Letters to Editor 20 February
Do you have a problem with weeds?
After much trying, Golden Bay Weedbusters has finally found funding to continue to employ a qualified weed man to assist local landowners to get control of their weeds. We want to say to Golden Bay people, if you have a weed problem which you are finding too daunting to deal with, and you know that the seed is spreading beyond your boundaries and into the environment, then it is possible that Peter Corby (Mr Golden Bay Weedbuster) can assist you from the funding. He can be contacted on 524 8306.
Golden Bay, the Heart of the Parks, is too precious to put at risk by weed infestation. No single individual can stop it happening, but our community, taking responsibility, can. The Weedbusters website has invaluable information on weeds. Try it. www.weedbusters.org.nz.
Jo-Anne Vaughan for Golden Bay Weedbusters
A message from the Patons Rock Fruit and Veg Society
We all are over fifty
And still all pretty nifty
But one of you is shifty
Out there
Quite likely you are cheered
By the fruits you commandeered
But rest assured my dear
We are not
We do suggest you stop it
‘Twould be embarrassing to cop it
And we wouldn’t want to cause you shame
And so we are appealing
To you to stop your stealing
And leave our fruit and veges where they are
For if you do insist
On your ventures to persist
It may stretch us j- j- just too far
Names withheld
Charges for CEO’s time
Following the 10 February Golden Bay Community Board meeting (GBW 13/2), the explanation that the one-hour charge of $336 in October 2008 was for replying to board emails has since been checked.
The email sent to the TDC CEO in October was a courtesy copy of the letter to engineering and community services managers listing the maintenance items which arose during the eight community meetings. No reply was received.
It is a specified part of a community board’s job to bring these matters to the attention of council.
This month we received November and December budget statements for a further 4.5 hours of CEO time @ $336. We have repeatedly requested the details in explanation of these charges. To date the information has not been provided.
It is the basic right of any person or entity to know the details of accounts without incurring further charges. We will continue to seek these details.
Joe Bell, Chairperson, Golden Bay Community Board
Family Bike Ride Day
Although the event starts at 2pm this Sunday, please be at the Village Green by 1.30pm. It does take a while to organise things and last year we had people starting late. As we temporarily hold up traffic to start the event, it would be good to all start together for safety’s sake as much as anything else. Don’t forget there’s a helmet and a brand new bike to be won as spot prizes.
Dave Myall, GB recreation co-ordinator
Luminate ’09 – Earth Friendly Festival of Light
The organisers of Luminate would like to thank everyone who worked on and supported the festival, and helped to make it such a success. The unique energy at Luminate is a credit to everyone who participated in this gathering and celebration of conscious community. The theme of making sustainable choices and taking responsibility for the creation of our reality runs throughout all strands of the festival, and is clearly resonating with many people.
Our clean-environment policy was very well respected, and with no rubbish bins or recycling on site, and with the bring-your-own-container approach for the refreshment stalls, the land remained beautifully clean and tidy.
Numbers at the festival were double that of last year, and there is already much excitement at the prospect of next year’s festival. We very much value the support of our community as we co-create this annual event.
Photos are being added to the Gallery pages on the website <www.nativeharmonics.co.nz>. If you have some cool photos of Luminate that you’d like to share, do email us at <luminate@nativeharmonics.co.nz>.
Rita Davies and Maia, Luminate Festival co-ordinators.
Rangihaeata/Fraser Road
I read that once again some people are lobbying for a speed restriction of 50kmph on this road. I personally feel that this is unnecessary. The problem with this road is not so much the speed the vehicles travel, but that there are people who live or holiday in this area that treat this road as if it were a large footpath. It is not uncommon to come around a corner and find someone, or in some cases, large groups of people walking, pushing prams, riding horses or cycling in the middle of the road with no regard for vehicle traffic. No reduction in the speed limit is going to make this a safe practice.
Perhaps the energy of these lobbyists would be far better employed convincing landowners with road frontage to move their fencing back onto their legal boundaries, and to clear and maintain their road frontages so that vehicles have a far better line of vision, and all foot traffic somewhere safe to walk.
Cheryl Orange
20,000 homeless
No, these homeless aren’t from bush fires in Victoria or floods in Fiji, but homeless Kiwis. They’re not homeless from natural disaster or by choice. These homeless may not qualify for WINZ or are long-term unemployed or have other personal and financial misfortunes.
It’s shocking for NZ to have 20,000 homeless people. Most likely this number is underestimated. If we also consider “fringe homeless” — renters forced to shift for holiday makers or the dread property sale, families doubling up or living in garages, people living in vehicles, elderly on fixed incomes who can’t pay their rates and other rising costs, and young workers who can’t afford to live in the community — the number of homeless is staggering.
Banks are major contributors to homelessness. Banks create money as your debt, then charge excessive interest (usury) forcing you into further debt. Interest payments on mortgages and loans push people to the fringe, then they’re homeless.
If you care to learn a better way to finance community needs, please ring 525 8448.
Ro Piekarski, for MORE (Money to Revitalise the Economy)
National Radio reception
Since April 2008, after always having good reception of National Radio on both AM and FM frequencies, a huge amount of electrical interference has meant that listening to this and some other stations is impossible, although I am still able to get Fresh FM and Nelson Classic Hits clearly. Static noise, all but drowning out the National station voices, is the reason.
A Feary Crescent resident has had the same problem from that time. A Milnethorpe resident who listens to National Radio until he gets to Takaka, finds that after getting to the Community Gardens location, he must then switch off his radio because of the static.
I live in Waitapu Road opposite the Golden Bay High School. I want to know if there is anyone else having these problems. Also, does anyone know someone who is capable of tracking down the source and fixing the situation? Please phone me on 525 8874 if you are affected or have answers.
Karen Brookes
TDC costs/fire fighting water
1. Costs: How the heck can council charge out the CEO’s time used on “unspecified jobs on unspecified days” at $336 for an hour’s work, for the community board, when he is a paid employee of the council, paid to do such work, or is he another ticket-clipping consultant, gouging the ratepayers?
2. Water: The nemesis of any taxpayer or ratepayer is an elected politician or employed bureaucrat, in either central or local government, wishing to leave their (normally expensive) mark through a project that will bear their name to commemorate their involvement in such a project. I hope this is not the case in the persistence of councillors Norris, Reilly and Borlase in pushing ahead for a pressurised water scheme for (supposedly) fire fighting purposes, in the Takaka CBD, especially in the present financial straits we are facing, and in view of the opposition to the scheme. Note: to what use have the firewell maintenance fees part of the rates been put, if the wells are of no use?
I hope this is not the hidden agenda precursor to an expanded pressurised potable water scheme to supply those not able to access a decent aquifer, especially in the eastern side of the Bay.
Jeff Woodward
Response from Cr Noel Riley: It appears Mr Woodward was unable to attend the public meeting on the fire-fighting water proposal, or didn’t bother, on 28 January in the Takaka Fire Station where his questions would have been answered. He would have also heard the actual reasons for such a proposal from all parties concerned.
It must be obvious to him that the logical people to be involved in the working party are the engineering chairman, local councillors, community representatives, the community board and the fire service.
It is a shame when council provides two local meetings for residents, along with advising ratepayers by mail and media items to find criticism by people/residents who have not bothered to attend such informative meetings.
Hopefully council will recieve informed submissions on this proposal.
