News in brief
Funds confirmed for Golden Bay Integrated Medical Centre
The Tasman District Council confirmed its contribution to the Golden Bay Integrated Health facility in Takaka at last week’s full council meeting.
The council had previously approved the sale of the Golden Bay Medical Centre and the council-owned property at 185 Commercial Street, Takaka, and agreed to make the net proceeds available for the construction of the new facility.
With the recent the Golden Bay community agreement on the construction of a new integrated health facility, the council is now in a position to agree to commit the funds.
An earlier resolution by the council has ruled that if such support was agreed to, that the settlement process would not occur until the medical services within the current site could be provided at an alternative location. This was reconfirmed yesterday to ensure that medical facilities would continue to remain available.
Jim Frater, council’s nanager of property services, said that the existing tenancies and the medical centre operation would continue until alternative facilities were constructed elsewhere.
“The council has always been in support of the provision of improved medical services within the community, but had delayed making any decision on the allocation of sale proceeds until the Golden Bay community had stated their preference.”
The marketing and sale process of the properties will be managed through the council’s property division in conjunction with the Golden Bay Medical Centre Community Trust.
Submitted by Tasman District Council
Tasman District Council
adopts Annual Plan
Tasman District Council adopted its 2011-2012 Annual Plan on 30 June, confirming the General Rate rise of 6.05% identified by the council earlier this month.
“The past year has had a significant impact on the district, recovering from the economic downturn only to be hit by two natural disasters that, while not as significant as the series of Canterbury earthquakes, have exhausted the council’s recovery reserves,“ said Mayor Richard Kempthorne. “As a result of the very obvious need to replenish those reserves, 1.98% of the increase will be directed to the disaster recovery funds. Add 3% to meet the demands of inflation and the average rise has been limited to just over 1%.
“The council has always had the shadow of a local economy in recovery mode in the room when it has deliberated over the draft plan and the many submissions it received for new or additional funding.
“While we are in difficult times, the council must still invest in the district to provide necessary services and meet the expectations of those who live here. While the amalgamation debate continues with no definite outcome, the council continues to be committed to delivering excellent services at an affordable cost.”
The overall rate increases for most properties, including targeted rates, will range from 4% to a bit over 7% depending on the property’s features and location; however, some properties will differ from this due to the application of different targeted rates.
Submitted by Tasman District Council
Green Dharma teaching in Takaka
Respected Buddhist elder and teacher Tarchin will offer two mornings of teaching and contemplative exploration at the Takaka Community Centre on 16 and 17 July between 9am and 1pm. Tarchin will explore some of the challenges and some of the possibilities of living richly and fully in this extraordinary mystery of life unfolding.
Tarchin teaches from a Buddha Dharma perspective in a non-sectarian perspective that the whole of life is ecology. All is connection. He says:”We live in the zendo of our lives – the temple of this living world. We are deeply intermingled with the lives of our families, friends, neighbours, strangers and adversaries, and the myriad other species and beings that we travel with from birth to death. Our bodies and minds are rivers of evolving life, and landscapes of unfolding communities.”
Tarchin teaches an awareness of living that is inclusive and life-affirming. The arts of kindness, communal being-ness, clear-seeing presence and unrestricted reverential enquiry come to the forefront of conscious living.
Tarchin has studied and practised Buddhism all his adult life. Since 1977 he has taught in many countries. He is currently a guiding teacher and trust elder for the Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre near Nelson. His work frequently links personal healing with an ecological perspective in ways that have inspired a wide range of people.
“Tarchin’s teaching has helped me to understand deeply that we are Life embedded in Life, that everything is connected,” says Dominique de Borrekens.
“When we look around,” Tarchin explains, “everything we see is alive. Everything is extraordinarily delicate, ephemeral and unique. When we look deeply into that leaf, that child, that neighbour, that cricket, that bird on the fence and that mould growing on the edge of the compost bucket, whatever we see involves a whole universe of growing and supporting. Worlds of lived experience, interbeing with worlds of living ‘otherness.’ We live for, and with, and in, and through each other, and still, our understanding is so meagre. We are alive – and we live for each other.”
There will be a daily charge of $10, plus there will be a bowl for donations to Tarchin. In the Buddhist spirit of dana, or the practice of generosity, Tarchin relies entirely on the generosity of people who feel his work is worth supporting. Phone Duncan Mackay on 525 9778 for further information.
(for more information also see <www.greendharmatreasury.org>
Submitted
A double act for solo flights
In late June, Lifestyle Hire owner Blue Horton flew solo for the first time. What made this even more special was that his daughter Alice went solo on the same day.
Blue and Alice both decided to learn to fly in December last year, and have been having flying lessons with Shane Fleming at the Golden Bay Flying Club.
As Alice lives and works in Motueka an occasional training flight took place there.
“On Saturday we planned to do this again and to practise landing at an unfamiliar aerodrome,” says the club’s press release. “Shane had arranged for Alistair Hart, a flight testing pilot and Air Nelson Q300 captain, to fly with each trainee and see if they were ready to go solo for the first time.
“Each first did three or four landings with Shane to get familiar with the different runway, and then it was time for a flight with Alistair. After three more landings the plane arrived back, sat idling for a couple of minutes, then Alistair got out and it was up to Blue to do it on his own. After a fantastic first solo flight it was Alice’s turn to go with Alistair, with the same result.
Now there are “two very proud new pilots who are continuing to gain more skills around Takaka Aerodrome. They both went solo again at Takaka this past weekend, which is a bit more challenging than Motueka, but they handled it well.”
If anyone is interested in giving flying a go, contact Shane on 525 8446 or 0278 116 243.
Submitted by Golden Bay Flying Club
June Rainfall
rainfall raindays heaviest fall
Tata Beach 170mm 12 28mm on the 4th
Clifton 199mm 10 45mm on the 11th
Te Hapu 202mm 18 41mm on the 10th
Glenview Rd 270mm 13 78mm on the 4th
Paynes Ford 305mm 13 90mm on the 4th
Rototai 318mm 11 84mm on the 4th
Upper Takaka 319mm 14 108mm on the 4th
Pakawau 324mm 14 52mm on the 19th, and 50mm on the 10th & 18th
Onekaka 372mm 16 92mm on the 5th
Collingwood 378mm 14 117mm on the 4/5th
Bainham 381mm 16 92.6mm on the 4th
Puramahoi 419mm 16 116mm on the 18th
Rockville 478mm 11 161mm on the 18th
Anatoki 585mm - 239mm on 17/18th
