Letters to Editor 15 May
Removal of poppies from headstones and plaques
Members of Golden Bay Returned Services Association were saddened to see that poppies placed on headstones and plaques at the Rototai cemetery have been removed.
To families who have loved ones interred there and who have visited lately to see no remembrance poppies, we say We Did Remember Them but someone else thought that they had greater rights to the poppies.
Graeme Hall, secretary, GB Returned Services
Rescue Helicopter Support
Public support of the Takaka Saturday Market at the Junction car park has enabled us to donate $500 of collected stall fees toward the Westpac Rescue Helicopter this year.
Markets are held every fine Saturday year-round, and we have already built up $200 toward the next donation.
Thanks everyone for their continued support, shoppers and stallholders all.
The Takaka Market stallholders
SPCA finding it difficult to be effective
We speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. The Golden Bay SPCA is a small dedicated group of volunteers who have been part of the Bay for many years. As a result of varying circumstances our active members have dwindled to a point where we are finding it difficult to be effective.
We have a new shelter under construction, but not enough people to see to its completion or help operate it when finished. Our other activities, such as the promotion of animal welfare, education, rehoming of lost, abandoned or unwanted animals and control of feral cat populations, are limited by the hours that the few existing members can contribute.
Our AGM will take place in the front lounge of The Junction Hotel next Thursday 21 May at 5.30pm, and we ask that anyone who has ever considered being part of the SPCA take this opportunity to attend and help keep our branch active.
You will find it an extremely valuable and rewarding experience and you will be welcomed most warmly.
Fay Brownlie, acting secretary
Wetland wrangle
As a farmer in the Motupipi area may I commend the Windles and Sollys for the great job they have done on the Baigent property in Glenview Road, returning it to productive dairy pasture.
I have a word for the TDC’s compliance staff but I guess I would have to apply for a resource consent before publication!
Phil Berkett
Your headline of “wetland status” (GBW article 8/5) raises the interesting question of the definition of “wetland” as applied by the TDC. Rob Smith of the TDC, who defends the process the Windles recently experienced, is recorded by you as stating that the RMA and TRMP is clear about what constitutes a wetland.
The current definition with the TRMP Chapter 2 is: “Wetland – includes permanently or intermittently wet areas, shallow water, and land water margins that support a natural ecosystem of plants and animals that are adapted to wet conditions.” The only thing that is clear in this definition to me is that most of Golden Bay would constitute a wetland in the winter-spring period.
I believe it would be useful for Mr Smith to be invited to provide wording for a proposed working definition of “wetland” that is not liable to subjective interpretation.
Dick Lamb
I am appalled at TDC’s unreasonable, ideologically-driven approach to Philip and Rose Windle’s effort to tidy up property leased on Glenview Road (GBW 8/5).
I understand the land zoning allows the land to be used for farming as of right. To farm effectively, farmers need to control weeds, eg gorse and blackberry, and where drains are necessary, maintain them; that is all Philip has done, and he should be supported for doing so. Council is concerned about draining wetland and downstream silting. Perhaps it should look at how much silting comes from its own roads and road works, and how much wetland drainage occurs as a result of its ever-deeper roadside drains. Certainly a deepened drain is very effectively draining a small wetland on my property!
TDC and its staff should look very hard at their attitude, and remember that farmers must be able to carry out maintenance work on their land, just like council must undertake maintenance work on its roads.
Dick Wenzel
I think the Windles have done a fantastic job of cleaning up a gorse-covered festering bog-hole on Baigents’ land. I’m all for wetland reserves, they are a very important part of our ecosystem, but come on, that corner of Baigents’ was just a neglected eyesore, caused through existing blocked drains. The Windles have just opened them up again. Come on, TDC, you must be able to see that too? And doesn’t it look good when you drive round there now?
Lisa Bradley
