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Challenges and satisfactions in the role of mayor of Kapiti District
Alan Milne talks to Dorothy about his work - 11/03/05
As mayor of Kapiti District
Alan Milne of course faces challenges, many of them associated
with the growth in the area, especially the growth in the use of the motor
car as increasing traffic passes into or through the area. He has just
begun his second term as Mayor and has a good working knowledge of the
problems with water supply, roading and traffic and flooding. He also has
found that as Mayor he has been able to become better acquainted with the
people of the area and has had satisfying interactions with young and
old.
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Mayor Alan Milne in his mayoral robes
Photo source Kapiti District Council
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Supplying water to the growing district was a major problem in Alan's
first term as Mayor
"In my first three years as mayor we started the term with a clean sheet of
paper as far as water supply issues were concerned. Previous councils had
wrestled with this topic and thought they had achieved conclusions and
successful options, but none of them came to fruition.
"In the last three years we have explored all of the known and suggested
options and assessed their merits and costs. We have reached the conclusion
that for the area from Raumati to Waikanae a combination of taking water
from the Waikanae River, taking water from a bore field, and storing water
in a pond system near the Waikane River was the most appropriate water
supply solution for the area. As we progressed through this process it
became clear that when sufficient water was not available from the Waikanae
River it would be possible to supplement this fully with water from the
bore field. So the solution which we have adopted and are putting in place
is a system of bores in the Waikanae area which will when necessary feed
sufficient water to our treatment plant to supply the essential needs of
this community."
Transport and traffic problems demand immediate improvements but a major
improvement will only come after expensive works in Transmission
Gully.
"In this current term the issue of transport will probably be the most
significant real matter." Alan said. "Obviously as with most communities
in New Zealand the level of rating and the methods of funding will be an
issue.
There are a number of issues. There are a significant number of people
commuting every day and the area is astride the highway from Auckland to
Wellington which has significant movements with freight carrying trucks,
tourists and other travellers passing through. The growth in traffic on
this highway is around four per cent per year, which means that in about
fifteen years it will double.
"We have options which include improving the capacity of rail to carry
commuters, and with this in mind it is proposed to extend the existing
electrified line from Paraparaumu to Waikanae. Not only will this make it
easier for the people of Waikanae to catch the train, but it will also
provide three additional railway stations and parking areas which will
enable others to make greater use of the rail."
Need for the Western Link Road
"This district relies very much on the State Highway for communication and
in many places that highway is the only road between communities as there
is not a network of roads that can be used in the event of a stoppage on
the main highway. For this reason a very significant development will be
the Western Link Road which will start at the State Highway south of
Raumati and rejoin the State Highway north of Waikanae. This will not take
the through traffic but will be of vital importance to local people
enabling them to access their own communities and adjoining communities in
a manner that will be safer and more reliable and provide an option in the
event of major disruption on the state highway. Western Link Road will
provide an additional bridge across the Waikanae River which is something
which everybody on the Kapiti Coast would agree is absolutely essential.
However determining the exact location is a matter of considerable debate
and in my view the best position is on the alignment of the Western Link
Road."
State highway from Paekakariki to south of Pukerua Bay
"Another issue is the stretch of state highway from Paekakariki to south of
Pukerua Bay. This is the Centennial Highway - some would call it the Killer
Highway because there were seven deaths on this highway in 2004.
"The road itself has been reconstructed to a very high standard and of
course most of the problems have resulted from drivers going to sleep or
having their attention diverted. Transit is the roading authority which
carries out works on the state highways. The view of the locals is that it
is essential for Transit to do what it can and to put in place safety
measures urgently. They have started this process by building a 700 metre
wire barrier, but Kapiti people would like to see this extended the full
length of this part of the state highway. It is also necessary to look at
what improvements can be made to the road to bring its capacity to four
lanes, which may involve extending the road out over the foreshore or
double-decking the road. Environmentally double-decking has got some
advantages, but from the point of view of cost it may well be the most
expensive option.
"I think it is important that these options be explored and once it is
determined which options are possible that they be proceeded with urgently,
because we have a large number of residents using this stretch of road ten
or more times a week, and their safety, their convenience and their ability
to rely on the road is of vital importance."
Projected road through Transmission Gully
"I believe that at some stage in the future the road through Transmission
Gully, which is a further option, will be built, but it is a project which
will take ten to fifteen years to complete and therefore I am of the
opinion that it is important to do these other works in the interim, no
matter when it is decided to start work on Transmission Gully.
"Transmission Gully will be built at some stage and we must be sure that
whatever interim work is done does not in any way impede the ultimate
construction of Transmission Gully which will provide, at a cost of about a
thousand million dollars, an alternative access out of Wellington to the
north and of course vice versa alternative access into Wellington for
communities like the Kapiti Coast."
Flooding problems
"A further issue important to ratepayers is that there are a number of
areas subject to inundation. Solutions to this will probably be quite
complex and expensive.
"In October 2003 part of Paekakariki was devastated by flood waters which
inundated the lower part of the town. The Kapiti District Council is
accepting that works need to be done and they are at the moment on the
verge of proceeding with works which, in the event of a storm, will impede
the flow down the valleys of material such as soil, gravel and rocks which
cause blockage of the drainage structures and result in flooding in the
town. This work will be carried out in cooperation with Transit and
Tranzrail both of whom share the problem with the Council."
Satisfactions in being Mayor
Some of the satisfactions in being Mayor are because being Mayor gives Alan
a far greater opportunity to mix with the people and become aware of their
wonderful talents.
Meeting the young people
"My days at college were mainly a case of turning up, being lectured to,
doing a minimum of homework, playing cricket for an hour or so, and not
much else, but the modern students are so involved in the student community
and contribute so generously of their time that I can never stop being
amazed at the efforts they make. These efforts are not just put into
scholastic and sporting achievements, but into contributions they make
towards the arts. Students take part in Shakespearian festivals and some
have been selected to visit London's Globe Theatre. I also think of
projects like the Yellow Ribbon Programme where students are looking after
their fellow students.
A lot of students spend time tutoring and mentoring the younger students.
The contributions of young people are amazing and while we hear of what 5%
of the students contribute, as Mayor I hear how 60% of the students are
serving the community."
Meeting the older people
Meeting the older people in the community enables the Mayor to recognise
the problems of the older folk, arising from financial constraints and
access difficulties, and to appreciate the wonderful contributions that
volunteers make to the community.
"While at election time we try to convince people that the Council's work
is the most important part of the community, in this area the volunteers
are the most important people because they enhance the quality of life for
so many residents," said the Mayor.
Commercial activities in the Wellington region
"I also become aware of the activities of various companies right across
the Wellington region, the companies that are the suppliers to Microsoft,
the preferred subcontractors to the US Coastguard, people who are working
in partnership with IBM, companies that provide the navigation system for
the Panama Canal. It has only been by being Mayor that I have become aware
of what is being done.
Helping to resolve issues
"Another aspect is that the Mayor is able to play a role in helping to
resolve some issues that residents and rateplayers are unable to resolve
themselves.
My experience as a surveyor has meant that over the last twenty years I
have been involved in a lot of engineering and planning work and had a lot
of experience in dealing with the Resource Management Act. I believe that
this enables me to consolidate solutions or act in an intermediary role to
help others to solve issues."
Mary Milne, the Mayoress, accompanies Alan to many of his official
engagements.
A singular highlight for Alan and Mary has been participating in the
premiere showings of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and walking the red
carpet for "Return of the King".
There are significant challenges facing the Mayor and Kapiti District
Council in the next three years, but there are also satisfactions for a
Mayor in working with people who have elected him for a second term of
office.
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