The November/December edition of BayBuzz Digest is now available, and all the articles are on the BayBuzz website as well. The Digest will be letterbox-distributed in the coming week to about 10,000 homes in Hastings, Napier and Havelock North, plus you can pick up a copy in a few dozen shops, dairies and cafes around the region.
This edition of BayBuzz Digest covers a wide range of issues. Read about the latest developments on Ocean Beach, what National’s victory means, young professionals’ “take” on Hawke’s Bay, a profile of the Mongrel Mob, the state of housing and homelessness in the Bay, barbs and bouquets for the Councils, insiders’ looks at the art/wine (dis)connection and how Bay restaurants must cope with rising costs, and a bit of humour.
Our Guest Buzzmaker this edition is Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule, writing on the local implications of the election. Grumpy Councillor Tim Gilbertson pines for amalgamation. Gallery owner Judith Anderson, Chamber chief Murray Douglas, and commentators Mark Sweet, Brendan Webb, Elizabeth Sisson, Brian Duggan and Kent Baddeley aim to provoke.
A number of our guest writers – Andrew Frame, Georgina Miller and Sophie Stewart are young professionals here in the Bay. Our impression is that this generation of “do-ers,” roughly in the 25-40 year age bracket, is something of an endangered species in the Bay. So we asked this trio to give us their views on what’s good or bad, right or wrong about the Bay. To put their musings in broader perspective, we interviewed Ian Beattie of Riot Corp, a Bay-focused recruiting agency, who is often seeking to entice mid-career professionals to the Bay. You’ll feel a lot of positive vibes in this set of articles, but some food for thought as well.
And don’t miss our quick updates on Hastings Council spending, the ten-year plan (LTCCP) consultation process, and lawsuits affecting the District Health Board and Ravensdown.
We want to hear from you. You can write to us at BayBuzz, PO Box 8322, Havelock North 4157. Or better, email us at editors@baybuzz.co.nz. There’s also a reader survey on the website where you can easily give us feedback.
Finally, if you don’t need to talk to us, then by all means talk to Mayor Yule and Andy Lowe! As we report, the Hastings Council still must make some key decisions about Ocean Beach, and Bay residents seeking to protect the beach still need to speak out. Plus, Andy Lowe’s Hill Country is refusing to pay $276,000 in fees related to the Council’s review of their 1,000 home fantasy. If Hill Country doesn’t pay, guess who does … YOU, the ratepayer!
You can send a “Citizen’s Invoice” and message online to Andy Lowe and Mayor Yule at www.baybuzz.co.nz.
Enjoy the articles!
Tom
Hi Bay Buzz
An article in the Dominion Post on 21st November does not give the correct reasons why the Taradale Park Users Group requests a halt to the covered ‘viewing platform’ proposed for the hillside of the Napier City Council’s Dolbel Reserve. Initially the group requested a meeting to discuss the issue with council, as no public consultation had occurred.
To mayor Barbara Arnott’s credit a public meeting has been called for 9 am, Saturday 22 November at Dolbel Reserve, Taradale.
The main objection of the Taradale Park Users Group is that a covered ‘viewing platform’ built on the beautiful contours of this public park is not an ecologically sound proposal .The Taradale hills are an iconic natural heritage landscape which belongs to all Hawkes Bay residents.
‘Viewing platforms’ are normally only built where the structure has least impact on the surrounding environment and because there is difficult or dangerous access to a view. This is absolutely not the case in this instance. It will in fact be the view of the Dolbel Reserve hills themselves that will be very negatively impacted on.
The natural meadow and bush of the public reserve already provides the optimal experience for park users and residents alike. A viewing platform won't improve the view from the hill, but it will attract graffiti and vandals and require ongoing maintenance and repair. Erecting a covered viewing platform on such an unspoilt tract of natural public park land does not reflect an eco friendly perspective.
The Dominion Post article states that the covered ‘viewing platform’ is a ‘gift’ that is being rejected. However due to a lack of public consultation most of the community were not informed of this so-called gift from a private organisation who claims unjustified ‘rights’ over this public park. Private organisations erecting structures to commemorate themselves in public spaces are sending a clear visual message that they dominate that space.
The Forest & Bird Society and other community groups who contributed to, and in fact initiated plantings, seem content to have improved the characteristic rural environment of Dolbel reserve without imposing their marked structures all over it.
This is a Trojan horse type ‘gift’ that perpetuates attitudes vastly out of touch with contemporary views on the natural environment, community and recreational public space.
The visual beauty of the Taradale hills, define them as an iconic natural heritage landscape. Iconic landscapes shape the identity of communities and belong to everyone in that community.
One small private interest group should not be enabled by the Napier City Council to dominate the only unspoilt tract of public space that remains of the rural hillside landscape that defines the entire community.
Yours sincerely
Taradale Park Users Group supporter