$60,000 boost for grandstand project
Procedures and protocols meant the cart had to be put before the horse at last week’s Te Puke Community Board meeting.
Te Puke Sports’ grandstand project coordinator Rick Hannay had spoken at a previous community board meeting asking the board to consider making a contribution to the project to build a grandstand at Murray Salt stadium using seats from Christchurch’s Lancaster Park.
He was at last week’s meeting to thank the board for their contribution, but procedure meant he was only able to speak in the public forum ahead of the formal meeting — before the board had made a decision on his earlier request.
He had no choice but to anticipate a positive response.
“I just want to give a vote of thanks to the community board of their support of Te Puke Sports’ project,” he said.
“If the board supports it, this is the catalyst for a very big project — I don’t think there has been as ambitious a project by any sports club in Te Puke.”
Later in the meeting the board agreed to contribute $60,000 from its reserve fund towards the project and also to strongly recommend to Western Bay of Plenty District Council that it tops up that contribution with $40,000 of its own.
■ Not for the first time, Te Puke Community Board is to ask Western Bay of Plenty District Council to consider the options to prohibit the parking of heavy vehicles in urban streets in Te Puke.
“The problem is still a concern to the board and as it has indicated in the past, this is a serious safety issue particularly around Dunlop Rd and Raymond Ave,” chairman Peter Miller wrote in his report to last week’s meeting.
During the public forum councillor Mike Lally said it was not acceptable that a truck could be parked in a dangerous location all night. He also said trucks’ engines starting in the early hours of the morning was not fair on neighbours.
“In Tauranga they have a bylaw but they don’t have people rushing around giving out tickets — that only happens when people complain,” he said.
“If they are in a dangerous place and somebody gets hurt, who does the responsibility fall on?” he asked.
“Not the community board because you have brought it up time and again.”
Peter said he was asking for the issue to be brought up at next year’s Western Bay District Council annual parking and bylaw review.
■ Te Puke will have a Christmas tree at the eastern entrance to the town — with the community board putting its hand in its pockets to make it happen.
At last week’s meeting the board agreed to a grant of $1200 to put up the tree — which is identical to the one outside the former railway station on the western entrance to the town.
The tree has been stored in the Te Puke Memorial Hall and was last week given a fresh coat of paint ahead of it being put up later this week.
The community board also agreed to a grant of $2000 to pay for the painting of the tree and to provide wheels for a piano to be kept at Te Puke Library.
The wheels are to allow it to be moved to the front of the library so it can be available for anyone to play.
Chairman Peter Miller said such pianos have proved to be popular in other towns. “It fits the criteria in my view. It is of community benefit and will put Te Puke on the map.”
■ The provision of two rubbish bins in Beatty Ave has been delayed due to production problems.
Beatty Ave resident James Tawhara told the meeting the litter levels in the street were “astronomical”.
He said it was good that progress was being made with the installation of the two bins and wondered if Te Puke High School could do more by installing rubbish bins at the school gates.
“It’s seven days and seven nights a week from the domain to the school gates.”
He said he wondered whether two bins would be enough.
“There is all manner of glass, plastics and paper.”
He also suggested more bins could be paid for by fast food sellers such as Mcdonald’s, KFC and Pizza Hut who could then have their branding on them.
“It would be a good thing for those businesses to get behind.”
Chairman Peter Miller said the fast food shops were aware of the problem and that staff from Mcdonald’s do a “sweep” of the street.
For more from the community board meeting see page 11.
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