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Submissions close on plans Tauranga residents have six days left to tell the city council what they think of its 2014/2015 draft annual plan. The plan sets out council’s goals and finances for the next year, including expenditure and rate collection. It also incorporates draft amendments to the 2012-2022 Long-term Plan.
Submissions can be made at any library and at www.tauranga.govt.nz. Submissions close at 5pm next Tuesday, April 22. Meanwhile, submissions on Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s 2014/2015 draft annual plan will close on Monday, April 28 at 4pm.
The Weekend Sun
Paddling for glory
C2 paddlers Dan Munro and Luke Robinson in action. Photo by Glenys T Photography.
In yet another show of Tauranga’s extraordinary canoe slalom talent, 14 local paddlers are preparing to fight for national glory at the ICF Slalom Junior and U23 World Championships next week. The 18-strong New Zealand team boasts 14 Tauranga athletes, who will compete in their respective classes from April 22-27 in Australia. Canoe Slalom Bay of Plenty president Sue Clarke says it’s a remarkable show of Tauranga’s talent and proof of the effort volunteers put into running the club. “It’s fantastic, we are all pretty excited.” Launched six years ago, Canoe Slalom BOP sees more than 70 young paddlers receive coaching weekly through a volunteer programme. Sue also credits the club’s rising success to the introduction of coach Martin Hammer three years ago. “He has made a big difference.” Sue flew to Australia with the athletes last Saturday, where the team has been practising at the competition venue: the Penrith Whitewater Stadium.
“It’s an artificial course near the Blue Mountains, designed for the 2000 Olympics.” Each of the athletes has already trialled the course, having competed in selection races for the event in January. With fierce competition in the junior and under 23 classes coming from Czech, Slovakia, France, Germany and the United Kingdom – any NZ medals will be well earned next week. But among Tauranga’s medal hopefuls are C2 paddlers Dan Munro and Luke Robinson, who are unchallenged in New Zealand, and two weeks ago won both junior and senior national titles. C2 involves kneeling in the canoe with straps binding your legs in place, and paddling with a single-bladed paddle. Both athletes must work together to secure perfect timing and instinctively know what the other will do, says Sue. Other local paddlers to watch are 18-year-old Callum Gilbert and current 2014 Oceania champion in under 23 C1, Ben Gibb. “It’s the first time this competition has been held in Australasia, so Canoe Slalom NZ has tailored its programme during the last 12 months to give the young athletes their best shot.” By Corrie Taylor