Quick-fire meeting of Community Board

August 15th, 2013
[by David Armstrong]

What could well be a record short time for a Motueka Community Board meeting was one outcome of the August gathering on Tuesday, with most contentious items deferred either for a later meeting or a post-election Board.

After the usual complaint-laden public forum, the business of the Board was over in just one hour, leaving acting chairman Paul Hawkes (David Ogilvie is overseas) jokily asking if anything important had been left out.

Town entrance signs:
Sue Clark, of Keep Motueka Beautiful, showed the Board the three designs from High School students that she plans to use for welcome signs into Motueka from Upper Moutere, the Motueka Valley and Riwaka. They will be made into solid boards by Image Creators, and TDC and NZTA asked to facilitate permissions for their installation.

Discretionary grants:
The Board approved the first two grants for this financial year. The St Andrews Uniting Church will receive $400 to pay for Memorial Hall hire and lighting for their Pre-owned Clothing fashion parade, a fundraiser for their church restoration fund. And Motueka SPCA were granted $344.10 to provide cat beds at their shelter cattery.

Renaming of car park lane:
Eileen Stewart had researched and written a proposal to rename the lane that leads to the Salvation Army car park (off Greenwood Street) to Sarah Lane, reflecting historical use of the area. The Board agreed to allow this suggestion to proceed to the next step according to Council's street naming process.

Refurbishing Memorial Hall supper room:
A proposal by David Ogilvie in his Chairman's report, to proceed with the planned and approved spending of 'special projects' funds to install new kitchen facilities and heat pumps in Memorial Hall's supper room, was rejected for the time being.

The Board felt that it would be better to wait until Council's final determination to bring the back wall of the hall up to earthquake standards was set in ink, and there is no risk of the money being spent elsewhere.

Parker Street problems:
Another recommendation in David's report, seeking further information and action on faulty drainage away from Parker Street which is stopping required improvements to the state of Parker Street, was deferred until the next meeting, pending further information.

Freedom Camping bylaw:
Board members discussed the Council's draft changes to the Freedom Camping bylaw and Local Alcohol Policy, and resolved to submit a letter to support the submissions of Council on each matter.

Community Board finances:
TDC's corporate services manager Mike Drummond presented his draft report of the 2012/2013 financial statement, concluding that the Board's books are in good shape. He said the Board had done well to use its funds wisely and keeping costs within budget.

At $6,429, the amount given by the Board as discretionary grants to community organisations this year was $647 over budget although unspent budget from the previous year had easily covered that.

This past year $41,655 was spent on the 'Special Projects' account, which was well over the $22,304 budgeted, but again the large amount carried forward from 2011/2012 made up for this. Mike commented that this fund, which is built from the $5 a year targeted rate and has been contentious among some residents, was in fact of huge benefit to the community.

Board members agreed, saying that those complaining should realise that had it not been for that fund the following improvements would not have happened: the pedestrian refuge opposite New World ($10,753), improvements to the CCTV system ($4,900), two murals ($2,000), work on footpaths ($5,200), litter cart ($4,348), and Hau Road footpath ($13,204).

>> , to be added to the page. [If this link doesn't work, use this form instead]

[ Return ]
[ Other news articles ]

We wish to thank these local community-minded businesses who generously sponsor our site. They recognise the value of supporting this community asset, and in return Motueka Online is pleased to use and recommend their services whenever appropriate.

Ray White Motueka, Motueka Floral Studio, Nelson Building Society, House of Travel,
Greenwood Active Health, Lynette Mytton, T.O.A.D Hall,