March 26, 2025 • 11 mins
Westport residents have been berating their council over a plan to move the flood-prone town.
Draft master planning began in 2023 on a proposal to move to Government-owned Pamu-Landcorp farmland southwest of the current settlement.
Buller Councillors yesterday voted to continue to the third stage.
Mayor Jamie Cleine told Kerre Woodham that step enables more conversations.
He says the plan has never been to just pick up and move Westport, it will be an inter-generational process.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the carry Wood and Morning's podcast from
news Talks, he'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
You may recall some time ago we talked to residents
from Westport about the plans to relocate their town. The
Westport Planning process began in twenty twenty three and proposes
to move Westport to government owned Palmu Land Corp farmland
southwest of its current location. It's basically sinking lid. As
(00:35):
more businesses want to open, they have to open on
the new land that's clear of the flood the floodplain.
As building consents are given, they're only going to be
given on the land where the floodplain is not. As
I understand it, Jamie Klein, the Bonda District mayor, joins me. Now, Jamie,
(00:56):
very good morning to.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
You morning Carrie.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Is that kind of what as I understand it from
the discussions I've had that it's a great dual process.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Yeah, it's a gradual process. But I think the way
you described it is significantly more than what the master
planning actually is. Okay, So it's really really important to
get that right. And that's one of the things that's
that's really problematic in terms of the narrative. So that
has never been a plan to pick up we sport
and move it hoole as bolus. It is absolutely an intergenerational,
(01:30):
long term thing. There is no requirement for businesses to
you know, that's not anticipated as yet. That the master
plan is very much at a conceptual stage. And really
what council did last night was was received and endorsed
the master plan and enabled the next steps. So really
to begin some conversations and negotiations with with PAMU and
(01:53):
government around understanding what delivery of the master plan overcoming
years might look like and how we might achieve that,
largely you know, seeking external funding and the like. It's
really imports. Master planning also considers how we maintain and
refresh current we sport in the meantime.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Okay, But ultimately the end goal will be over generations
that the town doesn't disappear, but that it goes to
a safe place.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Absolutely, that's that's the intergenerational ambition of master planning.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Okay, but you're getting pushback from a group of residents,
a large group of residents who say that they're plummeting
property values are giving them real concern.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Yeah, and that is certainly you know, the negative narrative
that that some you know, some of our community are
sharing with us. I guess the challenge we have is
is the alignment that and the likes of master planning
has with with sort of the broader information and things
that that decision makers grapple with. So you know, there's
(03:09):
obviously the hazard risk information that the known work that's
going on with with flood protection measures, you know, the
ongoing investment that is happening into into existing we sports.
So so you know, and also you know, we are
seeing quite a growth spurt and buller at the moment,
you know, industry expanding, a need to accommodate that growth,
(03:31):
and and you know and builders and the like, you know,
certainly busy and consense consenting team at council is really busy.
So so that is the narrative. But it's but but
I would contest that that's not actually the reality. We
sport is actually is actually on the castle already showing
signs of good growth. And this is just about getting
(03:52):
ahead of the of the you know, making sure that
the plans are in place to enable that in the
correct places. But there's much a growth plan as it
is about managing hazard risk.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
But you know, as you reference, falling values are likely
to occur when you're in a known flood plan and
you might not be able to get insurance anyway. So
it's not really the council you're trying to find a solution.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yeah, that's right. So I mean the insurance market operates,
you know, quite independent of Council in terms of in
terms of their knowledge of the hazard scape, and so
you know, they're not waiting on us to tell them
about flood risk or liquefaction risk and things. You know,
they know that stuff and they factor that into premiums.
The what the intent of master planning is and should
(04:40):
achieve is provide confidence to the insurance sector that actually
there is actually a plan and effectively an insurance policy
to gradually, you know, reduce the risk of that built
environment to some of those hazards over time. And don't
forget that the master planning isn't the only plank to
this work. You know, there's significant hard flood protection structures,
(05:03):
you know, that is the lion's share really of the
work under way to protect existing wisport with flood protection
you know, and store water pumping and all those elements
are all being invested into current Westport. But there's this
little bespoke piece of work which is actually really important
that is just starting to throw that long term lens
over over what's a prudent way to sort of manage
(05:24):
growth and things in the coming years.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Have you talked to other towns around New Zealand that
are facing exactly the same issues?
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Look, I mean as them do. And you know, you
know a smiths and the crew that are behind the
master planning, you know are well connected into the broader
New Zealand you know planning infrastructure if you like. And
I think what we've got here is, you know, almost
a little bit of a blueprint for how some of
(05:55):
these other regions in New Zealand that are facing various,
similar complex problems you might begin to start addressing them
because because I know that you know, Weller won't be
a Wispot, won't be the only town of our size
that hasn't previously been able to do you know, master
planning of this sort of scale.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
I think Edgecomb's looking at it, Kumi's certainly looking at it,
trying to will basically shift the deck chairs, you know,
and and make sure that they're not flooded yet again.
It just seems madness again, a bit like what we're
talking about the prisons, to do the same thing time
and time again, to rebuild a house, to repair a
(06:34):
house for the third or fourth time, only to have
it flooded again.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, well absolutely, And I think I think it's usually
us an analogy and it's really it's really it's you know,
it's almost exactly the scenario that we're we're trying to
achieve here. Is if you think about greater christ Church.
You know, so parts of christ Church pre christ Church earthquake,
you know, whole suburbs there had no intention whatsoever of
moving they know that was there for over home, and
(07:01):
and then along comes a big earthquake and suddenly those
those pre planned areas and why Marcri and at West
Melton and other parts of christ Shet that were originally
just growth areas suddenly became the insurance policy for christ Church,
so that people who were no longer able to rebuild,
for example, in the event of a major event, actually
had a future and a way to be able to
(07:22):
move ahead with their lives in a much better location.
And that's the kind of position we want to get
Buller into I want to be able to offer people,
in the event of another natural disaster, event eaven for this,
you know, an alternative that they can still stay and
enjoy all of the things and all the reasons why
they want to be living here in.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Buller and people do, they love it, and there are
more and more people moving to the West coast. Would
there be a land swap, you know, if it's government
owned land, would people who have been flooded three or
four times be able to move their house to safer land?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Look, I mean, I think those are the kinds of
things we want to tease out in this in this work.
So you know, it's about how you would set up
that special purpose vehicle. What does that look like? You know,
you know, ability for exactly that kind of conversation, so
that people could could take exactly as you mentioned before,
their insurance payout and rather than being forced to reinvest
right into the ASAR escape, they've just had a claim
(08:24):
from to be able to affordably move on and be
somewhere else, you know, and lands, what affordable sections. Those
kinds of things are all what we hope the future
might hold in a successful execution of the master plan
overcoming years, and I mean it could be you know,
it's a typical building in buller Is, you know, thirty
(08:45):
to fifty houses a year, and the master plan is
designed to be scalable that it meets that regular market demand,
but also could be ramped up significantly in the event
of a natural disaster exactly like that. Christ Chick is
an example.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
I gave you what will ensure the success of the
master plan? You said, you hope it comes about your
you know you intend, But what's going to ensure the success?
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I looking sure, and the success is us continuing to
build those those important relationships like this is this is
not going to be funded fully by the bulat Strip Council.
That's just it's never going to be affordable for us.
So critical to the success of this is as a
meaningful relationship with with the landowner at the moment, which
is which is Palmun Ankle. But obviously government buy in
(09:35):
into into you know, some upfront relatively minor seed funding
to just explore this as a potential sort of way
forward for not only Westport, but a similar concept for
other parts of New Zealand. And that's really what we're
what we'll be working on over the next few months
now that we've got the go ahead to do that.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
When you became mayor, did you imagine this is what
you would be doing.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
No, not at all.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
You don't.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
You don't imagine that you're going to be faced with
you with the worst flood and seventy years either and
then and then another one the following year. So you know,
there's there's there's lots of complexity. But but I think
New Zealand is kind of waking up. So not only
were the floods that wake up cool for for we sport,
but New Zealand is waking up to the vulnerabilities of
our infrastructure and some of our some of our norms
(10:22):
and things that we perhaps took for granted, you know,
are not necessarily as secure as we'd all hoped. And
you know, with the benefit of hindsight, you know, you
can see that, you know that previous previous Council's, previous
planning regimes, you know, didn't account for some of the
you know what what are now quite obvious risks and
limitations around where developments and things were encouraged or allowed
(10:46):
to occur. So you know, you need to learn from
the past, but I mean absolutely this is about getting
ahead of that and and finding a way to make
it into generational so that the current generation, you know,
aren't aren't left without without without in equity in their
in their hard earned properties.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
And some Thank you so much, Jamie. Good to talk
Jemmie Kline, the Buller District mayor, on the eventual multi
generational plan to ensure Westport's longevity and safety.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
For more from carry Wood and Mornings, listen live to
News Talks a B from nine am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the carry Wood and Morning's podcast from
news Talks, he'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
You may recall some time ago we talked to residents
from Westport about the plans to relocate their town. The
Westport Planning process began in twenty twenty three and proposes
to move Westport to government owned Palmu Land Corp farmland
southwest of its current location. It's basically sinking lid. As
(00:35):
more businesses want to open, they have to open on
the new land that's clear of the flood the floodplain.
As building consents are given, they're only going to be
given on the land where the floodplain is not. As
I understand it, Jamie Klein, the Bonda District mayor, joins me. Now, Jamie,
(00:56):
very good morning to.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
You morning Carrie.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Is that kind of what as I understand it from
the discussions I've had that it's a great dual process.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Yeah, it's a gradual process. But I think the way
you described it is significantly more than what the master
planning actually is. Okay, So it's really really important to
get that right. And that's one of the things that's
that's really problematic in terms of the narrative. So that
has never been a plan to pick up we sport
and move it hoole as bolus. It is absolutely an intergenerational,
(01:30):
long term thing. There is no requirement for businesses to
you know, that's not anticipated as yet. That the master
plan is very much at a conceptual stage. And really
what council did last night was was received and endorsed
the master plan and enabled the next steps. So really
to begin some conversations and negotiations with with PAMU and
(01:53):
government around understanding what delivery of the master plan overcoming
years might look like and how we might achieve that,
largely you know, seeking external funding and the like. It's
really imports. Master planning also considers how we maintain and
refresh current we sport in the meantime.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Okay, But ultimately the end goal will be over generations
that the town doesn't disappear, but that it goes to
a safe place.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Absolutely, that's that's the intergenerational ambition of master planning.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Okay, but you're getting pushback from a group of residents,
a large group of residents who say that they're plummeting
property values are giving them real concern.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Yeah, and that is certainly you know, the negative narrative
that that some you know, some of our community are
sharing with us. I guess the challenge we have is
is the alignment that and the likes of master planning
has with with sort of the broader information and things
that that decision makers grapple with. So you know, there's
(03:09):
obviously the hazard risk information that the known work that's
going on with with flood protection measures, you know, the
ongoing investment that is happening into into existing we sports.
So so you know, and also you know, we are
seeing quite a growth spurt and buller at the moment,
you know, industry expanding, a need to accommodate that growth,
(03:31):
and and you know and builders and the like, you know,
certainly busy and consense consenting team at council is really busy.
So so that is the narrative. But it's but but
I would contest that that's not actually the reality. We
sport is actually is actually on the castle already showing
signs of good growth. And this is just about getting
(03:52):
ahead of the of the you know, making sure that
the plans are in place to enable that in the
correct places. But there's much a growth plan as it
is about managing hazard risk.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
But you know, as you reference, falling values are likely
to occur when you're in a known flood plan and
you might not be able to get insurance anyway. So
it's not really the council you're trying to find a solution.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yeah, that's right. So I mean the insurance market operates,
you know, quite independent of Council in terms of in
terms of their knowledge of the hazard scape, and so
you know, they're not waiting on us to tell them
about flood risk or liquefaction risk and things. You know,
they know that stuff and they factor that into premiums.
The what the intent of master planning is and should
(04:40):
achieve is provide confidence to the insurance sector that actually
there is actually a plan and effectively an insurance policy
to gradually, you know, reduce the risk of that built
environment to some of those hazards over time. And don't
forget that the master planning isn't the only plank to
this work. You know, there's significant hard flood protection structures,
(05:03):
you know, that is the lion's share really of the
work under way to protect existing wisport with flood protection
you know, and store water pumping and all those elements
are all being invested into current Westport. But there's this
little bespoke piece of work which is actually really important
that is just starting to throw that long term lens
over over what's a prudent way to sort of manage
(05:24):
growth and things in the coming years.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Have you talked to other towns around New Zealand that
are facing exactly the same issues?
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Look, I mean as them do. And you know, you
know a smiths and the crew that are behind the
master planning, you know are well connected into the broader
New Zealand you know planning infrastructure if you like. And
I think what we've got here is, you know, almost
a little bit of a blueprint for how some of
(05:55):
these other regions in New Zealand that are facing various,
similar complex problems you might begin to start addressing them
because because I know that you know, Weller won't be
a Wispot, won't be the only town of our size
that hasn't previously been able to do you know, master
planning of this sort of scale.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
I think Edgecomb's looking at it, Kumi's certainly looking at it,
trying to will basically shift the deck chairs, you know,
and and make sure that they're not flooded yet again.
It just seems madness again, a bit like what we're
talking about the prisons, to do the same thing time
and time again, to rebuild a house, to repair a
(06:34):
house for the third or fourth time, only to have
it flooded again.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, well absolutely, And I think I think it's usually
us an analogy and it's really it's really it's you know,
it's almost exactly the scenario that we're we're trying to
achieve here. Is if you think about greater christ Church.
You know, so parts of christ Church pre christ Church earthquake,
you know, whole suburbs there had no intention whatsoever of
moving they know that was there for over home, and
(07:01):
and then along comes a big earthquake and suddenly those
those pre planned areas and why Marcri and at West
Melton and other parts of christ Shet that were originally
just growth areas suddenly became the insurance policy for christ Church,
so that people who were no longer able to rebuild,
for example, in the event of a major event, actually
had a future and a way to be able to
(07:22):
move ahead with their lives in a much better location.
And that's the kind of position we want to get
Buller into I want to be able to offer people,
in the event of another natural disaster, event eaven for this,
you know, an alternative that they can still stay and
enjoy all of the things and all the reasons why
they want to be living here in.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Buller and people do, they love it, and there are
more and more people moving to the West coast. Would
there be a land swap, you know, if it's government
owned land, would people who have been flooded three or
four times be able to move their house to safer land?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Look, I mean, I think those are the kinds of
things we want to tease out in this in this work.
So you know, it's about how you would set up
that special purpose vehicle. What does that look like? You know,
you know, ability for exactly that kind of conversation, so
that people could could take exactly as you mentioned before,
their insurance payout and rather than being forced to reinvest
right into the ASAR escape, they've just had a claim
(08:24):
from to be able to affordably move on and be
somewhere else, you know, and lands, what affordable sections. Those
kinds of things are all what we hope the future
might hold in a successful execution of the master plan
overcoming years, and I mean it could be you know,
it's a typical building in buller Is, you know, thirty
(08:45):
to fifty houses a year, and the master plan is
designed to be scalable that it meets that regular market demand,
but also could be ramped up significantly in the event
of a natural disaster exactly like that. Christ Chick is
an example.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
I gave you what will ensure the success of the
master plan? You said, you hope it comes about your
you know you intend, But what's going to ensure the success?
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I looking sure, and the success is us continuing to
build those those important relationships like this is this is
not going to be funded fully by the bulat Strip Council.
That's just it's never going to be affordable for us.
So critical to the success of this is as a
meaningful relationship with with the landowner at the moment, which
is which is Palmun Ankle. But obviously government buy in
(09:35):
into into you know, some upfront relatively minor seed funding
to just explore this as a potential sort of way
forward for not only Westport, but a similar concept for
other parts of New Zealand. And that's really what we're
what we'll be working on over the next few months
now that we've got the go ahead to do that.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
When you became mayor, did you imagine this is what
you would be doing.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
No, not at all.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
You don't.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
You don't imagine that you're going to be faced with
you with the worst flood and seventy years either and
then and then another one the following year. So you know,
there's there's there's lots of complexity. But but I think
New Zealand is kind of waking up. So not only
were the floods that wake up cool for for we sport,
but New Zealand is waking up to the vulnerabilities of
our infrastructure and some of our some of our norms
(10:22):
and things that we perhaps took for granted, you know,
are not necessarily as secure as we'd all hoped. And
you know, with the benefit of hindsight, you know, you
can see that, you know that previous previous Council's, previous
planning regimes, you know, didn't account for some of the
you know what what are now quite obvious risks and
limitations around where developments and things were encouraged or allowed
(10:46):
to occur. So you know, you need to learn from
the past, but I mean absolutely this is about getting
ahead of that and and finding a way to make
it into generational so that the current generation, you know,
aren't aren't left without without without in equity in their
in their hard earned properties.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
And some Thank you so much, Jamie. Good to talk
Jemmie Kline, the Buller District mayor, on the eventual multi
generational plan to ensure Westport's longevity and safety.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
For more from carry Wood and Mornings, listen live to
News Talks a B from nine am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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