Letters to Editor 13 Mar
Targeted tourism rate
Your report (GBW 6/3) about a targeted tourism rate raises a series of very interesting issues, which Mr Staite appears not to explain, such as:
1. Whether the council has, over past years, received demonstrable “value-for-money” from its contributions to TNTL funding.
2. Whether all/any local tourist operators about to be so targeted are satisfied that current services from TNTL are even adequate.
3. Why, and how, he and fellow bureaucrats in TNTL decided, without any apparent discussion whatsoever with “businesses aimed at the tourist market”, that these businesses must pay their ‘share’ via this new targeted rate.
4. How, without any apparent authority from councillors, he has agreed to TNTL’s request for an additional $100,000 this coming year; and this apparently without any evidence that such a request is justified.
5. Why the council will simply accept TNTL’s decisions about which businesses operate within this local tourist market.
6. Why council is seeking apparently more than it claims it needs: for, if TDC’s new revised contribution is to be $181,000, why does it seek $162,330.00 (or $270.55 x 600) from Tier 1 businesses and $40,688.88 (or $356.92 x 114) from Tier 2 businesses, a ‘take’ of $203,018.88, or $22,018.88 more than is needed?
John Lee
Indecent exposure to traffic
If you are offended by the sight of a naked body, please avoid the Tarakohe-Pohara road on Saturday March 14 at 3pm.
If you find it offensive that using the world’s most environmentally-friendly form of transport is very dangerous due to the lack of safe provision for cyclists, walkers, and horse riders, then please join in this global, clothing-optional event and enjoy a funloving way to protest this situation. The wittiest cyclist will win the big Te Hapu prize and there are many wonderful spot prizes for participants in this free event.
Victoria Davis
House and Heritage Trail
Thank you Bainham Rural Women (and helpers), for organising the House and Heritage Trail. What a wonderful day! But most especially the thank yous and accolades must go to those brave home-owners who graciously opened their private homes for dozens of people to inspect and appreciate. At each home, we were impressed with the passion and dedication of the owners, and the huge efforts and expense involved in achieving the beautiful finished results. These owners stood all day, meeting people and answering questions with patience and enthusiasm. I’m sure it must have been quite a nerve-wracking proposal for them. Every home was beautifully presented and, as a whole, the homes reflected the diversity and passion that exists in the Bay. Thank you to everyone involved. I felt honoured to be allowed to see your amazing homes.
Sue Lindsay
We are delighted to report the success of the House and Heritage Trail. 135 tickets were sold and, with raffles, $3,000 has been raised for Collingwood Playcentre extensions.
This was only possible because of the generosity of the House owners; Hannah Jeans and Mark Heuvel, Nicola Basham and Bruce Collings, Sara Chapman and Pete Watkins, Hiromi and Chris Ledger, Bertha and Mike Newman, Sue and John Caldwell, Lisa and Gary Reilly, Liz and Alan Clingan, Malcolm McDonald, the McCubbin family, and Brandon Sparrow for the Anglican Diocese; also Clay and Sam from AC builders.
Thank you to everyone who bought tickets and helped make this a success. We enjoyed being part of this event, which has proved a great community fundraiser.
Carolyn McLellan, Bainham Rural Women
Orchestra wants new members
Golden Bay orchestra has started again on Tuesday nights at the high school. Amazing eh? An orchestra here. It’s made up of a diverse mixture of people who enjoy playing music with others.
We’re definitely not the New Zealand Symphony, although we do have some incredibly talented players who help carry the orchestra along. It’s about playing for the fun of it. There’s a good sense of humour and tolerance in the group. Amateurs playing together is a bit of a dying thing in music, but surely making music, even if not to a perfect standard, is wonderful. New players are always needed so if you need a reason to get your instrument out and play, orchestra could be you. We also need a quarter-size violin so if anybody has one in the community we’d love to know. Several of the players also teach and the orchestra has a few instruments available. Keep an eye out for our concerts later on in the year.
Patsy Garrett on behalf of GB orchestra committee
Holiday park praise
What a great event the Tinbum Triathlon is. Well done the organisers for such a wonderful community event.
A big thank you to the Pohara Beach Holiday Park where the Tinbum is held. Without the use of the Pohara Beach Holiday Park where would we all park, meet and register? Thanks for the use of your toilets. Thanks for allowing all the competitors and supporters through the camp down to the beach. The camp site makes a perfect safe course for the Junior Tinbum.
I am sure we all come away singing the praises of the Pohara Beach Holiday Park. We all go away and recommend it to friends, relatives and associates. Wouldn’t this be a great thing at Tukurua?
Peter Blasdale
Abbeyfield Experience
Abbeyfield Golden Bay thanks our wonderful supportive community for the ongoing support received from so many. Anyone desirous of an “Abbeyfield Experience” is welcome to apply to stay in our guest room for a visit with residents and our superb resident housekeeper Lynette.
Extensions have left us with a surplus double external firedoor - offers of purchase and enquiries please phone me on 525 9547.
Ann Jones
On the issue of charges from council
A few years ago I built a house. Not knowing beans about the process, I presented a floor plan with a cheque for $300 for the resource consent. I was soon introduced to the specific requirements which would take another year to assemble, but my $300 was not returned; instead I was charged at $70 an hour for every call or visit I made in reference to my house. When I complained, I was told I was lucky for I had gone over my $300 and I owed them $50 but they were not going to charge me. So I paid another $300 for a resource consent a year later. Would they have billed me had they not had my money? Don’t our rates pay for council staff? Has anyone else been billed for ringing council? This was not in Richmond but right here in Takaka.
Aline D’Aoust
Freedom campers
Why, at around 6.30am last week, were there 10 rental campervans and sleepervans seen to be overnighting in the i-SITE car park? Why was there another cluster of such vehicles at Paynes Ford Bridge? Why was another bunch camped at Lindsays Bridge? Why have similar scenes been observed at Ligar Bay, Wainui Bay, McShanes Road DOC car park? So-called freedom camping, all in areas clearly posted as “no overnight camping zones”. Why aren’t these campers directed to legit camping grounds?
How long is TDC going to allow such blatant disregard of council bylaws to continue, with no revenue collected (to ease the burden on the ratepayer, for the minimal facilities provided) and at the expense of legitimate, ratepaying campsite owners who have to jump through all sorts of council hoops and regulations in order to provide adequate accommodation for their guests, when these bludgers have access to free campsites?
Jeff Woodward
Lowering the speed limits in the Bay
I note the campaign to lower the speed limits throughout Golden Bay and agree wholeheartedly with its aim. I do, however, disagree with the method being promoted.
We do have a problem with people driving too fast for the road conditions and overtaking dangerously, including on yellow lines, but both the problem and the solution belong fairly and squarely with our local community, as the vast majority of speeders and overtakers are locals. Perhaps we should all ask or plead with our families, neighbours, friends, workmates and anyone else we can think of, to please slow down and then we may be able to solve this problem locally. After all, it only takes about 4 minutes longer to drive from Collingwood to Takaka at 80kph rather than at 100, so what’s the rush?
Alan Blackie
