Golden Bay Community board meeting
A lightning-fast meeting of the Golden Bay Community Board took place last week.
In the presence of councillor-elect Paul Sangster and council’s community services manager Lloyd Kennedy, the board heard a subdued and brief public forum and dealt with all its agenda items before 10.30am.
Late in the meeting’s agenda, the board was delighted to report that council had resolved to hold monthly meetings between the community board chairs and the mayor. Speaking rights have also been reinstated for board chairs attending council and standing committee meetings.
“This is a huge departure,” said board chair Carolyn McLellan. “It was really lovely to arrive at the extraordinary council meeting last week and be invited straight to the table and have automatic speaking rights. Things have moved forward dramatically.”
Mrs McLellan also welcomed Mr Sangster back to the table after more than seven years’ absence. Mr Sangster, describing himself as “the ultimate recycler” arrived with his name-plate from his earlier stint as a councillor.
Tarakohe barrier arm. Allan Kilgour, the Tarakohe harbour manager, spoke about the proposed barrier arm on the recreational side of the harbour.
“The reason behind it was that quite a lot of people were not paying their ramp fees. It caused so much friction down there that the barrier arm was seen as necessary. When the ramp was administered by the boat club they didn’t have the manpower to be there all the time to collect the fees. The barrier arm will take care of that. The fees will remain the same: $5 per launching or $50 a year for paid-up members of the boat club.
“Another reason for the barrier arm is that we now have 100 penguin boxes there and they are being occupied. There’s some new-fangled photography gear and you can see up the tunnel. I myself saw two fluffy chicks and a nesting pair.
“What a tourist attraction that will be if we can display the images for visitors to see. DOC, plus a dedicated group of people who have come down to help, have done the planting and made the boxes. There’re probably 500 to 600 plants and it’s looking really, really good.”
Mr Kilgour answered some questions about the proposed arm. It has been sited close to the boat club because of the expense of providing power. Walkers and cyclists would not have to pay for entry, but recreational fishers who like to cast off the mole would either have to walk to their spot or pay to take in a car, he said.
Tarakohe strategic plan. Mr Kilgour agreed with comments reported earlier to the effect that the port as a whole needs an overall strategic plan.
“We should not be doing things on an ad hoc basis.”
Later in the meeting, board member Mik Symmons suggested that the board should discuss with council the idea that it, the board, could be delegated the authority to come up with a strategic plan for the port.
The board wants to have the port listed as a strategic asset and afford it the highest possible protection.
“We want to make sure that it stays in council - and therefore public - ownership,” said Mrs McLellan.
The board has invited the mayor and the councillors to do a walking tour of the port, and it was suggested that the strategic plan idea be floated on that occasion.
Mr Kennedy said that the board should be aware that a lot of work was currently being done by council staff on that very issue.
“This process has become so stalled that I believe it should be a time-bound delegation to the board. We could come up with a strategic plan and present it to council.”
Mrs McLellan said that the mayor had agreed in a conversation with her.
Cr Martine Bouillir added: “Delegating the strategic plan to the community board would be a huge step in the eyes of the community.”
Cultural advisor. The board expressed its approval of the invitation extended to Archdeacon Andy Joseph by the Tasman District Council to become its cultural advisor and kaumatua.
“This is a first for TDC to decide to have some input from tangata whenua. It’s very encouraging,” said Mrs McLellan, proposing the motion to write a letter of congratulation to the Archdeacon and invite him to visit the board when he is next in the Bay.
Waste-water treatment upgrade. Members of the board and the working party had attended the trials of aspects of the treatment station upgrade.
Mr Symmonds said that the whole idea of the trial was to confirm the direction in which the water plume moves. “They basically overloaded the system to test it. They were putting in way beyond what would be expected at peak use. They have found that the gravels there have a huge absorbent ability.”
Cr Bouillir said she was very surprised and impressed. “It was almost like a water feature and there was absolutely no smell.”
A public open day is planned.
Noise issue. Board members spoke of an upcoming resolution to the noise issue regarding motocross riding at Motupipi. A meeting is planned for next month and members seemed hopeful of a positive outcome.
Name changes. Pupu Valley and Pupu Springs roads may have their names changed to Te Waikoropupu Valley and Springs respectively. An extensive consultation process will be undertaken, involving residents, landowners and Manawhenua ki Mohua.
Neil Wilson
