Other Strategic Projects
Council's strategic projects are set in the Long Term Plan (LTP).
The 2021-2031 Long Term Plan (LTP) shifts from the strategic theme of passive financial consolidation consistent over the last few LTPs to proactive project management. This is because a number of large projects have begun and adopting a project management focus will ensure Council is able to respond to needs of the community for growth whilst still managing finances, rates increases and debt prudently, to ensure everything we are planning to do and achieve is affordable.
Full details on all of the strategic projects listed here can be found in the Opotiki District Council 2021-2031 Long Term Plan. Of particular interest will be Part 1 - Council Priorities and Direction. Further detailed information on our Infrastructure Strategy can be found in the appendices section of the plan.
Te Kaha Water Supplies
The Te Kaha water treatment plant struggles to cope when storms stir up the stream that feeds the plant. A project is planned to undertake a major upgrade the treatment plant and the raw water source. Ideally, this will involve a change to using a bore for water supply, with initial investigations showing good promise.
Asset Renewal
Council will continue with programmed works to maintain and upgrade its assets:
- Reseal sections of urban and rural pavements, re-metal unsealed road surfaces in accordance with the asset management plan programme
- Complete the annual rehabilitation / upgrade urban street project as per the asset management plan programme.
Road Seal Extension
During the 2015-2025 LTP preparation, Council consulted on what would be done about continuing road seal extensions within the district where New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) no longer provided 60 percent funding assistance. Changes to NZTA's funding principles meant that they would no longer provide funding for these types of capital works, and there was a risk of losing the operational renewal funding for them in future.
There is still significant demand and need for seal extensions across the district, particularly where there is an economic benefit, for example dust suppression around kiwifruit orchards.
Council put aside budget in the 2016/17 Annual Plan to undertake a maximum of 2km seal extension work should a ratepayer request it and provide 60 percent of the cost that would previously have been funded by NZTA. Should there be no demand to seal new roads, Council will carry forward the budget to the following year, and the same principles will apply.
Council will review this stance constantly and wherever there are other funding opportunities, or changes in NZTA's funding assistance rates.
Other Projects
Motu Trails - Cycle Trail Extensions
Building on the success of Motu Trails we propose to 'grow the ride' over the term of the LTP. New trails are planned for Tirohanga Military Track, Ōhiwa, Waioeka stopbanks and the Waiotahe Coast. The vision is to link Motu Trails, the Dunes Trail west to Ōhiwa - enhancing the experience and growing a multi-day ride - the best coastal ride in NZ. Looking further afield we are engaged with neighbouring Councils to develop an integrated Eastern Bay of Plenty Trail - linking Ōpōtiki to Ōhope and beyond.
Opotiki Water
The Water Supply for the Ōpōtiki central township underwent an almost total scheme replacement in the mid-1990s, as such the Township’s infrastructure is considered to be in good condition and performing satisfactorily to meet current levels of service.
Capacity upgrades are planned on the network to provide for growth in Hukutaia. The timing and details of this work will be confirmed during year 1 of this LTP, with construction to follow as required by actual growth. This work will also address the old Hukutaia water reservoir and the Crooked Road Street rising main being at end of life and requiring replacement.
Stormwater
It is well known that the township can experience flooding just from intense rainfall falling on the village. Over previous LTP periods Council has been carrying out investigation into the state of the stormwater system in the Ōpōtiki township, including computer modelling to confirm the construction works required to address issues. A number of mitigation projects are proposed in this LTP and further out.
The Ōpōtiki Stormwater scheme suffers from poor performance due to how it was originally built, which didn’t anticipate the full development of the town. Our priority projects in the 2021-2031 LTP term will deliver a major upgrade to the “spine” of the stormwater network - the Tarawa creek and pumpstation - and better connection to this network spine from Richard Street. This will provide reduced flooding in a number of areas in town that drain to the creek.
The 2018-2028 LTP included the construction of storage ponds to reduce flooding when the network couldn’t cope with stormwater volumes. That work has been deferred in this LTP due to the amount of capital work planned in wastewater. This delay will also provide a chance to confirm the anticipated benefit of the Tarawa Creek, and review the need for the ponds based on those observations.
Alongside these construction projects, we will use the stormwater model to understand how to address areas of the network that are causing acute problems for a small number of houses. Council is aware that, for some people, the lack of stormwater network drives behaviours like connecting downpipes to gulley traps or results in a small groups of houses that suffer flooding more frequently than their neighbours. The goal is to develop a prioritised plan for addressing these issues over time, now that the problems affecting the Tarawa Creek have been understood and are being addressed.
Coast Initiatives Fund
The annual allocation has been approved for the Coast Initiatives fund. The Coast Community Board have delegation to spend this money on projects on the Coast ward, within a range of criteria. View more information on our Coast Initiatives Fund page.
