Letters to Editor 13 Nov
Enough is Enough
Why is a submitted article making the front page of our Weekly? Do the eight or nine people photographed really represent the feelings of locals? Can we have an article (in the same space) identifying the outstanding achievements of DOC in respect to forest restoration and other spectacular local projects (conservation and recreation)? Celebrating Averill’s success on page one would have done so much more for me!
Tony Bateup
Integrated health facility
The concept of integrated medical services in Golden Bay is superficially attractive, great for the number crunchers and wonderful for those with aspirations which may extend beyond the public purse, without recourse to private funding, leading to return on lending.
Do facilities need upgrading? Yes they do. Does it have to be integration? Not necessarily. The community hospital is a fairly new facility and has space to build an emergency/accident room, with ambulance bay, with access from the main road. There is always a nurse on duty at the hospital to assist a doctor.
The existing medical centre could be extended and made more comfortable for staff and patients, but outline plans are already underway for sale of the property. The Joan Whiting Rest Home provides a “home”, not just bed and board/medical care. Take away the burden of debt and this home would tick over quite nicely. Do we want the employment debacle of the Motueka Community Hospital here in Golden Bay, nurses forced to re-apply for their jobs at lower wages because investors will want a good return? Do I care if the waiting room has large green plants and modern furniture – no – I only ask for courteous, effective treatment. Is integration all done and dusted or do we still have any say in this debate?
Avryll Sixtus
Cancelled GB Promotions celebrations
It is a sad reflection on our local tourism operators, accommodation providers and the many adventure and sightseeing operators that a planned 25th Anniversary Dinner has to be cancelled due to lack of support.
Here, the hundreds of property owners providing tourist accommodation and paying a special target tax for tourism promotion are unable to support a special function as this, with the keynote speaker being our last Minister of Tourism. This is shameful. This wonderful backyard, and the operators of our Golden Bay, needing the economic support of the biggest earner of foreign exchange, and employer of 10 per cent of the workforce, are so unsupporting of the Golden Bay Promotion Association.
New as I am to the Bay, and after 35 years’ service to this industry, and still enjoying providing hospitality to our visitors, I am truly saddened at this cancellation.
Reg Turner
Saving our soundscape
Thank you, TDC, for notifying us through The GB Weekly of resource consent applications that affect our quality of life.
The Naked Possum has applied “to establish and operate a helipad to provide a helicopter service for guests from Nelson, and for scenic flights in the local area and transfers to various locations, including the Kaituna and Heaphy Tracks and other local destinations for the general public.”
If helicopters were silent, I’d have no objection. However, there’s no escaping the loud, intrusive thunk-thunk-thunk throughout our valley when a helicopter flies through.
Many laws protect our landscapes from degradation, but what about our soundscapes? After all, we can avoid looking at landscapes we dislike. But how do we avoid unwanted sounds in our airspace?
Excepting emergency rescues, why not ban helicopter flights in Golden Bay? Our generally peaceful soundscape of birdsong, wind-rustled trees, farm animals and children playing is already disturbed enough by human-made machine noise, both functional and recreational. Why should many people throughout the Bay be forced to endure noise from helicopters carrying a few people, at most, per trip?
If you agree, please voice your concerns through the submission process. Submissions must be received by council by 23 November.
Lethea Erz
Do you want to see a helipad established near the start of the Kaituna Track for a commercial helicopter business offering scenic flights? How would you feel about increased helicopter activity over our pristine forests, rivers and other areas of western Golden Bay? How about fast-tracking corporate customers and tourists from Nelson to The Naked Possum Café? What will this mean for our beautiful, peaceful Bay?
A resource consent application has been lodged by Naked Possum Ltd. A copy of the application can be read at the TDC and submission forms can be picked up there. Have your say; the deadline for submissions is 23 November.
Lorna Scurr
