Project 2018-02-12 09:05:20 UTC the challenge… Last year Environment Canterbury (aka ECan) issued consents to two water bottling companies that allow them to bottle over 24 million litres per day of precious Canterbury aquifer water from bores in Belfast, North Christchurch. The consents are based on historical permits for the Silver Fern Farms works […]

via First time ever a Regional Council is being challenged for giving our water away – Aotearoa Water Action – protect our water from international water miners — Rangitikei Enviromental Health Watch

From Veronica Harrod: Expressway past Levin a high stakes game The land and property development agenda of Horowhenua District Council and council’s in-house economic development board would implode if the New Zealand Transport Agency decides not to proceed with the expressway past Levin demonstrating just how high the stakes are. Otaki electorate MP Nathan Guy, […]

via Expressway past Levin is a high stakes game to HDC’s in-house Economic Development Board — Rangitikei Enviromental Health Watch

Waikanae’s Shoreline Cinema manages to present a good range of non-Hollywood movies, some of which don’t make it onto cinema screens in Wellington.

The mention of participation in democracy in the previous post is appropriate to the theme of this one screening at present: The Divine Order (Die gottische Ordnung) set in a conservative Swiss small town.

Women’s enfranchisement happened in NZ in 1893; in Britain it was 1918, but in Switzerland, surprisingly, it wasn’t until 1971, with federal referendum number 244.  At the canton level, the last canton where it happened was Appenzell Innerrhoden in 1990(!)

The characters are fictional, but the attitudes and situations in a patriarchal society are undoubtedly real.  It presents a mix of pathos and humour; and a rare Swiss movie to make it to big screens here.

You may think that they won’t listen to you, and there’s good reason to think that, but it’s like voting in the elections — if you do nothing, they will take that as a signal that you don’t care what they do to you and your community.

The “consultation” document is downloadable here

You can indicate that you wish to speak to your submission, and if you do you will be contacted and offered a date and time. “At this stage we intend to hold submission hearings during the week starting 14 May 2018.”

The Council will meet to consider all submissions in June and it is anticipated that the Council will adopt the final 2018/38 Long term plan on 28 June.

The Bella Vista Homes subdivision in Tauranga has been a local issue there for a few months, but has now made the national news following the announcement by the Tauranga City Council that all 21 properties in the former development at The Lakes have been deemed dangerous and cannot be occupied.

According to this article on the stuff website:

Building compliance expert Rose McLaughlan has catalogued issues across all of the properties and concluded that none of the buildings were code compliant. That was despite some having had Code Compliance Certificates issued.

McLaughlan said many of the defects may not be easily fixed, due to the nature of the soil and problems associated with uncontrolled fill and sub-surface erosion.

McLaughlan said remediating the land and repairing some foundations and slabs, may be virtually impossible.

The lesson for councils is that they need to careful about what they approve as anything that is subsequently found to have faults makes them liable.  The bill for Tauranga City Council is going to be big.

The other lesson is for those looking at buying in new developments: check out the developers. They will invariably be limited liability companies, so check out the directors and shareholders. The construction industry is plagued with collapses, from the biggest (such as Fletchers’ woes) to the smallest.

If the terrain they are building on requires a lot more work than originally expected, can they cover the extra cost?  You can’t help wondering about some of the ones you see happening now in Kapiti.

Noticed outside Carpet Court this morning.  The connection isn’t obvious, but perhaps something enigmatic is the idea. 🙂

Guy Burns, Deputy Chair of the Raumati Paraparaumu Community Board is urging Councillors to drop the economic development arm of Kapiti Coast District Council.

 “We have entered the silly season when rates raise their ugly head. Currently Council are considering introducing a commercial targeted rate for economic development, which will further increase costs for businesses.

 “History shows that Council is ineffective and wasteful when attempting economic development. For example, $1.5 million was loaned to Otaki’s Clean Tech Park in 2012; within a couple of years Clean Tech was wound up at a great cost to ratepayers.

 “Kapiti Coast District Council’s current economic development activities seem to consist of developing a website, grants, and coordinating and reporting on economic matters. Such things are best left for businesses and private enterprise to organise and develop. The best way Council can facilitate economic growth is to reduce red-tape and cumbersome compliance requirements.

 “The Long Term Plan is currently being developed. KCDC has budgeted over 5 million dollars a year for economic development. I urge Councillors to disestablish the economic development arm of Council and put the money instead towards lower rates.”

“Travel with Steam Incorporated North from Kapiti via Palmerston North to the river city of Whanganui enjoying a full day of steam travel.  Departs Paekakariki at 7.20am, arrives back at 8.30pm.

“The train will be hauled by one of our coal fired steam locos.  It will comprise our fleet of classic red carriages. There is a buffet counter selling sandwiches, sausages, hamburgers, drinks and snacks.  You are welcome to bring your own food along.

“There will be 2.5 hours in Whanganui.  Optional tours available include a short river cruise on the Waimarie Paddle Steamer, a longer cruise on the river boat Wairua or a city sightseeing tour.

“Return train fare from Kapiti stations Adult $149, Child $109.  Also picks up at Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Otaki, Levin, Palmerston North and Feilding.”

The pick-up stop in Waikanae is 7:45 am; return at 8:05 pm.

Steam Inc. website for bookings

We’ve now heard that from two separate, reliable sources.  On 26 February we noted that a vacant section in Weggery Drive, Waikanae, was going to be sold off and observed, “There doesn’t seem to be anything potentially controversial about it.”

However, the latest proposals are much more extensive and clearly are potentially controversial from the fact that they are getting “hush, hush, top secret” treatment from the KCDC bureaucratic elite.  They are obligated to tell the councillors their plans, but they don’t want the Ratepayers who fund their existence to know.

So what could be next? The council’s Social Housing as happened in Horowhenua?  The reticulated water supply?

The first would upset quite a few people, but the second would cause a major uproar.  Nevertheless, it was the real reason for the Dougherty+Rowan water meters: they make privatisation further down the track a whole lot easier.

Any councillor who votes for that shouldn’t expect to be re-elected so it probably wont happen before October next year, but it’s another reason why the water meters must go.