Community board meeting this week
State Highway 60. The designation of SH60 from Motueka to Collingwood as “high risk” under the recent KiwiRAP rating of national highways is worrying Golden Bay Community Board members.
A posted 100kmph speed limit is inappropriate for narrow roads with ditches either side and poor sight-lines, members felt.
The board wants the matter raised at the next Tasman District Council/NZ Transport Agency liaison meeting, with recommendations for “derestriction” black diagonal on white background signs to be used instead of 100kmph signs for roads where this speed is inappropriate, such as the Takaka Hill.
Water skiing. A water-ski lane in the Western Bay has been given the thumbs-down. The lane was suggested as part of a pending review of the National Safety Bylaw, due to be completed by January 2015.
Board members felt high-speed watercraft cause less of a problem if dispersed. “…Users are able to undertake these activities anywhere in the Bay provided they comply with the 200metre 5-knot rule,” says the resolution passed by the board.
Motocross noise. Motocross noise at Motupipi continues to rile some residents. The board is seeking more information about whether the motorbike noise levels have been documented, and if they are able to comply with the council’s usual 55dB limit.
Targeted rates and privatising water. The board is at odds with the council’s submissions on the Local Government Act Amendment Bill, particularly targeted rates and the privatising of water supplies. The law change would extend water contracts from a maximum 15 years to 35, or the equivalent of 12 terms of local government.
“Water is the basis of life. Communities should not be held to ransom for access to water,” the board heard.
Members remain opposed to targeted rates for funding community boards, saying the “Think District” policy is being applied very selectively by the council.
Richmond headquarters. Board members called for “an explanation and justification” for the proposed $2,725,000 extension to TDC headquarters in Richmond.
CEO Paul Wylie has written to the board rejecting a question regarding a council resolution that part of the new office space may be rented out, and saying many council staff have to work off-site in rented space at present. That lease will end soon.
Sam’s Creek mining. The board will write to OceanaGold asking to be kept informed of the company’s review of its Sam’s Creek exploratory licence.
Mining of rock from the area would raise serious environmental concerns, members felt. Apart from controlling leachate from mine and stockpile sites, if rock was crushed the tailings would have to be kept bunded and sealed forever “in a high-rainfall, earthquake-prone location perched over the Takaka Valley marble aquifer”.
Carting the rock out of the Bay for crushing at Reefton or Macrae’s Flat (Otago) would create “a huge number of truck movements”.
Aorere River management. The demarcation between river and coastal management of the Aorere River has sparked debate. One landowner who pays river rates has been denied river protection work upstream of the Aorere Bridge because that is deemed to be in the coastal marine area, the board heard.
Members called for areas of responsibility to be clarified, and for TDC’s engineering and environmental and planning departments to work together more closely.
Pohara walkway. The new Pohara walk/cycleway should have an official opening. Board members mooted August 10, after their next meeting.
Video conferencing. The board has championed the use of video conferencing for council meetings. Members heard that attending meetings in Richmond or Nelson involves a four-hour trip, and flying to Wellington for submissions to select committees soaks up a day – in order to give a 10-minute presentation.
Submitted by TDC
