This summary of the agenda for the March 18th Raglan Community Board meeting has been prepared by John Lawson, Secretary of Whāingaroa Environmental Defence Inc., 51 Cliff St, Raglan 07 825 7866 email johnragla@gmail.com
The next Raglan Community Board meeting is on Wed 18 March at 1.30pm in the Supper Room, Raglan Town Hall. The public forum will be near the start of the formal meeting, giving an opportunity to discuss issues. You might prefer to email/phone the Board.
Wednesday’s RCB agenda is 38 pages long and includes –
- World Surf Event Resource consent application is expected to be received by 13 March.
- Wainui Reserve 30 year plan “stakeholder workshop on the 13th of March [drop-in 3-5 Supper Room] to help inform the staged development plan. From there staff will draft the plan prior to taking out for public feedback.”
- Outdoor movement hub – RCB’s chair is proposing consultation for a hub, with calisthenics rig [strength training using body weight as resistance to perform multi-joint movements with little equipment], training stations, mobility stretch zone, low-impact equipment for older adults, seats and shade for $50 to 120k, paid for by fundraising and RCB grants.
- Manu Bay planting “Due to the WSL surf tournament, and the possibility that people will be using the hillside . . . it has been agreed to not plant this winter, . . . – it is always possible to do a planting in future years.”
- Rates Capping Workshop WDC would be within the 2-4% indicative range, excluding waters charges.
- Service Requests “We are exploring how to better report on trending service requests and will keep the Board informed.”
- Stormwater “Installing wingwalls and riprap around outlets to minimise erosion”, filter cleaning due to start, meeting “will be held before 30 June.”
- Sewage “high winds occurred on 24th January . . .Raglan outfall maintained integrity despite the severe swells”
- Bus Services Invite WRC to attend a future Board meeting.
- Roading – no detail
- CCTV estimated completion of camera installation end of March.
- Greenslade Rd Reserve playground still waiting for consent.
- Freedom Camping Bylaw “needs to have the review complete by 20 November 2028 so we may kick this off late 2027”
- Soundsplash “No significant complaints were received”.
- Raglan Naturally RCB trustee proposed to be Eloise Deller.
- Strategy & Corporate Planning, Councillor’s and Board Members Reports verbal including
- Coastguard Lease “Provide feedback to Council”
- Discretionary fund has $13,877.04.
This item is on WDC’s agenda (WRC start on 10 Feb), but not on RCB’s agenda –
Resident Satisfaction Survey – continued declines in trust, leadership, perceived value for money and satisfaction
Civil Defence Plan operational. Regular meetings + training days + activated for severe weather response
support to Nga Tai e Rua marae to develop community solar power project.
Infrastructure 24/2
Bury overhead electricity cables at Lorenzen Bay Reserve – hazard for the masts of yachts at the sailing club
Lorenzen reserve plan approved.
Raglan WWTP: lodged application with WRC on 17/12/2025.
Between July and December 2025, monitoring results from the Raglan WWTP showed no compliance exceedances, reflecting the effectiveness of the recently upgraded treatment system.
Table 1: Results for the Raglan WWTP from July to December 2025.
| Date | cBOD5 (g/m3) | Total Suspended Solids (g/m3) | Total Nitrogen (g/m3) |
| July-25 | 2.70 | 16.00 | 13.00 |
| Aug-25 | 1.20 | 8.00 | 7.80 |
| Sept-25 | 3.40 | 4.40 | 6.60 |
| Oct-25 | 1.50 | 7.80 | 2.20 |
| Nov-25 | 2.20 | 15.00 | 5.50 |
| Dec-25 | 1.30 | 9.00 | 3.10 |
Marine Pde sewage pump $491,700 replacement proposed due to wetwell failure – investigating option to move to Oram Park.
$9.1m Current site activities are focused on minor remaining amendments required to finalise the integration of the legacy oxidation ponds into the new treatment process. Concurrently, the design phase is commencing for the new discharge pump station and pipeline, alongside the ecological gulley regeneration initiative.
$287,500 is being spent investigating options to reuse sewage sludge, rather than put it in landfill.
Stormwater – $3.4m detailed design for the Wainui Rd / Stewart St Outfall and Marine Pde projects has been completed, and the resource consent applications for both projects have been lodged. WRC requested that consultation be undertaken with iwi groups under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011. Project briefing letters were issued to the identified groups in Dec 2025, and no responses have been received to date.
The preliminary design for the Government Rd project has been completed. Consultation with RCB has commenced. WDC Parks and Water has requested that Watercare lodge the resource consent application only after consultation with RCB has been completed.
Wallis Street Interceptor upgrade – in the engineering design and device selection stage – expected to be completed in early January.
Fish passage – design work is underway at 4 sites in Pokeno and Raglan.
Water – almost 200 sensors have been used to detect leaks
Workshop: Annual Plan Budget 10/2/2026
At the December workshop, the proposed Annual Plan deficit was forecast at $38,000. A risk regarding user-pays waste collections was discussed resulting in a $2.9m reduction. The forecast deficit is now estimated at $3.9m. . . Annual Plan already includes a $1m efficiency savings target. . . stormwater pond desludging . . . Deferring $200k to 2027/28 will not compromise levels of service, compliance, environmental outcomes, health and safety, or system
resilience. . . stormwater pipe renewals . . . deferred for a few more years without impacting service performance, resilience, or regulatory compliance . . . rates collection, of which roughly 43% is sent via email Maaori Land included as rateable land when they may not be. . . potentially reducing general and UAGC income budgeted for 2026/27 by approximately $100,000 projected household growth . . . additional $500,000. Town Hall rate from $25 to $33.
WRC Transport 17/2
To confirm the objectives sought through the renewal of bus contracts, which will ensure alignment on priorities through the upcoming procurement of new bus contract
Other issues missing from the RCB agenda – signs, Civil defence, roading contract, road safety at school, 2Degrees tower, new reservoir, Spatial planning/Town plan,street lighting, recreation study, transport assessment, speed limits, RCB’s Facebook page (it’s being used again occasionally), alcohol ban, Manu Bay boat ramp, Papahua erosion, Cliff St pohutukawas, development next to 4 Square, footpath obstruction by cafes, old Harbour Care site, Raglan Naturally, fluoride, organic waste, rubbish on SH23, Greenslade Rd SH23 junction, Connectivity Strategy. speeding on Main Rd, Harbour Strategy, Animal Control late responses, cycle counts, Bayview Rd safety, Canada geese, Cliff St, Park Dr/Long St crossing, town square, Town Hall Committee, WRAP, Calvert Rd parking, volunteer worker safety.
Should WED be taking up these or other issues?