The impact of the Government’s response to COVID-19 is beginning to be felt around the country with much more still to come as the wage subsidy is yet to run out and still no sign of a business as usual call from the Government. In the current Long Term Plan pre-consultation Council survey 75% of respondents have said that they expected the Council to operate within the … [Read More...]
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Spin Doctoring
Dr Spin goes to work in the Council Newsline again this week (8 May 2020). See if you can spot the trend. On the Motueka Library project: On the topic of … [Read More...]
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Same Again With Different Results
The Council trend of more of the same continued last week, sorry, the same results after all. On Tuesday we voted for more unbudgeted spend to expedite our … [Read More...]
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COVID Lock Down Update
As we near the end of lock down (well, at least we are allowed takeaways – right?) I thought it a good opportunity to do a stock-take. Where are we at and what is going on in Council? Besides which my Councillor update in Newsline that was supposed to go … [Read More...]
TDC Limited Options
Rate increases are being flagged across the country as inappropriate at this time. The taxpayer's Union has called for a rate freeze for all Councils. Taxpayer Talk: Should local councils freeze rates?April 01, 2020 Louis HoulbrookeDespite the … [Read More...]
Dam Jumble Of Geology
[This is a purely fictitious tale, any resemblance to fact or persons alive or dead is totally coincidental.] As news of yet another Dam blowout reverberates around the district there appears to be more than crumbling rock at the heart of it. Signs are also … [Read More...]
Rate Increases Ahead
It never ceases to amaze me how fiscal responsibility is not one of the top considerations in Council decisions. We have a global crisis on our hands, with countries in lock-down, stock markets crashing, and businesses shedding staff. And yet it appears that … [Read More...]
Positive Change?
Council is starting to get it’s teeth into setting policy with a review of the Tasman Regional Management Plan (TRMP) and preparing to set the direction for spending in the next 10 year plan. I thought it would be a good time to update on how we are performing … [Read More...]
Questions and Answers
Below are just some of the questions asked of the Council election candidates this year by various groups and organisations - along with my responses (often constrained by word limits). First up is the (lengthy) questionnaire by Policy Local which is the … [Read More...]
Transport
We need a transport network that will serve the needs of Tasman residents now and into the future. Everyone would like NZTA to sort out the State Highway issues through Richmond and into Nelson. We would also like to see the promised upgrade to Motueka … [Read More...]