Waikato Regional Council today approved a 1.8 per centpay rise for chief executive Bob Laing after confirmation that he had met all performance objectives for the year ending 30 June 2012. The increase takes the chief executive’s annual remuneration to $313,768.
Joint media release; Waikato Regional Council is the first local government authority in New Zealand to be given extra powers by Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) to investigate serious incidents on the water.
A Waikato Regional Drought Committee has been formed to help manage the response to dry weather conditions in the region which have been causing significant problems for farmers and led to water restrictions.
Waikato Regional Council says significant growth in the numbers of community groups and schools becoming involved in environmental protection is a very healthy sign.
New dairy industry proposals aimed at better limiting the environmental impact of dairy farms are a positive sign, says Waikato Regional Council chairman Peter Buckley.
Media release from Waikato Mayoral Forum
A work programme designed to generate multi-million dollar savings for regional ratepayers is being forwarded by the Waikato Mayoral Forum to the region’s local and regional councils for consideration.
Field monitoring has confirmed rain earlier this week has had a positive impact of river and stream levels in the Waikato region but by nowhere near enough to ease concerns about further potential water take restrictions in the near future.
A revised proposal of floodway improvement works expected to significantly reduce flood risks for the majority of property owners around Graham’s Creek in Tairua will be revisited by Waikato Regional Council in 2014/15 after the Manaia Road causeway is upgraded.
Waikato Regional Council has confirmed it will reconsider the flood protection rating options to be presented to the Te Puru and wider regional community in the council’s 2013/14 Draft Annual Plan.
A Rotorua forestry company and a Coromandel forestry contractor have been fined more than $50,000 in total for carrying out forest harvesting unlawfully at a remote Coromandel farm.
A Morrinsville farmer has been fined more than $33,000 for illegally discharging dairy effluent into the environment. The volume of effluent was such that cows udders were dragging in it.
Waterways in some parts of the Waikato have now dropped to flows which trigger restrictions on water takes, and the threat of this happening in other parts of the region is increasing.