Letters 27 January 2012
Power cuts and Salisbury Bridge
Two questions. First: why do we have so many power cuts in Golden Bay? We average at least one per week, sometimes lasting for up to a couple of hours (last Saturday night). I know this because all the electronic appliances we have in the house either switch off or reset to factory defaults. I’ve asked around friends and they say the same. This morning (Monday) one of the items on Radio NZ’s Morning Report was about how the Manawatu town of Fielding was without electrical power for an hour but it had now been restored - apparently this is worthy of nationwide mention up that way. We get the same thing weekly and the power company says nothing.
Second question: when will the signs indicating the way to the historic Salisbury Swing Bridge be taken down? This bridge was completely destroyed in the other once-in-a-lifetime weather event we’ve had in the last two years. The two signs (one just past the Bainham Store and the other just before the former bridge’s walkway) must be at best frustrating and at worst misleading to any visitors who make the trip to see the bridge.
Ken George
Tasman District Council Transportation Manager Gary Clark responds: The signage has remained in place through the will of the local community.
Even though the bridge has gone, the site still has history, and the landscape provides photo opportunities - good ways to attract visitors to our district.
There are interpretation panels explaining the history and significance of the bridge and the area to visitors, and the New Zealand Historic Places Trust also recommended to Council that part of the site be retained for its historic value.
Response from Wayne Mackey, Chief Executive , Network Tasman Limited: Thank you for the opportunity to reply to Mr George’s concerns.
We are unaware of weekly outages that have affected Mr George’s property.
Other than the fault on 28 January and prior to the recent flood event, Mr George would not have experienced an unplanned outage at his Pohara property comparable to the Feilding event since May 2010 when all of Golden Bay lost supply due to a fault on the national grid.
To minimise the risk of lengthy outages Network Tasman utilises auto reclosers that allow for the automatic restoration of supply following a transient or fleeting fault that has cleared itself. The power interruption during a reclose operation is generally about 10 seconds in duration, but without the auto reclose the interruption to supply would be much longer.
In the 18 months prior to the flood event, twelve reclose operations affected Mr George’s property. As a result of these reclose operations, Mr George would have needed to reset clocks and some electronics; but because of the reclose operation he did not lose supply for more than 10 seconds.
We would be concerned if Mr George was experiencing weekly outages; not because the outages haven’t been reported like the Fielding event, but because it is our goal to operate a reliable and efficient network. We would encourage Mr George to report any outage to our fault line at the time that it occurs so that we can investigate and resolve any network issue.
Can I take this opportunity to thank our contractors for their outstanding work in restoring power following the recent flooding in the Abel Tasman Drive area in December. The power supply to the majority of consumers was restored within a relatively short period of time. We are especially proud of Delta’s local linemen Colin Curtain and Roger Price who with the help of the fire brigade hand carried a power pole up a hill to a site that was inaccessible by vehicles in order to restore power to Mr George and the other residents of Pohara and Tata Beach. The existing pole had been knocked over by a slip and the ground was too wet and boggy for machinery access.
Flood - in appreciation
Things are mostly functional again out at Tui Community, apart from the loss of all the vege gardens and some of the sewerage connections. Not normal...but functional. And we’d like to send out a very big “thank you”. We received direct help, or benefit from, so many people’s gifts and work.
Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation go out to: our neighbours, the Robertsons, for use of the farm tracks when there was no road, and for use of some of their rocks to protect a house; to the Fonterra team who helped get access into Wainui so’s the cows could get out...and us too; to all the Solly’s and Fulton Hogan people for their wonderful work - three cheers for blokes and giant machines and fossil fuels! To the people who sent us meals (Jessica King and co) and vegies and other wonderful stuff; to the TDC folks and the guards at checkpoint Charlie (or Wayne?); to Martine, the student army, DoC, to the permaculture crew who’ve been helping free fruit trees and plan the next steps.
And appreciation for all the many caring inquiries and interest from all sorts of people in the Bay. We are well, and sincerely hope that you are too! Cheers!
Paxe Archer, for Tui Community, Wainui
Solar System changing fast
Thanks Bruce for your deeper insights (your letter; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 20th Jan), finally we get to the real issues.
I would suggest anyone who finds fault with your rationale regarding the influence our Sun has on the solar system do some research into the massive changes happening to all planets. This has been largely ignored by those scientists you mention but not so from the Russian scientific community.
Of particular interest is the larger amount of interstellar dust now entering our solar system from the galactic arm which we are enmeshed within,
more dust = higher density = more friction = higher temperatures.
The Maya and many other ancient cultures knew of this cyclic phenomena of roughly 13,000 years (one cycle of many ‘Wheels within Wheels’).
Grayham Forscutt
Resheduled Tata Titanic
Tata Titanic Cardboard Boat Race will happen this Sunday 29 January. Entrants please be there 9am as judging starts at 9.15am. The race starts at 10am.
There is NO “If windy, in the lagoon” as it is half-full of silt.
Txt 027 66 97 142 for cancellation information, no earlier than 8.15am please.
Dave Myall, Summer Times Festival co-ordinator
Flood
I watched with horror the brown flood water creeping into my house through the walls and under the ranch sliders. I would like to record my very grateful thanks to all the people who so generously gave of their time to help me save my house and section. Also those kind folk who baked meals, cakes, biscuits and made sandwiches to share with everyone.
I also want to anticipate a thank you to the Tasman District Council for resealing Richmond Road, as at present my house and section are covered in dust and also the roof which is where all my drinking water comes from.
We live in one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand with such a caring community. Thank you everyone once again.
Aileen Hunt
Tarakohe wharf
On Tuesday 17 January a friend, her eleven-year-old son and I were enjoying a quiet fish at Tarakohe wharf. We were rudely, aggressively, and very threateningly asked (told) by the harbour manager to leave. Generations have taught their families to fish from this very safe and controlled area. We were told it is an “OSH requirement”. There are no signs saying “no fishing”. The alternative is to fish off the breakwater where it is not only dangerous for our kids but also very unpredictable. I contacted TDC on Wednesday 18 January and am still waiting for a legal description on the “rules”.
When we and others do fish from this area, we are not only made welcome from local fishing boat crews, but have an understanding to keep clear of their operations. To me this is PC gone crazy again. If this is a closed-off area to the general public, how come we have not had any form of “policing” before? I wait with “baited” breath and fishing line for TDC’s reply. [abridged]
Gary Clough
Tasman District Council manager property services Jim Frater responds: Staff have spoken to Mr Clough about both the delay in contacting him and the rules for public access to the harbour. We believe the situation has been resolved amicably.
Although there are no signs that explicitly state “no fishing”, Port Tarakohe is a commercial port - public access to the wharf is restricted and there are signs to this effect. Vessels come and go throughout the day, every day, and for safety reasons there is a need to keep the port clear. These rules are part of the Maritime Safety Act 2004. The harbour manager is tasked with enforcement.
While we regret that Mr Clough and his group had to be moved on, council takes health and safety seriously - we want every visit to the port to be a safe one.
The state of the world
Anyone taking an interest in the state of the world may like to read Colin James’ commentary on page 9 of the 10 January issue of the Otago Daily Times.
Elizabeth Dransfield
Neutering dogs and cats
Sadly there are more dogs and cats in New Zealand than there are people willing to offer them a home. If you are a pet owner you can help by having your pet neutered, preferably before he/she is six months old.
There are several other very good reasons for neutering your pet at a young age:
1. Neutered cats and dogs are far less likely to wander and then end up getting hit by a car. Stray dogs are a nuisance and a danger to the community.
2. Neutered pets are healthier; dogs are less likely to get testicular cancer, bitches far less likely to get a womb infection (pyometra) or breast (mammary) cancer.
3. Females on heat will do anything to escape for a romantic rendezvous. Female cats yowl ceaselessly and may spray urine in the house.
4. Un-neutered males can be a nuisance too, especially when there’s an un-neutered female in the neighbourhood. They may urinate indoors to mark their territory. Entire dogs can be aggressive and disobedient, whereas entire cats are just plain stinky!
5.Having your pet neutered is a lot cheaper than raising a litter of puppies or kittens.
6. It is not cruel to neuter your pet at an early age; in fact it is kinder. Dogs and cats don’t miss what they have never had.
7. Every year thousands of unwanted dogs and cats are put to sleep. There are just too many of them.
8. Subsidies for neutering are available from the Golden Bay SPCA for those finding it hard to meet veterinary costs. Phone Carol Wells on 525 9494 for more information.
Golden Bay SPCA
