Waikato Regional Council’s catchment services committee has agreed to a contribution of up to almost $200,000 to help remediate one of two slips on the Waikato River bank near Claudelands Bridge.
It follows a request from Hamilton City Council for the regional council to pay a third of the costs.
The slip HCC has asked for the regional council to help remediate is on HCC-owned land. It is separate from another larger slip on Tainui-owned land near the bridge.
The committee’s decision recognises the regional council’s role is helping keep river banks stable and assisting local councils and landowners.
The committee heard the slip on HCC-owned land has the potential to get worse within the next five years, causing further problems.
The final regional council contribution is dependent on endorsement of the committee’s decision by full council and the actual costs of the remediation by HCC.
The committee agreed making a contribution would be consistent with the policy of the regional council’s Project Watershed, which provides for giving funds towards bank stabilisation.
A report to the committee said it was accepted that erosion along the bank by river movement was one of the contributing factors to the slip.
It also noted the regional council had sufficient catchment services cash reserves in the zone where the slip is to cover the suggested contribution.
Meanwhile, HCC has said it will not proceed with remediating the larger slip unless landowners agree to share the costs. If that agreement is reached, HCC has indicated it will come back to the regional council and ask it to also contribute to the costs of fixing the larger slip.
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Press Release, July 10, 2013