OVER TO YOU

Weirs for water

It would be common sense to immediately begin construction of weirs across all rivers in Tasman district, like the one near the intake of the Waimea East irrigation scheme. This one appears to work perfectly well, and has the advantage of not being an expensive, permanent fixture. Helen Staniland Richmond, January 30

Water demand

Tasman district’s population is projected to grow to 57,260 in 2048 (TDC Growth Model, 2017), and in the same period Nelson’s population is projected to grow to 58,600, a total increase of 11,960. The average citizen uses 250 litres of water per day, so the increased population will require almost three million litres of water per day. What are the Nelson and Tasman councils’ plans for generating the additional rainfall needed to meet this increase in water demand? Martin Hanson Richmond, February 4

Wacky ideas

So enjoyed Phil Quin’s treatise on wacky beliefs (Nelson Mail, February 4). On Christmas Day, I thought I would share something interesting I had read in a Niwa book about our coastlines. The moment the word ‘‘scientist’’ was emerging from my mouth, I was interrupted and informed that scientists were never to be trusted. Later in the conversation, the person who interrupted me shared from a book she had recently read; a New Age account by a woman who claims to be able to regress subjects to past lives. There was no need, evidently, for any skepticism in the claims made by that book. I should uncritically accept those claims, as told to me by my interrupter. We live in an age where science is distrusted and every wacky idea embraced by the masses. Bryan Forrest Nelson, February 4

Council spending

We read of yet another $200,000 sculpture paid for courtesy of the Nelson ratepayers (Nelson Mail, February 4).

Millions have been spent on non-core activities during the terms of the current mayor, resulting in a backlog of over 40 million in essential infrastructure work. Many of the roads and footpaths – even the sewerage and stormwater – are substandard. But what is even more concerning is that when projects are undertaken, there are persistent failures. The mayor appears to lack the ability to handle projects successfully. Examples are the huge cost overruns for the Stoke community centre and the Trafalgar Centre. The mayor has final responsibly/ sign-off of these major projects. Nelson needs competent administration of its finance and assets. Dan McGuire Nelson, February 4

Future challenges

Your article (February 2) outlines the challenges ahead for our urban area. Good governance demands that they be addressed with a clear vision statement to guide each and every policy. We have suffered from ad hoc policy development, and will continue to do so until a vision statement is agreed and adhered to.

Fortunately, one does exist; it is called Nelson 2060 and is the formal vision statement for the Nelson City Council. It is also one of the most complete vision statements I have ever read. Sadly, it seems to be in the bottom drawer at NCC. Some staff have never heard of it!

Much precious time could be saved by actually using it, and getting Tasman District Council alongside so urban development can be strategically planned. Climate change, sea level rise, the challenges of low-carbon transport and local food production cannot be ignored any longer.

Finally, a single urban local authority would make this critical task rather more possible. We must do much better for our childrens’s sake. John Moore Nelson, February 4

Tasman growth

Whatever the reason is that Tasman district can’t figure out where to put more people (Nelson Mail, February 2), it can’t be for lack of space.

Where I come from (the San Francisco Bay Area) is about the size of Tasman, and is home to as many people as the whole of New Zealand! Nobody wants to see that kind of crowding here, but Tasman has a long, long way to go before it even gets into that neighbourhood. There’s space aplenty. The problem lies entirely with priorities and decisions about how to manage it.

It’s a bit disingenuous to see government figures wringing their hands and acting like the problem is crushing them from above or outside, when it’s their job to nut it out. It may not be easy – it may require telling some people they can’t get what they want – but it is their job, and their hands are not tied. Steve Upstill Orinoco, February 5