New development "transformational"

JO RICHARDS

A planned development of 14 affordable homes in the heart of Tākaka will be “transformational”, according to its champion Dr Chris Bennett.

Chris, executive officer for the Golden Bay/Mohua Affordable Housing Project (GBMAHP), says the development marks the latest phase in his team’s drive to provide high quality, reasonably priced accommodation for locals.

The two-bedroom flats, proposed for a 0.44ha plot at 44 Reilly Street, are specifically designed, with wheelchair access and wet bathrooms, to house pensioners and people with disabilities. The new homes will, at a stroke, virtually clear Tasman District Council’s (TDC) housing waiting list for Golden Bay pensioners, who will benefit from rents approximately 20 per cent below the median for Tākaka town.

But before construction begins, TDC will need to grant resource consent on GBMAHP’s revised application. Chris expects the resubmission to be made this week and follows the already-signed 99-year lease agreed with landowners Paul and Gilda Sangster.

The total budgeted cost of the development is $6 million, but Chris is optimistic that GBMAHP’s newly granted charitable status will see it attract support from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). “We made an application to the Government’s HUD affordable housing fund for $3 million…,” says Chris, adding that there are other viable sources of finance. “We expect Westpac to supply some funds, and it’s also an investment opportunity [for people] to own something that will pay a dividend.”

The proposal has not been entirely hurdle-free; issues with wastewater, stormwater, and potential flooding have caused delays, but these have been largely resolved through dialogue with council planners. “TDC have been fantastic,” says Chris. “They did an early detailed review of our resource consent application and did a really quick turnaround. They’ve been very supportive and all of their concerns were reasonable.”

As this next stage gets underway, the project’s proof-ofconcept phase is coming to a close. As a result of its charitable status, Chris explains that, following the June completion of its sixth home, GBMAHP will not be able to build any further “rent and own” houses for people on family land. “The Charities Commission couldn’t accept that these gave incidental benefits to the family.”

But that is perhaps a small price to pay for transformational change.

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Sustainability made easy

Thank you, Marie Kilgour, for your letter congratulating us for being a sustainable salon.

Colovaria is very lucky to have such an amazing company like Sustainable Salons Australia and New Zealand, to set everything up for us to make being sustainable so easy.

Charlotte Dodson

Fair criticism?

Tasman District Council (TDC) has announced that the community consultation is open so that the community can make submissions on the 10 Year Plan, yet, regarding the plan for the cycleway through Pōhara, we have just seen exactly what community consultation means: nothing!

Our local councillors object strongly to any form of criticism, but it is clear that TDC, of which they are members, has not bothered to consult those businesses that will be affected, and has also not bothered to consider safety issues brought up by those businesses at last week’s Golden Bay Community Board meeting.

Is it fair to criticise our locally elected councillors for their part in non-existent consultation? And, if this is a demonstration by TDC on exactly how little they care about actually listening to Tasman ratepayers, why are they even bothering to pretend?

Councillors, how about telling us why you seem more interested in representing the council, than representing the people who voted for you?

Gary Thorpe

Potholes and parking

Thanks to the people for filling in the potholes between the Top Shop and Roots Bar. Also, the yellow lines outside Roots Bar and new shop (ex Bird’s Emporium), as there is no driveway, why the yellow lines? Eliminating them would make two parking spaces.

Zane Perry

Climate change: excuses are easy

I agree with most of the contents of Reg's and Gerald's letters (GBW, 6/4).

To Reg: yes. Whether pursuing a carbon neutral policy (or not), the cost of food, energy in all forms, insurance, rates, etc, will all substantially increase at an unacceptable rate because the first world has not addressed the environmental debt that it has created to support the unsustainable lifestyle that most of us wallow in. And, yes, the earth's ability to delay the effects of necessary change by 40 years does provide an (feeble) excuse to not do anything.

To Gerald: yes. So much of what is needed to make serious change is outside our control, but we all can take personal ownership of the part that we add to the problem by reducing the size of our individual carbon footprint.

When the penny drops and we start addressing our individual “needs” (eg, basic shelter, food reserves, resilience to environmental change) rather than our “wants” (eg, another holiday in Europe, replacing with new, items that still function), we will be well on the way to a low carbon lifestyle.

For those who think any effort in this direction is pointless, don't complain (to quote Gerald) the next time a storm event takes out road access to the supermarket and power to your house, so that you have no food, water or toilet facilities. Some people have planned to manage such outages for some weeks.

For those that aren't motivated to act, when your grandchildren ask you "what action did you take to stop this seriously degraded lifestyle you have left us with", I hope you have already thought long and hard about what your response will be.

Andy Clark

Calm and measured antidote to Fire and Fury

A few readers of The GB Weekly were taken with the Government-funded propaganda documentary "Fire and Fury" a few months ago. If that was you then please give an hour of your time to the locally-produced, donor-funded Silenced featuring broadcaster Peter Williams. You will recognise some beautiful local scenery and become more aware of the subtle streams of censorship in the realms of New Zealand's media, medicine and academia.

Samantha Blanchard

Brand new radio

There are two brand new radio programmes for listeners who want good debate on the big issues.

Groundswell Radio is hosted by broadcast legend Peter Williams. Real yarns with real down to earth Kiwis about urban and rural issues. Bringing town and country together. It’s onair 7am Saturdays and Sundays, live on Radio Central and on various other radio frequencies with replays available online.

Reality Check Radio (RCR) is a brand new online radio station which covers the issues and events the establishment won't; and challenges the voices the mainstream media don't. Discern fact from fiction for yourself when listening to the full story. RCR launches 100 per cent funded by Kiwis who want the facts, not the narrative.

RCR will broadcast online nationally, seven days a week and replays are available through podcasts.

There is a great line-up of interviewers, including Paul Brennan, Peter Williams, Rodney Hide and Chantelle Baker, who are unafraid to tackle the curly issues. Plus, there’s some smooth sounds to balance out the heavy stuff.

Have a listen live or via the replays.

Letters To The Editor

Nicola Basham

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Sharyn is a rural girl from Southland, being brought up surrounded by agriculture. She knew that she would never have a 9-5 job, sitting behind a desk for the rest of her life. After studying at Lincoln University, Sharyn went on to work in the agriculture industry for over 30 years, and in particular The New Zealand Merino Company. Sharyn specializes in Lifestyle and Rural properties in the top of the South region, a career move she wonders why she didn’t make earlier.

If your considering selling your Lifestyle or Rural property, call her today.