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

Tsunamis are back on Council's radar screen this week as elected members were presented with a draft version of 'How to escape a tsunami” at a workshop.

As the facts get sorted from the fiction, it becomes apparent how vulnerable low-lying parts of Tauranga and the Mount really are, and it doesn't need an earthquake or volcano to set off a tidal wave. A landslide in the Kermadec Trench to the north east of the Bay of Plenty could set off a tsunami that would reach our coast in 50 minutes. As it takes the tsunami warning system around 60 minutes to assess the risk and issue an official warning, which would result in tsunami sirens being activated, it would be too late.

Estimates for an evacuation from the coastal strip are that it would take six hours. There are only three ways out from the Mount/Papamoa and two of those rely on tsunami vulnerable bridges. We were shown a video of the Japan tsunami and cars were being washed away by the force of the water just up to the door sills. Along the coastal strips, roads and sports fields are designed lower than surrounding houses to act as storage ponds for stormwater, but of course, even a relatively low tidal wave would flood them, rendering escape and rescue routes unusable after the event.

Tall buildings are ‘safer' than staying on the street, obviously, but not guaranteed. Sirens, of which there are 60 planned, may make the community feel good, but the reality is they will only form a small part of a ‘tsunami escape' package.

Here's a summary of an action plan in the event of a tsunami. Get going to high ground at the first indication of trouble. This could be natural indications – don't wait for official warnings. Plan in advance where to go and how. Once you get to high ground stay there. Take a transistor radio and a survival grab bag. You should rely on yourself and not official instructions. In the Japan tsunami video you can see the people in the streets watching in disbelief as the debris laden wave rushes towards them sweeping all in its path. A horror show. After the last big tsunami that hit our coast in the mid 1500's the Maori who survived moved up into the hills as there is no evidence of them permanently living on the lowlands after that date according to the archaeologists. So the advice on tsunami survival is being refined by the advisory group and will be communicated to you. Possibly the detail will be online, and meantime Council will pass a resolution banning all tsunami's – just kidding.

At Full Council we made a presentation to Traffic Engineer Wayne Thompson for 25 years' service. Wayne is one of many loyal staff who help make our city function. Thanks Wayne.

Buddy Mikaere, who is heading up a plan to commemorate the 150 year anniversary of the Battle of Gate Pa on 28/29 April 2014, addressed Council. He is getting right onto it and has even approached the British Military. This event could turn into a major celebration event for our city if handled correctly, and involvement from all three local councils is anticipated. It's a great war story involving ethics, great tactics on Maori side – the first recorded true guerrilla tactics apparently – compassion, morality and to top it off, the minority Maori defenders whumped the cream of British troops. Unfortunately, the British didn't reciprocate the code of conduct and returned en masse a few months later and slaughtered the Maori encamped at Te Ranga. The history is a compelling commentary on British Colonial policy at that time not unique to New Zealand, but around the world.

Council approved a community garden being established on the May Street reserve at the Mount. It will be for a term of three years. It was made clear that this is not necessarily a permanent arrangement as the future use of this valuable reserve unfolds. The ‘Let's get growing' community garden, down by the bridge to Matua by the railway line, is a big success, and May Street is to be run on similar lines.

Deliberations on the Freedom Camping Act rapidly ground to a halt as elected members got the other side of the story. Submitters had told us that the Freedom Camping Act allowed them to camp their motor homes almost anywhere unless specifically prohibited, whereas at the moment they were only allowed on specified places. The Local Government Act, we were told, has an answer to the apparently poorly thought out Freedom Camping Act, so we left the issue to 'lie on the table” while staff sort out the conflicting Acts. Don't hold your breath on this one.

Tauranga Community Housing Trust (TCHT), who is buying the Clark Street pensioner flats for $850,000, came along seeking a waiver on Development Contributions and consent fees. TECT had tagged their promised $200,000 grant towards the purchase with a requirement that Council/ratepayers subsidise these fees by 50% - about $45,000 worth. Murray Guy launched forth with a tirade against TECT, which Mayor Stuart Crosby labelled unprofessional. It was a most unfortunate outburst from Murray and in my view uncalled for. Council will talk to TECT about these tags – Council has also done the same to organisations seeking Council and TECT financial support. We need to work together for the benefit of our community – not scrap! My belief is that Council/elected members and TECT have a good working relationship. We made a grant of $45,000, rather than a waiver of fees, to avoid a precedent and to keep things transparent.

Route K negotiations continue. It's a complex matter not being made easier because the road is actually there. I noted that Wilson Parking that collects the tolls, have been paid $1.248 million, which staff told me is for two years fee collection and administration.

A confidential workshop was held on the future of Council Controlled Organisations (CCO's), including the aquatics network, the stadium/TECT Arena, and others. Once again nothing you won't hear about soon. It's just that courtesy demands the various organisations don't first hear about it through the media- with all the attendant interpretations.

This week's mindbender from Abraham Lincoln – ‘You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves'.