03/03/2005

Beach people would also like fresh air

In regard to ODC installing new air-conditioning for health reasons in a room that is not used every day.
I wish they would accord the same fixtures to the permanant residents of Aotea village who live with constant dust day after day due to excessive traffic from tourism (ODC initiated) and the building of two new houses in the new subdivision (which incidentally would not be possible if the 90 odd owners in the village had not paid just under $6000 each to build the sea wall). There would be no road to use.
Dust is a health hazard. I wonder how far the $32,000 would have gone towards sealing our village's roads.
KM Beal
Aotea Beach

Thumbs

A big thumbs down to Otorohanga District Council for only placing a very small advertisement to notify people of the water being shut off on Friday February 25.
I have twin babies and was not prepared. If you can't afford to do a mail drop then place a bigger advertisement that people will see.

C Avison
Otorohanga

ODC upset at possible RMA changes

Otorohanga District Council has made a formal submission to Parliament outlining their concerns at possible changes to the Resource Management Act.
While the Act's amendment bill has some positive changes that may address many concerns, there is also a common feeling throughout local government that their role and input has not been fully recognised.
Overall the Bill is believed to give regional council a greater and more direct role, while undermining some decisions made by district councils.
The amendment bill was introduced to Parliament in December 2, 2004 and welcomed submissions until February 16.
In a 'submission from Otorohanga District Council, chief executive David Hall said the proposed amendments to the Act were both "significant and concerning."
Identifying five points of particular concern, Mr Hall said the changes had the potential to undermine the capacity of local government to provide local solutions to environmental issues.
He also said the changes had the potential to undermine the council's credibility.
Other areas of concern included that the changes would compromise the ability of local communities to determine their own environmental standards, reduce the ability of local government to influence national policy statements and add an additional layer of bureaucracy and expense for ratepayers to absorb.

Trikers rally for kiwis

Nothing could stop Tike and motorcycle riders from handing over their donation to the Otorohanga Kiwi House this week.
The riders raised $538.90 during the 10th annual Kiwi Trike Rally held in Otorohanga in January. The money was raised through a donation drive down Maniapoto St as well as through proceeds made from the event itself.
Trike enthusiast Fred Stott, who hosted the event on his Mangawhero Rd property, said the riders felt it was important to give back to the local community.
Mr Stott said the Kiwi House was selected to receive the funds for a range of reasons.
"I think that, being the Kiwi Trikers, it is only fitting we support the Kiwi House. Kiwi Trikers are family orientated and the Kiwi House is the same so it seems right that the two go together. The Kiwi House does a great job and they deserve the support," he said.
The trikers were so enthusiastic about the cause that representatives of the group made a special trip to Otorohanga on Sunday to present the cheque, with some coming from as far away as Auckland.
However, just north of Otorohanga one Tike lost control and hit a fence, resulting in the two occupants being taken to Waikato Hospital.
Organisers are already looking ahead to next year's event.

Supa Bins goes the extra mile with new contract

Otorohanga residents can expect an increase in service after the area's solid waste management contracts were renewed to Supa Bins.
Otorohanga District Council recently invited tenders for three separate contracts in the area - collection, haulage, processing and disposal operation of Otorohanga Recycling Centre and operation of Kawhia Recycling Centre.
In a report to council, services manager Dave Clibbery said that it was "disappointing though not entirely unexpected that very few tenders were received".
"The contract was apparently too small and remote from main centres to interest larger companies, but at the same time was too demanding for local parties without prior solid waste management experience," he said.
After consultation between representatives from Supa Bins, council and the Zero Waste Committee, the decision was made to award all contracts to Supa Bins.
Mr Clibbery said while the new refuse and recycling contracts would result in a relatively small overall increase in the rates-funded cost of waste management, residents could also expect an increase in the level of service.
He said residents could expect to have this increased service come in two forms, including an extended range of recycling and re-use services.
This includes a wider range of materials accepted for recycling at the Otorohanga and Kawhia recycling centres, development of re-use services to provide residents with opportunities to dispose of, or acquire preowned items and acceptance of refuse at Otorohanga Recycling Centre.
A small building will also be erected at the Kawhia Recycling Centre to act as a "re-use facility" where suitable items can be held for potential re-use.
Mr Clibbery said the other area of increased service would come about due to more stringent performance criteria".
Performance will be regularly monitored through regular formal contractor assessments with emphasis placed on improved "housekeeping" by the recycling centre sites and waste minimisation in accordance with the council's Zero Waste policy.
Mr Clibbery said the changes would take effect from the start of the new contract on April 1.
Mayor Dale Williams said he was pleased to have Supa Bins win the contracts because he believes they put a lot back into the Otorohanga district in the form of community involvement and sponsorship.

Otorohanga Red Cross soldiers on

Otorohanga Red Cross has lost its caravan but insists it will carry on without it.
The decision to sell the caravan was made during an Otorohanga Community Board meeting in January after concerns were raised over its poor appearance and high maintenance costs.
To compensate for the sale of the caravan, the council agreed to allow the Red Cross to hold regular street stalls. The caravan used to be parked on the corner of Maniapoto and Tuhuro Sts and used as a stall most Fridays.
Otorohanga Red Cross members said its closing was the end of era but insisted their branch would continue without it. It was originally opened in the 1970s.
In a press release issued to the Waitomo News, the Red Cross said it wished to acknowledge the assistance it had received over the years from the Otorohanga Lions Club who provided the caravan and Otorohanga District Council who provided funds for maintenance and registration.
It also expressed its sincere thanks to the many women, and the occasional men, who generously gave their time to staffing the caravan and helped with street stalls and collections.
"This assistance combined with the very generous contributions from local residents has enabled Red Cross to provide help in times of disaster, not only locally, but nationally and internationally.
"This was demonstrated recently when local people supported the Tsunami street stall appeal, with $600 raised and sent to the National Fund."
Otorohanga Red Cross, which began in 1916, has worked hard over the years to provide relief and support for people affected by disasters or unexpected occurrences such as fires or floods and is also responsible for delivering meals on wheels.
It will be continuing its role in the district by way of street stalls, raffles and collections and looks forward to the continued community support.