Letters 6 May 2011
Multi-function centre
In 2009 Vandeskog Social Research conducted a study to find out if there is a need for a new or improved community facility in Golden Bay. Consequently we have sound knowledge of this issue and are concerned about the misleading allegations advanced by Peter Blasdale in his letter (GBW 21/4).
Blasdale claims that $4.2M is available for Golden Bay to spend on a new facility. This is not correct. TDC has set aside $3.4 million for this purpose, but the community will have to raise 20 per cent of the total costs of a project. If Golden Bay uplifts the total sum allocated by TDC we will have to raise an additional $850,000. Funders like Lottery could be willing to fund the 20 per cent, but only if the project has solid community support.
Mr Blasdale implies that if we do not spend the allocated TDC money on a new facility at the recreation park, it will be spent outside the Bay and we will still have to pay the $41 rates increase. This is not correct. The funding can be spent in a number of different ways; on an upgrade of one old facility, on a combination of upgrades and new buildings, or on one new building. A facility like the one proposed at the recreation park is only one of many possible options.
Mr Blasdale’s claim that 1300 people support a new facility at the recreation park is not accurate. It seems he has arrived at this figure by adding up all the members of the 30 organisations that have collaborated on this project; but has he checked how many names appear on more than one membership list? He then assumes all of these members are in favour of the project; but has he actually asked them? In 2009, 50 per cent of the respondents to the survey said “NO” to a new multi-purpose facility in the form on one new building, and only 23 per cent expressed a clear “YES”, suggesting that Blasdale’s figure is considerably inflated.
The 2009 report about the need for a new or improved community facility can be downloaded from: http://www.gbworkcentre.org.nz/pdfs/finalreport.pdf.
Bjarne Vandeskog
For those of you who oppose the proposed new recreation centre, perhaps you could suggest a hall in Golden Bay that isn’t so precious about their floors to allow roller skating? So far I have had no luck finding a venue (that is also big enough) for roller derby training sessions (an indoor sport).
Without a suitable practice venue it may prove to be impossible to get a team started in the Bay as part of the newly established Nelson Bay League SOS.
So right now, the new rec centre, however far in the future it may be, is looking pretty good to me!
Emma Trethewey
I went in to the library the other day to check out the preliminary concept sketches of the proposed recreation, leisure and cultural centre at the Takaka Recreation Park.
I appreciate these are only preliminary sketches so they may be a little unclear as to what is actually being proposed.
Could Mr Lund or another member of the committee clarify for me whether it is the intention to tear down the existing grandstand and hall, and replace by new facilities and car parking as suggested by the sketches?
Alli Gardener
Reply from Peter Blasdale, multi-function centre committee spokesperson: The plans were drawn up primarily to see if the various sports pitches and courts, the recommended number of car parking spaces, and the facility (including a pool) would physically fit onto the space available up at the recreation park. Like fitting pieces of a jigsaw together.
This was thought to be quite an important step to take. If there was not enough room, the whole project would have to be reassessed.
No decisions have been made as yet as to what would be incorporated onto the site and where it would situated. All of this is of course dependent on the cost of the project and the available funds.
2011 tourist season - Te Anaroa Caves
Andrea and myself would like to thank all who made this a great year for us, in particular Jessie and her team at our i-SITE. With the use of new resources, (eg Facebook) and a top team at i-SITE, this year has been a joy for myself to organise daily tours.
So if you’re in business in The Bay, I suggest talking with Jessie to take advantage of this great team.
John Donovan
Demise of democracy
Once again last week’s GB Weekly correspondence was exclusively devoted to complaints about the way our authorities impose unpopular, undesirable and seemingly undemocratic proposals and legislation on the inhabitants of Golden Bay.
Whether the “offender” is TDC, our DHB or Central Government, every one of last week’s letters raised concerns that we are being legally forced to pay for items and activities which many of us find objectionable.
The only accepted form of protest is “submission”. We are continually being asked to send in a “submission” if we want to have our voice taken into account, but in my experience this has little or no impact on any outcome. In my dictionary the first definition of “submission” is “The action of accepting or yielding to a superior force”.
I believe that Golden Bay’s future should be primarily decided by the people who live here and by those whom we elected to represent us; our community board. Until the TDC provides the information promised (ie the rate take from Golden Bay) and our community board is given real delegated authority, I suggest we refuse to pay our rates. Does anybody have another idea?
Bruce Collings
Golden Bay International Film Festival
What a treat to have such a great array of movies here in Takaka. From the movie you don’t even like the sound of, to one where you walk out at half time, to the next grade up where you are forever hopeful it will live up to its advertising blurb and improve after half time, to the ones you think “That’s a good movie”, then to the real beauties, like Hook, Line and Sinker that you know you will tell all your friends to make sure they go and see it.
A real treat to have the honour of being part of the audience for the world premiere of the latest New Zealand movie. A “real” story made by “real” people, don’t miss it! But if this letter is published in The GB Weekly, sorry you’ve missed it this time round! The last movie is tonight!
Helen Young
Problem gambling
On reading the article about problem gambling (GBW 29/4) I was struck by the inaccuracy of a comment from Dr Philip Townshend about the distribution of pokie money back into the community. He claimed that “the money that does go back to the community goes into things like horse racing, professional rugby and numerous dodgy areas.”
I would like to point out that Pub Charity, which distributes a share of pokie earnings, also donates to many other community causes in Golden Bay, including The Village Theatre, the Golden Bay Community Workers and the Mardi Gras. They have been very generous to The Village Theatre over the years; indeed it is largely due to their generosity that we are able to upgrade our equipment regularly, including the installation of a new data projector in the last few weeks.
Sarah Kay, manager, Village Theatre
Pampas grass
Five years ago I purchased my property in the Aorere Valley. Along my 1km drive was a lovely grass which I pampered and my guests always said how lovely it looked.
Almost a year ago a TDC biosecurity staff member visited my property by invitation. On departure he mentioned this lovely grass was a pest and must be destroyed. The writer took no action and forgot about the advice. Almost a year later instruction was received that failure to do so was a $200,000 fine, and a further $10,000 a day for non-compliance.
For five years this writer lived in ignorance about this plant. However I have discovered today that our local TDC office has no information on this grass readily available for public access, and only one booklet on this plant available.
I have just learned that there are two species of this pampas grass: Cortederia selloma, (acceptable and profusely growing on the side of SH60 to Motueka) and Cortederia jubata (unacceptable and must be destroyed).
It may be a good idea to inform new arrivals to the Bay about these grasses by means of regular inclusion in TDC newsletters, and more information at the Takaka office (including the penalty for having it). Action has now been taken to destroy my lovely grasses.
Reg Turner
Freedom camping
O noble elected councillors, sitting in judgement on us naughty freedom campers...
Aren’t you just a bit peeved that the Juicy-Spaceship folk have latched on to what we’ve always done? Weren’t you warned by your Mum as you leapt barefoot out of the car - “look out for poo”? Didn’t you ever, down by the river with your mates, get “caught short”? And didn’t you ever rise from the summer grass with your teenage love and... “Oh no - it’s human?!” Aren’t some of your own stock farms covered in it? Perhaps you grew up in a cocoon, and don’t poo at all?
Seriously, haven’t you ever camped out under the stars in this truly wonderful land? Yes, all we need is love... and a shovel.
I reckon 58 years of camping gives me credentials. In the early days our family used my grandfather’s well-worn WW1 trenching tool (he dug deep, hence me). Always we carried something to dig with.
Fifty-eight years of camping out in this glorious country, West Island and beyond, and I ain’t gonna stop because of some dumb bylaw. Come and find me, enforcers. You‘re welcome to share my fire and, if you need it, my spade.
Ken Closs
High School Reunion book
I am preparing a book for the High School Reunion, to take place 3-5 February 2012, probably to be titled High School Takaka.
Although I am currently searching the school archives and using the museum, I feel sure there could be documents and early photos in the community which could be suitable. I am particularly anxious to locate the originals of the photos used in the booklets written by George Chapman-Cohen (1948) and Claude Reilly (1953).
Assistance with this labour of love will be appreciated. My phone number is 525 9862.
Pat Timings
Tasman Brass Ensemble
The Tasman Brass Ensemble has kindly agreed to give a concert to raise funds for The Playhouse’s reroofing and building project. Fresh from their recent success in the Nelson production of Brassed Off, we can expect an exciting programme. See display advertisement for details.
Tony and Gillian Cunningham
This is your chance
Our indoor bowls season has started and to keep going forward we need more players, so with this in mind we are holding a Free Have A Go Night on Tuesday 10 May at 7.30pm in the Collingwood hall. Suitable for all ages from 5-80 years. It’s a low cost, fun sport. Bring a friend and give it a go. We’ll even give you a cuppa after. Further details contact Keith on 524 8118.
