Cr Bill Faulkner Faulkners Corner www.sunlive.co.nz

You never know what's around the corner writing a column, week by week, especially the unexpected.

It is therefore sad to record the passing away, unexpectedly, of Tauranga City Council chief executive Ken Paterson last Sunday night. Ken was an ebullient Scotsman with a delightful Scots accent and turn of phrase. He had been CEO for just under one year.

This council is looking to meet with the changing financial environment NZ and the world is experiencing and this was Ken's mission upon his employment. Things don't change quickly in local (or central) government but the first steps are underway and will continue, in my opinion, because they have to. I had spoken to Ken, one-on-one, just the week before about the change required and how important it was to consider all options and whether council/ratepayers needed to be paying or involved for this and that. Coming from the private sector he had similar ideas and a few left-field ideas that would have been interesting. Deepest sympathy to Ken's family on this sad loss.

Consequently Monday's and Tuesday's meetings were cancelled as the organisation reels and regroups. The organisation revolves around the office of the CEO. Council has a strong management executive and deputy chief executive Christine Jones will step up in the interim as council considers the way forward.

Matters postponed include proposed make up of the advisory group for the Historic Village, which is to include two elected members, (recommendation Crs Murray Guy and Catherine Stewart), two community representatives (recommended Pauline Cowens and Karen Wallace), two village tenant representatives to be selected by tenants. A chairman will be appointed from within the Advisory Group. This is an advisory board to council staff, who will still run the village. As I understand it, this group has an advisory role not an administrative role and council staff will still be ultimately responsible to council for the village.

Dinghies on Pilot Bay beach are on the agenda again. The way I see it is that they are not causing a problem and add to the waterfront scene. Most are for mooring owners and a few are derelict. The proposed boardwalk/walkway placement will need to be part of the consideration. At this time a proposed registration system (and no doubt associated fee which isn't mention in the report) won't get my support. Staff say there are 68 dinghies and if you are prepared to leave your dinghy there and take the associated risks, then that is the fee. More of a problem to public access are the outrigger canoes and the storage shed that was once the Mount Yacht Club starting box.

The big issue coming up is whether or not the new TECT Arena at Baypark should be owned by TCVL – the council CCO that administers the arena. This will be an interesting debate considering council's recent experience with TCAL, which owns and operates the aquatics network, and the unfortunate consequences of the Mount Hot Pools renovations.

On Thursday as The Weekend Sun went to press council was to attend the signing of the first local Treaty of Waitangi Settlement of Historic Claims at the Te Ranga battle site. There are three other claims to be settled. Like it or dislike it, agree or disagree, the settlements are a reality and have the potential to be a new financial influence in the future of our city. Re-reading the history of both the Battle of Gate Pa and Te Ranga is a telling commentary on British Colonial policy and the way things were in those days. It also depends from whose point of view the relative history was written. At school we learned about the Maori Wars. Today it's the Land Wars. As has been noted before this is not the first full and final settlement of Maori grievances pertaining to the colonial era but this one must be, in my opinion.

On Wednesday there is an ‘elected members only' meeting between all three councils – city, regional and Western Bay district. Someone described it as a ‘group hug'. By comparison we are told by central government we are an example of good cross boundary relationships.

The Smartgrowth concept has played a part in this. And in past years with explosive, bordering on out of control, growth there is in hindsight a positive, if expensive, role for Smartgrowth. Now it should be reconsidered to consolidate the growth and plan how to stand still and maintain the status quo. You could rename it Con-growth or Stillgrowth. Smartgrowth has around $6-$8 million in direct costs by my estimate and more in indirect costs. It's also gained some and certainly the ‘JOG' money of around $175 million from central government for regional roads over 10 years was a direct result of the Smartgrowth concept.

In other news, TECT Arena at Baypark has won a merit award from the Property Council. NZTA has advised funding for 2012-13 is up 3.8% for local roads from that anticipated. The K Valley Rotary Centennial Trust has been granted $180,000 by the Ministry for the Environment for 40,000 native trees on the ‘island' area off Faulkner Street. The Southern Pipeline construction from Maleme Street to Memorial Park is now operational. Investigations and options for the crossing of the harbour to Matapihi are ongoing.

Hairy Maclary waterfront site has now been determined and Government has granted $180,000. Contrary to opinion in some quarters, council/ratepayers are not funding the $800,000 or so for this project. Creative Tauranga are co-ordinating collection of this money, which also includes an amount, in cash, for council to hold that will pay for ongoing maintenance.

Baycourt will cost ratepayers $1.699 million this year. Add this to Creative Tauranga grant and Tauranga Art Gallery grant, museum collection costs and the Arts and Heritage contribution starts to add up – around $3 million.

TECT election is underway to elect three of the six seats on the trust board. This fund has a great effect on our city's well being. Voting numbers are traditionally low and for this reason it is extremely important that if you value the contribution TECT makes to the community, you carefully research the candidates you vote for. A split vote outcome, where too many candidates reduce the number of votes required to get a seat, can allow unsuitable candidates to succeed. Unfortunately, like all democracy, it can be a name recognition contest, not an ability contest. Careful study of candidate's profiles will show clearly what I mean.

This week's mindbender from Frederick Beuchner – Doubts are the ants in the pants that keep faith moving.