Newsline 235 - 17 September 2010

Friday 17 September 2010

This page contains articles from Issue 235 of Newsline.
Download as a PDF: Newsline 235-17 September 2010

Richmond Breathes Easier

Richmond air quality readings were dramatically better this winter, with the national standard breached just seven times – a third of last winter. This result is in keeping with the improving air quality trend, and is a tribute to the efforts of homeowners who operate their fires efficiently. Well done, Richmond.

The weather is also likely to have played a part in the very low air pollution as this winter has been wetter, with the exception of July, and rain clears the air like an industrial cleaner. Temperatures were cooler in May, June and part of July. These lower temperatures normally result in high pollution nights.

The air pollution standards were exceeded on June 10, 16, 17 and 18, plus July 13, 19, 20. For full details, see the public notice on page 14 of Newsline.

Check out the latest information on air quality in Richmond, plus historic data from other Tasman towns.

Council Helps with Home Insulation Costs

Tasman residents can now manage the cost of heating and insulating their homes through their rates bill. Homeowners can access a grant through the Government’s Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart programme for a third of the cost of insulation (up to $1300), and $500 for a heating upgrade. The Tasman District Council will help fund the remaining costs, providing financial assistance of up to $2600 for insulation and $3500 for home heating upgrades per ratepayer. This can be repaid through the homeowner’s rates bill over a 9-year period. The repayment will include interest and administration charges. The interest rate for the first year is 6.9 percent. Homes built before 2000 qualify for the scheme. To be eligible for the heating financial assistance, the house must have adequate insulation.

Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne says that helping homeowners switch from woodburners to cleaner devices such as heat pumps will improve air quality in Richmond and other built-up areas. “When it comes to improving the environment that we live in there is no better place to start than a well-insulated home with clean heating,” he says. “There are well-documented social and health benefits to living in a warm, dry home, and we all feel happier when we receive a reduced electricity bill.”

Mike Underhill, Chief Executive of the Government’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, is delighted with the Council’s move. “Our research shows that many people understand the benefits of insulation. They can see that it will make their homes warmer, drier and cheaper to heat properly, and consequently they want to do it. But even with the Government covering a third of the cost, insulation still costs money, and these are tight times for many people. Giving people some flexibility in how they cover the costs makes the decision to invest in insulation easier.”

More information on the Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart scheme.

Special Votes Available

Your vote counts. For those people who are not on the electoral roll for this year’s Tasman District Council and Nelson-Marlborough District Health Board elections, or will be away from the area, special votes are available. Electoral Officers aim to ensure that every eligible voter has a say in choosing our leaders. Voting papers will be posted to residents from 17-22 September 2010. If you don’t receive them – perhaps because you have just registered to be on the roll, you moved house, or have turned 18 – you are eligible to cast a special vote.

People who have chosen to be on the confidential roll also cast special votes. This roll caters for people who don’t want their address made public because of the nature of their jobs. Special voting facilities are available from 17 September 2010 at the Council’s main office, 189 Queen Street, Richmond during normal office hours, and up until noon on Saturday 9 October 2010.

Special voting documents can also be posted to electors. Request yours by phoning 03 543 7240, or writing to The Electoral Officer, Tasman District Council, Private Bag 4, Richmond 7050

Voters fill out a declaration form explaining their reasons for casting a special vote, e.g. not on the roll, change of address etc.

Voting documents must be received by the Electoral Officer by 12 noon on Saturday 9 October 2010. So if mailing your form, postal times need to be taken into account.

A total of 36 candidates are running in Tasman this time, either for mayor, councillor or community boards. No election is needed for the Lakes/Murchison Ward councillor and the Golden Bay Community Board as the candidates match the number of seats. In the District Health Board election,18 candidates are vying for seven seats.

You will receive your voting papers between 17 and 22 September 2010. It is suggested that you have them back in the post by Wednesday 6 October 2010 to ensure that they are received by the Electoral Officer in time to be counted. The earlier you vote, the better.

Meet the Candidates

Meetings are planned around the Tasman District during September to give you an opportunity to hear from the candidates running for the positions of Mayor, Councillor and Community Board member. Please note that these meetings are not organised by the Tasman District Council. To confirm details, contact the relevant person listed below.

Moutere/Waimea Ward -Thursday 16 September, 7.00 pm, Mapua Hall (Supper Room). Organised by Mapua Community Association, contact Pam Stinton-Whetnell.

Lakes/Murchison Ward - Friday 17 September, 6.30 pm, Murchison Sport, Recreation and Cultural Centre (Function Room). Organised by Murchison and Districts Community Council, contact Emma Monk.

Richmond Ward - Tuesday 21 September, 7.30 pm, Waimea Intermediate Assembly Hall. Organised by Richmond Community Forum, contact Nick Moore or phone 03 544 4665 (evenings) and Friday 24 September, 7.00 pm, Richmond Town Hall. Organised by Fish & Game NZ and Forest & Bird, contact Karen Crook or phone 03 544 6382.

Motueka Ward - Thursday 23 September, 2.30 pm, Community House Meeting Room, Decks Reserve, Motueka. Organised by Grey Power Motueka, contact Jim Butler or phone 03 528 9076

Waimea Inlet Strategy Approved

Tasman residents are being invited to sign up to protect the Waimea Inlet. Tasman District Council has joined the Nelson City Council, Department of Conservation and Nelson-Marlborough Fish and Game in approving the Waimea Inlet Strategy and becoming a signatory to the Waimea Inlet Charter.

The public are invited to join the Charter at a special signing event to be held on 27 September 2010 at the Sandeman Reserve in Richmond between noon and 1.00 pm.

The aim of the Strategy is to ensure a shared community approach to the Waimea Inlet and its restorative future. A steering group has been supervising the development of the Strategy since October 2009. There has been wide-ranging consultation with interested community groups through a series of workshops, presentations and discussions. People have shown there is wide support for the strategy and strong interest in implementing it.

“The Waimea Inlet is a regional ecological treasure. We all enjoy what it offers us in terms of beauty and recreation,” says Nelson City Council Monitoring Co-ordinator Paul Sheldon. “Now the region needs to combine to ensure we don’t jeopardize its future.”

Tasman District Council Policy Planner Neil Jackson agrees the key to the inlet’s future is the community and developing an understanding of how unique and special the waterway is. “The inlet can mean many things to many people. It has cultural, environmental, recreational and economic value. Rather than letting these values compete, we need to collaborate on holding and improving them in the future of the inlet.”

Signatories to the Waimea Inlet Charter will meet in a forum three to four times a year to set priorities for action, share progress and results and be on the lookout for any new issues that arise.

More information about the Waimea Inlet Draft Management Strategy

Ute in the Clear

In the last Newsline an article on “Parking on footpaths and shared paths” was accompanied by a file photo taken on the Lower Moutere shared path, where Cycle Trains from Lower Moutere School had just started. Students and families had concerns about the number of cars parked along the path, making it unsafe for the cyclists as they have to move out into the road.

However, the ute pictured was not parked, but in the process of reversing into a driveway. We would like to apologise to the business-owner and explain to readers that the photo was used solely as visual support for the article.

NB: Parking is available across the road from the Lower Moutere shared path.

Water Metering Begins Soon

Holders of water permits (industry and irrigators) in the Tasman District who are subject to water metering are reminded that weekly meter readings are required from 1 November 2010 until 2 May 2011 (inclusive). During October, Council will send out a “pre-season” letter to all consent-holders, either by email for those who send returns through Council’s webpage or by email, or by post with the prepaid return cards.

The Council staff members responsible for the water metering project are Daryl Page and Vicky Thorn
Contact Daryl Page and Vicky Thorne - Compliance Monitoring Team, Tasman District Council

Hall Reflects Big Spirit

Lake Rotoiti residents realised in the late 1980s that their hall was looking “decrepit”, says local Doug McConochie, so they set about planning for its replacement. A committee took a look at school and community facilities in Nelson, architects submitted draft ideas, and Wakefield draughtsman Allan Walters distilled it all into a set of plans. The Lake Rotoiti Community Hall opened in December 2004, boasting a meeting room, kitchen and sports stadium with a red beech sprung floor. It has been valued for insurance purposes at $1.25 million.

Tasman District Council funded 40 percent of the cost, with the tiny 200-strong community finding the balance, says another project mainstay, Phil Borlase. The Lottery Grants Board and charitable trusts gave $90,000, private donations totalled $250,000 and volunteers put in the hours – Phil estimates more than $400,000 worth.

Doug says Lake Rotoiti has “tremendous” community spirit. Tradespeople such as drainlayers and painters responded in kind with quotes that were sometimes half their usual rate, he says. Builders Scott Construction contributed invaluable expertise. “It’s an amazing feat for the size of the community,” says Phil.

Booking manager Pam Dovey says “everyone” uses the hall. It has courts marked for badminton, volleyball, basketball and netball. The Department of Conservation holds meetings there, a recent fundraiser for volunteer firefighters brought in $4000, weddings are a mainstay, the army uses it for training weeks, the hall has hosted large funerals, and Boys Brigade and Girl Guides both use the facility.

Neighbouring Lake Rotoiti School (30 pupils) has regular access for sports, music and concerts. Powerboat gatherings, barn dances, table-tennis, indoor bowls – the hall is busy three or four times a week.

Pam describes St Arnaud and surrounds as “like communities were 30 years ago”. Friendly Friday gatherings at the hall or local café draw locals and visitors alike for a wine or cuppa to welcome the weekend. She says the hall can seat up to 150 people for catered functions, with a crew of residents available to cook meals in the large kitchen.

Council pays for a part-time gardener, but residents still provide much of the labour for improvements. They have transformed an old quarry site into beautiful gardens, with the barbecue area next to get an upgrade. The Council owns the hall, so it pays the rates. Power and gas bills come out of hireage fees plus the annual Council maintenance grant of $5000. Diesel for the boiler is a major expense, nevertheless Phil says the facility is largely self-funding. The hall is also the local archive, with a room upstairs housing documents, photos, artefacts and the DoC archives. Many of the treasures will be on display downstairs in an Archive Day on the Labour Weekend Monday, complemented by stalls..

Proposed Changes to Resource Management Plan

More land will be available for housing in the Richmond foothills, and rules regarding two Tasman District faultlines and potentially unstable slopes have been refined and improved as a result of public feedback on the Tasman Resource Management Plan.

The Council’s proposed amendments to the plan were notified on Saturday 28 August 2010. They are:

Richmond East Development Area – Proposed Plan Change 20 - This provides for about 50 hectares of residential and 34 hectares of serviced rural residential land.
Active Fault Rupture Risk Management – Proposed Plan Change 21 - This more accurately defines the Wairau Segment of the Alpine Fault and the Waimea-Flaxmore Fault on the planning maps and amends the relevant plan rules.
Slope Instability Risk Area – Proposed Variation 71 - This provides for a more extensive Slope Instability Risk Area adjacent to Richmond on the planning maps and amends the relevant rules.

The plan amendments arise from consultation feedback received on the draft amendments, which were circulated for public comment during March this year. As a result of that feedback changes were made, such as:

The Richmond East Development Area zone boundaries were refined to make best use of the available land. The density of the proposed residential zone above Hill Street was reduced in some precincts. To help retain the park-like character of the area, some trees, on both Council and private land, are proposed for protection.
The Active Fault Rupture Risk area, shown on the planning maps, has been refined and some limitations on subdivision along the Richmond foothills reduced.
The Slope Instability Risk area provisions relating to earthworks have been refined.

Anyone can make a submission on the proposed plan amendments. Submissions can be sent to the Policy Manager, Tasman District Council, Private Bag 4, Richmond 7050 to be received by 4.00 pm on Monday 1 November 2010.

More information about the proposed amendments, plan changes and variations.

For more information about these amendments:
Contact Mary Honey - Policy Planner, Tasman District Council regarding Proposed Change 20
Cotnact Steve Markham - Policy Manager, Tasman District council regarding Proposed Change 21 and Variation 71

Seawall to be Christened

The new seawall at the Old Mill Walkway in Ruby Bay will be officially opened with a barbecue at Charles Chaytor Reserve at 1.30 pm on Friday 24 September 2010. Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne and a local identity will cut the ribbon at 2.00 pm, and Mapua schoolchildren will also take part in the event. Mapua residents are invited to attend.

The 520m-long rock wall took three months to build. Work had to be scheduled to avoid high tides, and the winter weather caused no problems, says Tasman District Council Transportation Network Engineer Selwyn Steedman. The constructed wall is about 5 metres high, but up to half of that is buried in the sand. “There’s some big, big boulders in the base,” he says. Engineers Tonkin & Taylor designed the wall and were contract managers, with Taylors Contracting doing the building. All round, “an excellent job,” says Selwyn.

Civil Defence Volunteers Honoured

Three Civil Defence Emergency Management volunteers were honoured recently for their long service in the Nelson/Tasman region. Ngatimoti resident Ed Stevens has been the Warden for the Motueka River Valley for 34 years. He became involved in civil defence during the big 1976 flood. Ed maintains a VHF radio communication link with others up and down the river valley. In recent months he has been updating civil defence planning for Ngatimoti.

Ken Simpson has given two decades of service as a volunteer in the Murchison area. He operates the HF and VHF radio communications for both Civil Defence Emergency Management and Land Search and Rescue. His radio expertise is also relied on by the West Coast Emergency Management group through the communications links he maintains into the Springs Junction area. Ken is part of the incident management team at the Murchison Emergency Operations Centre.

Eric Humphrey’s connection to civil defence dates from the 1981 Brook Street flood. In 1989, he took over radio communications for the Nelson Tasman region, and has helped to improve the network. His work includes providing training, plus maintaining and installing radios.

The three men were presented with their awards by the Minister of Civil Defence, John Carter. Also present were MP Nick Smith, Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne and Nelson Mayor Kerry Marshall..

Disaster Can Strike

The devastation caused by the Canterbury earthquake on 4 September 2010 has prompted many Tasman residents to assess their own readiness for a disaster. Civil Defence recommends you have an emergency kit containing:

Torch with spare batteries (keep a torch by your bed).
Radio with spare batteries (check all batteries every three months).
First-aid kit and essential medicines.
Blankets or sleeping bags.
Toilet paper and large rubbish bags for your emergency toilet.
Food and water for at least three days.
Non-perishable food (canned or dried).
Bottled water – at last three litres per person each day for drinking. It’s also useful to plan how to get water for washing and cooking.
A primus or gas barbecue to cook on.
Check/replace food and water every 12 months.

You should also make a plan with family or friends about where you will go if you need to evacuate your home.
Nelson Tasman Civil Defence Website
Get Ready Get Thru

Council Begins Consultation on Hope Reserve Lodge’s Location

Public consultation has begun on the fate of the relocated Maitai Lodge at Hope Reserve. In May the Council shifted the building from the north-west corner of the Reserve to near the Hope Hall, to create room for new tennis courts. Some nearby residents were upset that they hadn’t been consulted about the shift and the new location. Heeding those concerns, Council has begun extensive consultation on the lodge’s future.

An open day was scheduled for 16 September 2010 at the Hope Hall, with options presented. These include leaving the lodge where it is, or moving the building to another site on the Reserve. Those options will also be displayed in the Council offices, Queen Street, Richmond, from 20-24 September 2010. Feedback from the open day will be reflected in changes made to the public submission form before it is circulated. Forms will be sent to all properties in the Hope area by 1 October 2010. Submissions close on 15 October 2010. Council is expected to release a decision by the end of October 2010.

Karaoke Superstars Wanted

Could you be Tasman District’s next singing sensation? The hunt is on again for the “Tasman Karaoke Superstar”. Last year’s event attracted 100 popstar wannabes, who sang and danced through their quest to be crowned king/queen of the stage.

Five local heats will take place across the District over the coming months, with the Grand Final scheduled for the Motueka A&P Show on Sunday 5 December 2010. There are three age-group categories: Junior (under 8 years), Intermediate (9-12 years) and Senior (13-18). The winners and runners-up from each heat go through to the final.

The event is sponsored by Tasman District Council as part of its commitment to providing creative outlets for young people to contribute to their communities.

2010 Tasman Karaoke Superstar: Richmond

Tuesday, 28 September, 1 pm (under 8) Richmond Mall
Wednesday 29 September, 1 pm (9-12), Richmond Mall
Thursday 30 September, 1 pm (13-18), Richmond Mall

Murchison

Sunday 10 October, 1 pm, Murchison Theatre

Moutere

Friday 22 October, 5 pm, Moutere Hills Community Centre

Motueka

Saturday 23 October, 1 pm, Motueka Recreation Centre

Golden Bay

Sunday 14 November, 11 am, Village Green

Grand Final

Sunday 5 December, 10 am, Motueka A&P Show

For more information contact Paul McConachie - Community Recreation Officer, Tasman District Council

Awards Stack up for Building Venture

The Tasman Nelson Environmental Awards were a platform for Waimea Sawmillers and Gibbons Construction to promote their innovative use of engineering wood to replace steel in large commercial buildings. “Winning the Commercial award gave us an opportunity to demonstrate how commercial buildings can be made carbon-friendly using engineered wood,” says Lauren Walker, of Waimea Sawmillers. “It also provided recognition for the hard yards we’d put in, locally and in Wellington, to ensuring locally grown, untreated Douglas fir timber remains an option for house building.”

Lauren says the awards presentation at Woollaston Estates Winery was a nice bonus. “It was a good opportunity to learn about initiatives taking place in different types of businesses and organisations.” She encouraged people to get involved in the awards, saying entering was easy and the judging process useful.

This year the Commercial section has two categories: Emerging and Leadership. Both carry prizes of $1000 worth of radio advertising from Radio Nelson.

Other categories of Urban Design, Best Use of Renewable Energy, Schools (primary and secondary), Rural, Environmental Leadership, Community/Neighbourhood groups and Families all have prizes of $1000 each. The two Heritage section winners (Site/build and Culture/events) receive $500 apiece, as does a new category this time, Schools (pre-school).
Tasman Nelson Environment Awards

‘Double Act’ Brings Joy to Elderly

They’re a “double-act”. Heather Best and Gwenneth Carter have known each other since they were kids, so it was appropriate that both were honoured with Outstanding Community Service Awards by the Tasman District Council recently. The Richmond pair are an entertainment fixture at resthomes throughout the area. With Heather on piano and Gwen the piano-accordion, they provide hour-long concerts for the residents.

“We’re not professionals, but we’re good and cheap,” Heather jokes. She might add “hard-working” – they have more than 90 bookings for the second half of this year. Residents come up to them in tears, bestowing hugs and kisses as the memories of youthful dances surge back, Gwen says. Some elderly have even been known to dance with their walking frames. Heather and Gwen have also given long service to running the Ladies RSA. Heather used to drive the bus for outings.

The pair are credited with reviving indoor bowls in Richmond, after the club had gone into recess. They also take a mat and bowls into resthomes, with the residents seated around and sometimes bowling from their chairs. Both women are relief drivers for Meals On Wheels – which can run into five-week stints if someone is away on holiday. They will also help the elderly with paperwork for Winz, applying for a rates rebate or making sure seniors take their medication. “It’s really good to have a friend or mate to say, ‘How about doing this’,” says Heather..

Vision Wall Provides Environmental Insight

Renewable energy and clean waterways were the most important considerations for visitors to Ecofest 2010 who were asked to define how to achieve a sustainable environment. Under a theme of ‘Visioning’, the combined Tasman District / Nelson City Council stand at the show featured a 6m-long “Vision Wall” – an artist’s representation of our region with illustrations representing nine topics.

Participants received four stickers, which they were requested to place on the categories they consider most important towards achieving a sustainable and resilient environment. The Councils’ aim was to end up with a strong visual message about which areas interest people the most.

More than 400 people took part in the exercise, which provided the basis for some good conversations with visitors. A lot of people also chose to fill out more detail on another form. “We were surprised at how successful it was in stimulating discussion,” says Rob Francis, Tasman District Council Environmental Education Officer.

The Vision Wall results were:

Renewable energy	271
Waterways	228
Waste	219
Transport	198
Self-sufficiency	184
Biodiversity	180
Sustainable farming	163
Coastal & marine	152
Air quality	127

Sneaky Driveways can be Dangerous

Cars reverse out of their driveways, and over footpaths, on hundreds of streets throughout the Tasman District every day. A lot of those driveways are classed as “sneaky”. A sneaky driveway is where the entrance/exit is hidden by bushes or fences. It is essential that homeowners regularly check that trees and bushes bordering their driveway are trimmed back and are not affecting lines of vision. Pedestrians and cyclists should:

Be aware of sneaky driveways and cars pulling out of them.
Remember that drivers can’t always see you.
If you are unsure, stop and wait.
Look and listen for cars coming out of driveways.
Give yourself space.

Drivers need to remember that footpaths are not for cars, so be alert at all times for pedestrians and cyclists when crossing them. Also, many children use scooters when travelling to and from school, and can
move quickly. Drivers should:

Drive out of their driveways forwards if at all possible.
Double-check the footpath and cycleway before crossing it.
If you have to reverse, do it slowly and safely by looking behind whilst reversing – don’t rely on your mirrors.
Stop before the footpath and look for pedestrians and cyclists – it is their right of way! Children and the elderly in particular are very vulnerable.