Letters 11 June 2010
Stop community board targetted rate
Golden Bay and Motueka communities have another chance to stop TDC target rating us with exorbitant charges for the administration of our community boards.
Parliament is currently considering a Bill seeking to amend the Local Government Act to enable this rate to be charged. It is in our interests to oppose this amendment. Submissions can be made freepost to Local Government Committee, Parliament Buildings, Wellington or online to: http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/SC/MakeSub/4/d/f/49SCLGE_SCF_00DBHOH_BILL9872_1-Local-Government-Act-2002-Amendment.htm.
The closing date is 18 June 2010. The Parliamentary website www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Legislation/Bills/f/8/3/00DBHOH_BILL9872_1-Local-Government-Act-2002-Amendment-Bill.htm has the details. Submissions can be quite short and simply request that councils are not allowed to impose targeted rates on communities with community boards for administration. These rates are being used as a vehicle for councils to charge exorbitant administration costs. TDC hourly charge out rates for staff time are $336 (CEO), $172 (“manager”), $110, (“professional”), $70 (minute secretary). The staff are employed regardless of whether there are community boards or not.
West Coast/Tasman MP Chris Auchinvole is chair of the Parliamentary Local Government and Environment Select Committee and with Motueka and Golden Bay in his electorate, will have a real interest in this issue.
Joe Bell, chair, Golden Bay Community Board
Integrated community health centre
Imagine Granny Mae (fictional) writing from Joan Whiting Rest Home: “I love living at JWRH. In this magical place every day is a joy sharing life with aged-care friends. We have a real ‘home’ where we love and care for one another.
“The skilled nurses and staff care for us lovingly. Everyone receives personalised quality healthcare. We’re afraid if we become part of a big institution we’ll be neglected because the helpers will always need to care for the sick people in hospital first.
“It’s precious to have the privilege of living my last days here. I enjoy visits from friends and family who along with the sunshine brighten my days. We appreciate JWRH’s grand setting and enjoy this beautiful property. We have many happy activities and local trips. I’m heartbroken this all may soon end. It’s important for me to live close to everything that’s dear. JWRH is special and GB needs to keep this home.”
Please, IMG, answer: Why does IMG refuse the choice to continue funding JWRH at much lower cost than the high-risk GBCHC $8,000,000+ debt?
Please publish detailed financial statements comparing costs for retaining and refurbishing JWRH and GB Health Centre to costs for the proposed GBCHC.
Ro Piekarski for GB MORE,
Money to Revitalise the Economy
Response from Christopher Mitson, chairperson, Joan Whiting Board of Trustees: Mr Piekarski has a remarkable insight into life at the Joan Whiting, considering to the best of anyone’s knowledge he has never set foot in the place, attended any public forums before trust board meetings or spoken with any trustees about the rest home.
Despite his remarkable insights, Mr Piekarski is astonishingly unaware that the IMG has never funded the Joan Whiting – not one cent. Nobody has ever costed refurbishing the Joan Whiting – because it doesn’t need it. But then, since he’s never shown any previous interest in the Joan Whiting he could be forgiven for that.
If Mr Piekarski is genuinely concerned about the Joan Whiting (and this is the first sign we’ve seen of it) maybe he’d like to volunteer some time and energy – perhaps by reading fairy tales to staff, trustees and residents.
Response from IMG to Mr Piekarski’s letter of 4 June: The summarised financials for the Integrated Health Centre building, in the Facts of the Proposal (see www.gbhealth.org.nz) include: interest on borrowings at 8.5% for 15 years; depreciation expenses of $189,000 per annum, amortising the cost of the building over 40 years and other assets over an average life of seven years; generous maintenance costs averaging 10% of gross rentals; and insurance and rates based on advice from experts.
The property trust is forecast to accumulate cash surpluses of approximately $500,000 over the first 10 years to deal with contingencies and the trust deed requires any surplus be reinvested in the provision of health services in Golden Bay.
Ministry of Health experts are assessing the business case as a prerequisite for Ministerial consent for this project and it will be closely scrutinised by commercial lenders. We think it stacks up; if they don’t agree, then we will not receive the consents or loans this project requires.
Regarding suggestions these proposals are privatising health services, both the medical centre and Joan Whiting rest home have been run as private operations.
Do you own an eco-home?
Eco-home(s) sought for local tour. Do you live in a house with some environmentally friendly features? This can mean different things to different folk, so we are keen to show variety. Is your house built with unusual materials, is it passive solar, is it an unusual design, have you retrofitted an older house, is it super insulated, is your property based on permaculture principles, do you have grey water recycling or run off-grid? A work in progress is great too.
This tour is part of Ecofest and runs every year in mid-August for Golden Bay residents to view and be inspired by some homes here. Past home owners have all commented on what a lovely experience it is to share their home with a group of like-minded people.
Please contact me at Tasman District Council in Takaka on 525 0020 if you might be willing to be involved. I’d love to talk to you about the possibility even. Thank you.
Claire Webster
Trash Palace
Our profit for the last financial year was $21,000, most of which we have donated back to the community. The only exceptions are: the blood bank, the rescue helicopter, Altrusa House, and sponsoring two seeing-eye puppies, all of which benefit our community anyway.
We appreciate your generosity with your donations. The great majority of people give clean, good quality clothing, for which we are very grateful, but unfortunately there are still a few people taking advantage of our premises to get rid of unusable articles. We have to pay to dispose of rubbish, which reduces the amount we can donate.
Thank you very much for your custom. Keep the clothes coming. Look forward to seeing you over the coming months.
Nikita Meares, treasurer, Trash Palace
Community education
What a term to remember. The government withdraws funds from one of the most successful and important programmes this country has known—adult community education—and Golden Bay residents say, “Well, we’ll do it ourselves, then!” And do it, we did. From singing to felting, poi dance to maths, tutors came forward and offered their talents, and students came forward to learn by doing. The Community Education Committee would like to thank all of you who partook in the H.A.N.D.S.-sponsored community education initiative and made term 2 such a success.
We want to plan terms 3 and 4 classes and present a new and exciting programme of classes again, welcoming new and returning tutors from H.A.N.D.S. membership as well as non-H.A.N.D.S. members who wish to offer their talents to teach and train members of the Golden Bay community in what you know best. If you’re interested, please contact me at home at 524 8792.
Jim Barnes, Community Education co-ordinator
Auditions for Bollywood dance
“Takakawood”? Somehow it just doesn’t have the same ring as “Bollywood” but you can still experience your very own slice of the sultry Indian glamour (google it and check out examples on You Tube.com) by temporarily transforming yourself into the Golden Bay version of a Bollywood dancer for a You Tube video we will be producing within the next few months.
Participants of all ages, shapes, sizes, personality types, colours and genders are invited to audition for a part in a Bollywood dance that will be filmed somewhere in Golden Bay soon (it’s going to be a surprise). Auditions will be held at the Catholic Church Hall (just beside the Senior Citizens’ hall) at 6pm, this very evening. That’s right; tonight! All you need to do is turn up and dance a session with Gizzelle (who has trained in the art of Bollywood dance) and her team. Those chosen will be required to practice once a week for the next four to five weeks before the big film event. Enquiries: 525 7455.
Charlotte Squire
Blessed I am to be living here
Wow, Golden Bay! I’m so deeply touched by your caring, generosity and warmheartedness. The fundraiser, kindly initiated by Ute and Rolfe of Takaka Infusions, has gone a huge way towards another car for Grace and me ($1500!). To everyone who contributed, known and unknown, what can I say except, blessed I am to be living here, blessed I am to know you and share this community with you. All of us are touched by such acts of kindness.
May everybody, especially the young men who are heavily implicated in the taking of our car, some day feel what it is to really belong to a community – hopefully, this community. When you feel a part of something you tend not to trash it. I am left with a feeling of frustration at the silence and lack of consequences or resolution of any sort. Antisocial behaviour requires clear thinking, healthy discussion and wise action by all of us. We are a small enough community that we should be able to come up with some real solutions that work and that don’t further hurt anyone. Special thanks also to Tim and Pete who helped salvage the wreckage.
Nice one Golden Bay!
Martine Bouillir
