17/02/2005

Over budget to stay cool ODC

By KYLEE BRUCE

Otorohanga District Council chambers will get a breathe of fresh air, after a decision was made to spend $32,000 to replace the air conditioning unit.
The unbudgeted expenditure was approved at an Otorohanga District Council meeting earlier this month after the previous air conditioning unit failed unexpectedly in 2004.
Spare parts needed to repair the unit were unavailable.
Engineering manager Ian Gooden stated in a report to council that "the environment in the chambers during meetings and other events is unhealthy either due to lack of cooling
in warm temperatures or lack of heating in cool temperatures."
While initial estimates for a replacement unit were about $25,000, Mr Gooden said the revised quotation of $32,000 allowed for a new plant to be installed on the building's roof, freeing up space occupied by the previous air conditioning unit in the existing
plant room.
He said the plant room could then be utilised for other means in the future.
Mayor Dale Williams said he felt the expenditure for the air conditioning unit seemed like an incredible amount of money considering the amount of time the chambers were utilised.
Other councillors also said they were hesitant to approve the unbudgeted expenditure however Mr Gooden said a new air conditioning unit should have been budgeted for in
the 10 year programme and was overlooked.
"We were not to know it was going to fail in this financial year."
CEO David Hall said he also saw the need to replace the old system as the chambers were used for important meetings and events.
"It's the engine room for where the decisions of the area are made," he said.
The decision was made to approve the $32,000 needed to replace the air conditioning unit.
Mr Williams said he looked forward to a cool room in the future.

New road safety rules bring changes in Oto

By KYLEE BRUCE

Otorohanga streets should be safer for pedestrians following national rule changes and local government initiatives.
Otorohanga District Council recently installed raised gardens near the pedestrian crossing approaches on Maniapoto St to highlight crossings and raise awareness of the crossings to both pedestrians and drivers.
Chains were also installed on traffic islands to create minor obstacles to slow pedestrians about to cross the road.
Council engineering manager Ian Gooden said the chains and gardens were installed after a number of incidents where people walked out in front of cars.
Mr Gooden said while nobody had been seriously injured, it was important preventative steps were put in place before a more serious case occurred.
While the safety chains initially raised some concern from residents who found them hard to see and manoeuvre around, Otorohanga Community Board members discussed the issue at a recent meeting and said they believed people were now getting used to the chains.
The council's focus on pedestrian crossing safety comes as a new Road User Rule is about to be launched nationwide.
The rule, coming into effect on February 27, outlines the legal responsibilities of every type of road user and, in particular, clarifies rules governing the use of pedestrian crossings.
Under the new Road User Rule motorists will be required to give way to pedestrians on both sides of all pedestrian crossings except for those divided by a raised traffic island in the centre of the road.
Currently drivers only have to give way to pedestrians on both sides of the road at crossings divided by a 'broken' centre-line marking, while at crossings
divided by a solid centre-line marking, drivers are only required to give way to pedestrians on their side of the road.
In Otorohanga this means that drivers will now have to stop regardless of which side of the road the pedestrian is approaching the crossing from.
At the same time, the rule also reinforces the legal requirements for pedestrians not to step out onto a crossing unless approaching vehicles. are far enough away to be able to stop safely.
Along with the installation of the new gardens and chains in Otorohanga, also came changes to roadside parking spaces.
Car parks that were previously situated near intersections along Maniapoto St were removed to improve visibility for cars pulling out of side streets.
Mr Gooden said the change was made for safety reasons and while the decreased amount of parking spaces may be an inconvenience for some drivers, it is important that cars do not park on yellow lines and cause hazards for other road users.
Otorohanga Community Board is currently considering further minor changes to parking arrangements at the request of the local business association.
Land Transport New Zealand will undertake advertising and publicity to inform road users of their responsibility under the Road User Rule before it comes into effect on February 27.

Kawhia people take responsibility for hall

There will be more local input and ownership in Kawhia, following a decision to hand over management of the Kawhia Community Hall to a local hall committee.
The decision was made at the Kawhia Community Board meeting late last month after a report from Otorohanga District Council Finance and administration manager John
Pevreal.
Mr Pevreal said residents of Kawhia had formed a committee to manage the maintenance, booking and financial affairs of the hall and he suggested council hand over management and administration to the group.
The group is chaired by Ross Dockery and includes Alan RuBay, Lou Sherman, Jane Rutherford, Nick Tautari, `Anne Manning, Sandra Drummond and Yvonne Briggs.
Mr Pevreal said advantages of the handing over management to the group included more local input and ownership, greater ability to raise funds and apply for grants, the ability to manage projects without council time or costs and a better chance of
obtaining donated materials.
While the hall committee will take care of licensing and consent issues, charges, annual rating levels, all outgoings costs and the day-to-day running of the hall, the council will continue to arrange insurance cover and collect rates.
The council must also be consulted before any major changes to the facility are carried out.
Mr Pevreal said this model works in several halls throughout the district.