft evaluation has been presented to the group with a final report planned to be presented to the MAGG group at their next meeting in June. Below are the response results from one of the Survey questions with over 70 responses received.

Older New ZealandersMarlborough Road Safety had a site at the recent Seniors Expo and used this as an opportunity to talk to older drivers about crashing on bends and how this is an issue in Marlborough. It was also an opportunity to ask people to participate in the next CarFit event being held in the EMOC carpark on 29 April 2016.

CarFit is an AA initiative and an opportunity for people to make sure they have their car ‘fitted correctly’ to them as the driver.

WalkabilityRussell and Lynne have completed their ‘walk’ around those streets identified as the most efficient route into Blenheim’s CBD from the four quadrants of Blenheim. They gathered information about what repairs or retrofits will be required on the paths and roads to make sure the routes are accessible to all pedestrians.

The next stage will be to work with Marlborough Roads’ works programme to arrange to have the paths repaired and fitted within current budgets, and up to the standards set out in the ‘Pedestrian Planning and design Guide’.


Once the changes to paths have been completed the Walkability Map can be designed and distributed.

Road Safety at SchoolsOne requirement of the Transport Agency’s Urban Cycleway Funding is to collect one day’s data on the number of people walking or cycling to work or school. A count of all the bikes in Blenheim school bike sheds by BikeWalk Marlborough members, and a count of riders and pedestrians on certain roads by Rotary members was completed on 30 March. A similar count will be done the same time next year.

Letters have been sent to six schools in Marlborough advising them to expect work to begin shortly on having 40 km/h advisory signs placed outside their schools. They have been advised to inform their school community that the signs are advisory only and can’t be enforced by the Police. However,research has shown that advisory signs can impact on reducing speed around schools.

Roads and RoadsidesAn extensive ‘Bends are hurting us’ advertising campaign has been operating over the summer including roadside billboards, radio, newspaper, and digital newspaper delivery.

The newspaper advertising with different imaging targets four groups of drivers at risk of losing control or crashing head-on on rural roads. These are older women, motorcyclists, drivers on over-seas licence, and young drivers.

Record No: 1670374


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