More On Whispering Posts

Here’s the picture from the concept plan I mentioned in the previous post.  Excuse the quality, it’s a computerised mock up that has been printed then scanned then cropped and enlarged.

I envisage chunkier posts though and on the corner opposite the old brick BNZ (Rakiura Maori Land building).

Wouldn’t that building be a great central location for an ATM?

Below is what I saw as part of the CBD upgrade ideas.  This could be along the railway beautification strip but as I said earlier the skateboard park should be the car park and the car park be reinstated as railway beautification strip with the ‘sculpture walk’ with meandering path.  It would be more natural than the Queenstown example, less wood and rocks, more about the sculptures and/or story panels.
I see an oyster at one end of the path but have no idea about where or what the path would go to.  It doesn’t drain well there so think a path is important and even on a dewy morning people may prefer a path.  This needs more thought as I don’t think it would work with sculptures/story panels just dumped there.

How Nice Of Occupy Invercargill

Their letter to the editor in Tuesday’s Southland Times says;

We have an open door policy and an open mind.

That’s nice that they have an open door policy considering they are squatting in a public park paid for by the ratepayers of Invercargill!

A Nice Idea

Was flicking through the Infrastructure agenda for 14 November and noticed a submission on the Park Management Plan for Donovan Park (page 98):

A mixture of Apple and Pear trees with under-planting of fruit bushes and herbs.  Have a particular harvest day for the public with a picnic theme.

A lovely idea which I think would probably be better suited to community groups than a council though.  Maybe more suitable for a community garden or Enviro School.  Could be a good ‘working bee’ in disguise.

I was impressed with the Omaui submissions, positive, supportive and with solutions.  That’s why I believe Omaui are going to move ahead with their ideas and implementation of their Concept Plan.  Community buy-in and all hands on deck and no knockers.

Our Concept Plan can be viewed here in parts because it had not even been available until recently to the general public and there are only a few involved, definitely no buy-in and many knockers of other people ideas and visions.

Moving Forward

I can imagine all the talk tonight (at the Hill meeting) about ‘moving forward’ which is code for ‘too late we’ve clear-felled the hill and just deal with it’.

So OK, moving forward, here’s my thoughts:

• Council approve funding specifically tagged as Bluff Hill Reforestation which could be used for, amongst other things, weed control, for seedlings (5000+) to be raised by Parks Dept for community led initiatives and possibly magpie control since all the Tuis are gone!
• Council strictly adhere to the 10 metre rule in the Regional Pest Control Strategy (Environment Southland)
• ICC clarify the period in which they have to have growth on the Hill and what type of growth.  Robin Pagan keeps saying 20 years whereas the ETS says 10.  Which is it?
• The area be classified as scenic reserve since ES told me they have a higher level of weed control required.
• ICC allow firewood removal for a set period then cease because people dragging out debris (on the sly) will damage any new native growth.
• Put efforts into promoting this type of nursery crop (rather than gorse) and remember the Hill in old pictures was grass and low lying scrub and trees.

I could go on and on.  Maybe ICC can clarify the exact amount of money and loans and acreage  etc from the Hill, maybe the reforestation budget can come from the profits?  Official Information Act request maybe?

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

Bluff Hill/Motupohue Public Meeting

Tuesday October 4th at the St John Ambulance Hall at 7pm (take note, not the Town Hall we were ‘gifted’ LOL)

I joined Facebook (which I hate) because I wanted to comment in response to something on ICC’s page and have now suggested they make available a map of Bluff Hill that is under ICC control, no use getting there and being told that’s not under our control, it’s DOC’s etc…god forbid the peasants have the information before the meeting, they may come up with some tricky questions for the council.  Being presented information, having to process it and think of your questions on the spot is not consultation!

The judge in Wellington International Airport vs Air NZ (1993) defined consultation:

“If the party having the power to make a decision after consultation
holds meetings with the parties it is required to consult, provides
those parties with relevant information as they request, enters the
meetings with an open mind, takes due notice of what is said, and
waits until they have had their say before making a decision, then
the decision is properly described as having been made after
consultation.  It is immaterial that those parties may have had other
concerns  which for their own reason they chose not to put forward.”

Take note it says “meetings”, not singular but that never seems to happen here!  So it is important you have the information and you put forward your concerns now but I find the problem with ICC consultation is they hold info close to their chest and we have it ‘presented’ and expected to form our views and follow up questions on the spot.  I am a 2am epiphany type person and by that time the consultation meeting is over and done with.

I became a ‘councilwatcher’ because I realised it is important to know how we are governed and who is governing us.  The ideals and principles of those making the decisions can have great effect on our lives.

The legislation is there to protect our rights and in Bluff and Invercargill is bastardised and ignored on regular occasion.  So make yourself informed before the meeting and ‘put forward’ your concerns.

Yesterday, someone posed this question over the Bluff Hill forestry debacle

Would the people of Bluff have approved of their (ICC) plans if they had known in advance?

Well, your community board did know and ignoring the legislation and bastardising it have left us with a hill that brings shame and tears to the eyes and a Memorial Grove that is no longer a place of remembrance and quiet contemplation.

I will gather the documents which have been before our Board and Council on the issue and present them here in another post but will leave you with this report and maps presented to the Bluff Community Board on 8 June 2009.

 

Coming to a street near you…

The proposed sculpture for Gore Street courtesy of Bluff History Group.  Made of fibreglass with a ‘bronze look’.  This proposal will be presented to the Bluff Community Board meeting on Monday at 7pm at the Town Hall Chambers.

Opinions, comments and views welcomed.

More of this please

A job well done

Well done, nice to see someone showing what they have done rather than coming to Council with their hand out.  Someone at Council better be nominating them for an Environmental Award or the like.  Considering this was started 11 years ago because of a report to Council.  These guys implemented and stuck with it and now deserve every opportunity to receive a pat on the back.  It would not have happened if council did it, the benefits of communities.  I hope there will be a few Crs there to help on Planting Day.

Repeal the Anti Smacking Law NOW…

…..so I can smack the Youth Council upstarts round the ears!

I don’t care if you don’t care about history but maybe every bugger that died, fought and struggled to provide you the liberties you have now, do.  Be it democracy, women’s rights, social welfare or protection from oppression, you don’t deserve it!

I realise you were referring to Anniversary day but such disregard for history shows you have no respect for the work involved in creating the community you benefit from everyday.

So you want the day off with no regard to what you are celebrating?  Well enjoy your drinks (at 18)and remember your history, and the people that fought and died before they were legally allowed to purchase alcohol!!! FFS!

Say What?

From the Argyle Park Management Plan….

The roads surrounding Argyle Park provide off street parking for vehicles.

If you’re using the road for parking isn’t that called ON street parking?