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

Tauranga has many responsible corporate citizens – I related a few columns ago about City Partners.

This week, Trustpower, in association with Tauranga City Council, presented its annual Community Awards to Tauranga City volunteer groups. This initiative, unique to Trustpower, is a corporate responsibility with its sleeves rolled up.
It's a programme designed to recognise the worth of voluntary groups to their communities – some 25 areas around New Zealand. Unless you are involved with the various groups or are a participant of their services, then it is likely you would be unaware of the invaluable contribution these selfless people and their organisations make to your community's wellbeing. There were 72 groups nominated locally, covering a wide spectrum of activities. It is extremely difficult selecting a winner – I mean every entrant makes a great case – and this year the overall winner is the Tauranga Men's Shed at the Historic Village.

The Men's Shed is an extremely well equipped workshop – all machinery is donated by community members who no longer have use for it. It's for men over 65 who want to contribute back to their community. No one gets paid – I mean no one – it has no administration costs – and the work they do is building, repairing and maintenance for all manner of other charities. The workshop has been turned from an un-used storage shed into a spotless workplace. Their commercial rent, insurances, phone, electricity, and water, for example, are paid by donations. The camaraderie among the 20 or so volunteers is key to productivity and success. Volunteers are welcome, so if you are kicking your heels in retirement and looking for something meaningful and worthwhile to do, pop down and have a look at the set up. Dave Harper will be only too happy to show you around.

Projects and monitoring
At the Projects and Monitoring committee, elected members heard one side of an unfortunate spat between tenants of the Cargo Shed down, in Dive Crescent, and Creative Tauranga. Council leases the Cargo Shed to Creative Tauranga who sub-lease to individual stall holders. I'm not getting into the details as it's really none of our business and the stall holders are asking for their leases to be continued directly with council when their Creative Tauranga -lease expires on June 30. Heaven sent for the daily media, chairman David Stewart said public spats like this do no one any good and elected members requested staff facilitate a meeting between the combatants.

Another presentation was received from Buddy Mikaere who is setting up the Battle of Gate Pa 150 year commemoration next year. At annual plan submission, they asked for about $160,000 which will be considered at deliberations next month. Buddy told us of one problem he had in getting one of the cannons into a bank for display. They aren't keen on firearms apparently.

Security concern
Security is apparently a concern for a cannon that weighs a couple of tonnes, Buddy told us. In a lighter moment, Terry Molloy noted that it might only be a problem if like – a council meeting – it fired smoke and mirrors.
There was another upfront informative update of progress on the Rena wreck. Maritime NZ said it had cost insurers and owners about $300 million so far. It's a mess, would be my take on it, with the likelihood that the large stern section and associated container wreckage probably will be left on the side of Astrolabe reef. Clearly insurers and owners want to put a limit on their liability and responsibility, leaving it for future generations. It's interesting how the openness of their disclosures takes all the heat out of the situation – you can almost sympathise with them. I said almost!

There's more on submissions to the annual plan. Former Baycourt manager Dale Henderson came along with Baycourt user group representatives to submit on what Dale speculated might be happening at Baycourt in regard to usage, availability and fees. Nothing has been discussed at council so it's all speculation but Mayor Stuart Crosby did tell the submitter that any problems had been exacerbated because council's policy on community usage may not have been strictly implemented in the past.

Omanu Golf Club is seeking an upgrade of the storm water drain running through the middle of their course. They aren't allowed to do it themselves because of spraying restrictions. Remember the good old days when you were allowed to help yourself?
A smaller representation of nay sayers presented this year. While I'm the first to agree that council isn't perfect, and is wanting in various areas, I also note that it's a vast improvement from yester-year. It was surprising that one of these people was unaware of some basic facts which Mayor Stuart Crosby alerted him to. For instance, loan repayments. Council repays loans – mostly over 25 years – and collect these repayments into a 'sinking fund” which forms part of council's internal cash bank.

There is more heartbreak from people suffering from repeated flooding and threat of flooding. I have people phoning when it's threatening rain now. I can only imagine what it must be like watching the weather forecasts. With insurance companies upping your excess to make flooding cover irrelevant. A theme from those flood victims is that elected members should re-prioritise expenditure – a theme I agree with. However, once the funds are allocated it takes time to get the work done.

Some elected members, including myself, experienced first-hand using a wheelchair in a disability/wheelchair exercise as a prelude to a City Disability Strategy. Just a slight sideways slope on the footpath becomes an obstacle to a wheelchair. Spring loaded rams on toilet doors make them difficult to open. Uneven concrete aprons mean that both wheels can't touch the ground. ATM machines that are too high mean you can't see the screen. Counters at Baycourt are too high to see over. And I never knew Wharf St was so steep. I got about halfway up under my own steam. Council will form a disability group forum like the Elders Forum to develop a sensible, practical way forward.

This week's mindbender, from Publius Cornelius Tacitus; 'The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.”