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Top Ten Focus Areas Survey - Have Your Say! 19 May 2017 The Mayor and Councillors have 10 proposed focus areas they would like your feedback on. This week's focus is on Waitara Stormwater. Have your say and be in to win an iPad! More information and take the survey >> You can also fill in previous focus area surveys.

Deadline Nearing for Citizens' Awards Nominations 22 May 2017 You have only until the end of this week to nominate someone for a Citizens’ Award! Nomination forms are online at newplymouthnz.com and must be returned to New Plymouth District Council by 5pm on Friday (26 MAY). “If you know someone who should be recognised for their efforts in the community, send their name in now so that they can be considered,” says Mayor Neil Holdom. “There contribution could be a one-off exceptional action or something that has been done over a long period of time – the quiet workers in the background who usually don’t get any glory but are crucial for organisations and community services. “We all know someone who deserves an official ‘well done’ for their work or dedication to a cause. These awards are the chance to give these people the credit they deserve – so don’t let them miss out!” Up to 12 Citizens Awards will be presented by the Council. Should We Improve Waitara's Stormwater System? 22 May 2017 New Plymouth District Council’s (NPDC) community conversation on its proposed10 Focus Areas continues this week with the issue of Waitara’s stormwater. A new survey on this topic is online at newplymouthnz.com/Top10, and everyone who takes part goes in the draw to win an iPad. In the 1820s, Waitara became the first port in Taranaki and the town started to develop around it. It grew in an ad-hoc manner and design standards, historically, were very different from today. Compounding this is that Waitara is a settlement adjacent to the coast and built on low-lying swampy land largely at sea-level. It has Taranaki’s largest river running right through it and a high water table. Waitara has always been prone to flooding and like most of Taranaki, it experiences high rainfall – an average of more than 1500mm per annum. Even in its driest month Waitara can receive nearly 100mm of rain. Says Councillor Colin Johnston: “Over the decades the town has experienced some of New Zealand’s worst flooding, for example in 1971 when more than 250mm rain fell in just 24 hours. “So today, when there is a severe storm there may be stormwater flooding in the town. Pipes reach capacity, the excess stormwater tries to find its own way out and stop-banks built to keep the river from flooding act as a barrier to water escaping. “This is exacerbated by huge volumes of water from the large rural area nearby that also need to be released.” There are other factors at play too. As Waitara is largely flat, it is difficult to build pipe networks with sufficient slope to smoothly get rid of excess water. When the stormwater system is overwhelmed during wild weather, stormwater starts to find its way into the sewer system. This increases the volume of water in the sewer system until it too, is overwhelmed, resulting in rare and unplanned overflows. “We know during severe storms, flooding makes life tough for homes and businesses in the town,” says Councillor Johnston. “We care about this community and want to make it better. During the last two years just over $1.5 million has been spent on upgrading Waitara’s stormwater. But a lot more needs to be done.” Says Mayor Neil Holdom “So we’re investing in modelling high-rainfall events to predict the effects of flooding in the town. This will identify potential options for improving the town’s stormwater and what it might cost.” During the next year, the Council will be listening to and talking with the people of Waitara about this modelling, sharing possible solutions and what they might cost which is expected to be many millions. The Council will then propose including these solutions in its 10-year budget (called the long-term plan). “So go on, have your say and let us know if you think Waitara stormwater should be a Focus Area for our district,” says the Mayor.

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