Cr Bill Faulkner Faulkners Corner www.sunlive.co.nz

An eventful Full Council meeting this week saw quite a divergence of opinion on a number of matters.

One was a clash between Bob Clarkson and Harry Wilson from The Agency (formerly Transit) over access to Mr Clarkson's land at Tauriko onto the State Highway. Bob Clarkson had previously told Council that he had 'provisional go ahead for my industrial stuff behind the Tauriko Service Station, two lane roundabout with a slip lane on it. Got to be a few safety issues dealt with, but Transit have basically ticked it off.” Mr Wilson from The Agency (TA) said that TA had not approved anything.

The State Highway was to become a Road of National Significance (RONS) to provide connectivity to the Port of Tauranga with the Waikato. The Agency did not want any extra traffic that had not been already planned for, accessing the State Highway. The Agency would not countenance anything that might compromise freight efficiency or affect the proposed Tauriko Bypass. Sound planning meant investment by the Government in roading and Tauranga's Port economy was of national importance.

Mr Clarkson was vociferous in his reaction to Mr Wilson's comments. At the end of their verbal exchanges Mayor Stuart Crosby referred the meeting back to the Notice of Motion moved by me and Rick Curach that encouraged Mr Clarkson to lodge a Private Plan Change to effect a zoning change for his affordable home proposal on Mr Clarkson's 100 acres or so that is within the City Boundary. We were also unaware that Mr Clarkson and The Agency are in mediation – a legal process.

This was all a situation that we were unaware of, in fact a situation where angels would fear to tread and is no place for ratepayers to be sucked into a legal vortex.

It transpired that the law would not allow any change within two years of the new city plan being declared and that has yet to happen. On the strength of all of this I declined to formally move the Notice of Motion.

Yet another petition to have speed humps removed, this time from Hollister Lane. The humps were installed as a result of a petition to Council a couple of years ago. This is a familiar story. Unfortunately speed humps have to be outside someone's home and the ongoing thumping of vehicles creates a major disturbance to nearby residents. The best solution is to get signed approval from those likely to be affected because of the cost of installation and later removal is an unnecessary and increasingly frequent ratepayer expense. Speeding vehicles are a police enforcement issue.

Hairy Maclary and friends sculpture project will proceed on the Strand waterfront. To cost $850,000 to be raised by Creative Tauranga but owned by the Council there will be a $150,000 maintenance fund gifted by Creative in trust – the intention being no cost implications to ratepayers.

At long last there will be a temporary car parking provided on the old Cliff Road netball courts. Space for 72 cars at $2.50 per day to replace parking currently taking place on street berms in the area. It's been many years since netball moved out and this tar sealed area sat there largely unused while the surrounding street berms were parked on. Long term use of this prime land is undecided and in my opinion will remain so for an equally long time.

$20,000 shared 50/50 with The Agency is the cost of signs to assist motorists with the March 25^th change to traffic laws. You know that rule about right turning traffic across the face of oncoming traffic having the right of way over left turning traffic. The only country in the world doing it since it was changed in 1979. It will be a panelbeaters dream no doubt. I'm reminded of my dad when I learned to drive. He told me to remember this: 'Here lies the body of Henry Day who died defending his right of way. He was right, dead right, as he sped along – but he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong.” Sorry about that!

A surprising outcome to a suggested resolution basically requesting funding ($20,000 plus staff resource) to produce a business plan for a Marine Precinct at Sulphur Point. At workshops in December no major objections were raised. But at the meeting it was defeated 5-4 with Mayor Stuart and Terry Molloy having left the meeting early. It's understandable and easy to see both sides of the matter. On the one hand ratepayers are up against it and on the other hand it's a good time to stimulate economic growth. The intention was to sell some other property and apply to the Regional Council for funding from their Infrastructure Fund. But Murray Guy, Rick Curach, Catherine Stewart, Bill Grainger and Wayne Moultrie said the debt repayment and other priorities should prevail. David Stewart, me, Tony Christiansen and Larry Baldock thought that a business plan would outline all the concerns and issues. It would be interesting to see if the opposition and reasoning follows through to other proposals in the three year/10 year plan or if this is a one off.

Tsunami sirens tenders have been received. Three elected members will join staff to evaluate the proposals. It looks like they will be sited at wastewater pump stations (electricity supply) and up on poles. I see a speed hump situation developing here! But public demand should be met although I wonder how many people would take any notice of them after the novelty has worn off.

This week's mindbender from Mark Twain – I never let schooling get in the way of my education.