Newsline 268 - 10 February 2012

Friday 10 February 2012

Read the latest issue of Newsline online. 

Download: Newsline 268 - 10 February 2012

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Nelson Tasman District Reorganisation Scheme 

A new local government structure for the Nelson and Tasman area, to be called the Nelson Tasman District, has been approved by the Local Government Commission to be put out to the electors of both districts in separate polls during April 2012. If the majority of electors in either of the polls (50+% in Nelson or 50+% in Tasman) are against the proposal then it will not go ahead. Only valid returned voting papers will count towards the final result.

The reorganisation scheme proposes that the Nelson Tasman District will be divided into eight wards with a mayor and 16 members (councillors). A Maori Board and Rural Advisory Committee are also proposed to be established alongside two community boards, one in Golden Bay and one in Motueka.

The councillors will be elected from eight wards as follows: Nelson three councillors, Stoke three councillors, Richmond three councillors, Moutere-Waimea two councillors, Motueka two councillors, Golden Bay one councillor, Lakes-Murchison one councillor, and Atawhai one councillor.

For full details of the reorganisation scheme go to www.tasman.govt.nz or www.lgc.govt.nz. All previously published documents by Tasman District Council relating to the amalgamation process can also be found on its website www.tasman.govt.nz.

What happens next?

The next steps in the reorganisation process are as follows:

  • Polls of electors by postal vote in Nelson City and Tasman District will be held in April 2012
  • For the reorganisation scheme to be successful more than 50% of the votes cast by the electors in each poll must be in favour of the proposal
  • If both polls are in favour of the proposal the reorganisation scheme is implemented by Order in Council
  • A transition committee, comprising representatives of Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council plus an independent chairperson, will then meet to put in place the necessary steps for the new Council to come into existence on 1 November 2012. This will follow elections for the new council and community boards in October 2012. The Transition Committee will recommend appointment of a transition manager to manage the detailed transition process.
  • Elections for mayor and councillors would be held on 13 October 2012 with successful candidates coming into office on 1 November 2012.

The Polls

  • Voting documents will be mailed to electors of Nelson City and Tasman District between Thursday 29 March 2012 and Wednesday 4 April 2012.
  • Completed voting documents must be received by the electoral officer before Noon, Saturday 21 April 2012.

For more information about the poll, contact the electoral officer for both Nelson City and Tasman District:

Enrolling to Vote

To check if you are on the residential electoral roll, or to enrol on-line, go to www.elections.org.nz/enrolment/how-to-enrol/

Applications for registration as a ratepayer elector may be made on the "non-resident ratepayer elector enrolment form" available from the Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council offices. These must be returned to the Deputy Electoral Officer at the appropriate council before 5.00 pm on Friday 2 March 2012.

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Mayor’s Comment 

‘Don’t mention the war’ will be the catchphrase for the next few months.

By the time you read this the Local Government Commission will have publicly notified its recent decision to press forward with the proposed union, which will now go to a poll at the end of April. A day after this notice’s appearance in the Nelson Mail restrictions on where and how we can discuss amalgamation will be in force.

What does this mean? If either council spend any money publishing a view promoting or negating the amalgamation decision the Council has to provide the representative of electors, Aldo Miccio, with the same amount of money. While each Council is limited in what it can spend by the legislation the representative of electors has no such limit.

While the Councillors and I cannot publish a view as elected representatives without risk of this charge we can certainly respond. I welcome any questions and I am sure there will be many as the final plan is not deep on the detail of what a larger region will mean to its residents. I believe it is our duty and responsibility to provide as much information as we can to ensure people are very well aware of what they are voting for.

On that note this is a very important vote and I urge you to make sure you vote and have your voice heard. If you are thinking about it and you want some more information please call – we will respond.

Mayor Richard Kempthorne

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James Road Bridge a Beauty 

The Bainham community was out in force at the opening of the James Road Bridge on Thursday 2 February 2012, a replacement for the bridge washed out during the flooding event in December 2010.

Mayor Richard Kempthorne said the happy occasion was a fitting way to celebrate the flood recovery.

“It was a big commitment, but when it came to Council deciding to replace the bridge, there was no hesitation”.

Resident Graham Pomeroy joined the Mayor in thanking those responsible and the community for their support.

Ken Pomeroy and Willis Graham, previous landowners, cut the ribbon and Kaumatua Andy Joseph blessed the bridge. The opening was followed by a meeting of the Engineering Services Committee at the Bainham Hall.

View details of the construction and a time-lapse video online at http://www.tasman.govt.nz/tasman/webcams-in-tasman/construction-webcam/

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Regional Recovery Action Plan 

The Regional Recovery Action Plan (RAP) which outlines the next steps of the region’s response and repair to the damage caused by the December 2011 Rain Events has been handed to the individual councils to manage.

Tasman District Council, like their counterparts in Nelson, have begun work within the plan through a specifically appointed recovery team. This team will advise Councillors on how best to manage and prioritise the tasks identified in the RAP and any other tasks or projects, and to co-ordinate delivery effort in the repair and rehabilitation of the affected communities in Tasman.

The first task is to finalise the scope and sequencing of projects and the resourcing needs, and indicative costs of each.

Key to the recovery will be the interaction between the Council and residents affected by the disaster and subsequent work. The provision of consistent information will be vital as many are still coming to grips with the ramification of the event.

Throughout the event and since, great deal of valuable information has been collected. It is important the information is used effectively in the recovery phase and accurate records are maintained for the future, for instance in LIM and property enquiries.

The team will also be the liaison with EQC, Nelson City Council, NZTA, and other agencies as required expediting recovery efforts, in particular resolving the status of section 124 notices in conjunction with the Building Control team.

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New CEO Announced 

Tasman District Council's new Chief Executive, Lindsay McKenzie, will take up his job on 14 May 2012. Mr. McKenzie currently leads the Gisborne District Council, and replaces Paul Wylie, who left for Buller District Council last September.

“Lindsay comes to Tasman with a proven track record and is a highly experienced Chief Executive Officer who has delivered in a district not dissimilar to Tasman,” says Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne. “He is well aware of the current challenges facing the District and his experience will prove invaluable as we continue to deliver affordable and sustainable development and face the challenges of recovering from the recent natural disaster.”

Invercargill-born Mr McKenzie first worked as a water resources officer and later manager with the Southland Catchment Board from the late 1970s. He then joined the Southland Regional Council, rising to the position of general manager. In 2007 he took up a five year contract as chief executive with Gisborne District Council.

Mr McKenzie told the Nelson Mail that the issue of amalgamation dictated two courses of action as Tasman’s Chief Executive: either leading the Council and keeping it focused while change went ahead, or refocusing the Council on its core business of serving the communities if the amalgamation proposal was rejected by residents.

“If amalgamation fails we have to have a relationship with Nelson City that enables the resolution of those issues identified by the Local Government Commission as a catalyst.”

He said local government was a “stunning sector to work in” for those with an affinity for people, wanted to serve the community and enjoyed process and the way things happened.

(Dennis Bush-King, Council’s Environment and Planning Manager, will remain Acting Chief Executive until Mr McKenzie takes over.)

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Enhanced Access Fund Invites Applications 

Organisations and individuals undertaking projects to enhance access to the outdoors can now apply for funding through the 2012 round of the New Zealand Walking Access Commission’s Enhanced Access Fund.

Up to $230,000 (including GST) is available, with a maximum grant of $50,000 possible to any one organisation. The deadline for applications is 30 March 2012 and application forms are available on the Commission’s website – www.walkingaccess.govt.nz.

This year, funding priority will be given to projects that support community outdoor access initiatives (e.g. easements or other legal agreements for access), projects that provide information about access opportunities or responsible outdoor behaviour, and projects that provide access signage. Projects that provide access facilities, such as stiles or other structures, and projects that assist the promotion of walking access, such as research and education programmes, are also eligible.

New Zealand Walking Access Commission Chief Executive Mark Neeson said the fund provided a much needed helping hand for community projects and contributed to the Commission's goal of free, certain, enduring and practical walking access to the outdoors.

“In many cases the fund can provide that final piece of financial assistance a hard working individual, community group or organisation needs to get their project over the line. Free access to beaches, lakes, rivers and mountains is a wonderful part of New Zealand’s culture and the fund helps ensure that access continues to improve for future generations.”

Thirty projects have received funding through the Enhanced Access Fund since its first funding round in 2010. Among those that have been completed are the Pahi Peninsula Walkway and Lake Ngatu Track in Northland, Dalton’s Track near the Pelorus Bridge in Marlborough, the Lake Hill Track near Canterbury’s Lake Coleridge, and the Purakaunui Inlet Track in Otago.

For more information, please contact:James Heffield on Ph. 04 815 8513 or Ph. 021 211 2362 or e-mail: james.heffield@walkingaccess.govt.nz

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Tourism Rate May Be Spread Across the District 

Council is proposing to change the way it collects the current Tourism Targeted Rate.

Introduced two years ago, the tourism targeted rate was paid by those in Tasman who benefited directly through tourism to the Region with the monies collected being provided to Nelson Tasman Tourism to fund destination marketing.

The proposed change to be included in the upcoming Draft Long Term Plan consultation is that the tourism rate be reduced and spread across all rateable properties in the District.

“Over the last two years the targeted rate has been managed by the Council, there has been considerable discussion about the annual return and the number of properties that have not been identified leading to accusations of inequity as well as the time the Council has had to invest in the management of the rate for the level of return. For these reasons the Council is proposing a District-wide charge,” said Mayor Richard Kempthorne.

The proposed rate is $20 plus GST per rateable property.

The Draft Long Term Plan will be released for public consultation at the end of February 2012, with submissions closing 3 April 2012 and will be available for viewing at online, at Council’s office, service centres and all Tasman District libraries. A summary of the Draft Long Term Plan will be delivered to every household in Tasman on the 2 March 2012, as a special edition of Newsline.

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Safety – in Black and White 

Schools in the Tasman District are running a black-and-white campaign to remind drivers that the new school term has arrived. The message is simple – keep an eye out for children before and after school, and help to keep these journeys safe for all youngsters. Some of these children will be new to school or riding new bikes so extra consideration by vehicle drivers is needed.

Drivers should reduce their speed around schools, especially in the mornings and afternoons. The children, and their families, will also be reminded of the importance of using crossings and how to use the zebra crossings safely.

This campaign leads on from a previous campaigns, but the 2012 version will be bigger and more visual, with a couple of ‘zebras’ and some balloon zebras leading the way. Each school will run the patrolled crossing as usual, however, on every trip ‘zebras’ will accompany the students as they use the crossing. The zebras will wave at drivers and encourage them to wave back, in order to highlight the crossings.

Schools, students and teachers will be encouraged to support a black-and-white theme – from hair to socks – on the day the zebras visit the schools. School crossing wardens will be given t-shirts with the slogan “Look out, zebra crossing!”

Radio advertising will feature the theme of ‘it really is as simple as Black and White – Speed Kills – Reduce your Speed around schools.’

So watch out for kids, and watch out for zebras.

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Tasman Youth Council Recruitment 

Recruitment for the 2012 Tasman Youth Council is underway, with applications currently being accepted for interested students to join and make a difference in their local communities.

Formed in 1998, the Tasman Youth Council has a short but proud history advocating for making Tasman a better place for young people. Accomplishments to date include producing and publishing ‘Jam Magazine’, hosting Fresh FM’s ‘the jam’ youth radio show, judging and presenting the Nelson-Tasman Youth Volunteer Awards, planning and running youth events and programmes, and assisting the Council with strategic planning and consultation exercises.

The Tasman Youth Council is split into four regional clusters – Waimea, Motueka, Golden Bay, Murchison, and is overseen and administered by the Tasman District Council Community Services department. Each cluster pursues its own projects and interests based on the needs expressed by young people in their local community.

The Tasman Youth Council year begins with a overnight Training Hui, (9-10 March 2012) providing all cluster members with a chance to get to know one another and learn some new skills to help them fulfil their role in the year ahead.

To find out more contact Paul McConachie Ph. 03 543 8525 or visit the Tasman Youth Council website.

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Go by Bike Day Breakfasts 

Free breakfasts are available for cyclists on Go By Bike Day, next Wednesday, 15 February 2012, at different locations throughout the Tasman District. Anyone out and about on their bike in the morning can stop for a snack at one of these venues:

  • Takaka – outside The Quiet Revolution, between 7.30 am and 9.30 am
  • Murchison – outside the Tasman District Council offices on Fairfax Street, between 8.30 am and 9.30 am
  • Richmond – outside Village Cycles on Queen Street, between 7.30 am and 9.30 am
  • Stoke – Railway Reserve (opposite Broadgreen Intermediate) and “The Cycle Shop” on Main Road Stoke
  • Nelson – R+R Sport, Kelvins Cycles, Stewarts Cycles and Ride.

Don’t forget the Family Fun Ride happening in Motueka on Saturday 25 February 2012 and in Takaka on Sunday 4 March 2012. Plus look out for the Get Moving family friendly walking, running and cycling event at Rabbit Island on Saturday 10 March.

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Community Recreation February 2012 

Sundial Square Summer Sounds

Friday 24 February 5.00 pm – 11.00 pm, Sundial Square, Richmond, Free Entry

Sundial Square Summer Sound returns to Richmond for the fourth successive year, with a stellar line up of the finest bands Nelson-Tasman has to offer. Scheduled for Friday 24 February, from 5.00 pm – 11.00 pm, the evening concert is set to feature local hip hop pioneers Master Pilot Soundsystem, along with National Rockquest Winners from Garin College The Peasants’, recent Battle of the Bands Champions Pacha Atma, and local Funk DJ extraordinaire Ranger Danger.

Event Organiser and Tasman District Council Community Recreation Officer Paul McConachie is ecstatic with the calibre of bands lined up to play.

“Having Master Pilot, The Peasants and Pacha Atma all together sharing the stage on the same night is going to be one concert that should not be missed.”

Complementing the bass pumping beats from the stage will be an amusement and activity section featuring a portable (Cheapskates) skatepark facility, as well as Blast Inflatable Boxing and Sumo Wrestling stations. A selection of Tasman’s tastiest food stalls will also be along, keeping nutritional levels in check and providing the fuel to dance the night away.

For more information contact Paul McConachie Ph. 03 543 8525 email: paul.mcconachie@tasman.govt.nz

The Tasman Skatepark Tour

The Tasman Skatepark Tour came, saw and conquered during its 2012 summer circuit. Massive public support, top class competitors, and positive role modelling behaviour on show across the region has only reinforced the intrinsic value of skateparks in our communities.

Competition heats were hosted in Mapua, Takaka, Tapawera, Motueka, Brightwater and Richmond, with riders in Skate, BMX, and Scooter age group categories competing for competition points, prizes and prestige.

Leo Calcasola (15, Nelson) impressed in both scooter and BMX sections, cleaning up the field in 11 out of the 12 competitions he entered in. His signature ‘back flip’ delighted those privileged to watch a young man fearlessly defying the physical laws of gravity.

Trent Luff (Nelson, 16), reigned supreme in the skate section, performing consistently throughout the Tour, performing a vast array of technically advanced tricks.

For individual event reports, images and video go to the Tasman Youth Council website.

Results:

Skate:
  1. Trent Luff
  2. Nick Snowball
  3. Courtney Gorman
BMX:
  1. Leo Calcasola
  2. William Goodman
  3. Lee Nuttall
Scooter:
  1. Leo Calcasola
  2. William Goodman
  3. Jake Howieson

Tasman Creative Communities Scheme

This fund helps to support local projects that increase access and participation in arts activity. Applications close 10 March 2012. Apply now!

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Estuary Cycle Trail Ready This Year 

A coastal cycling path along the Waimea Estuary should be completed this year, providing a visually spectacular link in Tasman’s Great Taste Trail.

The coastal section has gained resource consent, a “fantastic” result, says Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne. “Residents will be able to use the trail every day, and the coastal section will enhance our region’s reputation as a fantastic cycling destination for visitors.”

Dugald Ley, project engineer for the Tasman District Council, says the coastal track will be built in sections, with parts of it ready for work now, and others waiting on landowner approval.

“We’re going to have to construct sections as owners grant permission.”

The entire track from the ASB Aquatic Centre to the Waimea River should be completed in nine months, he says. An 80m suspension bridge will then cross the Waimea River, and the path will travel along existing stopbanks and farmland to reach the Rabbit Island tracks and ferry to Mapua. A new section of the trail on Redwood Road before the Rabbit Island bridge is about to be constructed.

Stuart Hughes, project manager for the Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust, says the number of existing users of the estuary foreshore always signalled a long consent process, but the result was a better overall outcome for everyone.

“Feedback and input from the various parties has been invaluable to shaping the trail and setting appropriate consent conditions,” he says. These include protecting birdlife.

Tasman District Council is a key partner in developing the trail, which – subject to continued funding – which will eventually cover 162-175km and run from Nelson Airport to Richmond, down to Tapawera, along the Motueka River Valley to Riwaka, and then back to Richmond via Motueka and Mapua. Stuart says the trail concept would never have gotten off the ground without Council support.

The Council will ultimately own the trail, which will become a valuable asset for the whole community.

Progress continues on the southern leg to Brightwater and Wakefield. Dugald says an 80m footbridge across the Wairoa River is poised to go out to tender, with sponsorship naming rights available for the structure.

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