Newsline 269 - 24 February 2012

Friday 24 February 2012

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Flood Recovery Update

The road to Totaranui will re-open this year

Devastated by the December 2011 rain event the road to Totaranui and Awaroa in Golden Bay has become a talismanic road for the area with its restoration a positive sign of recovery and resilience. The effects of the road closure were very keenly felt by the Golden Bay community with a number of businesses quoting a significant drop in revenue as directly attributed to the road’s closure over the Christmas period.

Current estimates have the costs for opening the road to be less than $2million, however, this figure may change a result of more information being gathered once the work starts. The decision to reopen the road is not just business focused - the road provides a link between a number of communities and the rest of the District and provides access to one of the country’s iconic destinations.

“The Tasman District Council acknowledges the pivotal role of the NZ Transport Agency in this decision”, said Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne. “While the road is a Council responsibility it is fully funded by the Agency as a Special Purpose Road.”

“It is immensely gratifying that the Agency has seen the significance of the road for the community and the country amidst the other priorities they are dealing with such as the Manawatu Gorge, Auckland and Christchurch.”

The Council and its contractors will begin work shortly with a view to having the road open within a few months.

“In celebrating the impending opening of the road people should be aware it is going to take more than driving a bulldozer down the old track. Each section will need to be evaluated to ensure risks are adequately managed”, concluded Mayor Kempthorne.

Recovery Action Plan

The combined Nelson/Tasman Recovery Team (NiTRO) has disbanded and Tasman District Council now has a team dedicated to concentrating on its own issues. A Recovery Action Plan has been produced with the priority to “restore as quickly as possible the quality of life of those affected, so that they are able to continue functioning as part of the wider community. In the medium to long term it is to seek the regeneration of the community by addressing the social, economic, natural and built environment effects of the emergency”. Our job is to bring this about as soon as possible!

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 ramifications of the event.

The team will also be the liaison point with EQC, Nelson City Council, NZ Transport Agency, and other agencies as required expediting recovery efforts.

A public meeting is being held on Thursday 23 February 2012 at the Pohara Hall starting at 6.00 pm to listen to concerns and provide a further update – everyone is welcome to attend.

Volunteer teams

There are already a number of volunteer groups operating in the affected areas and their assistance is greatly appreciated. There is a need, however, to ensure the right work is being done in the right place, safely and with the right information. The clean-up has gone beyond the immediate need and is now focused on remediation. Remediating with an eye on future events is important and this is done best armed with the right information.

In order to provide this information and support for the efforts of any volunteer team it is requested that these groups register with the Council which will provide at the very least an indication of the work being done and the ability to co-ordinate the remediation response within specific areas.

Contact: Glenn Thorn on Ph. 03 543 8400

Waterways and Streams

A large number of streams and waterways have been affected by the December event either through scouring, silting up or changing course. The immediate surrounds of each stream were also affected with vegetation protecting banks being ripped out by the force of the flooded waterways.

If landowners are contemplating remediating a waterway on their property it is in their interest to contact the Council. In doing so the Council may be able to provide information and advice about the specific waterway and its relationship with a wider stormwater system that will need to be taken into account. They will also be able to provide advice on the appropriate plants and may be able
to provide assistance in purchasing the plants themselves.

Mayoral Fund

The Mayoral fund has a balance of approximately $30,000. The mayors of Tasman and Nelson are meeting shortly to identify the best method of distribution to achieve the greatest good.

Contact Details:

Tasman District Recovery Team, Email: eoc.recovery.2011@tasman.govt.nz, Phone: 03 543 8400 189 Queen Street, Private Bag 4 Richmond 7050

Frequently-asked questions

The damage to my property was caused by someone else, can I be compensated?: This is an individual property issue that should be dealt with by your insurance company in the first instance; legal advice may be required on a case by case basis.
Do I need a consent to do work on my property?: This depends on the work required, contact a Council Consent Planner or email the Recovery Team for advice.
What can I do with debris on my property?: If you want to, you can use it on your property away from streams and flood prone areas provided it doesn’t cause an issue for your neighbours. Alternatively the old Rototai landfill site is open for spoil and wood disposal. Other items such as refuse must be disposed of through normal channels.
I want to change or restore a watercourse on my property, what do I need to do?: You may need to obtain a resource consent from Council so that we can identify any wider impacts of the proposed change and ensure no-one else will be affected by your modifications. Please contact a Council Consent Planner or email the Recovery Team for advice.

Mayor’s Comment

As a District we are currently facing a number of issues in which the role you play as a resident, ratepayer, or both, is extremely important.

The Draft Long Term Plan is about to be released for consultation. It is no doubt one of the more difficult plans we have had to debate and develop. Against a backdrop of ongoing economic uncertainty and natural disasters seemingly becoming the norm for December, we are experiencing the fastest growth of any District in the country.

This situation requires a balancing act where the Council provides for the growth we are experiencing and the needs of those currently here with essential infrastructure all at an affordable cost while taking into account the often unique and distinct needs and preferences of the residents in our 17 settlements.

This is of course happening as the region is discussing whether amalgamation is the best model for our future governance. Both the Draft Long Term Plan and the amalgamation debate provide clear choices. All I would ask is residents and ratepayers look carefully at the options before making a choice which will remain in force for some time.

We at Council are very happy to answer any questions on these issues for our residents and ratepayers and will do so truthfully and accurately.

Mayor Richard Kempthorne

Make Sure You’re on the Electoral Roll Now!

Time is running out for local electors to enrol or update their enrolment details to vote in the Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council amalgamation poll. The electoral roll for the poll closes on 2 March 2012.

Registrar of Electors for Nelson electorate Marie Elliott said all eligible electors will need to be correctly enrolled by 2 March 2012 in order to receive their voting papers so that they can do a postal vote.

“Eligible electors can enrol or update their details at any Post Shop, or can get an enrolment form by calling 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56), by Freetexting your name and address to 3676, or by requesting or downloading one from the elections website at www.elections.org.nz.”

Ms Elliott said voting papers for the poll will be sent to all registered electors on the electoral roll from 29 March 2012.

“Only those people who are correctly enrolled will receive voting papers and be able to vote in the poll/referendum. This means it is really important that all eligible electors enrol and that all registered electors check to see that their enrolment details are up to date,” she said.

“Local electors can check their enrolment status at the elections website or by checking the roll at any Post Shop, courthouse or public library.”

Ms Elliott said because the details of people who are on the unpublished roll are kept confidential, electors on this roll should contact council to get information on how to apply to cast a special vote.

For more information contact: Marie Elliott, Registrar of Electors Ph 03 548 9699 Email marie.elliott@elections.org.nz

Amalgamation Frequently-Asked Questions

Below is a list of answers to frequently-asked questions about the poll for the proposed amalgamation of Nelson City and Tasman District.

What is the Poll For?: The poll is being held to determine whether the proposal to unite the Tasman District Council and the Nelson City Council (NCC) will proceed.
Where Can I Get more Information About the Proposal?: The Local Government Commission has information on their website – www.lgc.govt.nz/nelsontasman; A copy of the proposal can also be viewed at either the Nelson City Council or Tasman District Council offices.
Can I Make Submissions on the Proposal?: No. The submission period has ended. The only remaining option for input on the proposal is via the voting process.
How Will the Proposal Be Decided?: The proposal is subject to two binding polls, conducted simultaneously across the electors of the Tasman District and Nelson City Councils.; To succeed, the majority of electors in both polls (Tasman and Nelson) must vote in favour of the proposal. If the proposal is rejected in either or both polls, the amalgamation will not proceed and both councils will continue to operate as separate entities.
When is the Voting Period for this Poll?: The voting period starts on Friday 30 March 2012 and closes at noon on Saturday 21 April 2012.
Will More Information be Released on the Proposal?: Yes. More information will be included in the voter packs summarising advantages and disadvantages of the proposal.
Who is Entitled to Vote in this Poll?: Any residents aged 18 and over who reside within either the Tasman District or Nelson City Council areas as well as any ratepayers that own property within either council area but who live outside those areas, providing they have officially enrolled as ratepayer electors with either the Tasman District Council or NCC.
Who is a Ratepayer Elector?: For these polls they are either: ratepayers that own property within the Tasman District Council area but who live outside that area, providing they have officially enrolled as a ratepayer elector with the Tasman District Council, or ratepayers that own property within the Nelson City Council area but who live outside that area, providing they have officially enrolled as a ratepayer elector with the NCC.
I Want to Enrol as a Ratepayer Elector, How Do I Do That?: You will need to complete a ratepayer enrolment form, which can be mailed/emailed to you.
How Do I Get Voting papers for This Poll?: If you live in either the Tasman District or Nelson City areas and you are listed on the parliamentary electoral roll, voting papers will be posted to you at the address listed on the electoral roll.; Voting papers will also be posted to any ratepayer electors enrolled for these areas.; If for some reason you do not receive your original voter pack, or you are not listed on the final electoral roll for the poll but you want to vote, you will need to apply for a special voting paper when the voting period opens.
My Address Details on the Electoral Roll are Wrong. How Do I Change Them?: Elector details are sourced from the Electoral Enrolment Centre
in Wellington. You can change your details by:; Phoning 0800 36 76 56; Going on-line to www.elections.org.nz; Completing a form available at any Postshop
How Do I Apply for a Special Voting Paper?: Contact Sandra Hartley (Ph. 03 543 8554) or Lloyd Kennedy (Ph. 03 543 8434); or ring the election helpline on 0508 666 556.
I Am On the Unpublished Electoral Roll. Will I Receive Voting Papers for the Poll?: No. Electors on the unpublished roll will be sent a letter by the Electoral Enrolment Centre when the voting period opens advising them that if they want to vote in the poll they will need to apply for a special vote.
I Will Be Out of the Country During the Voting Period. Can I Vote Early?: No. No one is allowed to vote before voting opens on Friday 30 March 2012. Contact Sandra Hartley (Ph. 03 543 8554) or Lloyd Kennedy (Ph. 03 543 8434), or the election helpline on Ph. 0508 666 556 to discuss options for you.
I live in Tasman but own a property in Nelson. Can I Get Voting Papers for the Other Property?: Yes you can, providing you enrol as a ratepayer elector with the council covering the non-resident property.
If I Own Several Properties in the Other Local Authority Area, Can I Get Voting Papers for Each One?: No. An elector can only vote once in any election or poll. Contact Sandra Hartley (Ph. 03 543 8554) or Lloyd Kennedy (Ph. 03 543 8434) or ring the election helpline on Ph. 0508 666 556 for more information on ratepayer elector eligibility.
What is the Difference Between Special Voting and Ordinary Voting?: Ordinary voting papers are issued to all electors on the Final electoral roll for the poll. Special voting papers are issued on request to eligible electors not on the Final roll.; Anyone issued a special voting paper is also issued a declaration form, stating the reason for applying for the special vote and confirming they have not already voted in the election. The declaration form must be completed and returned with the special voting paper.
I Have Recently Shifted Out of the Area – Can I still vote in the poll?: The election rules require electors to be enrolled at their permanent place of residence. If you have resided at your new address (outside the Tasman District Council or NCC boundaries) for more than a month then you cannot vote in the poll.
Who is the Electoral Officer for This Poll?: The Electoral Officer for both polls is Warwick Lampp. His contact details are: C/- electionz.com Ltd, 1/506 Wairakei Road, PO Box 3138, Christchurch Ph. 021 498 517 Email: wlampp@electionz.com
I Need More Information. Who Can I Contact?: Sandra Hartley (Ph. 03 543 8554) or Lloyd Kennedy (Ph. 03 543 8434), or ring the election helpline – Ph. 0508 666 556.

Funding Support for Community Arts Activities

If you are planning a community art event, performance, exhibition or mural you can apply to the Tasman Creative Communities Scheme for funding assistance.

The Tasman Creative Communities Schemes purpose is to support and encourage arts activities in the Tasman District. Applications can be from an individual or from a group.

Projects must meet one or more of the following funding criteria:

Broad community involvement – the project will create opportunities for local communities to engage with and participate in arts activities.
Diversity – the project will support the diverse arts and cultural traditions of local communities, enriching and promoting their uniqueness and cultural diversity.
Young people – the project will enable and encourage young people (under 18 years) to engage with and actively participate in the arts.

The project must:

Have an arts or creative cultural focus.
Meet one or more of the three funding criteria (see below).
Be completed within 12 months after funding is approved
Benefit local communities.
Take place within the city or district where the application is made, or benefit local communities within that city or district.
Not have started before funding is approved.

Types of projects or activities that could be funded include:

Exhibitions, productions, concerts, festivals, workshops and presentations that offer opportunities for community
involvement in the arts.
Activities that support the traditions and arts of ethnic communities.
Youth arts events.
Artist-led projects involving local communities.
Materials for arts activities or programmes.
Personnel costs for one-off, short-term projects.
Promotion and publicity of arts activities to communities.

Types of projects or activities that cannot be funded include:

Activities that are not arts-focused.
Activities that are the direct responsibility of schools
or other education institutions.
Ongoing administration costs not related to a specific project.
Projects that are the core business of an organisation or service provider.
Retrospective project costs (for projects already started or completed).
Catering costs of an event.
Fundraising activities.
Travel for individuals or groups to attend events, presentations or shows.
Developing facilities, such as gallery and theatre lights, stage curtains or building restoration.
Buying capital items, such as computers, cameras, musical instruments, costumes or uniforms.

There are three rounds per year. Closing dates are 10 March, 10 July and 10 November. Application forms are available at Tasman District Council offices and Libraries or at www.tasman.govt.nz

Biological Controls of Pest Plants

Biological control of pest plants aims to restore the balance between pest plants and the environment. Many plants that have been introduced into New Zealand are free from insects and diseases that keep them in check in their place of origin, allowing them to grow quickly and spread much more rapidly, and becoming pests. Biological control involves extensive research and testing to select the biocontrol agent (insect or disease) that will target the pest plant but not affect other desirable plants.

Biocontrol methods are used on widespread plants when other control measures may cause unacceptable damage, or when alternative methods are not economically or physically possible. They will provide control rather than eradication but can stop pest plants from spreading, and reduce their vigour and abundance.

Biocontrol has many advantages over other control measures in that it is sustainable, has low ongoing costs, poses no human health concerns, and pests are controlled regardless of land ownership. Although there is a substantial cost in identifying, sourcing and testing suitable and acceptable agents from overseas, this is more than offset by the long-term control provided by biocontrol agents.

One of the most effective biocontrol programmes in the Tasman-Nelson region has been on ragwort. Long-term residents will recall the large numbers of yellow ragwort flowers that were seen in farm paddocks in late summer. Control of ragwort has been achieved by the release of two biocontrol agents, the cinnabar moth and the ragwort flea beetle. A new agent, the Ragwort Plume Moth, which is better suited for wetter parts of the region where the existing agents have been less effective, was released in 2008.

The Council, along with the other regional and unitary councils, co-fund research into biocontrol agents through Landcare Research for a wide range of pest plants.

For further information, go to www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biocons/weeds/book.asp

Cinnabar Moth

The colourful red and brown cinnabar moth is now well established throughout the region where ragwort occurs and its large yellow and black caterpillars defoliate the ragwort plants, but the effect is limited as the plants may regrow.

Ragwort Flea Beetle

The small golden-brown ragwort flea beetle is the most effective agent on ragwort. Its grubs damage the rosettes during winter and kill the plant, achieving dramatic reductions in ragwort populations.

Slime in our Rivers

This time of year is when algae and cyanobacteria can proliferate in our rivers, lakes and ponds.
The stable low water flows, still moderately long days, moderate or high nutrient concentrations and warm water temperatures are the conditions that can cause excessive sliminess that can put a dampener on your swimming or river-side experience and can cause dogs or stock to become sick.

Rivers

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, in rivers (see photos below) are now covering 15-30% of the river bed in several rivers across our District, particularly the big, clean rivers such as the Wangapeka and upper Motueka. Most of the problem is with a few strains of a few species that can produce substances toxic to animals, particularly dogs. One common species called Phormidium is black or dark green and very soft and gelatinous; you can easily brush it off the bed (Image 1). When the mats of this cyanobacteria get over 5mm thick they will usually lift off and float downstream to get caught at the top of riffles or eddies (Image 2). Dogs are most vulnerable as they love to snap at the water and lick algae. For more information see: www.tasman.govt.nz/link/toxic-algae

Cyanobacteria is generally not a good indicator of pollution, but several other species of slime can be. If you have over 30% of the bed of the river covered in long filaments of green algae (Image 3) then it could be that the stream or river is receiving excessive concentrations of nutrients. Such algae is very visible and easily recognised. If you know of a stream that looks like this, let us know. The photo is from Borck Creek near Richmond which has the highest average concentration of nitrate found so far in Tasman District.

Ponds

“Some weird things are happening on our pond,” Trevor often gets asked. “It was red, a few days ago and now a very strange white, slightly bluish/green bloom, almost gelatinous (Image 4). The pond on the right was described as looking as if “someone has tipped paint in it”.

If you have a situation like this, the first thing to do is to keep stock and dogs away from the pond as it may be a cyanobacterial bloom. These can be associated with the release of toxins especially as they start to decay. Cyanobacteria love warm calm conditions and, because some of them can fix their own nitrogen and regulate their buoyancy, they can quickly get to a stage where they dominate the water column. However it could be a decaying bloom of other types of algae that like enriched and warm conditions. In the case of the pond in image 5 it went red first which tends to indicate a green or yellow green algal dominating, and the scum is just the result of lots of algal material rotting down. The only way to tell is to have a look under a microscope, if you are really worried bring a refrigerated sample in to Trevor James at the Richmond office.

The next thing is to look at the catchment and whether you can do anything to reduce the amount of nutrients running off into the pond. Building a wetland around the pond and up small streams or seeps is a great way to intercept those nutrients and let the plants take them up. In lakes and ponds which are naturally rich in phosphorus, cyanobacteria can quickly dominate as soon as the water stops being mixed. These blooms will sometimes look like masses of pollen being rafted up around the edges.

Off the slimy note, but still relevant to rivers at this time year is the issue of high water temperatures. Several people have seen dead trout that otherwise appear in good condition in the Motueka River. In much of January-February average daily water temperatures in some of our streams have reached over 22℃, the critical temperature for most fish, insects and other critters living in the river. This year has been unusual in that there have been many nights where the lowest air temperature has been over 18℃. The most effective way to solve this problem is to plant trees along the stream in the catchment to shade the water. However, the effect is cumulative and in a big catchment like the Motueka this is a big job to shade out the many tributaries.

For more information contact Trevor James, environmental resource scientist, on Ph. 03 543 8562 or e-mail trevor.james@tasman.govt.nz

From Apples to Basketballs

The Motueka Recreation Centre celebrates a 25 year milestone on the 14 February 2012. What was once the focus of the town’s pip fruit industry is now a community recreation facility that boasts an average of 23,000 visits each month.

Originally formed by an independent trust board, the founding clubs of the Motueka Amateur Roller Skating Club, Motueka Netball Association, Motueka Aikido Club, Motueka Judo Club, Seido Karate Motueka all remain at the Centre today.

It is appropriate at such an anniversary to acknowledge the vision and work carried out by the many voluntary organisations, service groups and establishing trust board in having such a vision 25 years, which has developed into such a diverse hub for sport, recreation and leisure. It is also important to reflect on the generosity and community support of Sir Patrick Goodman who through Mr Ian Hampton led a rescue package for the Centre resulting in the “Recreation Centre $1million debt free amenity”.

Following the restructuring the facility was gifted to the Tasman District Council and the management of the Centre was entrusted to a new management committee chaired by Mrs Mary Lafrentz until 1996, after which time the Council decided to contract the management of the facility out for tender.

Throughout the early nighties, under the management of Mrs Mary Nicholls, the facility certainly found it’s place within the Motueka community leading, and having an involvement in, all major events and community initiatives taking place. Not only was the participation in sport and recreation growing, but the community was also seeing what a valuable community development tool the Centre had become.

Roger Coleman and Karen Greenslade then led the Centre through the next phase of its lifecycle. They brought a fresh new perspective and built on the established programmes continuing to increase usage of the complex. The MotRock development was a vision of Karen and Roger who constructed the first indoor climbing facility in Tasman.

In 1999 Sport Tasman was successfully awarded the contract to manage the Centre and, working closely with Tasman District Council, has been instrumental in seeing the facility develop to what it is today.

The Centre is now being given every opportunity to develop and to be a strong focal point for recreation in this District. It is effectively debt free so that funds are not diverted to debt servicing and every cent raised will go into further improvements and development.

The Centre now has an average of 23,000 visitors month, 280,000 annually. The current team lead by Jody Maru is always looking at new initiatives and is well aware of the many challenges ahead to ensure that the Centre continues to be a focal point for sport and recreation, but more importantly a remains a valued community hub.

Staff Profile: Gordon Curnow, Hydrologist

What is your main role?: I’m one of the hydrologists working at the Council office in Richmond, monitoring and servicing the water and rainfall logging system operated by the Council throughout the Tasman District and Nelson City.
What are the common challenges you encounter?: During flooding, deciding if I should ring a farmer at 2.00 am in the morning to warn of likely inundation of their land is always a challenge. I’m always pleased to receive a sleepy but thankful response to my call.
What is the most curly question or situation you have encountered recently?: During the Aorere flooding last year when we wanted to phone farmers to warn of flooding on the way, our computer had farm names on properties such as ‘Ferntree Farm’ but relating that to a name in the phone directory was a big problem. The Companies Register on the internet helped there.
What’s the most satisfying part of your job?: Recently this has been assembling a rainfall recorder site in the mountaintops at the head of the Wangapeka River. The data is transmitted back to our office computer every 30 minutes. A day working on a pristine mountaintop on a lovely day takes some beating.
What changes have you seen in 30 years working as a hydrologist?: When I started water recorders used a paper chart that was marked by an ink pen. This chart had to be changed weekly. We later put in 18 river recorders the size of a Weetbix box on the major rivers. These transmitted data by Tait two-way radios back to the office computer twice a day, or when manually called during a flood. At present we have about 40 river, rainfall, groundwater, tidal and weather stations transmitting back to the office every 30 minutes via two-way radio or cellphone.; The “loggers” have shrunk from a Weetbix box size to a cigarette pack size. We also now see on a MetService website up-to-date satellite and Wellington radar images of our weather during a flood event. These we can compare with recorded rainfall from our sites around the district. This helps us predict where the rainfall might fall and what river flow levels will do in the next few hours.

Advice Service On-call and Free

Are you steamed up about something? Do you need a local contact, or want to have a chat about employment, tenancy or a relationship issue with someone who can explain your options?

Volunteers at Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Nelson Tasman are trained to help. Tasman District Council supports CAB financially, recognising that the service covers all areas in our region, from Golden Bay to Murchison, as well as Nelson.

CAB volunteers can access a huge amount of information from their comprehensive resources. You’ll usually get several suggestions, but if they can’t help, they refer you to someone who can.

Lesser-known services include reading and explaining complicated documents, helping to draft letters to clearly summarise issues, and assistance with forms. For those who don’t have internet access, CAB will help. For example, they can check whether you’re getting the best deal from your electricity provider via the Powerswitch website, or access the Council website for information about policies or services.

The service is free, confidential, non-judgmental, and CAB don’t tell you what to do – they just give you information and let you decide. Contact the CAB on Ph 03 548 2117 or 0800 FOR CAB (0800 367 222); Email cab.nelson@xtra.co.nz or visit www.cab.org.nz

Sea Week – Appreciating our Incredible Asset

Sea Week is New Zealand’s only national, annual celebration of the sea.

Sea Week focuses on learning from the sea. It’s about exciting and inspiring all New Zealanders to renew their connections with the sea! Not just for children or those involved with formal education – it’s a time for all of us to get to know our ocean, its habitats, characteristics and inhabitants a bit better.

Sea Week 2012 runs from 3 to 11 March 2012. The theme is: One Ocean – Too Much Love? Turning the Tide. The 2012 theme explores the wide variety of different uses, passions and expectations of the sea and their conflicts and impacts now and into the future.

Tasman District Council, Nelson City Council and Cawthron Institute are planning a number of activities throughout Sea Week including a photo competition, community lecture and a professional development teacher workshop:

The online photograph competition is open to everyone and has some amazing prizes. There are four categories: Family Fun; Ocean Life; Turning the Tide and a Children’s Category (13 yrs and under). Entry is free and prizes include scuba diving, family boat cruises, Waka-ama paddling, books and swimming gear. For more information go to the Facebook and search ‘friends of cawthron’.

For more information go to Facebook, www.facebook.com and search ‘Friends of Cawthron’, Email: jo.thompson@cawthron.org.nz or go to www.seaweek.org.nz

Bike Wise Family Fun Rides

Over the next two weekends a choice of free Family Fun Rides are being held across the District. Each ride has different lengths routes so they suit all ages and abilities of cyclists.

The Motueka Family Fun Ride takes place on Saturday 25 February 2012, starting from the Skate Park on Old Wharf Road at 1.00 pm. Cyclists can either choose from a short route of about 4km or a longer route of about 11km.

On Sunday 4 March 2012 the Takaka Family Fun Ride takes place. This starts from Central Takaka School at 1.00 pm and cyclists will ride together to East Takaka Domain, take part in one of the activities there, and then cycle back at their own pace to the school. Families are encouraged to make the most of the afternoon and bring a picnic to enjoy at the Domain.

Everyone is welcome, so gather up the family, put your helmets on and come on down and join in the fun.

Electronic Newsletter for Conservation Groups in the Tasman- Nelson Region

Over the last three years Will Rickerby in Richmond has been emailing volunteers involved in predator control and restoration planting projects with a brief monthly newsletter to update on work in the Richmond Hills. The newsletter has been slowly expanding to incorporate information from projects in other localities.

At a workshop in October 2011, it was suggested that this newsletter could be expanded to promote and encourage contact between members of the many conservation groups within the Tasman-Nelson region who are involved in trapping and planting. There are already a number of groups who already provide their members and supporters with very good newsletters. This proposal to produce a newsletter is not intended to replace or compete with these but to provide the opportunity to read about the activities of the many different groups and give members of groups a chance to contribute information on their activities (number of animals trapped, species and numbers of plants being planted, successful methods and, techniques, hot tips, findings, and challenges). The newsletter will start off being quarterly but could be produced more frequently if there was sufficient interest.

Will is willing to produce this newsletter and Lindsay Vaughan, Tasman District Council’s Biosecurity Coordinator will arrange distribution by email on his behalf. Will also produced the 2011 Report of the Richmond Hills Conservation Groups & Rabbit Island Trapping Group and this is available by email from Lindsay. If you are interested in being included on the distribution list or providing input, contact Will on Ph. 03 544 2929 or email will@tasman.net, or Lindsay on Ph. 03 543 8432, email Lindsay.vaughan@tasman.govt.nz

Classic Beauties Return to Rotoiti

The gleam of brass and the glow of mahogany will draw hundreds of classic boat lovers to Lake Rotoiti on 3-4 March 2012 for a weekend of “Glorious Hydromatic Relaxation”.

The NZ Antique and Classic Boat Show features battered dinghies, sleek cedar kayaks, beautiful steam-powered launches, powerboating legends and clunky clinkers – restored by “blokes in sheds” for racing on the lake or displaying on the foreshore.

“There’s a great deal of passion that goes into restoration, building replicas and researching the history of old boats,” says show organiser Pete Rainey. “In some ways it’s the last refuge of the backyard builder – so far you don’t need a building permit for a boat.”

Now in its 14th year, attendance at the show continues to grow along with the number and quality of craft presented. One of Pete’s own projects features this year. He and business partner Glenn Common are part-way through a painstaking restoration of the historic hydroplane Elray III, which clocked up speeds well in excess of 225km/h on Lake Rotoiti in late 1960s, says Pete.

“The North Islander who owned it used to bring it to the annual Lake Rotoiti powerboat regatta on a circuit of competition successes around New Zealand and Australia.”

North Island craft at the show this year include a 1947 Chris-Craft.

The format on both days is the same – on-shore displays in the morning and races in the afternoon. Judging takes place on Saturday, with an evening awards dinner at the Alpine Lodge. Pete says judging for the coveted Jens Hansen Trophy is about history, construction and a boat with a story to tell, as much as good looks.

Other awards include best new restoration, best steamboat, best jet-propelled craft and best themed display. Races will be held for yachts, row-boats, Seagull-motored dinghies, poppers, canoes, child rowers and swimmers. Sunday morning features a longer race up the lake, limited to non-planing hulls or motors 5hp and under.

Boaties are reminded to be aware of minimising the spread of didymo. Show patrons are reminded that DOC has released kiwi into the Nelson Lakes National Park very close to where the show takes place, so please, no antique and classic dogs.