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MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Letters to the EditorGym etiquette
To the users of the gym at Mangawhai: There are a number of people who use the gym for rehab, for trying to get fit and to try to gain more strength and stamina. The ones I am concerned about are the slight and not-as-strong ladies and gents, unlike some of the bodybuilding weightlifting types that go. It is impossible for us to lift 20kg weights off the machines we want to use. Many times there are up to eight of these weights left on. Please, if you can lift them on take them off as well and give the rest of us a fair go. There are a great number of us that would be very grateful to go to the gym and find we can use the equipment that we want to use without having to find someone to unload the weights. I would like to say thank you to those people that do remove the weights they use and to those who clear the weights for others. Thank you. A slight and not-so-strong lady. (Name & address supplied) Rates strikers selfish I read your Ed Said of November 11 and would like to say I think you are spot on with your understanding and opinion on the rates matter. I would usually have my say at MRRA meetings, but I am new to this area and have had my say in meetings at other areas, only to be completely ignored as the people at the top of the association usually have their own agenda and won’t deviate from it. Therefore the only way to be heard is in print. I feel the rates strikers are being very selfish and unjust to the rest of the community. If they feel so strongly about it, perhaps they should not use the services that the council supplies such as roading, footpaths, parks and, yes, even sewerage. As you stated we have a situation that needs to be dealt with and it seems the appointed Commissioners are doing just that, so we should all do our bit to improve the situation and that means paying your rates on time or even earlier if you can afford to. Also I think taking the council to court shows the mentality of the MRRA as it only makes the situation worse for everyone financially and what do they wish to achieve by doing so? Perhaps they wish to say so there! Graham Saussey On time ratepayer The Imperfect Storm? At this time of the year we are normally looking forward to the balmy relaxing days of summer, relaxation, Christmas and wondering what the New Year might bring. But I fear the dark clouds are gathering, not entirely unnoticed, but are we prepared for a possible perfect storm that might hit soon and have serious implications for Mangawhai for many years? You might say that I am over-dramatising, but many of my predictions have not only been realised, but understated. So what has, or is, about to happen? 1. Probably largely unnoticed, though reported in this paper, the Chairman of Commissioners advised that starting to look at long-term sewage disposal options other than the Brown’s Road Farm. Unfortunately the statements by others and me more than six years ago that the farm was not a viable long-term disposal option were dismissed as being “negative”. I do however take this recent statement very seriously and I honestly believe as a community we should seriously debate the possibility of disposal of well treated sewage at the Heads on outgoing tides for at least part of the year. 2. The Office of Auditor General inquiry. A year late but to be presented to the Mangawhai community on December 3, 2013. Unwise to prejudge its contents and recommendations, but to a large degree the inquiry is reporting on its own performance (the OAG for years dismissed claims by MRRA, Clive Boonham and myself that there was anything wrong with KDC and EcoCare). Timing seems just a bit too convenient; a few days before the Validation Bill probably passes, and also beginning December when we are involved in end of year school closure, Christmas and holiday preparation and too busy to worry about things of a couple and more years ago. 3. Validation Bill. Second reading just completed and the final reading promised early December. Seems all, with exception of NZ First and one other minor party, feel everything fine, we should get over it and just pay what is demanded. A big thing has been made of eliminating penalties from rate non-payers (and please note that Council itself admits that for many years, many do not pay rates – not just the recent so-called rate strikers) but let’s see just what penalties will be removed. Regardless of public statements, private discussions I have had with Council staff and a Commissioner show no interest in pursuing any action to recover monies from those who might be responsible for actions leading to the EcoCare debt. 4. Finally the Local Government Commission report regarding the proposed Northland Council, and as reported elsewhere “could be bad news for Mangawhai ratepayers, potentially leaving them solely liable for the debt associated with the EcoCare wastewater scheme.” Make no mistake, if this occurs my predictions a couple of years ago of Mangawhai rates of $5000 per property will be a gross underestimation. Are you prepared for and willing to fight the storm? John Dickie Mangawhai Thanks from St John I write in acknowledgement of all St John volunteers and join with them to celebrate International Volunteer Day (December 5). Our dedicated St John volunteers give so much time on our behalf in caring for their local communities. Without our volunteers, St John would not be able to deliver the level of vital emergency ambulance services and valued community programmes that we currently provide. Our volunteers frequently go above and beyond the call of duty. I also give thanks to the families and friends of our volunteers who help and support in the background enabling our volunteers to contribute as they do. With the Christmas break fast approaching, we ask for your readers, your publication and all our members to take care on the roads, and look after themselves and their loved ones this holiday season. Gary Salmon General Manager St John Northern Region |
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