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

It's been a quiet week at Council with no scheduled meetings allowing elected members to catch up on some of the not so urgent stuff that goes on.

Last week Council adopted its annual report for last financial year. Audit NZ, who conduct an extremely stringent process, were almost lavish in their verbal report on Council's handling of your money. Suffice to say the books balance and there were no tags for their approval.

Route K annual accounts also showed a positive trend – Council is required to keep separate accounts for this road. As negotiations continue for Government to take over Route K elected members are to meet with our two local MPs Simon Bridges and Tony Ryall. It's complex, despite what must appear to be a simple issue. As I've noted previously most of the problem is that the road is already there and it could be held that Tauranga City Council is being penalised for having the foresight to buy the land, preserve the road corridor, build the road, all to provide access to NZ's leading port. It goes without saying that the Container Port would find it extremely difficult to operate without the connection to Route K.

The annual report on Council's Dog Control policy was tabled. There are 9752 dogs registered. Six disqualified owners, 26 dogs classified as dangerous and 459 infringement notices. Ten percent of unregistered dogs are responsible for 35% of notified bites. Interesting statistics that highlight the huge majority of registered dogs and owners do not present a problem in Tauranga. Ratepayers fund 20% of the annual services budget, $776,000 and that helps cover roaming stock, other animals and unregistered dogs. A few years ago there was a bull roaming on a main road that caused a bit of excitement. Once I was out with the dog ranger and we were called to catch a horse that was trotting along the road. We eventually caught it and I sat on the back of the ute leading the horse to a holding paddock. All in a day's work for the animal services.

The on again, off again hotel project on Durham Street, now back on the open market after being subject to a conditional contract that fell over, is to be advertised again. Council's preference is for a minimum four star facility. Whoever picks this up will be on a winner in my view. Sometimes in things real estate the best buys are those that have been on the market for too long.

The contract to refurbish and rebuild the footbridge across the Matapihi railbridge has been let to Fulton Hogan for $999,083.96 ex GST. Kiwirail are contributing $250,000 towards the work. It's a shame to have to spend this money because it's likely to outlive the railbridge itself whose useful life is looking terminal. Talk around is leaning towards a rail crossing down by the harbour bridge. This could take the form of a reclamation and bridge on a similar form to the Maungatapu Bridge. There is little boat traffic in that part of the harbour these days and with the wisdom of hindsight perhaps the 29' clearance under the harbour bridge may have been overkill. Added benefit of this would see the rail removal from The Strand. Don't hold your breath though and it will only happen once push comes to shove with the Matapihi Bridge.

We talked about how libraries will fit into future technology at a workshop. There's no point in planning for the future based on what's gone on the past. Take the new kindle/e-book revolutionising reading. There might be no need for local e-book services. It could all be done from one centralised location. Elected members acknowledged there will be a place for print books, reference section and local history. Also there is a tendency for libraries to be meeting places and there is even a coffee machine (user pays) in the Central library. Certainly library services will continue to change and its important ratepayers resourcing is directed to the future and not the past. A report will be coming back for discussion with you on the way forward.

Another report on water tariffs and possible volumetric charging on wastewater will come to Council in January next year. The intent is to fairly charge the users. For instance is it fair to have one wastewater charge no matter what volume you put down the system? The present system means you pay the same amount regardless of how much use you make of the system whereas you only pay for the amount of water you receive on a cubic metre basis. Another complex issue despite appearing simple and expenditure of up to $70,000 was approved for specialist advice. We already have plenty of data from the pre water meter days that is still relevant and the intention is to build on that. I have always advocated that water be supplied at cost and will continue to do so.

The investment hawks are hovering via Central Government as I alluded to last week. From their point of view it doesn't matter what they have to do or say to get their hands on this ultimate monopoly. Once they have ownership it's a licence to print money. Soothing assurances count for nought as the rules can and do change on a whim. Witness electricity charges.

Comment from aggrieved ratepayers about that new handrail alongside the walkway beside Takitimu Drive north. Council is innocent. Apparently its NZTA expenditure to complete the Harbourlink project! Oh dear!

This week's mindbender – knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.