Apart from Waikato Regional Council’s decision to create a new Climate Action committee there are some other significant changes to the council’s committee structure introduced in this triennium to better fit the era, says Waikato Regional Council chair Russ Rimmington.

Four new committees have been created – Freshwater Action, Climate Action, Infrastructure and Special Projects, and Regional Connections.

I have been appointed Deputy Chair of the Climate Action committee and will also serve on the Regional Connections Committee which will drive action to achieve far better transport connections in rural areas of the region including Thames-Coromandel.

My other committee commitments include the Environmental Performance Committee which monitors the regulatory function of council, and two standing committees of whole Council – the Strategy and Policy Committee and the Regional Partnerships Committee which will progress the Regional Policy Statement and the Regional Coastal Plan which are both under review.

I have also been appointed to the Hauraki Gulf Forum, and the Kaiaua Coast Community Plan Joint Working Party.

During an extraordinary meeting of council last Friday (15 November), councillors also decided to disestablish the catchment and drainage committees which had comprised nominated community and partner agency representatives.

“While it has been decided to disestablish these committees, the council values the advice, support and feedback provided and remains committed to community engagement,” Cr Rimmington said.

“Senior councillors and executive staff will be meeting with catchment and drainage committee chairs over the next month to explore new ways of obtaining effective advice and feedback from community members and stakeholders,” he said.

“This means the work previously planned and monitored by the Integrated Catchment Management Committee has been reassigned to specialist committees of council to complete the significant volume of work expected of us,” he said.