Whangamata Stormwater Master Plan

Chronology remains uncertain but best prediction is

2017 following cyclone Cook HAL/Morphum combination won consulting engagement over Opus?
2019 Whangamata Stormwater Master Plan update (has Port Rd next project)
2020 Morphum work ended - have no documents yet
2021 Metis took over preparing Master Plan - see Metis website history
2023 immediately after Gabrielle Terry disclosed council had engineers looking into flooding 2023 LGOIMA Independent Engineer
2023 April first workshop with stakeholders advised $10M for Whangamata Stormwater Improvement Project but require Master Plan by 23 November 2023 for inclusion into LTP - for consultation - amended by council to $9.1M (had $6.36M in deferred accounts - not sure whether the $10M is extra to this or this is the new total)
2023 November no Master Plan so prepared an Ombudsman complaint
2023 December Stakeholders told by Terry please do not lodge Ombudsman complaint as will tie up staff and he promised he would get staff to complete by end of January
2024 Various LGOIMA for Master Plans denied on the basis they are 'draft' - difficult to identify consultant reports by name as these were being withheld as well
2024 HAL report released from 'public excluded' (October) - LGOIMA continue on this as cannot 'release something unless it was already legitimately 'excluded under s48'
2024 Complaint to Mayor and response
2025 Complaint to CE - during response had a cache of documents released (embedded in another LGOIMA on 22 April 2025 - resent 15 July 2025 after another LGOIMA)  including the (doc 4) 2018 HAL Whangamata Stormwater Master Plan with redactions covering section 5. Request for service' and (doc 5) Morphum Whangamata Stormwater Master Plan strategic risks report see these reports below
2025 staff put media up on TCDC website stating Hetherington Rd is priority according to Master Plan
2025 after no response by CE filed complaint with Ombudsman ref Case report 027284 on basis of unacceptable delay CE in responding
2025 Next day 4 July received CE response included:
Page 13 Extract
Instead of responding to each allegation the Council requests that you consider the following:
• Delegated staff are under no instructions to withhold information Council controls – however they did withhold reports with, or information which contains personal details as required under the Privacy Act 2020.
• Council is not seeking to change workshops into progress reports.
• The workshops have evolved over time as the short-term actions have been completed and moving forward into capital work decisions.
• Metis Consulting Limited removed reference to Master Plan from their website.
Page 13 Extract
“Failure to release the master plan.” The Council does not share the view that there has been a failure.
A Master Plan to manage stormwater discharges in Whangamata has never been developed. HAL Ltd provided a proposal and Morphum Ltd drafted a strategic context and risk report.
The following Master Plan proposal documents have been provided to Ian Holyoake on 22 April 2025 
• Whangamata Stormwater Master Plan – Proposal, HAL - Morphum Environmental, Nov 2018
• Whangamata Stormwater Master Plan – draft Strategic Context and Risks Draft Report, Morphum Dec 2019.
• There is infrastructure options provided in the Opus Report from 2005, however, this is not a Master Plan but a list of options.
• Whangamata Stormwater Catchment Management Study – Updated Issues and Options Report, Draft – Version 2, Opus, Sep 2005 HAL Ltd provided a proposal and Morphum Ltd drafted a strategic context and risk report.
• Whangamata Stormwater Catchment Management Study – Updated Issues and Options Report, Draft – Version 2, Opus, Sep 2005
The above CE response and documents were received after the WRSAG complaint to CE.