Letters
Recreation, leisure and cultural centre
I write strongly to support Peter Bridgwater, when he argues the case for user pays (GBW 8/4) for the proposed recreation complex.
If the council, whenever convenient, imposes targeted rates to pay, for example our community board; so there is logical precedent in Mr Bridgwater’s case. Why should those who want hockey pitches (how many hockey players are there anyhow in the Bay?) expect that the large number of us who do not play hockey to pay for their one-day-a-week exercise? In this case I’m all for user pays and targeted rates.
John Lee
I read in The Nelson Mail, Friday 8 April, that the sports and community groups supporting the idea of a multi-million dollar costing, multi-function sports/recreation complex in Golden Bay supposedly represent more than 1,300 people or around a quarter of the population of Golden Bay. I think it would be interesting to know how many ratepayers are in this group.
The group’s spokesman estimates the yearly costs for the ratepayer for this project at around $42. I must admit that the word around in cases like this always makes me swallow a couple of times because estimates end up usually quite a bit higher. With ratepayers already looking at a significant increase on their coming 2011/2012 rates bill and most probably in the years following, extra rates for projects with I assume very high yearly maintenance costs on top, will be hard to justify. Golden Bay is “littered” with unused or underused community halls. I would say spend some money there. You will be surprised by the variety of games one can play in those halls.
I totally agree with Peter Bridgwater (GBW 8/4). If you want to play, you pay.
John Groen
Coastal protection at Pakawau
An experimental supervised establishment of soft planting on the first section south of the campground lasted until the first decent easterly, however there was no noticeable damage done to the rock wall protecting the campground next door.
These rock walls have protected the campground and the main road north of Totara Avenue since the 1960s and since then Totara Avenue, Beach Road in Collingwood, the band rotunda in Pohara, the full length of the golf course and even as far afield as Mapua and Ruby Bay.
Why is there so much opposition from people who haven’t got beachfronts destroyed by wave action, to those who will pay for a proven protection.
For the rates we pay we have no street lights, no footpaths, no water scheme, no sewerage and no beachfront section.
If Fiona, Stephanie and friends would like to come and help fill our great holes and put grasses in and come back and do it again when it washes out, or better still make it stay there, it would be most appreciated as it would be a lot cheaper option for us.
From a beachfront supporter of rocks, which are a natural medium.
Brian Warren
Democracy and representation
Damien O’Connor withdrawing from the Labour list has drawn attention to the way our MPs are selected. Frankly we, the electorate, have lost the right to elect our representatives.
Barely 2 per cent of the voting population belongs to a political party and are therefore involved in candidate selection. Who represents the 98 per cent of voters who do not have a say?
The party list is chosen by a select membership board selected by the elite of the party membership. These candidates are sworn to obey the party line, follow the directions of the party whips and be loyal to the board.
Where is any statement of loyalty, service and representation to the electorate? The party system is like a religion. When born into it, one must obey the dogma, follow the ritual and believe they have the “truth and the way“. The statement often used “you are my political enemy “ to the opposition, is comparable to Muslims being the religious enemy of the Christians.
Are those of us not belonging to any party the collective enemy of the parties?
We may believe we live in a democratic philosophy, but we have lost the true meaning of “representational democracy”.
Reg Turner
For parents/caregivers of 0 to 5-year-olds
The GB Weekly will be publishing excerpts from SKIP (see page 8).
Strategies with Kids - Information for Parents (SKIP) provides support, information and parenting strategies for parents and caregivers of 0 to 5-year-olds.
The SKIP programme is a community-based approach to support parents to raise children in a positive way. It’s designed to be non-judgemental and acknowledges that parents know their children best and that family life can be complex and stressful as well as joyful and rewarding. SKIP’s vision is for all children in New Zealand to be raised in a positive way by parents and caregivers who feel confident about managing children’s behaviour as part of a loving, nurturing relationship.
Research carried out to inform the programme shows that parents want more information and strategies for effective, non-physical discipline and that they want to parent in a positive, rather than an authoritarian way.
There are a number of ways in which the SKIP programme can support parents/caregivers in Golden Bay. SKIP funds the monthly parenting and breastfeeding support group Golden Babes, which is facilitated by Helen Bracefield (PHN) and Emma Brazendale (community worker). It is held on the third Monday of each month and SKIP resources are available and parenting topics discussed, in addition to a speaker each month on topics ranging from reflexology to CPR on babies and children. See The GB Weekly or contact the Community Workers for more details.
In addition parenting courses are run regularly from the Community Centre using SKIP information. These are run on an as needed approach with childcare provided. The sessions can also be provided 1:1 if that would be more appropriate. Again the Community Workers can provide further information.
Much research has been conducted recently about the damaging effects of physical discipline on children, so SKIP aims to increase the number of parents/caregivers who are confident, skilled and knowledgeable about using effective non-physical discipline working in a way that empowers and supports in a time frame and situation that works for the individual.
Emma Brazendale, community worker
Demise of democracy
The “bizarre” and “unusual” meeting referred to (GBW letters 8/4) reawakened a concern that has been growing over my lifetime - namely the demise of democracy. Joe Bell ends his letter with wise council that the “elected” council needs to take control and the “servants” put back in their place.
For too long we have all been allowing the situation to develop where the administrative arm of governance has been allowed too much rope. They have become purveyors and manipulators of so called “information”. The reason is we are all lazy politically and have abdicated our individual responsibilities in favour of “let the experts do it, they know best”.
We humans have been avoiding the big questions of life since time immemorial and the “priests” of religion and “advisors” of politics have exploited this lack of interest, seeing an opportunity to feather their own nests and create empires.
The elected representatives of the people are now just figureheads to keep alive the illusion of democracy.
Herb Harris
Japan’s earthquake/tsunami appeal
A huge thank you to the people of Golden Bay and beyond.Since the first day of our appeal your amazing support and generosity were non-stop. We have raised $6,600!! We will send this precious money to Japan Red Cross and it will be used to help the victims of Japan’s earthquake/tsunami.
Congratulations to the raffle winners. Their names are in public notices, and we have been delivering the prizes to them this week.
Throughout our appeal we felt strongly supported with so many kind words and the warmest smiles. What a wonderful community we live in. Thank you again and those origami cranes will surely return you your kindness.
Ryoko Takahashi and Japanese women in Golden Bay
High school pool
I wish to clarify the letter published in The GB Weekly last week. This was signed as from the Board of Trustees whereas it should have been signed from senior management of the school.
The board is committed to a long-term solution to manage the pool as a good resource for the local community. It should also be noted that while, in the short term, the pool is not to be reconnected to the central heating system, the option will remain to do this at a later date if it is economically viable and found to be the most appropriate way of heating the pool.
The priority for the school at this stage is to repair the heating circuit to heat the classrooms before the winter. We can then turn our focus towards researching options to heat the pool for both the students and community users.
Roger File, principal
Urban drainage area at Tata Beach
Comments reported in the 22 March Nelson Mail regarding the Tata Beach stormwater debacle do not stand scrutiny. It is beyond belief that Tasman District Council would be going through the current costly legal process if it was not required to. The fact is, TDC acted beyond its powers in establishing the Tata urban drainage area (UDA) rate by not following the necessary process.
Secondly, the staff comment that “capital value was used as a basis because larger, more expensive houses tend to shed more stormwater” shows a woeful lack of knowledge of the properties at Tata Beach.
In most cases, homes and baches there are modestly sized dwellings. The high capital value is in the land not the buildings. Many of the current owners are long standing and land values were set on a few sales at the peak of the market.
As with other council services such as sewage and water supply, there needs to be a set charge for UDAs instead of the punitive capital value charge. The 2007-10 Golden Bay Community Board submissions requesting this were ignored.
Joe Bell
