Brian Anderson The Western Front www.sunlive.co.nz

Thank you to all of the readers who have kept in contact with me over the last year. I have endeavoured to stimulate debate in this column on local body council direction and support a more participatory democracy for the residents of Western Bay.

I have two problems now: So many people have called with their council problems that I can't answer them all into this paper – but we have helped many people by assisting with information, writing letters and submissions or referring the complaints to relevant authorities.

My second problem, is that I have had only two complaints. Am I being too nice? If anyone is thinking of writing with a complaint, please do. You might like to ring me first though. I probably have further supporting documentation and relevant quotes that I am quite willing to share. There is usually no room in the column for this information and, in most cases, I have to let the topic stand by itself.

What were the complaints? Five statements of mine were challenged. Four were direct quotes from the mayor's public statements and the fifth was from the complainant's own public statement, but he had forgotten that he had said it.

These of course were challenges and not the criticism I had been hoping for. I have always been hoping that correspondents will forget personal attacks and argue the issues.

I am very pleased to report recent changes in the way that residents in the Bay are participating, standing up, questioning and challenging council.

The regional council accepted the request from a group of residents to help form the Tauranga Harbour Recreation Strategy Forums. The Northern Harbour Forum now has a membership of close to 200 residents who have contributed at meetings. This forum is already a very active communication link between people of the Bay and the regional council.

Landcare, through the regional council, has already held four of the 14 catchment meetings where rural landowners and others involved in the protection and use of their waterways are able to contribute their local solutions for local issues. What is even more important is the surprise and pleasure from the rural landowners who have been given a chance to have their say and be heard for the first time in recent memory.

Priority One's report last week has placed the emphasis on studying small towns and in particular Katikati. It has shown that the health of a small town is a key element to fulfilling the obligation to councils to ensure the social, cultural, education and welfare of the residents. The health of small towns has not featured in any council planning recently.

We were supposed to have an Omokoroa Roadshow in Katikati last month. This would have been a presentation of new planning and goals, but the meeting in Omokoroa went wrong for council with more than 200 dissatisfied residents demanding answers from the council on stormwater problems in the peninsula. The people are speaking in Omokoroa.

If the roadshow ever does make it to Katikati, I expect Katikati will speak up also. Topics from the last regional catchment meetings; The Great Katikati Town Centre Plan Mystery, The Kauri Point Boat Ramp Diaries and the Phantom Tangatawhenua, The Carisbrooke Alternative Bypass – the list is mounting.

Please ring me and contribute your topics that you believe should be high on our list. Phone 07 5492962, sunwesternfront.co.nz or write to The Weekend Sun. All contributions gratefully accepted.