Here on the East Coast, we lurch from one damaging climate event to the next yet the response from Council appears to be one of an ambulance parked up at the bottom of the cliff.
In the meantime projects that have a real chance of accommodating the need for change are ignored or put on the backburner until funding becomes a higher priority.
A classic example of this lack of visionary approach is our Council's handling of the East Coast tourism industry which is currently dependent almost exclusively on access to the historic Tolaga Bay Wharf.
This monument to past generational endeavour has been closed to public access for almost a year now and the locals are waiting for a credible answer as to why.
Readers should know that Tourism on the Coast, particularly for travelers coming north from Gisborne, starts or finishes with public access to the Wharf and it's surrounding attractions.
And local businesses dependent on the associated trade are left scrambling for the rats and mice income from those who choose to make the trip inspired of the closure.
As one of those who raised the $7 million for the wharf restoration, I was responsible for getting a commitment from Council Engineers that would ensure adequate funds were available for future (mainly cosmetic) repairs to the Wharf superstructure - thereby ensuring public safety for future generations of visitors.
At the time of handover at the finish of Stage One (which established the Wharf structure as fit to survive at least another 50 - 60 years of public access) Council agreed to use those funds exclusively as part of their Tolaga Bay Wharf R&M budget.
That commitment should have meant there was at least $260,000 allocated funds available for any structural repairs that were considered a danger to public safety in the 13 plus years following the reopening.
Well, believe it or not, the Council has chosen to spend that money on multiple engineers' reports that say the Wharf is currently unsafe and requires immediate attention before being open to the public once more.
Out of sheer exasperation, the locals have decided to do what they always do - cut holes in the barrier erected to prevent access but the damage to the tourism industry (worth in excess of $2 million to the local economy from visits to this iconic destination alone) is already done.
Unfortunately, incompetent management of the East Coast tourism destinations is not limited to the Tolaga Bay wharf access alone.
Further north, a visionary project to restore the Tokomaru Bay wharf and some of it's associated historic freezing works buildings has stalled due to lack of competent oversight and Council support for the project.
Furthermore, another multi million dollar project to accommodate the transition from an unsustainable livestock dominant economy on the East Coast to one that is in harmony with the environment languishes on the Council Long Term Plan lacking urgency while Rome burns.
If my comments sound like that of a jilted wife at the altar, I make no apologies for pointing these home truths out to anyone who has the ability to make things happen.
My life is coming to an end but it would be nice to know that somebody in high places is motivated by my cry for help.
It shouldn't be just a matter of money
Where there is a will, there is always a way.
How true!
Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.
5 comments:
I am sure, that if this article was printed in a Main Stream Media domain, may K 1 W !'s would agree with you Clive.
In Palmerston North the past Council made a decision to change the lay out of a road close to the CBD.
The end "product' caused issues, with at least 3 Public Meetings, that had few Councilor's, then, front up. Not even the Mayor.
There were many Business Owner's, around this "project", who felt that any input from them, was ignored, or not valued and one stated, that the "change to road layout would proceed (did proceed) irrespective of Business or Public concerns".
Of the then Councilor's, many have been "re-elected" - but I know, that of those re-elected, will not 're-visit' this road change.
So yes Clive, I for one agree with your sentiments.
It is such actions by "those duly elected" at the time, find at the next election, they have to re-define their futures, as The Public, do not want them back at 'the councilor table', making decisions, that both incur cost, waste money and have no beneficial end achievement
I have said it many times but will say it again: there must be criteria to be met by people who wish to stand for Councillors in every part of the country. The criteria should be accompanied by a set of factors that support the selection of the criteria; how the factors will be measured; the marking of the factors; and the benchmarks of the markings that are the minimum acceptable.
Now that may sound complicated but it is an internationial standard system.
If not acceptable, then a simplified system needs to be adopted. One that requires eelction candidates to state their professional qualifications and experience in the fields required by by the Council. Surely, all councils need a Mayor qualified in managing sector outcomes, and Councillors who have knowledge in such matters and sctors as Finance, Engineering (roads and transport, three waters, housing, port, wharves); Environment (waste, parks, sports grounds). Thes are just a few examples.
It is wrong for a Council appointed CEO to have too much freedom. Ratepayers elect Councillors to represent them in matters that are of concern to the population. We do not elect the Council CEO or staff. But in general it is the CEO and Council staff that make the decisions regarding plans, procurement, works etc, often leaving the elected representatives in the dark because many Councillors have insufficient knowledge of any sector to offer meaning ful comments on CEOs programmses of work.
It is also noticeable that many Councillors regard their job as a stepping stone to be on the public payroll for life -- good salaries, good benefits, good pensions etc. It is really concerning to see a name not elected, then standing elsewhere for another public service position, and again if not selected, standing again ....... Thos are not the type of people we need in Public Service.
…and we have out of touch dinosaurs like Winston Peters in parliament trying to act like discount Trump. I agree Clive, things aren’t look good here, just as the aren’t looking good in the US. How do we move forward from this? Greens are still a minority party and TOP can’t even get a seat. When will NZ wake up?
So Fred, you don't believe in democracy. That is where every citizen has a vote - just one - and also has the right to offer him or herself for election. With all its failing, it is, as Churchill said, better than all the other systems that have been tried from time to time. This country has one of the best - and oldest - democracies in the world. Rejoice in it, Fred.
To: A complainant - Ask yourself whether your last submission made any substantive contribution to the discussion (i.e. was on topic and contained some new information or presented a new twist). If the answer is 'no' to either of these, the submission did not merit inclusion.
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