Buller District Council
Te Kaunihera O Kawatiri

The New Zealand MetService’s Westport Automatic Weather Station (AWS) mast, located at Westport Airport was relocated recently as part of proactive safety measures to protect the equipment from coastal erosion. 

The members of the Westport Rating District Joint Committee will be walked through the plans for the flood protection, planned for Westport, at Wednesday’s meeting.

The submission period for the proposed changes to wastewater and water rates has been extended to 3 pm June 4, 2024. This extension allows affected ratepayers additional time to consider their submissions.  

The Buller District’s economic activity remains strong, according to the latest Infometrics Quarterly Economic Monitor. 

Charges for the disposal of refuse at the Westport and Reefton Transfer Stations and Recycling Centres are set to rise from 1 July 2024. The increases will also apply to kerbside rubbish collection services in Zone One.    

Buller District Council commissioned a review of its Project Management Office (PMO) operations in 2023, following allegations of mismanagement of funds.

Buller District Council has informed residents about the possible impact if council changes how to rate for drinking and wastewater as proposed in the Draft Enhanced Annual Plan 2024/25.

Westport’s Clocktower Chambers will be a hive of activity between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm tomorrow when the Coast Employment Expo hits town.

Westport’s underground stormwater network is now more resilient and better able to protect against floodwater infiltration (backflow) at many key stormwater outfalls. 

Buller District Council, Smart Environmental Ltd and TechCollect NZ have extended their partnership to provide Buller residents with another year of free information and communications technology (ICT) e-waste recycling, through to March 2025.  

Buller District Council and Smart Environmental Ltd have teamed up for another season of auditing residents’ recycling bins.

Buller District Libraries have begun to inform library customers about an upcoming change to the way their data is stored, effective 17 May 2024.

Buller District Council will hit the road over the next three weeks to have a chat with the community about the Draft Enhanced Annual Plan 2024/25 and the Zone One rubbish collection consultations.

A network of emergency water storage tanks is being established throughout Westport and Carters Beach to provide an alternative water source if severe weather events or other natural disasters cause disruption to the town’s water supply.

The Sue Thomson Casey Memorial Library will undergo a carpet makeover this autumn, giving our vital community facility a well-deserved freshen up.

Buller District Council, the Ministry for the Environment, WestReef and the Karamea Waste Management Group (KWMG) are putting the finishing touches on some of the major investments that have recently gone ahead at the Karamea Landfill.

Westport Airport carried out a planned full emergency response exercise on Saturday, 6 April. The weekend’s exercise was a full practical simulation, attended by approximately 60 people.

Buller District Council is undertaking a comprehensive planning process that looks at options and opportunities for the short, medium and long term future of the greater Westport area.

Westport Airport will be carrying out a planned full emergency response exercise this coming weekend, 6-7 April. As the holder of an aerodrome operator certificate issued under Civil Aviation Rule Part 139, Westport Airport is legally required to have an aerodrome emergency response plan in place.

Council will reconsult with the Buller community on the proposed changes to rubbish collection services. Residents can submit their feedback, via online and paper forms from April 12 to May 13, 2024.

Buller District Council is due to begin stormwater betterment works in Coates Street in April to alleviate stormwater ponding in the area.  

Council will come together for a series of additional meetings and workshops in April.

Westport’s essential water infrastructure damaged in the July 2021 and February 2022 severe weather events has now all been repaired as part of a $2.512 million programme of work.

Buller District Council and Smart Environmental Ltd recently completed the first four weeks of this year’s recycling bin audit programme, with the results demonstrating good uptake of the new recycling regulations that came into effect on 1 February by Buller residents.

The West Coast community can give feedback on the Draft West Coast Regional Speed Management Plan (the plan) over the coming four weeks.

Buller District Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Pickford as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective 25 March 2024, for a five-year term. This appointment follows a comprehensive national search and selection process initiated in December and led by recruitment specialists Sheffield, South Island. The council received 74 applications for the CEO position, highlighting a remarkable pool of high-calibre candidates.

A Sofar Spotter Ocean wave buoy has been purchased by the West Coast Regional Council and will be installed off the coast of Westport this month.

Roading improvements are set to continue on the Karamea Highway, with several new projects commencing this month.

Buller District Council is continuing its involvement in the TUIA programme, with the appointment of Matiu Manuel from Reefton as Kawatiri’s candidate for 2024.

Buller District Council is progressing important design work for planned infrastructure projects in Westport, which will help unlock land for development. The detailed design phase is expected to be complete by the end of 2024.

The Buller District Council decided to defer adopting its 2024 – 2034 Long-Term Plan (LTP) at yesterday’s council meeting. 

The building which houses Buller District Council’s main offices, Brougham House, and the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Victoria Square have been assessed to determine their suitability for occupancy both in the short term and into the future.

The Buller District Council will deliberate on deferring its Long-Term Plan (LTP) adoption at this week's council meeting. 

Buller District Council, Electro Services Ltd and Smart Environmental Ltd have extended the existing agreement to offer a free refrigerator disposal service to Buller residents for an additional year. The service will remain available until February 2025.

A pressure reduction valve (PRV) that was installed as part of the upgrades to the Westport water supply trunk main will be brought on-line next week. 

Contractor WestReef Services Limited has been engaged by council to carry out corner widening improvement works at six sites on the Karamea Highway.

Buller District Council is delighted to announce the appointment of Nathan Riley as the new Group Manager Regulatory Services, effective 11 March 2024.

The Buller District Libraries annual Summer Reading Road Trip has come to an end, with 32 major prize winners being drawn this week.

In response to the recent announcement from the Coalition Government regarding the repeal of the Three Waters legislation, Buller District Council discussed the recently released advisory in a public workshop yesterday. Amongst the changes identified was a new provision of deferring the council’s 2024-2034 Long-Term Plan.

A large-scale programme to repair sections of the Karamea Highway Special Purpose Road (SPR) will begin on 19 February 2024.

Roading and civil contractors continue to make great progress with vital repair works across the Buller District, ensuring safer journeys for the summer and into the future.

Buller District Council and Smart Environmental Ltd (SEL) will be partnering for another summer of recycling bin audits, starting on 19 February 2024.

Councillors and council staff met for a workshop regarding the 2024-2034 Long-Term Plan (LTP) on Wednesday, which was livestreamed and open for the public to attend.

Buller District Council, along with all Government and public buildings and naval vessels, will fly the New Zealand flag at half-mast tomorrow, Wednesday 31 January.

The Maruia Landfill and Recycling Centre has obtained resource consent renewal for the next 15 years, backdated to August 2023.

Buller’s recycling guidelines will change this summer, following the Ministry for the Environment’s order to standardise all recycling collection guidelines across New Zealand from 1 February 2024.

Buller Electricity Limited has advised Buller District Council that the large Phoenix palm trees at the northern end of Brougham Street (SH67) and the adjacent part of Orowaiti Road are growing into the power line safe zones, posing a hazard to the supply of electricity.

UPDATE: Nightly road closures are still in effect from 8 pm each day following the slip on the Denniston Road last Sunday, but the road will now reopen earlier each day, at 7am.

Buller District Council Mayor Jamie Cleine is calling for expressions of interest for the 2024 Tuia programme. The Tuia programme invites Mayor’s across the country to select a rangatahi candidate to participate and take part in a mutually beneficial journey.

Buller District Council’s new Keeping of Animals Bylaw was adopted by council on 13 December 2023 and came into effect on 20 December 2023. 

The dredge Kawatiri will be beached in the Floating Basin over the weekend for assessment and maintenance. 

Buller District Council has officially accepted the resignation of Steve Gibling from his role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 29 March 2024.

Councillors and key staff came together last week at a workshop to discuss the potential consultation topics for Buller's next 10-year long-term plan (LTP), which included an overview of the drivers behind the starting budget position. The workshop was live-streamed and open to the public.  

Further consultation could be on the way to help set the direction for any changes to the rubbish collection service for Zone 1 households. Buller District councillors will consider next steps at their final meeting for the year on 13 December.

Buller District Council has signed an 18-month lease agreement with the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) to take over the management of 12 houses in Paparoa Way.

Buller District Council is working towards upgrading the Omau intersection due to road safety concerns and to provide a safer route for cyclists and walkers on the Kawatiri Coastal Trail. 

Councillors and key staff will come together next week at a public workshop to discuss the budget for Buller’s next 10-year plan.

Young people aged 5-18 years living in Buller can sign up for this year’s summer reading program, with registrations opening on Friday 1 December.  

A final report showcasing a deep dive into the sentiment of the Buller community is being published this week. The report includes an analysis of 13 relevant reports published from 2018-2023, along with a review of feedback collected during workshops with the community.

After five weeks of polls, surveys and conversations, Buller District Council’s engagement with the community about shaping Council’s next 10-year plan closed on Sunday 12 November.

An earthquake valve located at the Westport Water Treatment Plant was triggered yesterday afternoon at 3:04pm causing low to no water pressure in areas of Westport and Carters Beach.  

Buller District Council Chief Executive Officer Steve Gibling has accepted the resignation of Group Manager Regulatory Services Sean Judd this week. Mr Judd has been with council for the past five years. 

Buller District’s economy has grown at a similar level to the rest of the country, according to the latest Infometrics Quarterly Economic Monitor.

After five weeks of chats, polls, surveys and conversations, Buller District Council’s engagement with the community about the shape of council’s next 10-year plan is nearing the finish line.

Buller District Council has signed its new insurance policies for the coming 12 months to manage a variety of risks, in the event of claims for damage needing to be made. The new insurance will come into effect on 1 November.

The Karamea Highway suffered significant damage during the July 2021 and February 2022 weather events.  In December 2022, council received $13.2M funding approval from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for the repair of the Buller District’s storm damaged roads. 

Three Westport pump station cabinets will be raised above the one in one-hundred-year flood level as part of the Betterment Programme funded by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).  

The countdown is on to gather as much feedback as possible from the Buller community over the next week and a half, to give council a starting point to plot out the district's course for the next ten years.

Waka Kotahi announced today that the two West Coast Special Purpose Roads (SPR) located at Jackson Bay and the Karamea Bluff will be fully funded by Waka Kotahi for the coming three years.

Two weeks have passed since Buller District Council embarked on shaping Buller’s next 10-year plan together with the community.  

Mayor Jamie Cleine says: “The response has overwhelmingly been positive so far. We have received some amazing feedback from community groups, individuals and other organisations about how we approach drafting this key document.”  

West Coast Emergency Management and Buller District Council took part the New Zealand ShakeOut yesterday. ShakeOut takes place every year across the country to remind people of the right actions to take during an earthquake: Drop, Cover and Hold.  

Independent reviews show Buller District Council’s Programme Management Office (PMO) is delivering for ratepayers, but further investigation is needed to resolve outstanding questions about financial management.

Nine new CCTV cameras have recently been installed at the Westport Transfer Station with the goal of improving the site’s security. This will address multiple security incidents which have occurred within the past year. 

Buller District Council will hit the road over the next five weeks to ask community members what they want their district to look like in the coming 10-years - for you, your mates, kids or whānau.    

The key findings from Buller District Council’s recent waste consultation reveal concerns from residents over cost, a disproportionate impact on pensioners and minimal waste producers.

Locals can now keep an eye on the ever-changing Buller River mouth, thanks to a webcam installed recently which makes real time pictures available to harbour users and the public.

Community groups and businesses in the Buller District will be able to find grants more easily with Buller’s new Funding Finder. 

The new fines-free policy approved by Buller District councillors at their August meeting comes into effect next month. From 1 October, overdue fees for late-returned library items will no longer be added to users’ accounts.  

Buller District Council considered its chief executive’s report at last night’s full Council meeting which, among other things, confirmed the funding agreement with the Department of Internal affairs (DIA) for the Resilient Westport Steering Group. 

Buller District Council will close the Karamea Highway next week to replace a damaged culvert crossing under the road. The construction site is located on the Karamea side of the bluff approximately 4km north of Corbyvale and 1km south of the Seven Sisters. 

Native species are the big winners in a recent decision by Buller District Council to declare most of the Floating Basin estuary no longer suitable to lease for grazing purposes.  

Buller District Council has received $6,826.48 to support established festivals which celebrate the life experiences, stories, cultures, and regional identities of New Zealanders. Applications are open now and close on Tuesday 24 October 2023. 

Residents were invited to have their say on proposed changes to rubbish collection services and how that is paid for in collection zone one, between 7 August and 4 September 2023, which was extended to Thursday 7 September.

Buller District Council will close the Karamea Highway next week to carry out road stabilisation works. The construction site is located on the Karamea side of the bluff approx. 4km north of Corbyvale and 1km south of the Seven Sisters.  

The consultation window for Buller District Council’s consultation on proposed changes to solid waste management closed on Thursday 7 September at 4:30pm.

Mitre 10, EXPOL, Hilton Haulage and the Buller District Council have joined forces to deliver a project which enables Buller residents to recycle their polystyrene, preventing it from going to landfill. 

The majority of the project to replace the trunk main from the water reservoir to Westport has been completed this week.

Buller District Council’s consultation on proposed changes to solid waste management will be extended another few days. Consultation started on the 7^th of August and was set to end today at 4.30pm.

The decision has been made to extend that until Thursday 7 September at 4.30pm.

Buller District Council has been successful in a bid for three funding applications to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)’s Tourism Infrastructure Funding (TIF).

The Buller District Council has allocated $275,000 of Better Off Founding to improve the capabilities of the Buller Emergency Operations Centre and associated community groups. 

A collaborative approach by council and KiwiRail to residents’ concerns about the condition of the Powerhouse Road rail crossing has resulted in repairs and upgrades during a break of fine weather in August.  

Buller District councillors will consider a new fines free policy for all late returned library items at next week’s meeting.

A report to council outlines the benefits of implementing a fines free policy for Buller District Libraries and seeks Council approval to implement the policy. 

The rock wall project at the eastern Tiphead is now complete, following the replanting of the area between the Tiphead Road and the Kawatiri River Trail walking and cycling track.

Council’s Westport office will be closed to staff and customers from 4.30pm Tuesday 22 August to 4.30pm on Friday 25 August 2023 inclusive.

Improvements to the Reefton Visitor and Service Centre are now complete, with the Reefton community invited to view the completed upgrade works and the new library space on Tuesday 15 August.

Buller District Council received 32 submissions during the Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2022 second round of consultation between 3 July and 31 July 2023. 24 submissions were emailed or submitted online and eight were handed in as hard copies. 

Proposed changes to the household collection services for recycling and waste management zone one will be open for feedback from today - Monday, 7 August.

A collaborative approach to managing solid waste in the West Coast will be considered by council next week. 

How should gambling venues be managed in Buller in the future? This the question council wants feedback on as part of the proposed new Class 4 Gambling and Totalisator Agency Board (TAB) Venue Policy consultation over the coming weeks.

Council appointed last week Domonic Venz as the new harbour master of the Westport Harbour. Mr Venz will start this week taking over the role from master of the dredge Kawatiri Steve Christieson.