Transparency….Yeah Right

No time for links, find it yourself on ICC’s website (Your Council, Current agendas).  We have that ‘oops, we forgot to properly declare the joint committee’s advisory group’ draft minutes in public excluded.  Not the usual reason from council this time though.

I will give them the benefit of the doubt and assume it is ICC carrying out the ‘commercial activity’ (silly me, I thought waste was a core service not a commercial activity).  I would hope the ‘advisory group’ are not carrying out the ‘commercial activity’ (the key word being advisory).

Job Losses Coming?

From ICC’s website (haven’t noticed anything in the paper but haven’t looked to hard either)

Council has accepted the tender of Veolia Water New Zealand to undertake the maintenance of the water and drainage pipes in Invercargill and Bluff for up to the next 10 years.

Russell Pearson, the Council’s Engineering Services Group Manager, said today the value of the contract was $3.4 million for a two-year period.

Cr Carolyn Dean, Chairman of the Council’s Infrastructure and Services Committee, said it was the first time the maintenance contract had gone out to open tender and it had been an essential step in ensuring that Invercargill was achieving a fair market price and high quality service.  In evaluating the six tenders received, both price and quality attributes were carefully examined, and a number of cross-checks were undertaken to achieve a final ranking of the proposals.

So will we be seeing a reduction in staff at Bond

Mr Pearson said that Council was excited to be working with Veolia Water and developing a new strong partnership.  Both organisations would be looking to improve the way service was delivered to ratepayers. Council’s former subsidiary and long-time service provider Bond Contracts has been unsuccessful with its tender,” he said. “However, Council wants to acknowledge the efforts and dedication of the long-serving team at Bond Contracts.”

We can only hope that Veolia Water will be needing more staff to balance the books.

 

 

Agendas Online

Infrastructure is online and I haven’t even commented on yesterday’s Regulatory.  Regulatory didn’t have much of interest to me though.  Was curious why Civil Defence had a grant earmarked for a church/community centre though?

Haven’t looked at Infrastructure as yet but while saving and uploading I did notice some Wastenet information.  Don’t say they’ve finally decided to become transparent? (now all the contentious issues are over with – the peasants can not be trusted!)

Will peruse later, I doubt there’s any expenditure or work planned in Bluff though.  I think they’re too busy catching up on deferred/ignored work that have strangely become bigger problems.  I know the problem around my area now requires more manholes/inspection eyes (whatever they’re called), non budgeted work.

Cr Kruger did mention that we may see the LTP come through Finance and Policy (March 6) instead of having to wait until March 20 – or will it be in Public Excluded?

Thanks Eirwen!

Eirwen has (because I asked) made available the Draft Asset Management Plans that go with the Infrastructure agenda.  The smallest is 3.7Mb, she sent them down to the Service Centre on CD.  They may take a little to load so be patient but at least their available online.  The 2008 Building Asset Management Plan is here and Eirwen tells me the others are on ICC’s website.  They are mostly Activity, as opposed to Asset plans though.

I did note that the Service Centre’s extension is now planned for 2014/15 at $800,000 which even though it has been put of for three years the price hasn’t increased.  Are they planning less expansion or didn’t they factor in inflation?

Maori Whispering Posts

The Bluff Hill/Motupohue and Stirling Point Concept Plan has an idea (page 34) that I like. I’ve made some changes though.

Maori Whispering Posts

The carved posts should be sufficiently eye-catching to draw visitors beyond the anchor chain sculpture ferry terminal.  Continuous loop audios at each listening post will present a brief story (between 30-60 seconds) at each carved listening post.  Posts will be set in such a way that stories are audible from the footpath and do not intrude on each other.  Each pole will symbolise a story through Maori creative and/or Maori carving.

I think enough has been done around the point.  Don’t we want people to stop at our shops and interact with the locals?  Nothing has changed for Bluff since the Bluff Concept Plan 2002.  While much of what was suggested (non private sector) has been done, none of it has positive outcomes for the Bluff residents.  Beautification of the tourist areas has had attention but Bluff township has been ignored.  Roads are a mess, footpaths are disgraceful or non-existent and businesses are not prospering.

One thing that has been done for the Bluff youth that I believe will always be the bane of our main street…the skateboard park.  Why are skateboard parks always put by railway lines?  I still believe it should be at the Slaney Street park.  Now we have a concrete mass taking up space that could be better utilised as parking and beautification of our township so the campervans and tourists and buses (they don’t come as much now) can stop and support the few businesses that remain or visit the Service Centre that our Chairperson keeps asking to become an i-Site.  We all know there’s bugger all parking down there because the staff don’t park out the back.  I realise there is the parking across from the Eagle but that is too close to the fertiliser sheds and too far from the Old Wharf entrance and majority of the shops and not central enough.

Some beautification and a sculpture walk (stolen from CBD upgrade ideas) on the greenbelt (railway beautification strip) which could extend further up and include the oyster sculpture.  Travelers will see all of that then want to stop for a look and voila, a carpark, just like the one opposite the Eagle but where the skateboard park is or even a little further up.  They could then park and choose to walk through the ‘sculpture walk’ or they might walk towards the Old Wharf corner where the Maori Listening Posts could be.  Placed there they could be seen when coming from the East or West and from the festival site/Real Journey’s car park and Ferry Terminal, enticing people to stop and look and then they may cross over to the shops or Anchorage or Bluff Bakery for a coffee.  Placing the Maori Listening Posts there now though would present parking issues.  I need to make up a photo montage, something I will work on.

Of course there will be issues and costs but everything does and that’s why I will make up a plan so the issues can be sorted.  The all important sound boarding should iron out the problems.  Food for thought!

Asset Management Plans

The first glimpse of the Draft Asset Management Plans in the Infrastructure agenda for Monday’s meeting.  When council updated their website they neglected to include the 2008 Asset Management Plan, fortunately I had a copy.   In preparation for the Long Term Plan we have this in the report;

The following Asset Management Plans are circulated with this report:
Core Buildings
Parks and Reserves
Roading
Sewerage
Stormwater
Water Supply.

What a shocker!  They haven’t been included with the agenda. Grrrrr….

Nosy or Curious?

Whatever you call it…I’d love to know why the new Bluff reservoir files that I have on my sharing site are still being viewed so regularly being as it done and dusted and out for tender.   While I understand why the hearing documents or recommendation report may be of ongoing interest, why my submission on it is viewed so often?

Is it good?  bad?

Whatever you call it, nosy or curious, I still would love to know.

Wind Power

Been busy with 5 year old birthday but made sure I found the time to attend the Energy3 Open Day regarding Flat Hill Wind Farm.  The guys were nice enough and provided most answers but I’m still left with one big one.

What are the benefits for such a monstrous  scar on our landscape?

I’m well aware of the financial benefits to the landowner and Energy3 but what benefits are there for the residents that will live within the shadows of these giants?

I cannot find any.  Up to 500 metre shadows, the risk of noise related problems, the possibility that these 8 open the door for many more.  The landowner, Energy3 and power retailer have significant benefits, there is no chance of any benefits for the community.  Meridian assessed the site for 15 and are, to my knowledge, still looking at 25 on Tiwai Peninsula.  Meridian also set up Trust funds to benefit the community they affect, no chance of that with little old Energy3, I doubt they are cashed up enough for those sort of ‘economic instruments’.  Their largest farm prior to this has been 4 turbines, I don’t think I want to be their test subject.

Many governments are now withdrawing their support for wind power projects because no power plants have been decommissioned as a result of wind turbines.   I commend Stewart Island for looking at different options.  Just because we have wind turbines being offered it doesn’t mean that is what is best, it means Energy3 do wind farms and they are the first to propose alternative power options…what if a tidal power company turned up now.  We are being offered wind power (with no benefits), it doesn’t mean it’s the best option for us.

Flat Hill Wind Farm Public Open Day

From what I hear about the Bluff Hill meeting, Greenpoint residents would appreciate this ‘open day’ info being circulated as much as possible.

Consultation

Take note of the comment “preparing a resource consent application”, they will probably use this ‘open day’ as an example of consultation they have already undertaken.  It is not about being all inclusive and transparent and community spirited so form your views and go along and ask for more information and be involved.

Here is the brochure they presented to the Board.

Here are the minutes of the meeting at which they presented to the Board.

If you support it, do nothing or go along to say you support it if you want but don’t expect cheaper power, they are a wholesaler not a retailer.

If your opposed then obviously you will be going along and here’s some food for thought.

As the District Plan identifies the Greenhills ridgeline as an Outstanding Natural Feature (like Bluff Hill is) you may want to look at Policy 3.5.2 of the District Plan (I am very aware that (A)(e) will be factored in if these 8 turbines are allowed) and Rule 4.22 (page 4-11A and 4-12)  in relation to structure height and this statement in particular

Structures shall not appear above ridge lines in the Omaui –
Greenhills – Bluff area, when viewed from State Highway No. 1 or Omaui Road

There will also be a need to up skill on the Resource Management Act process as I found out during the reservoir consent process…remember it is all about the environment not the people so don’t put all your argument into the effects on your lifestyle!

Bluff Hill Forestry Background

I’ve put together the history of Bluff Hill forestry since the report to Bluff Community Board on 8 June 2009. 

The history is a cut and paste from agendas with the dates underlined and in bold.  I would have liked to add my comments but haven’t got the time and there’s too much to say!

Council have made some reference to it and resolution to no longer use Bluff Hill for forestry