Latest Newsline

The nominations are in and time is ticking down until the 2019 Council and Community Board elections – it’s time to meet the candidates so you can vote in the place that you love.

The full list of candidates for Mayor, ward councillor, and the Motueka and Golden Bay Community Boards, can be viewed. These are the people who want to represent you and your community for the next three years.

Those who are successful will be responsible for setting the direction for Tasman District and making important decisions about our response to climate change, the environment, critical infrastructure, community development and how the costs of services are shared.

Meet the Candidates

You can find out more about them and what they stand for at a series of Meet the Candidates sessions that will be held throughout the District. A list of the meetings is on page 2 of this issue of Newsline. These events are organised by community organisations. More may be added – keep an eye on tasman.govt.nz/link/elections for events in your area.

Poll on voting system

As well as voting for your preferred candidates, this year you will be asked to vote on which method of voting you would prefer for the 2022 election onwards.

A summary of recent Council meetings and the decisions made.

Community Development Committee – 8 August 2019

Received the results of the annual Communitrak residents’ survey. 

Approved an increase in casual adult admission prices for the Richmond Aquatic Centre, from $7.20 to $8 for an adult swimmer and from $6.20 to $7 for an adult and preschooler or person with special needs and caregiver. Casual entry prices will stay at $3 for preschoolers and $5.10 for children, students, Community Services Card holders and seniors. The admission price was last increased in October 2010 and the centre’s costs have risen over the past nine years.

Engineering Services Committee – 15 August 2019

Adopted the joint Nelson Tasman Waste Management and Minimisation Plan, which includes an aspirational target of reducing waste to landfill by 10% per person by 2030.

Engineering Services Manager Richard Kirby paid tribute to Ken Beck and David Blunt, two former Waimea County Council engineers who have passed away over the past two months. Both made a significant contribution to our District. Our condolences to their families.

Received the results of the Nelson Tasman speed limits survey.

More than three-quarters of Tasman residents feel we have a good or very good reputation – one of the many insights from our annual residents' survey.

The survey has revealed that most residents are happy with how we’re operating, though there are areas we can improve. The National Research Bureau undertook the survey and heard from 401 people across our five wards.

The highest levels of satisfaction were in relation to users connected to our sewerage system (94 per cent), public libraries, and recreational facilities, both of which achieved 91 per cent satisfaction. The highest levels where residents noted dissatisfaction were with our roads (32 per cent), our stormwater services (19 per cent) and footpaths (17 per cent).

In comparing the 2018 results, there was a 19 per cent increase in satisfaction for emergency management, which may reflect our contribution to the devastating drought and fires our region faced this year.

We also saw a 10 per cent increase in satisfaction for users of our public toilets, which may be attributed to new toilets around the region and also the more regular cleaning/maintenance regime we have implemented over the past year.

Seventy per cent think we supply more than enough or enough information, and most of that information comes via Newsline, with local newspapers second.

Forty-two percent of respondents could cite a recent Council action or decision they approve of, and 38 per cent had one they disapproved of (which is down from 52 per cent last year). While that's on par with the national average, we would like to see it improve.

This year we also asked questions to assist with our Responsible Camping Strategy. Just over three-quarters of Tasman people support controlled freedom camping in the region. 

We also asked residents about their housing preferences. The overall result indicates a preference for lifestyle properties, but older people (which is the age group projected to make up most of our future growth) indicate a preference for smaller stand-alone houses.

Read the full survey results.

How are we tracking

78% of residents are happy with emergency management

81% of residents are happy with our community programmes and events

91% are happy with our recreational facilities (e.g. playing fields and neighbourhood reserves)

86% of residents are happy with the service they received when they contacted a Council office

77% of residents feel that Tasman District Council has a good/very good reputation

69% of residents are happy with roads

Waimea Community Dam construction officially underway

A ground-breaking ceremony at the Lee Valley Waimea Community Dam site earlier this month formally marked the start of the dam build. The dam is a significant infrastructure project for Nelson Tasman that will provide reliable access to water for urban and rural communities, and bring environmental improvements, for the next 100-plus years.

Members of the Waimea Water Ltd board and staff, together with representatives from the Tasman District Council, Waimea Irrigators, iwi and the contractor – a joint venture between Fulton Hogan and Taylors Contracting - were joined by Nelson MP the Hon Dr Nick Smith and other key stakeholders at the event.

Waimea Water board chairwoman Karen Jordan says:  “This year’s drought further emphasised the need for greater water security in the region.

“The dam will provide a reliable water supply for the region when we need it most. Research shows that New Zealand gets plenty of water each year and uses less than two percent of it for abstraction. It’s clear that we need to be smarter about storing it while also considering and minimising the impact on the environment.”

The dam will have environmental benefits as well, including healthier Lee and Waimea Rivers. It will also improve water quality to provide a better environment for plants, fish and animals and create more opportunities for people to enjoy fishing, swimming and other recreational activities all year round.

Mayor Richard Kempthorne says this is one of the most important infrastructure projects we’re ever likely to see in the region.

“The dam is a game-changer for Nelson Tasman, it secures household water for our urban community and will grow our primary industries, as well as make sure a healthy level of water is maintained in the Lee and Waimea Rivers at all times."

Waimea Water chief executive Mike Scott says the three-year construction project is progressing well.

“Works to create access to the Lee Valley site are almost complete and we’re looking forward to now getting started on the construction of this world class dam and major infrastructure asset for the region.”

The Waimea Community Dam will be New Zealand’s first large dam in over 20 years. It will be approximately 53 metres high, 220 metres long and 6 metres wide at the crest. At times, there will be more than 100 people working on the project, many of them local.

Construction is scheduled to be complete in 2021, with the reservoir filling and final commissioning expected in early 2022.

On 8 August we were proud to recognise the outstanding community service of six Tasman volunteers who have worked consistently and tirelessly on behalf of their communities for many years.

The annual Outstanding Community Service Awards are a chance to honour the contribution of our local heroes. This year’s winners are:

Motueka - Ethel Dixon

Ethel has worked indefatigably for the Motueka Senior Citizens Association Inc, the Motueka Women’s Institute, the Stoke Music Club and Motor Home New Zealand in positions ranging from treasurer to committee member. For 25 years Ethel has also knitted warm slippers and clothing for charitable causes, including for the premature baby unit at Nelson Hospital.

Motueka - Jody Maru

Jody Maru has been involved with the Motueka Recreation Centre since it opened in 1981, and has been a youth leader at St John, volunteered for the Trustpower Community Awards, and was a Fifeshire Foundation board member and an elected member of the Nelson-Bays Community Organisation Grants.

Moutere-Waimea - Rose and Richard Shepard

After early involvement with the World of WearableArt, Rose set up the Nouveau Design Awards and art and craft exhibition, which funded an Arts Scholarship for the Wakefield District Youth Trust, and helped many other arts and theatre organisations. Richard also assisted her, was caretaker of the Wakefield Village Hall, and was a member of the Wakefield Volunteer Fire Brigade from 1988-2005.

Richmond - Cecile Strang

Over the past 30 years, Cecile has established or had a major hand in setting up many community groups helping people enjoy music, opera, travel, and company. These include the Friends of Richmond Library, which raised thousands of dollars for the library and of which she was president for 11 years.

Golden Bay - Joy Warren

Joy has been involved with the Golden Bay community and many organisations in the 24 years she and husband Brian have lived at Pakawau.  These include Rural Women New Zealand, for which she served as branch and provincial president, Access HomeHealth, Collingwood Health Centre, Collingwood Women’s Branch of the RSA, president of the Rockville and Collingwood Indoor Bowls club, a Justice of the Peace, and the Pakawau Hall Committee.

Thank you and congratulations to all the winners – your service to your community is a big part of what makes Tasman such a wonderful place to live.

A new report into freshwater management in Takaka makes a range of recommendations to help improve freshwater management in the catchments from Wainui Bay to Tukurua, including the Takaka River and its tributaries.

The report, by the Takaka Freshwater and Land Advisory Group (FLAG), covers water allocation, water quality management, and water body restoration. It was accompanied by a report, Manawhenua Mātauranga Report for the Tākaka Catchments, from Manawhenua ki Mohua, which outlined iwi freshwater management principles, values and aspirations for the future.

We set up the FLAG as a community-led advisory group to help us develop ways to manage freshwater resources and meet the obligations of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. The FLAG report recommends a number of new water controls for the area, and asks the Council to consider how they can be effectively and efficiently implemented.

One of the FLAG recommendations is to implement new flow and water quality protections for Te Waikoropupū Springs as soon as possible, which will complement the protections anticipated from the Water Conservation Order process.

The FLAG says the recommendations are an integrated package that is intended to operate as a holistic framework.

“We have worked hard to reach a consensus on these issues,” FLAG spokesperson Mik Symmons says. “We would like to see the Council adopt our recommendations and progress their implementation to improve freshwater management in our catchments.”

We will now consider the recommendations and their implications for the Takaka community, and decide how best to progress the remaining work.

Mayor Richard Kempthorne acknowledged the significant amount of time that FLAG members gave to the report, and says the Council will now seek to fully understand the package’s implications for the whole community.

“We are very grateful to all of the FLAG members for their effort, passion and persistence during this process.”

Motueka’s ultra-fast broadband rollout should be complete by the end of this year. Ruby Bay’s fibre was finished recently, meaning contractors now move to finish Motueka.

Over the next three years, improved rural broadband and cellular coverage to tourist locations and mobile blackspots will continue to be extended around the District.

Check what’s available on the broadband map

If you want to know which broadband options are available at your address, visit the National Broadband Map. Simply enter your address and you will see which options are available.

Head to broadbandmap.nz for the details.

What if I’m not happy with my broadband installation?

If you’re not happy with the quality of your installation, you can follow a process for dispute resolution. Check with your internet provider and ask about the dispute resolution scheme for fibre services.

Background

Over the past seven years, the Council has worked with central Government to help deliver better internet to our District, including $35 million funding for:

• Ultrafast Fibre Broadband, aimed at urban areas including small towns;
• Rural Broadband (RBI) for rural areas, and improved cellular coverage for tourist areas and current mobile blackspots.

Tick or rank? When you receive your local body election voting papers this year, you’ll also be asked to choose which voting system you’d like to use in future elections. The poll results will be binding for the 2022 and 2025 elections.

The options are Single Transferable Vote (STV) or First Past the Post (FPP).

First Past the Post

In FPP, voters tick a candidate and the person who receives the most votes is elected. This is the current system for the Tasman District Council election.

Single Transferable Vote

In STV, voters rank candidates in order of their preference, giving a 1 to the favourite candidate, 2 to the next preferred person and so on. A candidate must reach the quota to be elected.

Where there is more than one vacancy, all candidates who reach the quota are elected until all the spaces are filled. This system is used for the Nelson-Marlborough District Health Board elections. For more information on STV, visit stv.govt.nz.

There is no additional cost for processing and/or counting votes under either system.

Why is there a voting system poll?

FPP has been used for all Tasman District Council elections up until this point. This year you have the option of voting for change because a valid public petition representing at least 5% of those on the 2016 electoral roll requested a poll on the method of voting for future elections.

It may be pretty, but it’s now officially a pest. Taiwan cherry (Prunus campanulata) can no longer be propagated, sold or planted in Nelson or Tasman.

With the new Tasman-Nelson Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) for 2019-2029 in force from July 1, Tasman biosecurity staff will be out helping residents stop this pest tree from taking over our landscapes.

The tree, which is also known as bell-flowered cherry or Formosan cherry, has been spreading through the Richmond Ranges and other areas of scrubland or where grazing pressure is low. It forms dense, long-lived stands that choke out native vegetation.

Landowners must report the presence of Taiwan cherry and its cultivars on their land within five working days of sighting, and organise removal. For those who have planted the trees as specimens, our biosecurity staff will be helping remove them by providing replacement trees to the value of $135, after confirmation the pest tree or trees are gone. On a case by case basis, we will negotiate a financial contribution towards removal.

Earlier this year close to 2000 Tasman and Nelson residents shared their views on safe and appropriate speed limits across our region through our joint Tasman District Council-Nelson City Council speed survey.

The survey gave us valuable insights into the speed limits you think are suitable for our roads.

The Government’s new road safety strategy Road to Zero sets out principles for strengthening New Zealand’s road transport system, including setting safe and appropriate speeds. New Zealand Transport Agency guidance has told us that many of our rural roads have a safe and appropriate speed of 80kmh or less and many residential streets have a safe and appropriate speed of 40kmh.

The survey results show that there is a high level of support and understanding for reduced speed limits on some of our roads, including narrow sealed rural roads and residential roads around schools. For example, 76% of respondents think we should have a legal speed limit that is safe and appropriate for the road type, rather than the historic blanket 100kmh rural and 50kmh urban speed limits.

Next steps

The outcomes of the survey, the Government’s speed management guidance, a review of requested changes to road speed limits and the need to have consistent implementation of speeds across our roading network means we are planning to propose a range of changes to speed limits across our District.

At a meeting on 12 September, the Council will decide whether to begin consultation on changes to our Speed Limits Bylaw in order to implement the proposed new limits.

Key survey results

81% think we should have a speed limit less than 50kmh on our busy residential/school roads.

81% think we should have a speed limit less than 100kmh on our narrow sealed rural roads.

91% think we should have a speed limit less than 100kmh on our unsealed rural, narrow, winding roads.

87% think we should have a speed limit less than 100kmh for unsealed rural, straight roads.

68% think 50kmh remains appropriate for our main urban arterial roads.

Free WIFI!

Yes, free wifi is going to be available on our usual NBus services. You just need to look for the Nelson City Free wifi network on your device and follow the steps to join. The usual T&Cs apply.

Now you can surf for free and enjoy the ride at the same time.

Real-time bus information

Have I missed the bus? Should I run to catch it or can I take my time? These questions will now be answered for NBus passengers.

GPS has been installed on all NBus buses to give real-time information about the bus location and expected arrival time. The information is up on a screen at the stop on Queen Street, Richmond, as well as at the Nelson depot in Bridge Street.

When you are out and about or waiting at any other stops, the information is on the Track-a-bus website, trackabus.co.nz/nelson, or you can download the Transit app to have the info at your fingertips. Get it free today from your app store.

Read more and give your feedback.

Saturday 24 August, 10.00 am – 2.00 pm.

Come along and lend a hand at a community planting at Inlet View Walkway, Motueka, opposite Goodmans playing fields on Old Wharf Road. Access to the (two) planting sites are via Old Wharf Road or behind the Motueka skate park.

Refreshments will be available for planters. There will be some spades available but if you can bring your own spade that will help. Please bring gloves and drinking water. Wear solid footwear and clothes suitable for the weather conditions. This is a combined planting hosted by Keep Motueka Beautiful and the Tasman District Council to provide habitat around the Inlet and further beautify Motueka.

Postponement date if the weather is wet is Saturday 31 August.

For more information please contact Lynne on 03 543 8492 or lynne.hall@tasman.govt.nz.

Fire permits can now be managed online as Nelson Tasman Fire and Emergency works to educate the public on the risk of fire.

You can check the fire season status in your area, check the progress of your application, view and activate fire permits, and apply to renew any expired or declined fire permit applications.

Most of Nelson-Tasman is currently in a restricted fire season, so you will need a permit to light many types of fire.

“Fire permits are a key part of Fire and Emergency’s strategy to reduce the risk of fire, particularly over the summer fire season,” risk reduction national manager Roxanne Hilliard says.

“Fire permitting allows us to engage with New Zealanders to advise them about the types of fire they can or can’t light in the prevailing conditions, and to ensure they have the knowledge to manage the fire safely. This reduces the instances of uncontrolled fire emergencies.”

Find out more

The new National Fire Permit System can be accessed through checkitsalright.nz or fireandemergency.nz, or phone 0800 658 628.

Have your say on the publicly notified resource consent application

Nelson Drag Racing Association is seeking resource consent for four drag racing events a year for 10 years at the Motueka Aerodrome, 124 Queen Victoria Street, Motueka. This is a replacement consent for their existing one that expired on 11 May 2019.

The drag racing would be held on Saturdays – with a backup day to the next day (Sunday) for two of the events – any National Race or Easter Saturday event. This might involve all or part of an event on that next day to complete the whole race programme.

Events would run between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm on a Saturday, but could be extended to 5.00 pm in some circumstances. On any backup Sunday, events would start no earlier than 10.00 am and finish by 4.00 pm.

The proposal includes:

• up to 3000 people attending any single event;
• parking for at least 1000 cars will be provided;
• signage is limited to a single sign; and
• no tyre popping to occur.

How to have your say

Anyone can make a submission.

If you do make a submission you must:

• use the correct form (available on our website);
• make sure we receive it by 4.30 pm on Friday 13 September 2019; and
• provide the applicant with a copy of your submission too.

Find out more: The full public notice, and more information about the resource consent application and how to make a submission is available. Type in the keyword search “Motueka drag” or “drag racing”.

Alternatively, you can inspect a physical copy of the application and get a submission form at our Richmond, Motueka, or Takaka service centres.

Summary details of resource consent application number RM190119

Applicant: Nelson Drag Racing Association Inc

Applicant’s address for service

C/- Tony Alley, Davis Ogilvie & Partners Ltd

Email: nelson@do.nz

Post: 277 Hardy Street, Nelson 7010

Site location

Motueka Aerodrome, 124 Queen Victoria Street, Motueka

Legal description: Lot 2 DP 18903 (Record of Title 12C/338)

Tasman Resource Management Plan

Private Plan Change Request 70

Network Tasman Site Expansion

You are invited to make submissions on Private Plan Change Request 70: Network Tasman Site Expansion.

Network Tasman is seeking to extend the provisions of Schedule 17.5A ‘Activities on Network Tasman Ltd Site at Main Road, Hope’ over an adjoining site (at 68 Main Road, Hope) through a private plan change. At the same time, Network Tasman is seeking to change the existing schedule provisions, and those changed provisions will apply to all sites affected by Schedule 17.5A.

The proposed amendments can be viewed at our Richmond office and library or online. Submission forms are also available.

Submissions close 4.00 pm, Monday 16 September 2019 and can be sent to Environmental Policy, Tasman District Council, Private Bag 4, Richmond 7050 or emailed to tasmanrmp@tasman.govt.nz.

The online version of this notice under ‘News and notices’ provides further details.

For more information or advice, please contact Pam Meadows: Phone 03 543 8581 or email pam.meadows@tasman.govt.nz.

Community bus service begins Wakefield – Nelson run

A new not-for-profit bus service is now helping people get between Wakefield, Richmond and Nelson.

This initial service is a six-month trial funded by the Ministry of Social Development.

The service runs every Thursday. A ride from Wakefield to Richmond costs $5 return, Brightwater to Richmond $4 return, and Hope to Richmond $2 return. Bookings are essential by phoning 020 4195 8866.

Timetable (Thursday service):

Wakefield:

9.47 am, 88 Valley Road

9.50 am, Village Hall

9.52 am, 55 Pitfure Road

9.57 am, Whiting Drive

Brightwater:

10.05 am, 118 Lord Rutherford Road

10.10 am, Wanderers Avenue  

10.14 am, 11 Waimea West Road

10.16 am, opposite Ellis Street shops

Hope:

10.19 am, 206 Main Road Hope

Return departs Sundial Square at 1.00 pm.

Flush your taps

Some plumbing fittings have the potential to allow minute traces of metals to accumulate in water that is standing in the fittings for several hours.

Although the health risk is small, the Ministry of Health recommends you flush a mugful of water from your drinking-water tap each morning before use to remove any metals which may have dissolved from the plumbing fittings.

We recommend this simple precaution for all households, including those on public and private water supplies.

Visit moh.govt.nz (search for drinking water) for further information.

Have your say

How should we respond to higher sea levels?

Join our climate change community consultation.

Tasman is experiencing stormier weather as climate change hits harder, and we’re preparing our communities for new weather patterns, rising sea levels and changing coastal hazards. We’ve been working on a project to prepare Tasman to adapt to this new normal.

While the rate and magnitude of future sea level rise is uncertain, we do know that it will happen. This will have increasingly urgent implications for coastal development and infrastructure, such as roads, housing, and boating. There will also be environmental, cultural and social effects.

As a starting point for the conversation, we’ve mapped land that may be affected by sea level rise. The maps show a range of scenarios, as well as the effect of higher tides caused by storms, areas of historic coastal erosion (sediment loss) and accretion (sediment gain), and the presence of coastal structures such as stopbanks, walls and rock revetments.

These maps are available on our website. We need to hear about what is important to you and what we should do as sea levels rise and we experience more severe weather.

The engagement programme runs until 13 September. It is the first opportunity to talk about the effect of sea level rise for our communities, but it won’t be the last; this long term planning will take several years to complete.

For more information visit our feedback page.

Sinking lid policy proposed for pokie machine numbers

We're proposing to change how we manage 'pokie' machine numbers in Tasman and introduce a sinking lid policy.

Our aim – to minimise harmful gambling

The proposed draft policy is intended to provide a level of control that will minimise harmful gambling associated with class 4 gaming machines (sometimes called pokies) in the District.

In practice, the draft policy prohibits the gaming societies that own and operate the gaming machines from increasing the number of gaming machines they are licensed to operate.

The policy also continues the prohibition on transferring of any class 4 venue licence within the District.

Have your say

You can view the draft policy online or at any council office or library.

Submissions close 4.30 pm on Friday 13 September 2019.

Have your say

Submissions open: New Lease for Menzshed Tapawera

We are intending to grant a new five-year lease to the Menzshed Tapawera, located in the former Tapawera Scout Hall on Tapawera Memorial Park Recreation Reserve, 60 Main Road, Tapawera.

Submissions are open between 14 August and 16 September.

This is not a new occupation or activity. The Menzshed have been operating from this building since October 2014.  A new lease would formalise and continue the existing lease arrangements.

Have your say

If you would like to send feedback, please write to us at info@tasman.govt.nz with the subject line: Menzshed Tapawera Lease.

If there are any objections to the granting of this lease a formal hearing will be held.  Please advise in your submission whether you would like to appear if there is a hearing. All feedback becomes public information.

If you have any questions or would like more information, including plans, please contact Margot Wilson on 03 543 8400.

This notice was first advertised in the Waimea Weekly on 14 August 2019.

The Peter Malone Community Grants Scheme

Applications are invited for grants from the Peter Malone Community Grants Scheme.

Application forms are available from reception at the offices of Craig Anderson Ltd, 270A Queen Street, Richmond, phone: 544 6179, email: reception@caca.co.nz, or visit www.networktasman.co.nz.

Applications will be accepted up to Friday 30 August 2019, 5.00 pm. Late applications will not be considered. A decision on successful applicants will be made early October.

Applicants must be individuals or organisations whose members are predominantly electricity consumers in the Network Tasman district. Details of eligibility criteria are available with the application form.

M Buonocore, Secretary

Secondhand Sunday is back!

Sunday 8 September 2019

Secondhand Sunday is a garage sale where everything is free! This regular event is a great way to clear out some clutter or find hidden treasures.

How to take part

If you have goods to give away, visit tasman.govt.nz (search phrase: SecondHand Sunday) to register. Your address will be added to the list of those participating and you can download a poster to print and attach to your mailbox on the day. On the morning of 8 September put your items out on your driveway or lawn for others to come and collect for free.

Treasure hunters can view the list of those offering free gear online and head out fossicking on the day.

Ghosts and Goblins

Thursday 31 October, 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm, Sundial Square Richmond

Come on down to Sundial Square to collect your map and bag, and trick or treat your way around participating Richmond stores.

Take part in the Spooktacular Ghost Hunt, dress up for Halloween and be in to win awesome prizes in the Fancy Dress Parade. There will be free face-painting and Sundial Square will be looking fabulous thanks to awesome decorations by Waimea College students.

A safe, fun way for children to participate in “trick or treating” organised by Richmond Unlimited.

Summer Events Guide 2019 – 2020

In early December 50,000 copies of the Summer Events Guide for Nelson and Tasman will be distributed. The calendar of events at the back of the guide will have a listing of community events in the region - this information will be lifted directly from itson.co.nz.

Event organisers – if you want your event to be considered for inclusion, you must ensure it is listed on ItsOn no later than 13 October 2019. To list your events go to itson.co.nz/organisers.