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

At full council we had a speaker in the public forum give us his perspective on tagging problems at Merivale. It was quite a different view from what elected members understood the situation to be.

I mention this here because, be it right or wrong, he was able to have his say in public of something that concerned him. There is a public forum slot at the beginning of most committee meetings that is available to anyone for a 10 minute dissertation. It's an opportunity that is getting more uptake as it becomes more widely known.
Boscabel subdivision up Ohauiti Rd has applied to join council's water supply service. When the subdivision was allowed as a rural/residential development there was no reservoir high enough to get water pressure to the 77 lots.
Fast forward 20 years or so and now there is such a reservoir. We are willing and able to take on this extra supply, provided that it can be done fairly on a cost-neutral basis to existing ratepayers and Boscabel residents. Unfortunately, one on-going issue is the reticulation system within the subdivision was not built compliant to the city specifications back then, and we will need to make allowance for upgrading. It's a complex matter and to be fair to everyone we have had a confidential workshop, where all issues were discussed in a full and frank manner.

Prompting long speeches
Obviously, there's an election in the offing, so the complicated matter of siting an extra pedestrian crossing on the corner of The Mall and Adams Ave at Pilot Bay prompted some lengthy speeches and questions. Oh dear. It looks a sensible addition, especially given that the speed limit along there is 30km/h.
By the way, doesn't the currently under-construction boardwalk along Pilot Bay really look the part. Remember the hoo-hah when council built the walkway in front of the motor camp on the ocean beach. Now there would be a riot if someone tried to take it out. The Pilot Bay walkway will be another worthy addition when it's completed. Thanks to the Port of Tauranga which enabled the project with a generous donation of $200,000.
Larry Baldock made a last minute attempt to alter the draft Local Alcohol Policy, despite having lost his amendments when the draft was being drawn up in conjunction with the Western Bay Council. We are doing it in tandem to ensure the same rules across our boundaries. Larry used his full 10 minutes in his address and a full five minutes in his right of reply. He lost it 9-2 with only Tony Christiansen supporting him. There was little that was outstandingly radical in what Larry proposed. But as it's only a draft the rest of us felt that we should wait and see what you out there in ratepayer land thought.

Spacial planning
We are to have a Bay of Plenty Spatial Plan. But it won't be named that. And, few would know, understand or care with that name is. Oh joy. Another plan to add to more plans. But Mary Ann McLeod, CEO of Bay of Plenty Regional Council, assured us it could 'eliminate 310 other plans and consolidate cross boundary issues”. I'll believe that when or if it happens. In the year?
Tsunami risk came up again and elected members were told that this risk needed to be evidence based and judged on a site by site basis. And it depends on how big the wave is. Volcanic ash is apparently considered a bigger danger (along with meteors, comets, rains, aliens…)
The Bay Times did its thing again, publishing their council reporter's personal, one dimensional opinion of elected members 'performance” during the last term. Given his inconsistent attendance records, among other things, you would have to have the cheek of old Ned to portray yourself as someone in a position to comment like that. The story confused the individual rating with the photographs of each elected member. Just one more sorry example of inaccuracy.
Four elected members attended the Elders Forum. This group is set up to advocate on issues facing the senior end of our community, but it transpires that many of these issues affect a wide cross section. For instance, mobility issues on buses for seniors are similar to those facing mothers with youngsters. There are 35 buses operating in Tauranga and they all 'kneel” – sometimes you have to request this. Did you know you can buy an all-day pass that will take you all over town on the bus for $7? Bus company representatives explained that it is uneconomic to put on smaller buses to run the off peak services – they would have to buy more buses. That's why you see those big buses around town with hardly any one on them sometimes.

Stalwart staff retires
Council and ratepayers lost another stalwart staff member recently as Marg Amor retired. Marg was PA to manager of Technical Services during the politically turbulent days of renewing our city's water processing plants. The epitome of efficiency, Marg went about her duties with grace and diligence when, at times, there wasn't a lot of grace around. Thanks for your support Marg, on behalf of all those who use and appreciate our pristine water supply; and for all the other good work you
assisted with.

This week's mindbender from Samuel Beckett:
'We're all born mad. Some remain so”.