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The Mayor's Blog
Continually Learn and Grow
One of the roles of being in local government, and certainly a part I enjoy, is that you ask questions, listen, observe and learn wherever you go. If you do this, you can learn so much about different ways of approaching issues and dealing with problems.
That's why our recent visit to our Italian sister city Cinque Terre was a/ important and b/ very valuable. We saw and heard of many things that could assist back here in Southland and we asked the questions about water, sewerage, rubbish, roading, employment, culture, environment and so on.
One such example is in roading. The main motorways and roads through Europe are fantastic but I learnt that the roads are closed from Saturday lunchtime through Sunday to large trucks except for those carrying essential products. That would be an interesting premise here, but I guess one of the arguments could be what is considered essential.
On arriving in Cinque Terre by train, one American tourist is said to have asked "Is this real or is it make believe like Disney Land?" I am sure lots of our delegation felt that way too. When you come from a country as young as New Zealand, seeing so much living history is overwhelming. Cinque Terre is all about history and heritage, but we can learn from their promotion of that. They encourage visitors to pick up all rubbish as it is an old and fragile environment, we can encourage people to do the same because we are virtually untouched in some of our national parks. They encourage people to visit during the low season to spread the load on tracks, we can do the same.
One of the key things that really interested me was the way Cinque Terre officials are working to encourage their young people to return from all over the world. In 1999 the average age in Cinque Terre was 73. That number is reducing now as the area has committed itself to a sustainable development model, which means it encourages social and economic development while paying particular attention to safeguarding the environment, the health and quality of life of the local inhabitants as well as making sure resources are available for such aims now and in the future.
In the late 1990s, park president Franco Bonanini, in consultation with the local mayors and community, recognised that action was required to conserve the unique heritage and landscape values of the area. Using a UNESCO framework a national park was formed over the area of the five villages. This isn't a national park as we would know it, it's rather more like a strategy that sets out the vision for the area, supported by an administrative framework.
The are now attracts an astonishing 2.5 million visitors per year. The hotels and restaurants have lots of local young people working in them and the pride and passion of these young people in what they offer is obvious.
Cottage industries, such as cosmetics made exclusively from natural ingredients including local organic herbs, fruit and flower extracts, excellent wine, lemon products and jams, all play a part in this economic development. These are some of the products we could market in Southland and we could do an exchange of some of our unique products.
These are just some examples of what I learnt and now the process is to work out what can be used here as to keep Southland in the forefront, we must continually learn and grow.
Communication Breakdown
The floods have been the talking point of the past 10 days and as usual, Southlanders coped very well. We just got on with it and did what had to be done.
The damage to the communication fibre-optics on the Whitestone Bridge showed us all how much we rely on modern technology. With all of it - emails, faxes, cellphones, phones, eft-pos - down at the same time, it was a real wake-up call for Te Anau residents and maybe for people further afield.
Te Anau has been lucky to have an alternate route, especially through the Southern Scenic Route, to get into the town after the main highway was closed for a few days because of the damage to the Whitestone Bridge.
There has been a lot of interest in the flooded Te Anau boat harbour and boat lovers, like my husband, have spen more time there than at home, making sure their precious boats are okay. Maybe the only good has been for the ducks, which don't have to go far to find a pond or two and there is certainly a lot of water to make electricity.
I made it out to go to the opening of the Menzies College new science and technology block and congratulations must go to the school for its leadership and forward thinking in this area. I was certainly inspired by the creation for this technology block and I imagine the young people will get great benefits out of being able to learn and understand concepts in such a workshop area.
This year I took part in the Anzac Day ceremonies in Te Anau, where many people commemorated our fallen soldiers. More than 100 people marched in the rain behind the army vehicles, including historical vehicles from a private military museum at Gorge Hill and an armoured personnel carrier on loan from Waiouru. The service incorporated the presentation of medals and I was very proud to present Sarah McCorkindale with her Queens Service Medal and she also received her gold Duke of Edinburgh award from the Fiordland RSA president. These two medals represent years of hard work and Sarah deserves the accolades.
I then went on to help judge best pumpkin at the market day. Thank goodness I had the help of new Fiordland College teacher in charge of environmental studies Vaughn Filmer, as he had very creative ways of awarding prizes to these splendid pumpkins.
I have now left for our trip to Cinque Terre, our sister city in Italy and my next column will be from there. The puppets are packed - a kiwi, takahe and kea will help me tell lots of stories about our wonderful province at schools.
Ciao.
Southland's Strength
I spent some time on the Tuatapere Hump Ridge track recently and once again am amazed at the level of work the largely volunteer trust does and has done.
The track along the boardwalk across the top of the ridge is just magnificent and the boardwalk protects so many precious flora. The gentians were in flower when I was there and I often stopped and just gazed in awe at the view, both close to the walk and then out over the Fiordland bush and the sea.
It's not just the nature side of things either; the history of the area, and in particular Port Craig, is immense. The links are still there too, as it is interesting just how many people in Southland can say their ancestors worked in there and there are so many stories to be told. The story which is very relevant to today's world is how the Tuatapere community built the track.
As the track's website says, "The very existence of the track is something quite special, a reflection of Kiwi's love for tramping and the 'can do' attitude of a small rural community. This track was conceived by the local community of Tuatapere and then built with the same pioneering spirit and hard work that built the timber town of Tuatapere itself."
The track began as an idea floated at a meeting in the town after the forest service was taken away in 1984. By 1994, public meetings were being held to discuss the possibility of such a track and to elect a trust. The trustees met in late 1995 to look at costs and while they were shell-shocked at the projected costs of between $2.275 million and $4.239 million, they took it back to the town residents who gave the go ahead.
Fundraising began in earnest, along with negotiations with the Department of Conservation for the concession and with private landowners. This took two years and then the actual decisions began - where to build the up-market accommodation and what it should look like, along with track alignment and applications for resource consents.
By December 2000 all consents were granted, funding of just over $3 million was in place and work began in January, with trustees and volunteers clearing the actual trackline - just one example of the work done by volunteers to ensure the track was opened within a budget on November 2, 2001, by the then Prime Minister Helen Clark. I remember an earlier car-ride with the Prime Minister from Bluff to Invercargill when I told her all about the track and the community. She was so impressed with the story that a few months later, the Tuatapere trust received about $1.7 million from the Government.
However, the trustees continued their good work and more boardwalk, at least 3km, has been built and flown in.
The track climbs upwards on the first day to the Hump Ridge, and then the next day descents along the ridge to the South Coast track, along old tramlines and across wooden viaducts to Port Craig. It then follows Te Waewae Bay out back to the beginning.
"The track is now run and maintained by the Tuatapere Hump Track Charitable Trust, whose members are all volunteers from the community with a passion for the Hump Ridge Track and the future well being of the Tuatapere community," the website says.
If people don't feel up to the three-day walk the overnighter into the historic Port Craig alon Te Waewae Bay is also brilliant, and once again the links to times past and Southlander's forefathers are there to find out about.
The Tuatapere Hump Ridge track is one of the good news stories in our District - one created and worked on by the community itself and I am very proud to be their patron.
On the other side, disappointly, are the statistics about unemployment which I have just received through the Mayor's Taskforce for Jobs.
Since December 2009, the number of people in employment fell and unemployment is at a 10-year high of 7.3%. My big concern, however, is the statistics for youth benefits that show that there are 82,844 young people on benefits throughout the country.
We have to work harder to ensure these young people have the opportunities needed to make sure they don't become long-term beneficiaries - it's about No Waste of Youth.
Easter Delight
I hope all of you have had a very restful Easter and did not eat too many Easter eggs.
Interestingly, I have just read an article that says how good dark chocolate is for you and that everyone should eat a small amount a day. So we should all eat dark chocolate Easter eggs, but not too much as we are only allowed 100g - that's not good.
I was delighted to attend the opening of the Centennial Park Sports Complex at Winton. What has been achieved at this impressive facility is incredible and full marks must go to the group of very hardworking volunteers who have created what some people thought was impossible - an indoor facility for netball. This means those who travel from all over Southland now have an all-weather facility.
I also went to a function at Mandeville where Solid Energy gave us a presentation on what is happening in Southland. We in Southland are very rich in energy resources and Solid Energy has already invested in a large way in these.
Whatever happens in the future our main concern is to make sure our communities and our people benefit and our environment is protected.
It's a busy time within Council right no, as we are preparing our Annual Plan for public consultation. A summary of what we intend to do in the District over the next year will be delivered to every household in mid-late April, with submissions closing on May 19. Included in the summary is a section on every community that has projects in the next year.
Every community is different and so we want to hear from you about what you want for your community and indeed for the District. Have your say as Council believes it is important to listen to every point of view.
Copies of both the summary and the draft Annual Plan will be available in our offices from mid-April and online as well at www.southlanddc.govt.nz
We welcome your emails/letters/submissions telling us constructively how we can improve Southland for all of us.
Talent in New Zealand
The last fortnight has left me little time to smell the roses. Between meetings in Invercargill and Wellington, I have not been at home much.
However, I ensure I make time for the really enjoyable times of attending community functions and I have had several memorable ones in the past few weeks.
I joined a group of celebrity walkers, including Dame Susan Devoy, on the Hump Ridge Track event and I always enjoy being able to walk the boardwalks along the ridges. Between the breathtaking scenery out to sea one way and towards Fiordland the other and the stunning flora, it is just awe-inspiring. Just as amazing is the work the local trust does to maintain and look after the track. The boardwalks protect the flora, such as the white gentians that are in flower, and the lodges are so clean and tidy.
We are truly lucky to have this track in our backyard and I encourage every Southlander to walk it.
I also was proud to hand over the new cemetery memorial sign to the Fortrose Cemetery Trust from the Tois Tois Lions Club, which, together with Southland District Council staff and members of the trust, had worked hard to create the sign. The sign and map, housed in a shelter, names everyone that is known to be buried in the cemetery and identifies where they are, so descendants and interested people can visit their graves. It also includes a history which tells of some of the several shipwrecks in the area.
People turn out in force on a cold day to the opening and it shows the importance of keeping history alive. It also shows how valuable our service clubs, like Lions, and volunteers are to the fabric of our communities.
I opened the Borland Experience Convention for the Lions recently as well and through how appropriate it was for the service organisation to have its conference at the lodge as club members have contributed so much to it. The lodge is a fantastic facility for young and old.
The Royal New Zealand Ballet's performance of From Here to There was magnificent. I always enjoy watching the talent we have in this country and this show was no exception, with its three different but brilliant acts.
Southland District Council hosted the Zone 6 local government meeting recently with a good attendance from councils from Waitaki south. The big discussion was on waste management, with Timaru talking about its three-bin system and Dunedin discussing its mixed council-business system. There were lots of questions and lots of learning as we are just starting on this journey.
Finally I completed in the gumboot throwing at the Cancer Society's Relay for Life last weekend - I had been practising by imagining people's faces as targets, isn't that a bit bad!!!
Life is a challenge
Life is a challenge and at times particularly so. As a Mayor of the largest land mass council in New Zealand, there are always exciting projects led by enthusiastic people and an example of this is the strong push again from various individuals to build a road from Haast to Hollyford. This isn't the first time this proposal has been investigated and I am sure it won't be the last.
Southland District Council was criticised when it put ratepayers money into an extensive study into the possibility of building a road connecting the West Coast and Milford in 1992-93. We updated the study in 2005, and now the proposal has made another appearance and some people are calling for us to put more money into it.
In 1993 we had a private operator willing to process to an owner-operator making it a toll road. At that time it was looking like costing well over $100 million to construct.
However, the road is now projected to cost about $300 million and will have large maintenance costs. It will cost several million dollars just to go for resource consent. Council is struggling to pay for its own infrastructure and basic services and we simply cannot load more on to our ratepayers.
There is significant potential in this project, but it has to be funded by either Government or a large personal funder, not Council. One of the key promoters of the proposal this time round is Christchurch businessman and tourism accommodation owner Earl Hagaman, who commissioned the latest report on the road.
Council is very happy to continue offering technical know-how through our asset management staff and/or economic development unit, but funding the building of the road is simply not a possibility.
We already have the most extensive roading network of all territorial authorities to service and our ratepayers are paying the highest rate per person for roading in New Zealand, so any new project would need to be weighed up very carefully to even reach the consultation stage.
At the moment there are 13 different proposals on the table for changing the way people get to Milford Sound, and whatever project that wins approval, if any do, has to be done to world environmental standards because it will be in a World Heritage Park.
I don't believe the proposed Haast-Hollyford Road is possible without some individual or group funding it and if someone does come out of the woodwork, there still needs to be some substantial work carried out before any construction begins.
Council is aware that there are a large number of people supporting the proposed road and is equally aware that there are a large number opposing it. We have to look at it objectively and we will continue to play an active role in feasibility assessments.
The Westland District Council is spending $100,000 on then road, and 135km of the route is within its boundaries, while only 67km is within the Southland District Council's.
We are facing many challenges with our roads throughout Southland and in the next few years, as many of the raods reach the end of their lives, we will face some large costs. At the same time the dairy boom continues and so southern roads are seeing more tankers more often. Several of the Southland forests come of age in the next few years. This all points to the need to spend money on the roads we have now.
Good management and good leadership both mean having to make tough decisions frequently and within local government, those decisions are often not liked by some people within our District. I am sure Southland District Council is making the right decision in not only keeping a watchful eye and not closing the door on the possibility of a Haast-Hollyford Road in the future, but also not putting any more ratepayer money into the proposal at the moment.
The Grand Old Lady of the Sky
I and several planeloads of people had a nostalgic trip in a DC3 from Manapouri over Fiordland recently. This grand old lady of the sky was built by women in California during the war years and her career has been varied and interesting from transporting troops and tourists to being used for top-dressing.
It's really great to see her fully restored, owned by a trust and here for future generations and it is also interesting to note that her wings are the same length as today's Boeing aircraft.
The opening of the Fonterra expansion gave us an opportunity to have a tour of this huge enterprise which now proudly boasts the largest drying capacity in the world. It can process one farm's milk supply in a few minutes, and you realise what a large global business this is and how important it is to our export and dairy industry in New Zealand.
I had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister John Key at the Fonterra opening as well as the Waimumu Field Days. It is pleasing to see that he takes the time to attend these important functions in New Zealand. The field days are a truly great event for our farming industry and in showcasing our province.
I was very proud of our Council tent and big thank you must go to the Communications team who created a wonderful display, including a piece of Fiordland together with its own "glow-worms."
People were particularly interested in the Bio-Filtro display on the new sewerage treatment plant at Edendale-Wyndham and also in the history, both the timeline and old photographs. Displays on building control, resource management and roading were also popular. GIS mapping was quieter than previous years, but still provided several farm maps to interested ratepayers. Communications and GIS staff were present for the entire three days and were well supported by councillors and staff.
I spent last week in Wellington, and had a very hectic time with meetings where we discussed road funding, cycle trails and the other usual suspects. It was also a great opportunity to share and talk to other rural provincial Councils.
I did take the opportunity with my precious spare time to see Avatar in 3D and also to have a quick look at the Pompeii Exhibition at Te Papa. The water schemes and toilet facilities were an impressive feat of Roman engineering. Pompeii was destroyed on August 24 79AD when Mt Vesuvius buried it, encasing it in a time capsule of ancient history for 2000 years. Looking at this early history, you realise that people faced the same challenges that we do today!
Celebrating our culture
We might be complaining about the rain yet again, but we shouldn't when you think about what is happening in Australia.
Out hearts go out to Victoria's residents, who have been so badly hit by fire. It's an absolute horror watching on television and seeing the number of deaths steadily growing and the devastation across the land.
On happier subjects, I was a guest at the Waitangi Day celebrations at the Bluff Marae. It was a very special day and one from which I learnt a lot. The friendly powhiri on to the marae made us all feel welcome and the whole day was the absolute highlight of their trip for the French couple we took along with us.
The sea food was divine and the speakers very enlightening.
I have also been asked to unveil a headstone for Minnie Dean at the Winton Cemetery. This headstone has been placed on her grave by relatives in Scotland and has been in the news lately with the fake headstone mysteriously arriving beforehand.
Whether you believe she was guilty or not guilty of infanticide, Minnie Dean is very much part of Southland's history and I believe it is important to mark her grave.
I have been looking forward to attending Shakespear in the Park once again this year and know it will be up to its usual high standard. It will be interesting to see our fine actors and actresses in a new venue too, with the performances at Hawthorne Gardens in McIvor Road.
Our very popular Mobile Book Bus has had a makeover, with the new pictures of Southland and Southlanders adorning it. Council had a chance to check out the new-look bus this week and were very impressed.
The bus, along with our libraries throughout the province, is becoming more and more popular with numbers of users growing. A lot of our new residents use the libraries a lot, particularly for the free internet, part of the Aotearoa People's Network.
And finally, I am off to Wellington next week to a rural sector meeting and several new Ministers will be attending, including our new local government Minister. So it will be good to hear them all speak.
Christmas Cheer
I always look forward to Christmas - I have never lost the thrill of it all since childhood. It's a magic time if we all make the efforts to spend time with family and friends. I know that's not always possible for those living in a tourist town, but even a friendly smile and happy Christmas can work miracles.
We invited all the southern councils to attend a joint meeting last Wednesday at the Te Anau Airport - Manapouri, and it was a good opportunity to brainstorm on how we can work and plan together and put aside boundaries for the benefit of all in the south. We do this well but we must continue to keep working at it. One Civil Defence instead of four for Southland is a huge advantage for all and we are proud to be the first in New Zealand to achieve this.
Cr Diane Ridley, in thanking everyone for coming to the meeting, said she appreciated everyone travelling the distance to her beautiful area. It is always funny how the perception is that it is shorter for us to come from Te Anau to Invercargill than for others to come to Te Anau from Invercargill.
I made sure I was home for Fiordland College's breakup as Murray and I really enjoy them. Every year I take the opportunity of attending various prizegivings throughout Southland as I am always impressed by our young people. They achieve so much and I am certain will make large contributions to our communities in the future.
I also took part in the Te Anau Santa Parade on Saturday - it was a good day in spite of the weather and I am sure everyone enjoyed themselves. I have a very sore foot though as the horse and gig ran over it!
Last week I was in Wellington for National Council for the usual meetings and a highlight for me, the stakeholder's Christmas party, where we have the opportunity to mix and mingle in a more social manner with Government Ministers. It was goof to speak to Transport Minister Steve Joyce and instead of going on about roading funding, I congratulated him on his recently born son, Thomas, who is a little brother for two-year-old Amelia.
Politicians lead very busy lives and sacrifice quite a lot so let's hope they, like all of you, take time to relax, enjoy, and have a wonderful Christmas. All the best for the New Year.
Almost Christmas
Here we are again - it's almost Christmas and I don't know where the time goes. They say that as you get older time goes faster, but I am on the outlook for the person who is cheating me of several months of this year.
I thought I would look back over the year, not only to remind myself of what has happened but also to look at Council's achievements and I believe we have a lot to be proud of.
There have been highs and lows, but like the Ranfurly Shield holders, our own Southland Stags, we have and will continue to work and fight hard for what we need to to make this province as strong as it can be.
Council has spent a lot of time this year dealing with issues not of its own making and in fact, often happening despite a lot of hard work put in by staff. Roading is the perennial example and I know I go on about it a bit, but it is the biggest challenge Council faces. Staff and consultants put a lot of effort into producing a definitive activity management plan for roading, as part of our long term plan. This management plan showed us as councillors where we are with our roads and what needs to be spent to at least maintain them at the present level.
Our roads affect our ecomomic prosperity and because we provide so much to the national economy, the effect is felt there as well. We weren't particularly thrilled about the rates increase that had to go with this work but we knew it was necessary. That's why it has been so hard to deal with the lack of funding from Government and the New Zealand Transport Agency - we did what was asked in producing a comprehensive plan and then it was discarded.
However, we are working hard with both Ministers and the New Zealand Transport Agency to find solutions and it is important to move forward. 2010 is a new year.
The opening of the new Papatotara Coast Road showed what cooperation and teamwork between all agencies, from Council, landowners and contractors to New Zealand Transport Agency, can do, as the work and timing was innovative.
Council was also excited about the prospect of a cycle trail in Southland and once again the southern councils led the way in joining together to put our case forward. Venture Southland has been working hard on the proposal and it has just become a bit more difficult by the hints that we have to find substantial amounts of funding. That's not what we were told in the beginning.
The track will provide a huge economic advantage to the region and if done properly, could become the Milford Track of cycle trails.
The local councils have spent a lot of time working together for the betterment of Southland, with one such example being the recent Leader's Forum, run by Our Way Southland. Ideas to improve life for all were brought up and now we look to them being developed.
The four southern councils have also agreed to amalgamate their Civil Defence responsibilities in order to provide a better service to all Southlanders. It has taken a while to sort things out but Southland is again going to lead the way in developing a structure that will provide a level of coordination necessary to mount an effective response.
I have enjoyed the fun times too, the puppet shows with librarian Willie Solomon at early childhood centres and kindergatens and helping Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks find his hidden talents in puppetry.
Developing our long term plan has meant Council is looking forward too, and is working on the possible issues the district will face.
So at this time I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and festive season. Please have a safe and happy New Year and I look forward to another busy year in 2010.
