GB COMMUNITY BOARD – MARCH

Continued from page 1

...of $150,000, Chris asked the board to contribute $1000 towards a community working bee and gel bottle expenses. This request was discussed later in the meeting as a Discretionary Fund application.

TDC Long Term Plan: TDC’s community policy advisor Amy Smith spoke to the board via Zoom link about the development of the council’s Long Term Plan 2024-2034. Explaining that it was “a long process” Amy focused on the early engagement stage, which she said involved a series of community workshops designed to improve understanding of local needs and exchange views about council priorities. These workshops are not open to the public – participation is by invitation only – and Amy asked the board to compile a list of key attendees for the upcoming workshop to be co-hosted by Manawhenua ki Mohua (MKM) at Onetahua Marae.

Stormwater discharge report: TDC staff from the stormwater and waste water management team attended the meeting in person to answer questions arising from their report on stormwater discharge from a pipe outlet onto 44 Reilly Street, Tākaka. The report was compiled in response to issues raised in last November’s’ GBCB public forum (GBW, 11/11/22) by Mohua Affordable Housing Trust (MAHT) which urged TDC to find a satisfactory solution to the stormwater drainage problem at the location so that MAHT can prepare the necessary Resource Consent for its proposed development.

The report found that soak pits and soak drains installed when the car park area was developed in 2008-2010 provided adequate mitigation for increased run-off. In addition the report states that all legal consents are in place for the open drain and piped stormwater discharge, and considers the flooding risk from the piped outlet to be “largely insignificant” compared to that arising from river flooding events.

Team leader David Stephenson explained that the council’s consent team had asked MAHT a number of questions relating to the consent and were awaiting a response.

David then spoke briefly about the Pōhara stormwater infrastructure improvements and explained that the work was well underway with the first stage completed four weeks ago and new culverts soon to be installed in Abel Tasman Drive.

Chair’s Report

Following a short discussion on number of internal issues, progress on, and actions relating to numerous issues raised at previous GBCB public fora were reviewed including:

Mohua Menzshed: Councillor Chris Hill reported that the proposal for a building on Park Avenue, Tākaka was progressing well, with the recent consultation attracting many letters of support and no objections.

Pedestrian safety around Port Tarakohe: Councillor Celia Butler said it was “a work in progress” and explained that port management planned to move the boundary fence to allow a path to be created. On the related subject of light pollution from the port, Celia reported that the advisory group had informed her that it was not feasible to turn the lights off, but were exploring the option of fitting shields and the possibility that lights could be controlled from boats returning to port.

Waka Kotahi: Abbie said she had spoken to WKNZTA’s Andrew James and intends to “have a discussion” with him. One subject for the discussion will be the toilets at the Waitapu Bridge site which, according to board member Grant Knowles, are “a mess… covered in graffiti, and no regular cleaning”.

Collingwood GBCB meeting: Abbie confirmed that the IT required to support a meeting in Collingwood is available, so meetings could be held in the township.

Street naming: MKM have not yet made a decision on whether to accept the name Bifrost Way for a road in Puponga.

Chair’s Report continued with a discussion of Discretionary Fund applications. Abbie noted the fund’s current balance of $1574 indicated there was “not enough money” to support the five applications received since the last meeting.

Following assessment of the applications, each for $1000, only one was approved. The Wrinklies Express was granted $800 to help meet the rising costs of operation. The applications declined were from: GB Arts Council (already received previous grant); Project De-Vine (GBCB letter of support agreed instead); GB Community Health Trust and Seeding Charitable Trust (insufficient information provided in both cases).

With the latest award, the fund balance sits at $774 and will not receive its annual top-up of $3905 until July. In the meantime the board will submit revised criteria for inclusion in a revised Community Board Discretionary Fund policy which is due to be adopted at the next full council meeting.

At around 3.30pm, with the meeting almost done and dusted, mayor Tim King presented awards for bravery to two local residents, following a rescue at sea off the coast of Pakawau in January 2021 (see article on page 11).

The next GBCB meeting is at TDC Service Centre Tākaka on Monday 3 April at 1pm.