News in brief
Ligar Bay baches update
Our article last week about the Ligar Bay baches mentioned the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. We sought clarification of their position on the issue.
David Watt is the area co-ordinator for the central region of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. He explained the extent to which the trust is aware of the Ligar Bay bach lease issue and the process by which sites are registered.
“We are aware of issues of Ligar Bay bach owners with Council around their future and that the baches are subject to a licence to occupy road reserve expiring in 2014. We had some brief correspondence from an owner back in 2009 pointing out that the baches have played a part in the history of Ligar Bay.
“The NZHPT does have responsibility under the Historic Places Act to identify and record historic heritage values through registration. Registration is only identification and recording and does not give protection, which is provided under the policies and rules of District Plans. The registration process starts with a nomination to the NZHP. Nominations are assessed annually; however we only have the capacity to progress a limited number of new registrations each year in our business programme, due to other strategic priorities as a Crown entity. To qualify for registration, a place or area must demonstrate significant heritage values. Anyone can nominate a historic place, or historic area, for registration.
We don’t have any detailed information on the historic significance of the Ligar Bay baches. That information can come in the form of a future nomination. Anyone interested in registration can go to our website at www.historic.org.nz <http://www.historic.org.nz/>
Neil Wilson
Tasman’s Draft Annual Plan adopted for consultation
At its 10 March meeting the Tasman District Council adopted its draft annual plan for consultation.
Tasman ratepayers will face an average total increase of around 7 percent, incorporating an increase of 4.71 percent on the general rate (3 percent of which is for inflation) and an additional 1.98 percent on the general rate for replenishing council’s general disaster fund and replacing the James Road Bridge. Targeted rates also increase.
Depending on particular circumstances and the effects of specific targeted rates, the proposed rates increase may vary from the district-wide average of around 7 per cent.
Residents will receive a summary of the draft annual plan as a Newsline Special Edition. The full draft annual plan will be available from Monday 21 March in hard copy. This year there is a further option of a CD containing the full draft annual plan, the summary document and the 17 Settlements document. It will be available for people to take away from council offices and libraries from Friday 18 March. These documents will also be live on the website from Friday 18. The council is encouraging people to use the CD or web versions of the documents to save printing and environmental costs.
As part of the consultation period (Friday 18 March-Thursday 21 April) the council is running public meetings throughout the district. In Golden Bay they are on Wednesday 13 April 2011 at the Takaka Fire Brigade Hall (2.00–4.30pm) and the Collingwood School (6.30–8.00pm)
Council communications advisor Chris Choat reminds ratepayers that the afternoon meetings are generally more informal while the evening sessions are more like formal public meetings. Residents and ratepayers are welcome to come along and find out more about the draft annual plan.
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Lemons sold for earthquake fund
Kale King (10) wanted to do something to help the people and animals who have been affected by the Christchurch earthquake. He set up a stall and sold lemons and nashi from it, raising nearly $90. “It was his idea, he did it off his own initiative,” said Kale’s mum, Maddy.
Thirty years pedalling
Last week, Takaka’s postie Mark Geddes celebrated 30 years of delivering the mail.
“I guess I’d have cycled round the world a few times if you added up all the kilometres,” said Mark, adding that he still loves keeping his customers happy in all weathers.
Mark explained that when he was first appointed to the postie’s job, his own father was a bank manager in Takaka and his friend’s father was the postmaster.
“My friend got a job in Dad’s bank and I got the postie’s job, so the story went around that it was a jack-up. It was rubbish, of course.”
He has seen plenty of changes in his 30 years of service but he says people still depend on the regular contact and six-day service that the post provides.
Neil Wilson
Fire-fighting water scheme well underway
The roadworks associated with the reticulated fire-fighting water continue to make good progress up Commercial Street. Parking will continue to be restricted around the work area on both sides of Commercial Street and through traffic will also be restricted to a single lane controlled by STOP/GO personnel.
Work will begin in Reilly and Junction Streets once the work in Commercial Street is complete. The work in Buxton Lane is now expected to start towards the end of March.
Neil Wilson
Landsar team helps out in Christchurch
Members of the Golden Bay Land Serach and Rescue team went to Christchurch a couple of weeks ago to apply their skills and assist in some of the suburbs that were most badly affected in the February earthquake.
“People were very pleased to see us and incredibly hospitable, even when they were in very tough conditions themselves. If we’d stopped for every cup of tea we were offered we’d never have got anything done,” said LANDSAR spokesman Graham Pomeroy.
Graham said that the team was involved in some “pretty harrowing” duties but they were delighted to return to their camp and find that Andrew and Jane Dixon had sent them down some Mussel Inn beer to keep their spirits up.
Combined choirs to perform two charity concerts for Christchurch Earthquake Fund
The Golden Bay, Motueka and Nelson Combined Choirs are to perform two charity concerts for the Christchurch earthquake relief fund. Entry is by donation, and a minimum of $10 per person is suggested. All the proceeds will be forwarded directly to Christchurch.
The first concert will be held at the Takaka Primary School hall on Saturday 26 March at 7.30pm. There will be individual items from choir members, including Charles Naylor and Charmaine Wratt, and the accompanist throughout will be Lower Moutere resident Bill Buck. Additionally, one of the best trumpeters in the South Island, Steve Rudhall, will be playing alongside Chris Lawton and timpanist Doreen Douglas from Raumati Beach. She and her partner Stuart both feature in the programme because they love coming to Golden Bay and enjoy the support from what have always been appreciative audiences here and in Motueka.
The second concert will be in the Motueka Memorial Hall on Sunday 27 March at 3pm.
“We’ve enjoyed super attendances for our Motueka concerts and we’d love to really fill the hall with music for this rather special occasion. We may even persuade audience members to take part in some old-time community songs going back to WWII,” says conductor Carl Browning.
The programme will feature several works played by two of the members of the Tasman Brass Ensemble.
“They took part in our Christmas Concert last December. It was extremely well supported and concluded with a standing ovation,” says Carl. “The programme for the concerts will be essentially light classical and appealing to all tastes. To celebrate the forthcoming marriage of William and Kate, we’ll also perform Handel’s coronation anthem, The King Shall Rejoice.”
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