Home » Tasman » Newsline Online » Newsline Online 2011 » Newsline 264 - 18 November

Turners Bluff Road to Be Realigned
Mayor’s Comment
Libraries Close to Gear Up for Future
Takaka Flood Risk Much Clearer
Cylindrical Pavilion a Head-turner
Good Progress Made With Sheep-dip Soil Testing
Staff Profile: Richard Liddicoat – Online Communications Officer
Market Day a Firm Favourite
Council Staff Learn from Rena Grounding
Walk Through Motueka’s History
Shy GB Gardeners Given a Nudge
Building Staff More Accessible
Gear Up for Christmas Cheer
Cycle Trail has Wakefield in its Sights
Kindergarten Children Learning and Acting Sustainably
Walking a Mile in Someone Else’s Shoes
It’s Property Revaluation Time
Family’s Emergency Skills Put to the Test
Proposed Speed Limit Changes
Community Recreation - and event listings


Turners Bluff Road to Be Realigned
One of Tasman’s most unstable roads is receiving attention. About 400m of the Riwaka-Kaiteriteri Road at Turners Bluff will be realigned where a slip has narrowed the tarmac on a blind corner.
Oldfields Nelson has won the contract to move the road inland away from the crumbling cliff face. A gully will be filled in and the alignment smoothed out, making it safer, especially for large vehicles and those towing trailers.
The work is due to start mid-November 2011 and be completed by late March 2012, with a two-week pause over the Christmas-New Year holiday period.
Up to 10,000 vehicles use the narrow Riwaka-Kaiteriteri road each day during the busy summer months. Local residents have long complained about the state of the Turners Bluff corner. The outer edge had slumped as a result of heavy rain.
A report in August 2009 by engineering consultants MWH cited a “very high threat” that the road would collapse in an earthquake or deluge. It recommended repairs within a year.
The work was estimated to cost $660,000. With no money budgeted in the 10-year plan, Tasman District Council gathered together funds from its emergency works major drainage and minor improvements funds, and had hoped for a NZ Transport Agency subsidy. This request was turned down by NZTA in October last year.
Council applied again, and this time found the agency “very receptive”, says Transportation Engineer Steve Elkington.
Motueka parking upgrade
In other transportation work, Council is planning to improve parking in High Street through the Motueka town centre by marking individual parks. Fulton Hogan has been tasked with removing the old lines and applying new markings. These should be completed by early December 2011. Businesses will receive notification of the work shortly.

 
Mayor’s Comment
The last two weeks have been extremely busy as my colleagues and I discuss the Council’s Long Term Plan, which will be released for consultation early in the new year. The plan is our opportunity to look ten years ahead to ensure the District continues to develop whilst meeting the needs of those currently living here. Pitched into a time of economic uncertainty we need to keep a very close eye on the affordability of rates. Within this environment came the recent news that we are one of the three areas bucking the national trend with a population growth of 1.6% last year so we need to keep the other eye on the provision of core services to cater for this growth to ensure we can maintain the environment, built and otherwise, to the standard we know the people of Tasman expect.
Recent events are encouraging for the future of the District. The national aquaculture conference was held earlier this month with a focus on the opportunities new legislation has provided and a visit by the Prime Minister and Ministers for Agriculture and the Environment to be briefed on the Lee Valley Dam.
Both events have turned the eyes of political and commercial decision makers towards the future and current opportunities within Tasman for economic leadership. We as a Council will be ensuring that economic opportunities are realised, but we will be doing so while maintaining affordability and good environmental outcomes.
– Mayor Richard Kempthorne



 
Libraries Close to Gear Up for Future
Tasman District libraries will close from Tuesday 22 November to Thursday 24 November 2011,
to install a new computer system that will give customers access to much more information.
The current online catalogue will also be unavailable during the closure, so you won’t be able to renew or reserve items via your home computer until Friday 25 November 2011. Library staff ask that you hang on to return books until after the closedown.
Kotui (which means “interlace” or “interweave”) is a shared management system being installed in libraries across the country, and run by the National Library of New Zealand. Nelson switched over recently, and Marlborough was the first in the Top of the South. Other entrants this year include Taupo and New Plymouth, with more to follow over the next two years.
Nick Allred, Digital Services Librarian based in Richmond, says a customer searching under Kotui’s “Discovery layer” will trawl both the books, DVDs, CDs etc of the library’s collection, plus the online content. The system also has clever “sideways” functions. Search for a particular book and it will list others on the topic – and even provide links to reviews.
You can search the database from home, school, work or a smartphone.
For library staff, Kotui allows them to build shared networks with other member libraries. Each library no longer has to manage its own in-house system, since they all run from a central base in Christchurch.
Libraries pay a subscription to join the service.

 
Takaka Flood Risk Much Clearer
The flood risk to Takaka is now in sharp focus thanks to a new computer model, covering the lower Takaka and Motupipi Rivers and their flood plains. The model allows Council staff to simulate floods of different sizes and durations to assess the impacts on land and building development.
The model also allows Council staff to test risk management options to see what effect they would have on flooding.
Golden Bay residents have a chance to see this modelling at an open day in Takaka on Tuesday 18 November 2011 where the options available to the community will be discussed.
“Our understanding of the flood risk in Takaka to date has largely been based on anecdotal evidence and photos from previous floods,” says Council River Scientist Eric Verstappen. The last major flood was in July 1983, estimated as a 1-in-75-year event.
“The modelling work gives us information on how a larger 100-year return event might impact on the township and flood plain today, as well as what impact climate change might have in the future.”
Council Policy Planner Lisa McGlinchey will use the model to investigate development options for Takaka. “The initial model results have already raised some interesting questions – it is a valuable tool to have,” she says.
The flood modelling was made possible through surveys using LiDAR, aircraft-mounted equipment that bounces a laser beam off the ground below to produce precise elevation figures.
The model will also provide the Council and Civil Defence groups with valuable information on when and where flooding would close roads, and allow warnings to be issued to landowners for the evacuation of stock or their families should a large flood appear imminent.
In the 1983 flood, the swollen Takaka and Anatoki Rivers swept across dairy farms, ripping out fences and posts, uprooting trees and damaging roads, according to the NIWA website. Mercifully, there was no loss of life. About 140 people – nearly 40 families – were evacuated from Takaka township. A metre of mud-laden water raged through Commercial Street. Some residents were without power for three days, and slips closed the Takaka Hill road.
Similar floods occurred in 1967 and 1924.
The meeting on Tuesday 18 November 2011 is at the Takaka Bowling Club, 17 Hiawatha Lane, from noon to 6.30 pm. Powerpoint presentations will take place at 12.30 pm and 6.00 pm, complementing information and maps displayed on the walls. A presentation will show animations of various flood scenarios.

 
Cylindrical Pavilion a Head-turner
Representative cricket, athletics and football have a distinctive new home at Saxton Field. The 100m-long cylindrical building, officially called the Saxton Oval Pavilion, features changing rooms, public toilets, office space, a bar, kitchen, timekeeping and storage facilities.
Covered walkways on either side offer views of the athletics track and cricket oval. There is also terraced seating.
The $3.8m building was designed by the Nelson firm Arthouse Architecture and officially opened on Friday 11 November 2011. Tasman District and Nelson City Councils co-fund facilities at Saxton Field, which has now grown to 66.5ha and hosts many South Island and national tournaments, boosting the local economy.
In October 2009, the huge (7000 sq m) Saxton Stadium opened its doors as the new home for basketball, netball, volleyball and table tennis.
The Oval Pavilion has already proved its worth during the South Island Masters Games in October 2011.


 
Good Progress Made With Sheep-dip Soil Testing
Council has carried out the first 19 site visits for the free soil testing programme for arsenic around old sheep-dip sites in Tasman District. Farmers showed a keen interest in how the handheld machine was used to test the soil in and around the dip site.
“We work out from the dip in all directions and mark off any area that exceeds the stock grazing guidelines for arsenic,” says Jenny Easton the Council representative running the field programme. “It takes about 1-2 hours per dip site.”
Half of the dip sites tested had none or minimal arsenic, “which was good news”. Most of the other dips sites, which covered about 20m x 30m, had concentrations of arsenic that exceeded the stock grazing guidelines by 5 to 10 times, a few were 50-100 times and one had arsenic spilt in one small area so it was 500 times too high – “potentially toxic for a young child playing around the dip”, says Jenny. She notes that in the North Island stock have died after grazing near old sheep-dip sites, so it is important to manage the site carefully.
The new Sheep Dip Fact Sheets given to the farmers provide advice on managing the risks from the affected area. Ideas these farmers came up with included bringing in spare clean soil or gravel to cover the area, fencing it off and planting trees, or excluding stock, including chickens and pigs, from that area.
“These fact sheets are available to anyone to grab from any one of our Service Centres, and also on the Council’s website,” says Jenny.
“The Council is very pleased with how this project went; the landowners have appreciated it and we have been able to provide useful information on ways to manage this historic problem. Word has got around and more farmers are keen to take advantage of this service.”
If you would like to put your name down for free soil testing of your old sheep-dip, or know of old dips you are concerned about, please contact Jenny Easton on Ph. 03 543 8413, or email jenny.easton@tasman.govt.nz


 
Richard Liddicoat – Online Communications Officer
What is your main role?
My role is to make sure www.tasman.govt.nz is up-to-date, relevant and useful for residents, ratepayers and anyone who interacts with the Council.
How do you see the role of the website? And in the future?
For anything you might want to know about your Council, the website is a great first port of call – there’s a wealth of practical information. Newsline’s on there, so is Mudcakes & Roses. But there’s also Council plans and strategies, meeting agendas, reports, property and environmental information, and much more.
The website helps the Council reach people in all corners of the District, and because it’s not heavy with images, it keeps the information accessible for people on dial-up connections.
Perhaps most importantly, the website is a place to interact with your Council – to have your say, to complete transactions and get detailed information when you need it. Last year’s redevelopment was a great start, and there are huge opportunities ahead.
How can the public assist that development?
Keep in touch. The website belongs to its community. Your feedback helps us to improve.
How long have you been in the job?
Two months.
Where have you come from?
Post-apocalypse Christchurch. Home was the lovely port of Lyttelton, where I lived with Kathy, and Tessa, our daughter.
I was previously editor in the web team at Christchurch City Libraries. Prior to that I worked as a newspaper sub-editor and spent five years in broadcasting. All of these roles were about giving people quality information when they needed it.
What attracted you to Tasman District?
My family and I have holidayed here for many years, and like most people who don’t live in this part of the world, I’d always tried to figure out how I could!
Now I’ve got a great role in an organisation doing excellent work. With the scenery and high sunshine hours it’s a brilliant place for young families, so it was an easy decision.


 
Market Day a Firm Favourite
Richmond Market Day will be on Friday 30 December this year.
The biggest market in the Top of the South is always a favourite for both locals and tourists. Queen Street comes alive with more than 170 stalls selling a wide variety of wares, plus food and refreshment, buskers, and activities for children such as face-painting.
Registrations for stall sites close on Monday 5 December 2011. Get in quick if you require a stall as the event is nearly booked out. Contact Sally Wood, Richmond Unlimited on Ph. 03 544 4898, or register online at www.richmondunlimited.co.nz



 
Council Staff Learn from Rena Grounding
Jeremy Butler arrived in Tauranga to “frantic” scenes as authorities assembled an Incident Command Centre while the stranded container ship Rena threatened to break in two on Astrolabe Reef.
Jeremy, the Tasman District Council’s Principal Resource Consents Advisor is also the “regional oiled wildlife response representative” for such environmental disasters, and joined other regional authority officials and bird experts from throughout the country who flew to the Bay of Plenty in early October 2011, expecting to confront a major oil spill.
Jeremy arrived just five days after the Rena had grounded and was straight into 14-hour days, assisting with planning and logistics,
co-ordinating staff movements etc.
“Very interesting... but certainly high-pressure,” he says. “In a way, enjoyable as the adrenalin kicks in. Everybody just had so many things to do. It would be a rare two minutes that someone didn’t tap you on the shoulder with a question or request.”
The Rena grounding is a national tragedy, he adds. Jeremy managed to visit the wildlife recovery centre near Mt Maunganui to see the oil being washed from stricken birds.
Jeremy has a Masters degree in geography, with an ecological focus. Part of his training for a crisis such as this has been to identify sites
in Tasman for wildlife recovery centres.
Jeremy was part of a team from Tasman District Council who have assisted in Tauranga.
“It was great experience for how we would run a response to a similar emergency in Tasman-Nelson,” he says.
As the weather eased in the Bay of Plenty, so did the pressure on the response team, who settled into a routine and cut back to 10-12hr days. After a week Jeremy returned to Richmond, with plans to go back for another stint, which could include standing in for the national oiled wildlife response planner, Helen McConnell.
The Council staff time spent on the operation is recovered from Maritime NZ, so there is minimal cost to Tasman but it is a substantial learning opportunity for staff.

 
Walk Through Motueka’s History
A walk into the past will soon wind its way through Decks Reserve in Motueka, recording events of significance to the Maori and Pakeha habitations of the area.
Sixty marble plaques, about A3 in size, will be set into the turf beside the path, in a project five years in the making, says Council Reserves Officer Glenn Thorn. Photographic images and text have been compiled by the Motueka and District Historical Society, with help from iwi, the Community Board and Arts Council Motueka.
“The photos have come up really well,” says Glenn.
A booklet will be produced on the plaques, so people can take in more historical detail as they walk the walk. Glenn says this is a “living project” that will grow in the future.
The plaques are sponsored for $200 each, with about 20 taken up so far by a mixture of businesses and families. The sponsor’s name is engraved in the bottom right-hand corner.
A selection of plaques are on display in the front window of Whitwells Menswear, High Street, Motueka. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, contact Glenn Thorn Ph. 03 543 8465 or Tara Cater Ph. 03 543 8578 at Tasman District Council.

 
Shy GB Gardeners Given a Nudge
Golden Bay residents are being urged to “Dob-in-a-garden” as part of the annual gardening competition.
“We are encouraging people to enter gardens they admire in the hope the owner will let us all admire them too,” say competition organisers.
The organisers will contact the owners of “dobbed-in” plots, but “of course it would be even better if their permission was obtained first”.
Entries close at 4.30 pm on Tuesday 29 November 2011, with good prizes on offer. Categories are:
    Best Vegetable Garden
    Best Young Gardener (under 16 yrs)
    Best Contribution to Street Appearance
    Best First-time Entry Vegetable Gardener (each entry receives a $10 gift voucher)
    Best Outdoor Entertainment Area
    Best Environmentally Friendly Garden
    Overall Best Garden
Winners will be announced by mid-December 2011. The competition is hosted by the Golden Bay Community Board, Golden Bay Garden Centre and Tasman District Council.


 
Building Staff More Accessible
Building consents advice is now close at hand for residents of Golden Bay and the Motueka area. On Thursdays, a Building Consent Officer is at Tasman District Council Service Centres, alternating each week between Takaka and Motueka, ready to answer questions from designers, builders or residents.
The service is being trialled to gauge interest and value.
Coordinator of Building Control Phil Hilleard says the aim is to make the building consent process as straightforward as possible.
“Council is keenly aware of the frustrations sometimes experienced by residents when trying to get building consent. Better access to the qualified staff will demystify the consent process and reduce frustration,” he says. ??
“If you are a designer, builder or a resident who lives in Golden Bay
or Motueka you can make an appointment and get definitive advice as to what is needed and how to proceed to make the whole consent process run more smoothly.”
Residents whose homes require compliance for work already done are also encouraged to get in touch. You can make an appointment either at the Service Centre or by phoning 03 525 0020 for Takaka
or 03 528 2022 for Motueka.

 
Gear Up for Christmas Cheer
Deck the halls... Tasman residents are spoilt for choice with Christmas celebrations.
Richmond is first out of the blocks this year with the Pak ‘n’ Save Santa Parade on Sunday 27 November 2011. Starting at noon, it travels down Queen Street from Edward Street to Cambridge Street, with entertainment and prizegiving in Sundial Square from 1.00 pm. The theme is “Everything we love and cherish about Christmas and the festive season”. Spot prizes, a heap of giveaways, colourful cartoon characters and a special guest appearance by the jolly big man in the red jumpsuit add up to a fun afternoon for all the family.
Tapawera Playcentre has built a log cabin playhouse that will feature on their float in the parade. Spectators can buy raffle tickets to be in with a chance to win the playhouse, as well as one built by the Waimea Men’s Shed (either would make a great Christmas present).
Carols by Candlelight takes place on Sunday 18 December 2011, from 8.00 pm in Washbourn Gardens, Richmond. The evening includes performances by the Richmond Orchestra and the Take a Chance Singers, plus special guests. Gold coin or candle donation.
The Operatunity show, An Olde Fashioned Christmas, is on Tuesday 6 December 2011 in the Hope Community Church, Ranzau Road, starting at 2.00 pm.
The concert promises “all the joy, spirit and fun of Christmas”, including carols. Tickets are $28 and include afternoon tea with the artists. Tickets from Operatunity Entertainment Ltd, Ph. 0508 266 237, email
 bookings@operatunity.co.nz, or visit www.operatunity.co.nz
Brightwater Carols by Glo-lite start at 5.30 pm on Saturday 10 December 2011 at Snowden’s Bush, with local entertainment rounding out the bill. Entry by donation.
Motueka New World Starlight Parade is on Friday 2 December 2011, from 7.00 pm -10.00 pm in High Street, with a float procession, twinkling Christmas lights and novelty festive entertainment. It’s a real community event where old friends catch up and families enter into the Christmas spirit. If you want to enter a float the cost is $15-$20 and entries close on 25 November 2011. Phone Jacqui Taylor
on 03 528 4488, or email ourtownmotueka@xtra.co.nz
The next night, Saturday 3 December 2011, is the Motueka Christmas in the Park, from 3.00 pm -7.30 pm, at Goodman Park, Old Wharf Road. Entry to this family-friendly event is free, with music, food stalls and bouncy castle for the kids. For details phone Motueka Recreation Centre on 03 528 8228 or email ria.a@mot.sporttasman.org.nz
Carols & Readings, Sunday 11 December 2011, 6.00 pm, St Thomas’ Church, 101 High Street.
Carols by Lamplight, Ernie and Bev Dyke’s popular woolshed event includes the Motueka Municipal Band. Sunday 11 December 2011, 7.30 pm, at 297 Central Road, Lower Moutere.
BBQ & Carols on the Lawn, Sunday 18 December 2011, 5.30 pm on the grass behind St Thomas Church, 101 High Street, Motueka.
Christmas Eve Carol Services:
    7.30 pm, St Barnabas, Main Road, Riwaka
    7.30 pm, St James, Waiwhero Road, Ngatimoti
    11.00 pm carols plus Christmas Communion Service, St Thomas Church.
Takaka’s Santa Parade is traditionally held closer to the big day. This year the jovial St Nick visits on Saturday 17 December 2011, 10.00 am to 12 noon, in Commercial Street and the Village Green. The parade includes Golden Bay’s Collectable Vehicle and Tractor Clubs, plus performances by Takaka Citizens Band and other musicians. There will be free balloons and face-painting, with spot prizes for kids in costume or on decorated bikes.
The 2010 event attracted 1200 people plus another 140 riding on more than 40 floats. A donkey made an appearance, and horses were transformed into reindeer.
The parade is supported by the Tasman District Council through Grants From Rates, and organiser Dave Myall also thanks Fulton Hogan, Opus, the Rugby Club for managing the road closure, plus the many Golden Bay businesses who give support.
Finally, Christmas Eve Carols take place from 7.30 pm on Takaka Village Green, (if wet, in the Village Theatre). Carol singing will be led by the Candlelight Choir. Song sheets provided. Free entry. Bring a smile.

 
Cycle Trail has Wakefield in its Sights
Stage one of Tasman’s Great Taste Trail could reach from Richmond to Wakefield (19.8km) by March next year.
The latest section between SH60 in Richmond and Ranzau Road has been completed, with cyclists already giving it their blessing. The trail uses the old Railway Reserve and runs through the Waimea Estate vineyard.
The Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust is building the track under contract to the Tasman District Council.
South of the new stretch, about 2km of footpath widening incorporating the cycle trail along Ranzau Road to Pugh Road was completed in July 2011 with the Pugh Road section to Edens Road under construction. Attention has now turned to building a suspension bridge across the Wairoa River at the end of Pugh Road, says Dugald Ley, Development Engineer with the Council. A naming sponsor
is being sought for the bridge.
The trail will then continue onto the Two Rivers Walkway and down
to Bryant Road at Brightwater, then into Lord Rutherford Road and Higgins Road to Wakefield.
Other sections of trail are gradually linking up. A new pedestrian/cycling track on Rabbit Island now connects to Mapua via a ferry that began running across the estuary mouth in early October 2011. Construction is proposed along the Waimea Estuary foreshore towards Richmond subject to the outcome of a resource consent hearing.
The Richmond Deviation cycleway, connecting with the Wakatu Drive path to Nelson, opened in June 2011, and Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne cut the ribbon on a shared path from Lower Queen Street to Three Brothers Corner (SH60) in December 2009.
Tasman’s Great Taste Trail, is a 175km route from Nelson/Richmond to Kohatu, up through Tapawera and the Motueka Valley, then back along the coast from Riwaka to Richmond is subject to further funding being found. The trail is expected to boost tourism revenue for the region – the Otago Rail Trail generates $8 million a year – and also forms part
of the national cycleway, Nga Haerenga. The Government has provided $2 million for the Tasman paths and the Trails Trust aims to raise another $3.8 million.

Go to www.tasman.govt.nz for more information.

 
Kindergarten Children Learning and Acting Sustainably
At Greenwood Kindergarten, children as young as three years old pluck weeds out of their gardens to put in the compost heap “to feed the worms”. They identify birds at the bird-feeder and count the baby apples growing in a child-height espaliered tree – planted by children who have since gone off to school.
A “Grow House” made of recycled plastic bottles is slowly taking shape. The children know the bottle walls need bamboo sticks for reinforcing.
All “green” projects at the Motueka kindergarten are learning activities, including a child-safe solar oven demonstrating solar energy. Children develop leadership skills as they help the adults with the planning and decision-making for the projects.
That sort of dedication from staff, children, parents and neighbours has earned Greenwood coveted Silver-level Enviroschool status.
Head teacher Shayne Hall says adults have also been learning about sustainable ways to help the environment. Homework for parents and children revealed that the paper bricks made at the kindergarten to recycle their paper, burn longer than an equivalent-sized log with less smoke – but more ash. Enviroschool assessors found that literacy, numeracy, Maori language, science, technology, art and music lessons are integrated into activities.
The Tasman-Nelson region now has 30 Enviroschools, encompassing nearly 8000 students. Nationwide, 809 schools and preschools are signed up. Tasman District Council supports the programme through resources and advice. The Council recognises that environmental education for the younger generation creates a ripple effect through the whole community and is a key part of securing a sustainable future for our region.
More local Enviroschools are going through a “reflection” process before the end of year and, says Tasman Regional Co-ordinator Adie Leng, “they all deserve congratulations for preparing our children for their future on this wonderful yet changeable planet”.

 
Walking a Mile in Someone Else’s Shoes
Tasman District and Nelson City Councillors and staff were rendered half-blind or disabled recently, then sent into central Richmond to cope.
The exercise was organised by the Accessibility For All Forum, to give decision-makers firsthand experience of the challenges faced by those with an impairment or limited mobility. These range from partial blindness to the accident victim on crutches, or a caregiver pushing a pram.
The 16 participants divided into four teams, each with tasks to complete. The Foundation of the Blind supplied goggles that simulate tunnel vision or detached retinas. Other team-members were on crutches, in wheelchairs, mobility scooter or used a zimmer frame, says exercise co-organiser Sarah Downs.
They had to shop at the supermarket, use a toilet, visit the library and Council headquarters, or just negotiate a carpark – often a risky task for the able-bodied.
Sarah says participants encountered surprising difficulties. Some ATMs, for instance, are too high for a wheelchair user to see the keypad. On the plus side, others have a headphone socket so the sight-impaired can listen to instructions.
Mayor Richard Kempthorne went “completely blind” in goggles. Mall and supermarket staff helped him with his basket, then aided him at the checkout. (Sarah adds that while the ready assistance is heartening, some impaired people enjoy being independent.)
Other participants encountered narrow corridors to toilets, heavy swing doors that barred access to shops, hazards from sandwich boards outside stores, tactile pavers on footpaths that make crossings tricky, and one second-storey emergency exit that led to a flight of stairs. Tough luck, wheelchair users.
There were positives too. Participants delighted in shops that were well laid out, and had helpful staff.
Up the road at Washbourn Gardens, the “disabled” encountered paths that were too steep to negotiate independently in a wheelchair and a lack of handrails.
Sarah says the 90-minute exercise was enlightening for participants, judging by their feedback, and valuable in outlining “strategies we can replicate throughout the region.”
Similar outings are planned for Motueka and Takaka. Council building consent staff also want to “impair” themselves and road-test existing facilities so they can head off potential issues
at the planning stage of public buildings.

 
It’s Property Revaluation Time
The Tasman District’s three-yearly revaluation of property values has been completed. The Council’s contracted provider Quotable Value (QV) will be sending property owners the statutorily required notification of their new valuations from 9 December 2011.
Any objections to the new valuations can be lodged by 27 January 2012 either online via the QV website or by letter to them. The deadline for objections has been extended by Tasman’s Councillors from the original date of 9 January 2012 to enable property owners a greater opportunity to consider the valuations.
The valuations will be provided free on the QV website, www.qv.co.nz, from 9 December 2011 through to 27 January 2012.

 
Family’s Emergency Skills Put to the Test
They were billed as the region’s “most prepared family” but the Rollston family say there were still plenty of unexpected challenges during their Ecofest experience.
Pen and John Rollston, children Mya, 9, Morgan, 7 and George their Jack Russell accepted the challenge of camping out over Ecofest Expo weekend, living from their emergency kit supplies. The challenge was sponsored by Classic Hits Nelson and Mondo Travel, which donated a prize of a family trip to Sydney.
Over the two days, the Rollstons camped in a tent next to the Trafalgar Centre and were faced with a number of tasks such as building a ‘no-dig’ garden, creating a shelter from scrap materials, doing without their cell phones and being winched on stretchers from the top of the Trafalgar Centre by the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team.
Newsline recently caught up with the Rollstons to find out what they had learned from their experience, and whether they had any tips to share. Pen Rollston says the challenge was both easier and more difficult than the family had anticipated.
“We didn’t expect the great assistance that we received from organisations like St John’s, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the USAR team – they were all just wonderful. But what made it tough was that Nelson was hit by a polar blast that weekend! We knew it was going to be cold - but we didn’t realise it would be that cold!” she says.
One of the biggest learnings for Pen during the whole experience was the challenge of finding and carrying drinking water.
“After the weekend we decided we were going to invest in a water filter – because water is so heavy to carry and we found that you could really only carry enough for one person for a day,” she says.
Pen says the children coped incredibly well with the challenge.
“I was completely amazed – the kids adapted so easily, way better than John and I did. They loved it and Morgan still says he’d love to go back and stay in the tent!”
Pen says the experience has given the family a greater appreciation for what people in Christchurch have gone through.
“We knew there was an end to our experience which made it bearable. I really take my hat off to the people of Christchurch,” she says.
Ecofest organiser Jo Reilly says the Most Prepared Family Challenge was a great way of highlighting the message of the need to be prepared.
“This year’s Ecofest was all about the things you could do to ‘future-proof’ yourself, your family and your home. The Rollstons did a great job of actively demonstrating this message to the many visitors to Ecofest,” she says.
Some of the Rollston’s top tips for getting prepared are:
    Have some anti-bacterial gel on hand – you might not be able to shower for several days and drinking water supplies will be limited.
    Don’t share water bottles - this can increase the risk of water-bourne illnesses, especially in an emergency situation when you are likely
to be stressed and run down.
    Cardboard or paper is great for warmth – anything that gets you
off the ground and stops the chill from the bare earth.
    Invest in a water filter (or have some chlorine bleach handy) so that you can make water safe for drinking.
    Baked beans are heavy! Have plenty of dehydrated food on hand
– it’s really tasty, nutritious and also light to carry. Nuts are also great for curbing hunger pangs.
    A hot cooked meal is great for morale, especially when its cold.
    Make sure you have matches and a good light source – playing
games around a lamp can be fun, sitting in the dark is not!
    Make sure you have warm clothes – it can get very cold at night, especially if you’re camping.
    Make sure you have some pet food in your emergency kit if you have animals.
    Stay positive and keep calm – don’t put your stress onto the kids. They’ll be fine if you are.
    The emergency services do an amazing job, but they will be super busy – don’t expect they’ll be able to get to you straight away.

 
Proposed Speed Limit Changes
Tasman District Council wishes to inform the public of proposed changes to a number of speed limits on various local roads in the Tasman and Ruby Bay Areas of Tasman District. These changes will require the Council to amend its current Consolidated Bylaw – Chapter 4 “Speed Limits Bylaw 2004”.
Under Section 86 of the Local Government Act 2002 Council is required to publicly notify any changes proposed to a Bylaw enabling interested parties to comment.
Council recently reviewed the speed limits on local roads in line with the Land Transport Rule Setting of Speed Limits 2003.
The following schedule sets out the proposed changes. Maps showing both existing and proposed speed limits changes are available for perusal at Council’s Service Centres and Libraries in Richmond, Mapua, Motueka,

Comments on the above changes will be accepted up to 4.30 pm on Thursday 22 December 2011. All comments posted, faxed, emailed or hand-delivered should be addressed to the:
Engineering Secretary,
Tasman District Council,
“Proposed Speed Limit Changes”,
Private Bag 4,
Richmond 7050
Email: robyn.scherer@tasman.govt.nz
Fax (03) 543 9524
Peter Thomson
Acting Chief Executive Officer

 
Community Recreation

Community Development Fund
Tapawera Sport & Recreation Society Inc. Sports Awards Evening & Community Pirate Party.
19 November 2011, 8.00 pm at Shedwood Hall, Tapawera.
Tickets can be purchased from Tapawera Four Square - $20.00 each.
If you have been involved in a Tapawera sports team this year OR you enjoy a social evening out, then we invite you to join us dressed in your Pirate themed fancy dress.
This is an annual fundraiser for Tapawera Sport & Recreation Society.
Please support the local organisation that supports you and your community.
Please Note: this is a supervised area and persons under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by their parent or guardian.

2011 Nelson A&P Show
19 – 20 November 2011
9.00 am – 5.00 pm daily, Richmond Park Showgrounds, Lower Queen Street, Richmond.
The Nelson Agricultural and Pastoral Show offers a wide range of activities to keep the whole family entertained! A Kiwi tradition, the A&P Show has something for everyone including: live entertainment, livestock competitions, shearing, wood-chopping, agricultural demonstrations and displays, carnival rides, side shows and a fantastic range of trade exhibitors, both local, national and international as well as exhibits and competition events. Phone 03 544 7181 or email aap@xtra.co.nz for more information. www.richmondpark.org.nz

Cycle Track Update
Progress on the cycle track between Pohara and Takaka will be outlined at a meeting on Monday 21 November 2011 at the Community Centre in Takaka at 7.30 pm.
Greg Napp and Hans Stoffregen will give a power-point display and talk about six potential routes for extending the bike/walk track from Boyle Street in Clifton to Golden Bay High School, Takaka.
Tasman District Councillors Paul Sangster and Martine Bouillir will be at the meeting, which will also include a presentation by Nelson-based tour organiser Rachel Ryan about her walking tours of Ireland, plus an introduction to Irish culture.

Run Mahana 2011
26 November 2011
Woollaston Estates, Mahana.
Join us for a journey around the gently rolling Moutere Hills, capturing the essence of the area, taking you past the cellar doors of the highly acclaimed Woollaston Estates. The circuit is breathtakingly picturesque and refreshingly rural (two laps for Half Marathon, one lap for 10km).
The Woollaston Mahana Vineyard 5km takes you through the exclusive Woollaston Estates and for the kids there is the BlueBerryIT Kids Mahana Mile. Phone 03 545 8453 or email admin@nelsonevents.co.nz for more information. www.nelsonevents.co.nz

A Country Occasion
27 November 2011
10.00 am – 4.00 pm, Neudorf Vineyards, 138 Neudorf Road, Upper Moutere.
Celebrating country arts under the trees at Neudorf Vineyards. Food, wine and creative stalls in a country setting. Phone 03 543 2643 or email judy@neudorf.co.nz for more information. www.neudorf.co.nz

A Summer that’s Hummin’
Sometimes a stranger can appreciate your own backyard more than you do. Hummin’ in Tasman, the summer guide to activities in the District, might just surprise locals with the feast of natural attractions and fun activities on offer.
Cardboard boat flotillas, motorbike racing at the beach, willow basket weaving, movies under the stars – whatever spins your wheels
is on the menu. Hummin’ can tell you where to catch a Christmas parade, kick back to music on a vineyard lawn, or tremble to the thunder of drag racing.
In addition to the events guide, Hummin’ catalogues the attractions we should never take for granted: our national parks, the best swimming (beach and river), picnic spots, boat launching ramps and ski lanes – even where to exercise the dog.
Camping spots, motorhome dumpsites, libraries, museums, recycling centres, accommodation, arts and crafts, churches – the guide canvasses the need-to-know facilities for visitors and locals alike.
Hummin’ in Tasman is available at Tasman District Council offices, libraries, i-SITEs and other outlets. Pick up a copy to have ready when visitors arrive – and take a fresh look at Tasman District through their eyes.

 
Know the Code – Be Safe On the Road

Passing a School Bus
If a school bus has stopped you must slow down and pass the school bus at 20kph until you have passed the bus – no matter what side of the road you are on.