Tasman District Council have been busy today - 12 July

Slips over roads taking tree with them

TDC have been busy today due to the weather

Murchison office is closed:

The Murchison office is closed again today due to staff illness. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Sports grounds are closed:

All Tasman District sports grounds are closed due to the weather.

Wastewater overflows in Richmond and Motueka:

There are minor wastewater overflows at the Sunview Heights (Hill Street South) and Beach Road, Richmond and Ledger Avenue, Motueka.

There is a possibility that wastewater has escaped into stormwater drains, so people should avoid contact with the area, and downstream drains for the next day or so. 

It is timely to remind people that after any storm event all urban streams and waterways will be affected to some degree by all the other run off that gets into the stormwater system.

Road closure and conditions across the region:

There are multiple slips, fallen trees and surface flooding across the region.

Please click on the link below for the most up to date information affecting local roads, including a link for state highway closures on the Waka Kotahi website.

Up to date road closures

Residents on Main Road Riwaka, near the turn off to Kaiteriteri (Cooks Corner) should prepare in case they need to leave, as surface flooding is likely this afternoon. 

Korere-Tophouse Road is closed at SH63 St Arnaud intersection. There are multiple trees down blocking the road.

There is a slip across the road on Dovedale Road between Baton Bridge and Sunday Creek Road, Stanley Brook.

There is a large slip on the Motueka Valley Highway between Sunday Creek Road and Dovedale Road. The road is closed from Tapawera township to Dovedale Road. 

There is surface flooding across the Tadmor Valley Road, at the old forestry camp, just west of Tapawera Baton Road, Water is also flowing across the Motueka Valley Highway on the top terrace between Kohatu and Tapawera. 

There is flooding occurring outside 1966 Moutere Highway.

There is also flooding across Dovedale Road, Motueka Valley Highway, Gardner Valley Road, Chamberlain Street and Queen Victoria Street Motueka, and Whakawera Street.

Stafford Drive is closed at Marriages Road and Pomona Road due to flooding.

There is a large hole in the road on Blackbird Valley Road.

SH63 St Arnaud to Renwick is closed due to flooding.

There are debris on the road between Kikiwa and Korere, with half the road blocked. About 3km Korere side of Christies Road.

There is surface flooding at SH6 Main Road Hope, SH6 near Quinney’s Bush and SH60 Appleby.

SH60 Tākaka Hill has experienced a couple of slips, but they’ve either been cleared or are back behind the white edge line.

SH60 Riwaka, near the Riwaka- Kaiteriteri Road and Sandy Bay-Marahau Road intersections – surface flooding, caution is advised.

SH6 southern side of Spooner’s Saddle – minor slips on the shoulder.

There is a tree blocking Kerr Hill Road, Golden Downs, north of Kings Ridge Road.

River Road is closed due to flooding. There is a detour in place from the Appleby Highway to Waimea West Road.

There is a tree down on Robinson Road on the blind corner near the main road end.

There is flooding on Waimea West Road and a slip closing one lane on Livingston Road.

The slip boulder blocking one lane on Kaiteriteri-Sandy Bay Road has now been cleared.

The tree blocking one lane on Mārahau Hill has also been cleared.

SH60 Golden Bay (Upper Tākaka) between Aaron Creek Road / Cobb Road and Uruwhenua Road – closed due to flooding.

There is surface flooding on SH6 Belgrove - near the weighbridge / Pretty Bridge Valley Road intersection.

There is a slip on SH6 Motupiko, south of the intersection with Korere-Tophouse Road, in the southbound lane.

Higgins Road is closed due to flooding. Detour via SH6.

Otuwhero Valley Road is flooded.

Please avoid the above areas if you can. If you are on the roads today, slow down and drive to the conditions! Waves made by vehicles driving through surface flooding can often make things worse.

We expect there to be more surface flooding and slips in many areas across the District.

This post will be updated with further road closures throughout the day.

You can see state highway closures on the Waka Kotahi website: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/regions/10...

Cooks Corner floods

Motueka Stopbank

Korre - Tophouse Rd

There is a big slip (logs on the road) on the Motueka Valley Highway from Stonefly Lodge toward Motueka. Road closed from Tapawera township to Dovedale Road.

Tuesday 12 July 2022 road conditions updates on Tasman District Council website as at 4.00pm 12 July:


• Golden Hills Road Ford is closed due to flooding. 
• Korere-Tophouse Road is closed due to fallen trees.
• There is a slip on Dovedale Road between Baton Bridge and Sunday Creek Road, Stanley Brook. 
• The Motueka Valley Highway is closed from Tapawera to Dovedale Road.
• Stafford Drive is closed due to flooding at Ruby Bay between the toilets and McKee Domain - detour via Marriages Road.  
• There is also flooding across Dovedale Road, Motueka Valley Highway, Gardner Valley Road, Chamberlain Street, Whakarewa Street and Queen Victoria Street Motueka. 
• River Road is closed  - detour via the Appleby Highway to Waimesa West Road.
• Higgins Road is closed - detour via SH6.

State highway closures and conditions

Get the latest updates on State highway closures and conditions from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. Or view the map in a new window here.

Grapes in Blenheim flooded today

Starting the clean up

Golden Bay washout

Pigeon Post News

NELSON AND TASMAN SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES

SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES

Below are outlined the School Holiday Programmes at most Libraries in Tasman and Nelson

Nelson Libraries

The Nelson Public Libraries website  nelsonpubliclibraries.co.nz

has access to the Updated Libraries Holiday Programmes for Nelson on its home page. It is very easy to find.

Bookings via  Library@ncc.govt.nz or 03 546 0414. If you can't read this all the details are on the Nelson Public Libraries website.

END

Richmond Library

The Tasman Libraries web site is not so easy to find School Holiday Programmes you really need to call into the library and check it out.

The Richmond Library is putting on this School Holiday Programme:

oops Creamy my cat got in the way!

Richmond Library

WEEK 1: Scavenger Hunt: Flight

Wednesday 13 July 10.30am - 11.30am

Flight themed STEAM craft: Come fly with us!

WEEK 2: Scavenger Hunt: Flight

Wednesday 20 July 10.30am - 11.30pm

Flight themed STEAM craft: Come fly with us!

END

Motueka Library

Holiday Programme

END

Takaka Library and others:

Holiday Programmes

REC PARK CENTRE - HOLIDAY PROGRAMME

Registrations may have closed but you may get in for the school holiday programme. Get in quick before it is too late. https://recparkcentre.co.nz/july-holiday-programme…/

End

Murchison Library 

HOLIDAY PROGRAMME

Date:                  1 June - 30 September.

One-off Events:   Stitch with us!

Description:          Take part in our Origins Whakapapa community quilt project. Simply pick up your free fabric square and entry form from the library, stitch an image or word on it relating to your origins or whakapapa and return it to us by 30 September. Whether you've lived in Te Tauihu / The Top of The South for 5 years or 500, we want to include your story. All ages, all abilities welcome.

Date:                  5-29 July. 

One-off Events:   2020 Lockdown Quilt. 

Description:          Come and check out our amazing community quilt. The 2020 Lockdown Quilt was stitched at the end of 2020 by community members  of all ages who wanted to express their experience of the first Level 4 Lockdown. The stitching is gorgeous the stories are a great reminder of that crazy time we all shared two years ago.

Date:                  9-24 July. 

One-off Events:   Battle of The Books.  

Description:          Cast a vote for your favourite young adult book. After each round the one book to rule them all remains. Who will be the winner?!

Date:                  9-24 July. 

One-off Events:   Flight Scavenger Hunt.

Description:          Flit around the library finding clues to solve the flight themed scavenger hunt. Just pick up an activity sheet and get hunting! Free.

End

Extra play

WeatherWatch.co.nz.  Has tweeted:

@WeatherWatchNZ

#SchoolHolidayActivities:

"Ok first, grab your crayons and let's colour in the North Island…"

Pigeon Post News

Your good health starts now with Pilates

Joseph Pilates

How Pilates started 

Pilates, a 100-year-old mind-body discipline, is all the rage at the moment.  

Joseph Pilates, a German immigrant to England and America created this form of movement in the 1920’s as physical therapy for rehabilitating soldiers from the 1st World War.  He constructed apparatus with springs and attached it to hospital beds to enable them to move with resistance, keeping them mobile whilst lying down and recovering from their injuries.  

Famous ballet dancers such as Martha Graham and George Balanchine used Pilates to recover from dance injuries and to help them stay strong.  

This was a new approach to exercise at the time and it focused on 7 principles: concentration, good alignment, centering, breathing, coordination (flowing movements), core stability and strength.  

The name has changed, originally Joseph Pilates called it “Contrology” but now the name Pilates has been adopted.

Modern Pilates is all about precise controlled movements (often lying down) whilst adhering to correct alignment and posture, it increases flexibility and functionality of different muscle groups and works the whole body at once. 

It can increase your recovery period after an injury if done with a good practitioner, a great combination for injury recovery is a physio/pilates rehabilitation expert. These days celebrities and sportspeople (rugby players, equestrians, swimmers, cyclists to name a few) are fans of Pilates as the exercises can be modified or structured precisely for their requirements.

A Pilates class. photo supplied

WHO ELSE SHOULD BE INVOLVED?

There are many pilates classes around and it is indeed becoming more popular as people realise the importance of good alignment, staying healthy and strong through our ageing years and all done with a low-impact exercise regime.  Women and men of all ages are students of Pilates all around the world. There is no age limit.

There are classes that are mat-based and use additional pieces of equipment such as spikey and ova balls, therabands, rollers, and the titivating magic circle to name a few.  There are classes using the reformer (a table with resistance springs and a sliding carriage) and other equipment such as the Wunda chairs and Tower units. All these pieces of equipment enable the student to hone in more deeply on a specific muscle group.

There are classical pilates classes and ones which are more fast-paced, like a mini-cardio workout. On-line classes became very popular through lockdowns, but nothing beats a face-to-face group class, even a one-on-one class where you get individual attention.

HOW IS IT A DIFFERENT EXERCISE THAN JUST TAKING A WALK?

Walking is also more popular these days with apps to reach your 10,000 steps a day aimed at getting people moving. The health benefits of this are widely known.  Pilates is a wonderful addition to this as it requires the 7 principles to make a movement and definitely takes more

concentration. Often we walk without thinking about our posture!  Also some people are unable to walk far for whatever reason and Pilates keeps the whole body strong and toned.

Anne-Maree Therkleson Pilates Teacher. Photo supplied

Anne-Maree Therkleson a pilates instructor based in Richmond and Mapua, prefers the small classes and has no more than 7 in a class ensuring verbal and tactile feedback to ensure proper form.  

Anne-Maree said “The best pilates classes in my view are the ones where the attention to detail is paramount, low numbered slow repetitions of movements focussing on good alignment and core stability, and small classes so that the instructor can get around everyone and make adjustments if needed.  Also the instructor should be taking note of any unease in your body and finding ways to help you overcome that through the exercises, by recommending alternatives and modifications.  It's not a one size fits all scenario."

She went on "If you are starting your Pilates journey, regardless of your fitness levels, I would recommend starting with a beginners course so you can learn the principles first before launching into the more difficult exercises.  Even strong athletes find Pilates challenging at a basic level as you are relearning to recruit the correct or most useful muscles for the exercise. Often we have acquired habitual use of the "not so helpful" muscles to do a movement and that's how unease in the body starts."

A Pilates class. Photo supplied

Anne-Maree’s classes can be found on her website  www.tangolibre.com  

Yes she is also a dance teacher and notes that Pilates is “essential training for dancers and for non-dancers -  it will help you move and feel better!”  Her Term 3 classes starts on the 26th July and "now may just be the time for you to start thinking about your Pilates journey and how you want to be in years to come … strong, flexible and connected to your body.  Your good health starts now!"

Waimea Community Dam costs will not affect Tasman Rates this financial year

Tasman's Annual Plan not affected by Waimea Dam cost and delay announcement

Waimea Community Dam photo supplied

Despite an additional 5 percent increase in costs and further delays in the completion of the Waimea Community Dam, Tasman District Council says its Annual Plan budget will not be affected as a result of the announcement.  

The latest forecast was made by Waimea Water Limited (WWL) chief executive Mike Scott in a presentation to elected members at the Council’s Operations Committee meeting on June 23.  

They were informed that the expected cost was now $195 million - a $10 million increase from the $185 million that was forecast in February 2022. 

Waimea Water Limited also advised that the dam will not be operational for the 2022/2023 summer, seven months later than expected earlier this year, and 16 months later than the original plan. 

Waimea Community Dam  in finished state photo supplied

Waimea Community Dam  in finished state photo supplied see 
tasman.govt.nz/three-waters-reform-proposal to have YOUR say
on the Three Waters reform proposal. All this will be taken out
 of our hands. See article Pigeon Post News 'Three Waters reforms
continues' June 25

The key reasons given were a delay in the main contractor’s work programme and additional mechanical and river diversion costs. The $10 million increase excludes some residual risks such as any future extreme weather events or contractual disputes. 

The subsequent mechanical and commissioning work is also further delayed until early February 2024, two years behind the original plan. 

However, the project delay and the estimated cost increase do not impact the adoption of the Annual Plan which was carried out at a Full Council meeting on the 23 July. 

 Acting Chief Executive Leonie Rae said the latest news about the dam is “incredibly disappointing”. 

However, the additional costs estimates and funding have not yet been determined so it would be premature to try and include in the Annual Plan budget already set.  

Instead, the true impact will be considered in the 2023/2024 annual plan. 

“It’s important that the Annual Plan budget is adopted so council has the funds to operate from 1 July.” 

Tasman Mayor Tim King said he accepted the reasons for the delay and cost increases were largely due to the current global environment of disruption to supply chains and Covid- related workflow.

However, the ongoing issues with the project were extremely disappointing.

Staff working on the environment surrounding the Waimea Dam

Pigeon Post News 7 July 2022

Put your dancing shoes and book for: 'Winter Tango In Hanmer'. Support our sponsors
www.wintertangoinhanmer.co.nz

Tasman District Council sets rates for the 2022/2023 year.

Tasman District Council adopts Annual Plan for 2022/2023 but keeps rates below the inflation rate.

Tasman District Council. Photo R Therkleson

Tasman District Council has adopted its Annual Plan for the 2022/2023 year, enabling rates to be set for the 2022/2023 year.  

The Annual Plan was adopted by Council at its meeting on June 23, 2022. The plan outlines the projects and services for the year ahead.

There were 51 submissions made in relation to the draft plan during the public consultation period. Councillors reviewed the submissions during deliberations in May.  The majority of submissions indicated a preference for lower rates.   

The Council has had a hard look at its expenditure and has keep the rate increase to below inflation which is a hard ask in this economic environment.

Acting Chief Executive Leonie Rae said in preparing this Annual Plan, “we have been acutely aware of the need to keep costs down. However, we have no choice but to deliver the services that are needed with a determined effort to play our part in supporting a healthy and thriving community.” 

“Through feedback from submissions and new information emerging since the draft Annual Plan was consulted on, several changes have occurred.” 

After further cost savings, the final rates income increase is 5.05%. This is lower than the 5.51% increase signalled in Option 2 in the consultation document. 

This reduction is the result of the Council’s decision to assume funding $500,000 of the additional costs of implementing the Water Services Act 2021 through the Government’s ‘Better Off Funding’.  

Further efforts to offset increases have been made through; 

• Reductions in the budgets for consultancy 
• Lower budgets for maintenance and operations 
• Higher forecast revenue from fees and charges 
• Deferral of projects in the capital programme 
• Deferral of $2 million of the digital innovation work 

The rates revenue increase of 5.05% is above the cap of 4.5%, which was adopted by the Council in its Financial Strategy in June 2021. 

There have been changes Council’s wider operating environment since the Financial Strategy was adopted which has seen the Council face several unanticipated and largely unavoidable cost increases. 

These include maintaining our insurance cover, complying with the Water Services Act 2021,  funding existing cost overruns in the Waimea Community Dam as well as attracting and retaining staff in a competitive labour market. 

It is anticipated that the rates increase cap levels in the Financial Strategy will be reconsidered as part of the LTP 2024-2034 process. 

Changes to the schedule of fees and charges were also adopted today as part of the Annual Plan meeting.

The new fees and charges will apply from 1 July 2022. 

Key changes included the removal of the Library Adult Member Overdue Charges, although waste charges at Tasman Resource Recovery Centres will be increasing by 20 per cent. 

Any increases were mostly inflation adjusted to recover costs and reduce the amount of general rate funding needed to offset any shortfall. 

 As well as continuing to provide essential services and infrastructure, the Annual Plan budget has included a number of new social and environmental projects for 2022/2023. These include; 

• Taking advantage of Waka Kotahi funding to improve walking and cycling infrastructure 
• Making improvements to Port Tarakohe 
• Getting an early start on the Motueka Catchment Management Plan 
• Funding for community organisations 

New information about the Waimea Community Dam from Waimea Water Limited has advised an increase in the estimated cost to complete is the dam to $195m.  

However, the estimated cost increase and a project delay until next summer does not impact the adoption of the Annual Plan. 

Leonie said  the additional costs estimate and funding has not yet been determined so it would be premature to try and include in the Annual Plan budget already set.  

Instead, the true impact will be considered in the 2023/24 annual plan. 

“It’s important that the Annual Plan budget is adopted so council has the funds to operate from 1 July.”

It is a credit to Tasman District Council in keeping the rates below the rate of inflation. Ratepayers must be pleased about that fact. 

The Council has taken on a Major Project with the Waimea Community Dam when unfortunately Covid has hit right in the middle of the build, when materials are hard to obtain and workers have been sick. Some of the increase in expenditure on the Dam has been out of their control.

Although my rates are going up, keeping the rates below the inflation rate, for me, is a positive.

Keep Our Sponsors Happy! Get on your dancing shoes!!

Pigeon Post News

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Six dead in July 4 Independence Day Chicago parade shooting

INDEPENDENCE DAY SHOOTING IN CHICAGO

 At least six people were killed in the horror July 4 attack, with the US still raw from a string of recent mass shootings

A person of interest has been arrested after six people were killed in a July 4 parade shooting in Chicago, shattering Independence Day celebrations.

Police confirmed Robert E “Bobby” Crimo III, 22, had been taken into custody.

The attack left around 30 people injured as parade-goers scattered in panic when a gunman opened fire from a rooftop about three-quarters of the way through the event, about 10.15am local time.

Bloodied parade-goers fled in panic, leaving blankets, water bottles, coffee cups and parade paraphernalia strewn on the streets of Highland Park. 

Baby strollers adorned with American flags were abandoned as parents sought safety where they could.

Some revellers sought refuge in a filling station, while others cowered behind skips and beneath cars.

One man put his child in a skip in the hope of keeping the infant out of the line of fire.

The attack was the third mass shooting in the US in a month and a half, following the killing of 10 people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York and the shooting of 19 children and two teachers at a school in Uvalde, Texas. 

In a separate July 4 incident, two police officers were also shot in Philadelphia near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as thousands celebrated at a concert and fireworks show.

The five people who died at the scene in Chicago were adults and a sixth person later died in hospital as a result of their injuries.

Those injured were aged between eight and 85, with "four or five" being children, said Dr Brigham Temple of the NorthShore University Health Center, the nearest hospital to the shooting. 

The hospital admitted 26 patients following the attack, with all but one suffering gunshot wounds. Dr Temple said 19 patients were treated and discharged, while others were at other hospitals.

Nancy Rotering, the mayor of Highland Park, said: “On a day that we came together to celebrate community and freedom, we are instead mourning the tragic loss of life and struggling with the terror that was brought upon us.”

Joe Biden, the US president, who recently signed the first bipartisan gun control bill in nearly 30 years, said he was “shocked by the senseless gun violence that has yet again brought grief to an American community on this Independence Day”.

Mr Biden did not expand on his remarks in his White House address marking Independence Day.

Highland Park, which has a population of 30,000, had planned to hold a bike and pet parade to mark the most important public holiday in the US.

Gina Troiani’s five-year-old son had decorated his bike with patriotic bunting as he and other children from his nursery looked forward to enjoying the festivities. Ms Troiani and her child rushed back to their car as gunfire rang out.

“It was just sort of chaos,” she said. “There were people that got separated from their families, looking for them. Others just grabbed their kids and started running.”

Emergency services rushed to the scene, treating some victims on the spot while others were taken to local hospitals. Witnesses reported hearing at least 20 shots as police pleaded with people to disperse. Around 20 people rushed into a filling station for cover.

All of a sudden there was a stampede of the crowd, who were attending on either side of the street. So I kind of gingerly walked up, and all of a sudden, I saw people bloodied. I have never seen anything like it – it was chaos.

Christopher Covelli, the Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesman, said the shooting from the rooftop appeared to be random.

Pigeon Post News