Multi-purpose facility, motocross and playgrounds at board meeting
Community Board members noted with regret the absence of Cr Stuart Borlase from the August meeting. Cr Borlase was doing council business at a meeting over the Hill and the board expressed the view that the clash of meeting was avoidable.
“We are the losers if we can’t have our councillors around the board table,” said board member Carolyn McLellan.
“The dates of our meetings are known three years in advance. The size of the public forum today shows that there are issues and that this is the way to bring them to the council’s attention,” said board chair Joe Bell.
“If councillors were actually members of the board, maybe the priorities would change, said board member Leigh Gamby.
Multi-purpose facility. The possibility of building a multi-purpose community facility has begun to attract the attention of interested organisations.
Peter Blasdale spoke in public forum about holding a public meeting to gauge support for the idea of a facility at the recreation park. Peter wants to involve TDC community services manager Lloyd Kennedy in the process.
Peter explained that he was familiar with the 2008 study done by Bjarne and Abbi Vandeskog but wondered whether a different answer might be forthcoming if the study was done today.
“I think that the answer obtained by that study was the wrong answer. There now seems to be quite a weight of opinion in favour of a big facility at the recreation park. If we have a public meeting we can find out who needs a facility,” said Peter.
Board chair Joe Bell asked whether the large number of organisations mentioned by Peter were just sports groups and explained that other ideas had been put forward for a community facility before.
“There are maybe 44 meeting places in Golden Bay. The two earlier suggestions – for an expanded i-site and art showcase and for a combined performance centre – did not proceed after the people concerned went away and examined their options.”
Peter said that he understood there was also support for a roofed swimming pool in the Bay and he wondered whether this would be part of any proposed facility at the recreation park.
Mr Bell explained that the council supported the pools at Collingwood Area School and Golden Bay High School and that those pools might no longer be viable if the council’s support was transferred to a facility in the community.
Board member Leigh Gamby explained that the money that has been budgeted for a community facility was not “free money”.
“The community has to raise 20 per cent of the cost and pay a maintenance rate on the facility once it’s built.”
The meeting has now been set for 30 August 7pm at the Takaka Rugby Clubrooms.
Sewage treatment plant. Rudolf Samper expressed his surprise at the proposed location of the sewage treatment plant in Takaka.
“It’s closer to town and in the view of people who live on the border of town,” said Rudolf. “On average it’s only 300 metres away from houses. I think we should rethink the location, in the interests of everyone who lives there.”
Rupolf suggested that a better site could be obtained by slightly relocating part of Haldane Road.
Cr Noel Riley explained that he is an interested party because he is a submitter on the process.
“There are reasons why that area has been chosen,” he said. “They include geology and the wishes of iwi. “My concern is that it appears there has been no consideration of alternatives. I’m questioning that and there are a number of other questions to be answered.”
Cr Riley explained that although the submissions are closed, late submissions could possibly be heard on the matter.
Motocross noise. Paddy Brennan and Karen Pringle spoke about the noise from the motocross track in Motupipi. The board also discussed the issue in its agenda, resolving to support the residents in their efforts to ensure that council polices its 55 decibel rule, removing the exemption from noise rules it granted to motocross. The policing of the rules with regard to frost fans elsewhere in the district was seen as an indication of council’s inconsistency and Paddy argued that the exemption was wrong in the first place, asking whether councillors who are members or supporters of the Nelson Motorcycle Club should have been “part of the conversation” in which the motocross exemption was decided.
“Motocross bikes are louder than the frost fans and they’re not productive. They’re for fun. It’s the council’s role to work this issue out; it shouldn’t be about neighbour against neighbour.”
Karen said that it was only the Motupipi track that produced the cross-boundary noise complaints. Tracks elsewhere in the Bay operated without attracting complaints so removing the exemption and policing the rule would not mean the end of motocross in the Bay.
In the course of the public forum it was revealed that council has not been adequately recording the number of complaints generated by motocross at Motupipi.
“They say that the complaints are relatively few and use that to justify their policy to exempt motocross,” said Paddy. “In fact the number of complaints is higher than they originally reported.”
Takaka playground. Beatrice Bourhuis spoke about the state of the Takaka playground.
“It needs upgrading because its not safe, inviting or colourful,” said Beatrice. “Council could restore what’s there and add to it maybe. This should start with a good water-blasting.”
Beatrice also mentioned the playground at Kaiteriteri as a good example of an inviting, safe and interesting facility.
Board member McLellan suggested that interested parents should attend a meeting with council expert Glen Thorne, who is due in the Bay on 17 August to discuss the BMX track with Cr Riley and others.
“Glen’s advice and expertise could work out a fabulous outcome,” said Mrs McLellan.
Neil Wilson
