Letters
District nurse service
Yes, I thought I was bulletproof until I had a bit chopped off my ear in Nelson Hospital thanks to not wearing a hat through my working life. Don’t do it; there is no medal for not wearing a hat. Because of this I have received the services of the GB district nurses. What a service they provide. The first day was Xmas day. I said leave it till the next day, the answer was “no, we are coming”, and they did, right on the time stated. This continued for three weeks, every second day, never late, cheerful, and gave me confidence and guidance. To Monika, Diane and Jaine, thank you for such a wonderful service. To Drs Russell and Gibbs and the staff at the GB Medical Centre, thank you for the service you have given me. Golden Bay is fortunate to have such a wonderful service.
Barry Cashman
A Vision Remembered
On future Earth (6135 AD), Golden Bay is one of a number of environments throughout Earth that nurtures the templates of freedom and respect for all aspects of nature. Past and future time frames concurrently coexist with this present but are usually not seen because of displacements in the angular rotation and spin speeds of sub-atomic particles.
Our future Golden Bay is a highly successful transmigration settlement (a stargate portal node for transiting the galactic-wide wormhole circuitry) with a coherently functioning “Social Memory Complex”, that have developed skills capable of igniting time-space phase shifts for relocating collectives galactic-wide.
Golden Bayites from future Earth launched a project to translocate genetically (thereby birthing in the normal way) to present time Golden Bay. Retaining conscious memories of their future selves directives they are highly specialised in cultural and environmental healing modalities, Deva energetic symmetries, cross-philosophical comparisons, universe-friendly town planning, mind-matter technologies, communal social structures and the downloading of data streams from the omni-present supra-holographic Universal Mind.
They plan to recover and update the unity consciousness wisdom of the pre-Lemurian ancient ancestors (who inhabited the Pacific rim) and instigate an exemplary educational complex, loosely named ‘The Golden Bay Academy of Sacred Arts and Sciences’.
Grayham Forscutt
Thank you to Grayham Forscutt for his letter (GBW 5/12/10) re back to the future and node dates.
The experience was evolvement in motion. My gratitude to you and look forward to knowing the next node dates.
Isobella Gillshaw
Pakawau beach
Concerns over erosion have prompted fresh discussions amongst beach front property owners at Pakawau.
In the past, rocks, concrete and other debris have been placed along the foreshore. Current understanding, however, is that the natural sand dune provides the best buffer between land and sea. Although rocks may seem to offer protection against erosion, in reality they generate more turbulent wave action, resulting in greater erosion occurring at the soft edges. This can be seen next to the concrete boat ramp at the Pakawau Beach Camp, where the sand of the adjacent property has been carved out by two to three metres. Two natural sand boat ramp/access points nearby (one at Tomatea Point and the other 2km south near Totara Ave) have created no such adverse effects.
Increased wave turbulence against rocks can also cause scouring of the beach in front of rocks, lowering the beach, such as at Totara Ave, whereas the more gentle slope of the natural dune of sand and native grasses absorbs wave energy reducing erosive effects. The native grasses can trap sand, sometimes leading to the dune “moving forward”.
Anecdotal evidence from long-term residents supports the expert findings that being straight, Pakawau Beach remains fairly stable. Erosion occurs at times but over a period of time the sand builds up again.
For several years, TDC has implemented a Coast Care programme to encourage the re-establishment of the more natural dune foreshore.
The beach is Pakawau’s best asset, much loved and enjoyed by many. Discussion regarding erosion control must take into account potential environmental effects and the impact on public enjoyment of this beautiful place.
Jill Newport
Pakawau Beach rock wall proposal
Mr Landon Carter is challenging the council’s decision: being the removal of the rocks (not a rock wall) and in their place a dune rehabilitation plan. The council has been guided by the experts to make their decision. Many people like myself feel it’s the right decision.
I live two doors down from the camp. I asked Mr Carter, if he was to get the approval to build a rock wall, would he compensate Pakawau people who would be affected by the backwash from the sea after it had bashed up against the rock wall with nowhere to go but along the beach, doubling in volume onto nearby property esplanade areas? Of course I got an emphatic no.
The sand has been building up on our property at the rate of 5cm over the last four years. This would be happening all along Pakawau I would think.
Earlier this week we experienced an annual high tide along with four days of strong easterly wind, resulting in the exposure of sunken rocks along the esplanade. It sure looks scary but we are not concerned as, with history, the sand builds up again.
We intend to use the Coast Care natural dune rehabilitation sometime in the future. This is what we would prefer for Pakawau Beach, but if the rock wall does go ahead, I would think that the esplanade would have to be rocked as well.
Anne George
Response from Landon Carter:
Pakawau Beach has some unique characteristics which make one solution not the best for all parts of it. There are three distinct zones along the main beach from Michael Smith’s property at the beginning of Totara Avenue on the south, to Tomatea Point on the north. At both the north and south end there has been accretion and in the middle there has been severe erosion to the extent of 15 metres in the last 12 years. There are transition zones separating each. Where there is erosion I have always advocated “hold the existing line, preserve the esplanade reserves, and protect your property”. If I am wrong and where I may have put a rock wall for protection, there later is accretion (such as is now happening in front of Totara Ave) then the sand will eventually build up in front of the rock wall as it has done over the years in front of Beach Street in Collingwood. But once you lose the property (as has happened to a great extent by BJ White and Bruce McHardy and in several instances to a lesser extent on bach properties south of the camp with inadequate protection) it doesn’t all come back, so you keep losing ground.
In a recent survey I conducted amongst the property owners in Pakawau an overwhelming majority of the 20-plus respondents wanted to be able to put rock in front of their own properties (often simply repairing earlier versions) along the line where the rock structures already exist, thus protecting the esplanade reserve and their property.
And finally, I am in total agreement with Anne George’s third paragraph. She lives in one of the houses that I am almost certain already have submerged rock protecting their property, as most baches just north of the camp do, from our infrequent high tide and easterly combination. So of course she isn’t worried.
Mardi Gras
Commercial Street Takaka will be closed between the Dept of Conservation building and BP Service Station/GB Pharmacy between the hours of 4.30pm Saturday 5 February and 1am Sunday 6 February for the purpose of the annual Takaka Mardi Gras.
HOWEVER, Commercial St is still open for access to the Roots Bar, Junction Hotel, BP Service Station AND Take Note/Lotto.
Come and enjoy local and visiting performers and be part of the Taniwha Parade at 6pm. A list of performers and approximate times appears in this issue.
Parents please be aware you are responsible for your teens’ welfare and note that there is still a No Alcohol In Public Places ban in effect.
Dave Myall, Mardi Gras organiser
Community health centre
Thanks Chris for the continued dialogue. As you say, the Golden Bay Community Health - Te Hauora O Mohua Trust: “will want to have a tenant (NBPH) that can afford the rent” and for that reason, plus the fact that the trust seems to be the entity with the mortgage to pay, the trust will need to be convinced that the business case makes commercial sense.
My concerns are that the costs are underestimated:
1. It is a mathematical impossibility that the planned 10 per cent headcount savings will deliver the needed 10% staff cost savings because the plan is to add 1 extra (expensive) doctor and subtract (only) 5.3 (cheaper) staff.
2. There are no transition costs included.
3. Running costs - rates, electricity, water are likely to increase more than the 1.7% anticipated inflation rate.
4. The anticipated savings from year two from the new “team-based approach” to nursing are highly unlikely.
5. No sums have been put in for any further capital expenditure or depreciation - will there be an X-Ray facility or IT upgrades?
Instead of a big mortgage for building a big new integrated facility, why not keep the revenue model as suggested but go for a smaller mortgage for improvements of our current three sites. Has this ever been costed out?
Nicola Basham
Response from Chris Hill, chair, Golden Bay Community Health Te Hauora O Mohua Trust:
Staffing costs are confidential and therefore not publicly available but I can assure you these numbers have been carefully tested and continually reviewed by a range of experts.
Transition costs are not included because they are being borne by the three separate organisations.
We remain confident our budgeted costs - which do include depreciation and capital expenditure sums - are conservative. X-ray services will continue and IT upgrades are incorporated.
Integration is not about saving money – it is about making better use of money, keeping existing services (including rest home services which will otherwise go over the Hill) and improving the quality of health care.
Chris Hill
To the trustees of GB Community Health – Te Hauroa o Mahua Trust. Please answer these concerns publicly through the GBW:
1. Building the Community Health Centre (GBCHC) would incur a $10,000,000+ debt for the GB community now and into the future without guaranteeing jobs for local tradespeople or contractors. Also millions paid to commercial banks for interest won’t result in any short- or long-term economic benefits.
2. Changes requiring GB community input, and verification from a solicitor, are required to these clauses of the trust deed of GBCH as posted online at static.gbhealth.org.nz/gems/GBTrustDocument.pdf
* 8.0 to 8.13 Appointment and Removal of Trustees. Instead of being appointed, trustees should be elected by Golden Bay residents. The opportunity to vote for trustees, as done for Network Tasman Trust and the District Health Board, is essential for democratic due process.
* 22.0 to 22.4 Winding Up. Could result in transfer of assets to ownership outside GB and potential privatisation of the GBCHC.
* Schedule A, l. “To charge any person for use of the property or services such charges as may be fixed by the Trust.” Who would be charged and for what property and services?
Ro Piekarski
Response from John Crocker, chair, Golden Bay Medical Centre Trust and trustee Golden Bay Community Health Te Hauora O Mohua Trust:
Before answering specifically Ro Piekarski’s concerns, it may be worthwhile reiterating the purposes of the trust and, indeed, the entire project.
The trust intends building a community health facility that will be owned by the community and leased to the PHO. Simply put, a building will be constructed and leased in return for a commercial rent. There are commercial interests which have expressed interests in building the facility and leasing it to the PHO in exactly the same as the trust proposes to do. The benefits of the community supporting and contributing to a trust to run the facility should be quite obvious. Once the loans are repaid then the not insubstantial income will be allocated along the following lines:
1. A sum will be set aside into a long-term maintenance fund to ensure the ongoing maintenance and potential further development of the building. This will be calculated in accordance with a professionally prepared long-term maintenance plan as is done by any prudent property management organisation.
2. The balance of the rent will be available for distribution, as the trust sees fit, for medical purposes only within Golden Bay and within the confines of the trust deed. This will substantially enhance the facilities and standard of medical care within the community and potentially take such care far beyond that which might otherwise be expected. To put it even more simply, a rental house generates rent and a prudent owner sets some of the income aside for ongoing costs and maintenance with the balance being profit. In this case the profit made from the ongoing rental will be put back into the community. Quite why there are continuing objections to this is beyond my comprehension. Indeed, this should be seen as one of the greatest opportunities ever presented to the people of Golden Bay.
To specifically answer the points raised:
a) The sum of $10 million is ridiculously out of line and nowhere near the actual borrowings that will be required. Nor will the end-term capital value of the project approach the $10 million specified within the letter. “The millions paid to commercial banks” is also well wide of the mark. Further, the interest will be paid from the rents received, not from the people of Golden Bay. The short- and long-term economic benefits have been outlined earlier in this response.
b) The Golden Bay Medical Centre Trust has existed within the community for many years with Trustees being appointed by a predetermined body in a predetermined fashion and in accordance with a trust deed. Readers may recall that an advertisement placed last year resulted in the appointment of two new trustees. Any trust operating a facility of this size must ensure that it has skills appropriate to the responsibility involved. The appointment and removal of trustees is incorporated in the trust deed.
To address the specific questions:
Schedule A1 “to charge any person for use of the property or services etc”, the PHO will be paying the rent and therefore is the body to be charged a commercial rental for the lease of the property. As with any responsible trust, a degree of flexibility is incorporated in order to enable trustees to move with the times and/or meet unanticipated circumstances. For example, it may be that other medical providers such as physiotherapists, a chemist, etc, may want space associated with the facility. Should this be commercially viable then the trust will have the opportunity to provide premises for and lease to such approved providers.
(c) As to any potential winding up, the property will be the subject of a long-term lease with the PHO, and any such lease will far outlive the likely term of mortgage. Indeed over a 10-year period we would expect to see all loans repaid, and over the following 10 years a sum of up to $5 million may be expected to be reinvested in community health.
Finally, at the end of the day, most people who are seriously unwell or suffer physical harm requiring medical attention don’t really care who owns the building in which the doctors are housed. There is every possibility that the PHO would enter into an arrangement with a private landlord should the current project not go ahead. This would be to the extreme detriment of the community as per the information provided above.
Ed. We are giving correspondence on the community health centre a rest.
Be Well health check
To everyone in Golden Bay. If you want to check your blood pressure or blood sugar or get help with your weight, fitness or to quit smoking as well as general health and wellbeing information, remember the BeWell free health checks are still happening with referrals to other agencies if required.
For an appointment phone Heartlands 525 6151 or just call in and see me to book your free health check or pick up some health information.
Wendy Earle, BeWell co-ordinator
