Motueka River Stopbank Refurbishment was funded under the Climate Resilience Programme via the Project Development Unit within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Council also co-funded the project.
The project involved raising localised sections of stopbank and remedying structural defects to reduce the risk of stopbank failure and subsequent flooding. This will improve the resilience of the protected productive land and will contribute to increased local employment and spending in a post COVID-19 world. The work includes full project management of detailed design and investigation, tendering, contract management to successful completion stages.
Thanks to the support the of New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP), our library staff have been able to increase the services and support provided to our communities.
The NZLPP was established in July 2021 as a government stimulus programme to support Covid-19 recovery work across New Zealand’s library system.
The programme has now ended. However, the outcomes achieved with the $412,738 in funding and fee waivers we received during the programme will continue to benefit the community into the future.
We were able to establish two temporary positions to support community engagement, digitisation and digital support initiatives and develop new programmes.
Major initiatives undertaken included a pop-up library at a number of locations and events across the District.
We were able to refine and invest in our digital resources and digitise materials of historic interest, while NZLPP staff designed and delivered a digital drop-in service at each of our library branches to support users needing technology assistance on topics such as installing and using apps, attending Zoom meetings and navigating social media.
We also established a Pasifika-focused digital skills programme alongside the Motueka-based Talanoa Ako Programme.
Another big achievement was the establishment of an oral history programme. The aim of this project is to record and safeguard stories of Tasman, reflecting the diverse lives of our people and providing a record of specific moments in time.
To date, we have completed oral histories related to the library’s 2020 Lockdown Quilt and residents at Riverside Community. These are now available online.
UPDATE JUNE 2021 - this initiave has been completed.
Funding of $1.5 million from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) through the Provincial Growth 
Fund allocated in June 2020 was used around our region to re-deploy workers displaced by the response to COVID-19.
$1 million was earmarked for removing trees and other rural roadside hazards, with $500,000 allocated to improving roadside drainage to reduce surface flooding.
As well as using existing databases to identify hazardous trees on rural roads, residents were also asked to nominate trees to be assessed. Trees were removed from 144 locations around the District. Where possible, the wood was collected, stockpiled and shared with families in need around the region.
This initiative created employment for 14 staff who had lost their jobs due to the effects of Covid-19. They came from a wide range of backgrounds, from kayak guides to retail sales staff but all adapted well to their new work.
UPDATE MAY 2021 - These projects have now been completed.
Community halls around our region benefited from a $400,000 funding boost through the Provincial Growth Fund - Renovation of Town Hall and War Memorials initiative.
The money allocated was used in various locations around the region to carry out much-needed improvements to these well-used community facilities.
This funding was a real bonus for everyone who uses these facilities. It allowed us to make these improvements sooner than planned and our residents can now enjoy the benefits.
We received some welcome recognition regarding the delivery of these seven important infrastructure projects under the Government’s Stimulus Funding Programme.
This programme provided funding to local authorities for investment in drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater networks. This allowed us to fast-track important work and provide significant benefits to the community earlier than planned.
Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIP), who administer the Department of Internal Affairs funding for these projects to Councils throughout New Zealand, has congratulated us on the successful completion of seven projects safely, on time and on budget.
Six Tasman projects received initial funding and were administered through our Programme Management Office (PMO) are listed below. An underspend on the Thorp Street project also allowed for an additional project outside of the original delivery plan to be completed – Motueka's Everett Street mains renewal.
Project outcomes have included improved water supply resilience, enhanced compliance with drinking water standards for rural and town schemes as well as cultural and environmental benefits through preventing sewage overflows in wet weather.
Using local contractors with good knowledge and strong community connections helped with progress and overall performance and has allowed these contractors to continue to work during challenging times.
As with other high-performing councils, the value of having a PMO was also acknowledged by CIP.
| Project | Total Cost | Council contribution | Summary |
| Emergency storage tanks at wastewater pump stations | $1 million | $12,000 |
This included installing emergency storage tanks at wastewater pump stations to provide 24-hour storage level of service and avoid overflows. |
| Pōhara Water Treatment Plant upgrade | $1.4 million | $36,000 |
The Water Treatment Plant required an upgrade to comply with the NZ Drinking Water Standards (DWSNZ) and Water Safety Plans (Public Health Risk Management Plans). |
| Dovedale Rural Water Supply source and treatment upgrade | $2.3 million | $30,000. |
Upgrade of Water Treatment Plant with lower intake and pump. This included installation of sedimentation tanks to improve water quality to comply with the DWSNZ and mitigate supply disruption during high sediment content in the raw water supply. |
| Richmond Water Main (between Richmond West/SH60 and 3 Brothers Roundabout). Sections C and D | $1.9 million | $285,000. |
To provide water to Richmond South (and Richmond West) to meet growth requirements which have been accelerating in the last three years. |
| Pomona Road Reservoir | $2.28 million | $1.36 million |
Replaced the existing temporary wooden reservoir with a new 2,500m3 plus concrete reservoir. |
| Motueka Thorp Street Water main renewal | $500,000 | $1.75 million |
This water main is a key drinking water supply link in Motueka east and had numerous failures before being renewed. |
