Comments for Caddie in Council 2010-2013

Comment on Creating a Cycling-Centric City by Kelly Mcleod

Kelly Mcleod — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:04:24 +0000

I’m a big supporter of this, there have definitely been a lot of changes in the last few years in regards to trails and cycleways appearing around the area, it’s great to see.
However, as an active Mountain Biker I’ve been riding since the earlier days when Mountain Biking was still a very new sport (20 or more years ago) and it’s always been dissapointing to see nothing much around Gisborne/Tairawhiti to cater for the sport. Citys such as Rotorua have built world renowned trails that bring in people from all over the country and world, yet our area that has countless square meters of rural land, produces some of the top sports people in the country and is home to a large MTB community, has very little to offer, forcing most of us to drive to Napier/Rotorua etc in our weekends and holidays to get some decent riding in… or take up road cycling (no thanks).
It would really nice to see Council (or another organisation with a bit of clout) leading the way in kick starting something to change this. Fox Street was a nice start, but it’s not ideal for a number of reasons and there hasn’t been a lot of development there at all. There is land out at Mander Rd that I believe is looked after by Kohntrol Forest Services that has been opened up for trail development, it would be nice to see the community get behind the further development/funding of that, it’s a good step in the right direction and a fantastic tourist attraction waiting to happen!

Comment on End of the Road? by Admin

Admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:46:48 +0000

Great comments David – I would add that a secondhand Prius is no more than the equivalent petrol car these days. I got mine for $7,000 three years ago and would sell it for $4,000 now. A lot of people I know spend a lot more on a secondhand car still. I agree with the need to reduce our overall energy consumption, particularly in (over)developed countries – unfortunately the dominant growth paradigm is still too pervasive for the majority of citizens to take a sufficiency paradigm seriously.

Comment on End of the Road? by David Tawhai-Bodsworth

David Tawhai-Bodsworth — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:05:58 +0000

Hybrid vehicles are great but unfortunately out of the reach (currently) of most middle income and below households. The main focus of most people is either paying off the mortgage (or making their rent payments) and thus keeping their jops while still feeding and clothing and supplying the whanau with the basics. I guess a start for people is to reduce to one car, use it sparingly, and where its available, use public transport.

What does get to me sometimes is that there is this movement to move to alternative power generation (which I support) but in the minds of some the underlying objective is to maintain our current (western mainly) high consumption based lifestyles. It requires a cultural change or shift in our mindset (says he with a 42 LED Tv!!).

I support the introduction of consumption based taxes regimes on households and businesses – gst is not the answer get rid of it. The taxes should target over consumption eg. large Mc Mansions houses, ownership of multiple goods e.g. more than one car, tv etc. Similar regimes have been introduced overseas so they are not new to the planet. Carbon tax on heavy polluters should be greatly increased to penalise and to divert funds to alternative power generation development and implementation. The current EST is a joke and a scam for multinational pulluters to maintain pollution while increasing emissions. Better to reduce our carbon footprint than to lose much of the planet we love.

Comment on End of the Road? by Admin

Admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:18:36 +0000

Agreed.

Comment on End of the Road? by Don Miller

Don Miller — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:16:56 +0000

Rather than having educational tours to developed countries I would suggest that some staff and councillors should travel (at their own expense!) to see how low carbon consuming cultures cope. Despite sometimes being under oppressive regimes these people still live, laugh and bring up their families while making minimal impact on the earth. No cars, few tractors but lots of draft animals.

Using the scientific knowledge we now have, their lives can be improved while still keeping within their low carbon budget. Meanwhile we could learn that it will not be the end of our world if we reduce our carbon footprint – although it could well be the end of all we cherish if we don’t.

Comment on Beyond Petroleum… for good. by bob hughes

bob hughes — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:45:21 +0000

I like it

Comment on Beyond Petroleum… for good. by kappanz

kappanz — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:09:13 +0000

What we neeed to know is where is John Key’s money. And for that matter, Simon Power’s

Comment on Beyond Petroleum… for good. by Mike Smith

Mike Smith — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:09:07 +0000

Good read Manu, hits the main points well!

Comment on East Coast Fracking Questions Register by Jennie

Jennie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:55:07 +0000

PS- I meant to note that I can’t find either on GDC website now/in the past. When ‘search’ for conflicts of interest’ you get 10 entries re ‘business training’ to manage conflicts with or amongst people and to manage difficult people. And no conflict of interest policy and procedures listed in ‘policy and procedures’ section of website.

Comment on Beyond Petroleum… for good. by Greg Hart

Greg Hart — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:39:06 +0000

Correction!! The rally starts at Clive Square Napier at 12pm and will finish at 1
Cheers
Greg