Dunedin City councillors opposing Three Waters

ON March 24, 2022, the ODT reported that the Dunedin City councillors had voted to join 30 other councils in opposing the Three Waters reforms. This democratic vote did not suit the two mana whenuaappointed representatives who walked away from the council’s Maori participation working party.

This caused hand wringing and a Uturn by the council. Another vote was taken a week later to reverse the original decision opposing the Three Waters reforms.

Six councillors’ — Geary, Lord, BensonPope, Laufiso, Staynes and Walker — votes, plus the vote of the mayor, ensured that the reversal of the original vote was successful.

The point here is that this is not democracy. Mana whenua, it was said, were hurt and that trust had been broken by the council. The councillors are elected to represent us, and there have been many instances where they have voted to proceed on an issue that does not suit the majority of ratepayers. No reversal has ever been made as far as I am aware.

The local body elections are set down for October 8, 2022.

There is no way I will vote for any of the six councillors and Mayor Hawkins, who overturned a lawful democratic vote on the Three Waters reforms.

Ross Davidson

Wakari

Vehicles on beaches

WELL, the mountain has certainly laboured and brought forth a mouse.

After many months of discussions and deliberations, the Clutha District Council has decided to adopt a vehicles on beaches bylaw with the leastproscriptive rules possible:

People driving on beaches are required to do so in a way that does not threaten the safety of people, plants or animals.

Vehicles are not allowed on sand dunes, except to access the beach.

Vehicles are not allowed to drive along the beach above the highwater mark, except in emergencies.

You may notice that there are a few things missing from this notverycomprehensive list. There are:

No reduced speed limits (current legal limit is 100kmh).

No restrictions on where vehicles may access beaches.

No vehicle prohibited areas (safe zones).

Clutha District Council will, however, work with stakeholders and may use education programmes and signs to raise awareness of these rules. Council compliance officers and rangers could issue infringement notices. Safe zones may be created by council resolution following ‘‘appropriate monitoring and consultation’’.

Could someone please explain to us how this bylaw as it stands will have any significant impact on the threats posed by vehicles to vulnerable coastal wildlife and ecosystems in the Clutha district?

South Otago Forest & Bird members will be happy to contribute to the council’s education programmes, and look forward to hearing that they are being set up. Nevertheless, we feel strongly that there still needs to be regulation, monitoring and enforcement if the bylaw is to be anything but a feeble gesture towards meeting the council’s legal responsibilities to recognise and provide for the ‘‘preservation of the natural character of the coastal environment . . . and the protection of areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna.’’

Our plants and animals cannot speak up for themselves. That’s why it’s so important that we all do the best we possibly can to be a voice on their behalf.

BIBLE READING: For I am the Lord your God who . . . says to you, do not fear. — Isaiah 41:13.