Broadband and playground at Community Board meeting
Virtually all of Golden Bay will have access to high-speed broadband in under two years, according to a presentation made to the monthly GB Community Board meeting held on 8 November at Kahurangi Function Centre.
The subject drew an audience of over 30 locals as Vodafone’s Caitlin Metz and a Telecom Chorus representative outlined their joint plans under the Government’s Rural Broadband Initiative, for which $15m has been budgeted nationwide.
Explained Ms Caitlin: “Previously, covering a place like Golden Bay has always been too expensive for any one party, but in partnership we can now build on existing networks.”
Chorus now has the job of extending high-speed fibre cable to the remaining schools in Golden Bay that still aren’t properly connected - namely Central Takaka, Takaka Primary and Collingwood Area Schools.
Vodafone, meanwhile, has been contracted to improve coverage to as many Bay households as possible. This it intends to achieve by increasing the capacity of the main Takaka exchange and upgrading 13 roadside cabinets, plus building two new cellphone towers at still-to-be-decided locations in Takaka and Pohara.
The laying of underground fibre cable to Golden Bay is complete up to Jade Cottage atop the Takaka Hill. It will now be extended all the way along State Highway 60 to Collingwood. Roadside properties between Takaka and Collingwood will have the option of connecting directly off the cable for 100Mbps capability, but at their own cost. Anyone interested in doing this should register their interest soon.
Landline customers serviced by the upgraded cabinets (and about three to five kilometres past them) will automatically gain increased capacity (over 5Mbps) via their existing ASL2+ copper cables.
Those outside that range will benefit from increased mobile strength and coverage to get fast internet via a “yagi” (directional antennae) and router, which users will pay to have installed at their home.
The two new cellphone towers, which will be around 30m in height and subject to resource consent, will also feature Two Degrees transmission equipment as well as that of Vodafone and Telecom.
Caitlin warned there will still be “shadow” areas of no reception, notably Bainham, which will still be just out of range from transmitters on Mt Burnett, though these will also be upgraded. She encouraged residents there in particular to apply for a special funding grant to get them connected.
Onekaka resident Dick Lamb questioned just how much of an upgrade Bay people were actually going to get, considering that many were already using mobile T-sticks to access broadband anyway. The answer given suggested better value internet packages (Vodafone from next year will also include telephone and Sky) plus faster and more reliable internet.
Anyone wanting to check what their coverage strength will be like after this upgrade go to http://www.vodafone.co.nz/about/media-centre/rural-broadband-initiative/coverage/
Public Forum
Street lighting started with Bill Wilson, who described himself as a “half time” Pohara resident. He reminded the board just how harsh the sodium street lights still are at his end of the Bay.
Visit by Dutch ambassador. Penny Griffith informed the board that the Dutch ambassador, Arie van der Wiel, was coming to Golden Bay on 22 November, to talk with Manawhenua Ki Mohua about marking the 370-year anniversary of Abel Tasman’s arrival, “the first recorded meeting between Maori and another race”.
Motorbike noise and Swiftsure Street. Paddy Brennan raised the ongoing six-year issue of motorbike noise at Clifton, while BJ White updated the Swiftsure Street dispute in Collingwood by producing two letters, one from his solicitor saying there’d been a resolution to the two-year-long issue, and another from TDC saying there had been no resolution. He asked for clarification, a question that was once again referred to council’s legal department.
Skateboarding and playground equipment
The second presentation of the morning came from TDC reserves officer Glenn Thorn about the proposed Takaka Skate Park extension and adjoining playground replacement, both still at conceptual stage. The existing climbing platform in the playground will be demolished, with only the ever-popular wooden car to be retained and upgraded. In line with modern trends, new features of the planned playground will likely include large rocks, walkways, a tunnel or two, seating, woven rope climbing frames, stainless steel poles, and a big hand-pump water feature. Timber used would possibly be robinia imported from Australia, a point that prompted several board members to suggest locally sourced timber and woodworkers for the project. The estimated cost of remodelling the playground will be around $110,000, with work beginning towards the middle of 2012.
The success of the skate park will also see it extended towards (but not into) the car park, with a minimal push out towards Reilly St as well. TDC public services manager Lloyd Kennedy said this project had a longer time frame, and funding still had to be found. He also reported that the new playground at the Bainham Hall was now almost complete and that work on another at Miles Reserves at the end of Bishop Road at Parapara would start within a few weeks.
Compliance issues
TDC regulatory services manager Adrian Humphries then spoke to the board about compliance issues, including the roster for the coming summer season. One suggestion was that persons living near various Golden Bay beaches may be enlisted as honorary beach wardens or “ambassadors” who would in the first instance deal with issues such as dogs not under leash control, vehicles unnecessarily on the beach, and freedom camping. More signage was requested for dogs to be kept under leash controls at beaches, for more “no dog” signs for Takaka’s CBD, and regarding vehicle rules on beaches.
Other matters
Newly elected councillor Paul Sangster was officially welcomed onto the Community Board team, and other matters discussed included the Annual Plan consultation round, a 20kph signage trial for local school buses, and “Slow Down” signs for Haven Road, Milnthorpe, lower Clifton and the Port of Golden Bay. Other signage recommended included “Dust, Slow Down” at Cooks Road and “Look Out for Cyclists and Walkers” in the Rameka area. The incorrect spelling of Payne’s Ford will be corrected to Paine’s, and various bridges and creeks in the Upper Aorere Valley will be properly named.
Other issues aired were Anatoki Track road maintenance, Outstanding Natural Landscapes and Features, the Local Government Commission, the surgical bus, Te Waikoropupu name change consultation, the upcoming Tasman District Freshwater Fish Communities Report (public seminar Kotinga Hall 16 November 11am-1pm and again at 7-9pm) and a public open day for the Takaka Inundation Study (flood modelling results) to be held at the Takaka Bowling Club from 12 noon on 18 November.
Gerard Hindmarsh
