Collaboration on CBD roadworks brings council apology and “a good outcome”
“We’ve learned some things through this process and we certainly want to apologise,” TDC’s utilities asset manager Jeff Cuthbertson told a meeting of Takaka businesspeople last Thursday.
They were meeting with Mayor Richard Kempthorne, Fire Service representatives, Councillors Trevor Norriss, Noel Riley and Martine Bouillir and members of TDC’s engineering department to discuss the timing of the roadworks associated with Takaka’s reticulated fire-fighting water scheme.
Mr Cuthbertson explained that, as the contract for the work had not been signed, no roadworks would now happen before Christmas. Work would begin in the streets other than Commercial Street in mid-February and in the Commercial Street-Willow Street section in early March. All work on those streets would be finished by the end of March.
A week earlier, before ward councillors, the businesspeople expressed their concerns about the timing of the work and spoke at length about the importance of visitor-season trading, saying it enabled them to remain open for the rest of the year.
It was clear that there had been plenty of action since then. The businesspeople reached a consensus on the timing of the work, and that position, and the reasoning behind it, were clearly explained at the start of Thursday’s meeting by their spokesperson, Vicki Carlisle. However, the councillors and engineers had been consulting too, and from the start of the meeting both groups were thinking similarly.
“Those guys, particularly Jeff, were listening,” said Vicki. “We all learned something from this process. If you get together and work things out without beating up on each other, you can get a win/win result.”
The issue has clearly galvanised the businesspeople of Takaka and several have referred to the need for a properly organised group to represent them.
“Surely this has shown the businesses in the CBD that they need a voice that’s not fragmented,” said Vicki, who has been appointed as the businesses’ contact person.
TDC has decided to send a weekly email update to all business owners. Council will also ask the contractor to designate a communication person.
People at the meeting were impressed by the degree to which council now wishes to communicate with Golden Bay people affected by their operations.
Cr Bouillir said, “I feel it sets a new precedent for future meetings or negotiations between council and community. I want to thank everyone for the part they played in collaborating towards a good outcome.”
Neil Wilson
The roadworks in Commercial Street will be carried out in the parking lane on the western or Village Green side of the road. The footpath will not be obstructed. The contractors will work during the day from Monday to Friday. The trench required for the pipes is 600-700mm deep and it will be temporarily sealed each night. Only a short section of the street, perhaps outside two or three businesses, will be directly affected by the work at any time. When the roadworks are complete and the hydrants are in place, the road will be resealed out to the centre line.
Mr Cuthbertson said that Fire Service personnel would require training in the correct use of the finished reticulated fire-fighting water scheme.
“We’ll need them to go round and test the hydrants pretty regularly too. We want to know that this system is going to offer the best possible protection to Takaka’s CBD.”
