Nuisance tree obscures view

A Kawhia resident complained has complained a tree is obscuring her view and wants it cut down.

Service manager Dave Clibbery told Kawhia Community Board that Apakura St resident Marj Brown had written to him asking if the council would consider removing the poplar.

Board member Murray Livingstone said the tree had been planted for a purpose, to hold the bank.

Otorohanga Community Board chairman Dale Williams, who attended the meeting, suggested another tree be planted in its place.

The decision was put on hold.

Kawhia ambulance and fire HQ discussed

Kawhia Community Board held an informal meeting two weeks ago to overturn its decision to decline the emergency services permission to build a new headquarters behind or beside Kawhia Community Centre.

Board members met with representatives of Kawhia's St John Ambulance and Kawhia Fire Service, on Thursday, to discuss plans to replace the existing fire station and ambulance headquarters and build a combined headquarters in its place.

The board turned down the combined application after hearing from Matt Bell, the Wellington-based property adviser for the New Zealand Fire Service.

"We would like to move forward," he said. "We are in a situation where we have to commit our resources by the end of June. We realise it is at the eleventh hour that we are coming to you," he said.

Mr Bell offered the board two options. The first was to build behind the community centre, on the site of the current headquarters, while the second was beside the centre.

The location was central for emergencies, he said, high profile for promotions and the New Zealand Fire Service preferred not to build in residential areas.

"We have got a couple of weeks before we have got to get an architect designing," he said, but after that funds would not be available.

Ralph Hamon said he did not believe behind the centre was the right location as the new building would be in situ for 20 years.

"We have got the gun pointed at our head because of the time frame," he said.

Jane Rutherford was also opposed, due to the business of the area.

"We have a lot of people down in that wharf area, including children," she said.

"We really do want the service and we really do want the building but we have got to think of the people down here."

But chief fire officer Peter Sayers told the meeting safety was not an issue though things could be improved with the erection of a 'no parking' sign.

Councillor Fiona Scott, who is also a member of Otorohanga District Council, asked whether such a facility could include community use and Mr Bell said it could.

Community board chairman Allan RuBay said the board would make a decision and come back to the applicants. The press and public were then excluded on the grounds of commercial sensitivity.

After the meeting Otorohanga District Council general manager David Hall issued the Waitomo News with a statement.

"Kawhia Community Board has refused to allow the New Zealand Fire Service and St John Ambulance to build their new headquarters on reserve land. The board still wishes to work with them to find an alternative site in the community," he said.

While development was not allowed on that site, Mr Hall said the board had decided to allow the services to retain their current location until an alternative site could be found.

Within less than 24 hours that decision would be rescinded, after board members had taken time to reflect on the briefing paper presented by the applicants.

Mrs Scott told the Waitomo News, on Friday, that the board had met again and had a rethink in light of the information that was presented at Thursday's meeting.

"In light of the information that we have received, we have changed our decision, giving the applicants the option of putting the headquarters behind Kawhia Community Centre. We have not been able to come up with anything that is more suitable," she said.

The decision was unanimous.

After receiving the news St John Ambulance station manager Betty Bell told the Waitomo News how pleased she and Kawhia Fire Brigade members were with the decision.

"We are just very delighted that we are going to be able to carry on with our building," she said. Chief fire officer Peter Sayers said, "We are happy that a decision has been made and that we can proceed from here rather than hit another stumbling block, otherwise it would have been back to the drawing board."

Mrs Bell, who is also chairman of the St John Ambulance regional committee, said the community had so far raised $13,500 towards the project with further fundraisers planned, including an Easter fishing competition.