2009
– 2019 NRC - NCP SUBMISSION - Warren & Patricia (Pat)
Slater
‘Kauri View’
Riding Downs
Way
RD 9
Whangarei 0179
Phone:
094594992
Email: w.d.slater@xtra.co.nz
Firstly,
thank you for this opportunity to voice our opinions on your 2009 – 2019
Northland Regional Council - Northland Community Plan.
Times
at the moment are tough and that is why projects really must be carefully
prioritised. More and more projects
are now being targeted at ratepayers, instead of funded through taxes, possibly
having a huge financial burden on many low and fixed income families of which we
must be sometimes made aware of. At
times we must attempt to look through the eyes of the ones in these positions
and not through our own.
Rescue
Helicopter Services in Northland
By
applying a targeted rate to this organization you are taking away people’s
choice of their preferred charity. While we support this project we believe
monies for NEST should be sought from alternative means rather than through
ratings. To some, $8.56 per annum
is not a lot when it comes to the security of knowing this service is available
to each and everyone of us if in the unfortunate event of an accident where an
ambulance is not available. Perhaps
the case may be more urgent in the vital golden hour than the time in which an
ambulance can get there. We would
like this service to be prioritized over other projects, but reiterate that
funding should be fully or partly sought elsewhere. Next year will it be funding
other organizations like ‘Citizens Advice’, ‘Budgeting Services’, ‘St John
Ambulance’, ‘Police’, ‘Fire Service’.
Is this the thin edge of the wedge?
Remember people were targeted for a ‘Multi Events Centre’ that now
appears by the many reports becoming a rugby only venue, with council’s now not
having areas of suitability for some of the sports as originally planned. Tread carefully.
New
Transport Rate for the Whangarei District
We
realize the importance of buses in providing safe transport for those who can
not drive for any reason such as age, cost or abilities; however people who
drive cars have to personally make payments for their own transport. Many may
not find public transport suitable for them because of where their work is,
where they live, their hours of work, security or other responsibilities that do
not fit in with the public transport timetable. The point we are coming to is
that this service is not for all people as in the way NEST could be and yet all are being asked to
pay towards it. We do support part
subsidization of this service.
Perhaps
the two services above could be reduced to lessen the burden to ratepayers of
around $11.40 pa.
Subsidize
NEST at the rate of $5-00 with the balance to be sought elsewhere if
possible.
Apply
a transport rate of $5-00 with the balance to be sought from increased
fares.
River
Management
We
support the Council’s ongoing efforts to mitigate future flood risk and damage
to property, funding works from a further targeted rate levied on those
properties that benefit from the works.
Ongoing
Dredging of the Hatea River Channel
We
believe that the Hatea dredging fund of at least $1.69 per annum to be used to
maintain the channel depth is most appropriate and necessary. (in our opinion the older rate of $2-82
was acceptable) Our belief, after talking to many people on the issue of
flooding in Whangarei, is that insufficient dredging of the Hatea contributes to
flooding during high tides. This
aside, it is most important for access to the area for larger yachts and also
helps to keep the harbour clean. There are many businesses in this town that
rely on its sailing visitor fraternity. We understand that most sailors spend an
average of $60,000-00 pa. when here on maintenance and living costs, some spend
much more.
Other
Recreational Facilities Rate
In
regard to the council ceasing to collect funding of $5.63 to fund the
development of other recreational facilities in Northland we will support the
council in this. We do not fully
know of the situation around this but presume the direction the council wishes
to take to prioritize services is necessary and we do believe we have many
facilities, parks etc to cater to the public in this economic climate and that
private ventures can be established for other activities if this is
profitable. We do not believe at
this time that all can afford to pay for facilities that may not be used by
all. The $5.63 could perhaps be
better used by some ratepayers.
Sustainable
Water Allocation Plan
We
support option 1; to protect our water resources and provide future certainty
and security of water supply.
Stock
Truck Effluent Disposal Facilities
In
regard to stock truck effluent disposal facilities, sure provide the facilities
to protect our environment and impose penalties on those that fail to use them
and dump effluent illegally. However we do not support spending on this from
ratepayer’s money. We believe this
should be a targeted cost to the users of this service. Is this, or is this not,
a user pay society?
Northland
Port Shares
No
choice on this topic as we have insufficient information to make an informed
decision on the matter.
New
Council Controlled Organisation - Shared
services
We
support improvements to the system. We must keep up with technology within
reason, to do our jobs confidently and professionally. On the other hand we
don’t need to be so advanced with the capabilities of systems to fly to the
moon.
Other
Issues
Sewage
discharges;
We are in contact with a lot of other people, have marched alongside many of
them, signed petitions, viewed internet materials on the subject and have read
many of their comments in the papers, including those from school children. Professionals have done articles in the
media in relation to the situation of our contaminated harbour, the true
jewel in our crown, the one we care about. Our harbour is a free resource that
we have; all we need to do is maintain it. We hope many of these people have
made submissions but know we speak for many when we say…… Zero tolerance to raw untreated sewage
discharges. We can fix our sewerage
system easier than we can fix our harbour and waterways.
Events
Centre;
We feel that this is going in time to be a ‘rugby only venue’ and do not support
ongoing funding, if this is the case. Rugby at this level is professional and
should be funded by users, sponsors etc. We believe if it is not available
openly to the wide community like Kensington Park it is not a community facility
and should not be funded as such.
Marsden
Point Rail Link Designation;
We support the direction of having better rail networks, not just to Marsden
Point but to other destinations. Milk, timber, containers etc could be
transported regionally and nationally if managed prudently. Rail in New Zealand
failed by bad management and no accountability in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Our
roads could be much better and safer by ridding them of the trucks that congest
and damage the road surfaces. Daily passenger services could also be applied to
the same freight movements with diligent planning.
Broadband;
Bring
it on. We totally support improvements to the Broadband services in Northland. A
comment heard, if a person in Mangere can fast download a movie, why can’t a
business in Kaitaia have the same service. Enough said, let’s move forward with the
times, it will hopefully encourage international and local business to prosper
in our region.
Electricity; Electricity
is most important to our region’s future. We take flicking the switch on as a
god given right. If nothing happens…….. everything
comes to a grinding halt. Northland Regional council on behalf of our region
must ensure that electricity supply companies invest in the region to ensure the
much needed power is affordable and supply is reliable. We sincerely encourage
the NRC to be vigilant in this area of development.
GE;
a/
We request that the NRC re-insert the existing detailed precautionary GE
policy in the NRC adopted LTCCP 2006-2016 into the NRC draft LTCCP
2009-2019. It is not enough to "support a precautionary approach to
genetic engineering by the Environmental Risk Management Authority" (Vol. 1, p.
71 of the NRC draft LTCCP 2009/19) as ERMA is not
required to take a
precautionary approach under the HSNO Act.
b/
We request that NRC join the other
territorial authorities of Auckland/Northland peninsula and the Auckland
Regional Council in undertaking collaborative GE community consultation
(involving both a telephone poll and submission process) as the first step in
investigating some type of local regulation of GMO land/GMO
aquaculture.
c/
We request that a provision be placed in the NRC Regional Policy Statement
controlling or prohibiting GMO land use/GMO aquaculture during the RPS review
Summing
up
We
take the opportunity to say, we do not criticise council decisions just for the
sake of it or for political gain, but because we care about our region. A lot of good things are done and we
acknowledge that. Most would like
to be made more aware of decisions made by councils, to have even more
opportunity for input and to have more people willing to listen and speak out,
on behalf of us, the ratepayers. We
have concerns that ratepayers get touched for added costs all the time. Some
feel they are investing in businesses when paying for buses, NEST, stadiums
etc. Will we soon be subsidising
the local tyre shop, home appliance store and hamburger bar if they are having
difficulty?
Although
some of these may seem like small amounts per annum, they are better put into
the pockets of those in hardship, than taken out and we are sure you will
consider this when you finalise your community plan.
We
have attended meetings in the past at Northland Regional Council and your
hospitality and openness is appreciated.
We
thank you for the opportunity to make comment to the Northland Regional Council
Northland Community Plan and are happy to answer any questions you may wish to
ask.
We wish to be heard in support of this
submission