Tauranga City Councillors are facing a second day of remonstrations over their election year decision to increase library charges.
Vanessa Byrnes and friends helped galvanised the public response on the issue and she is due to speak to her submission on Tuesday afternoon.
Vanessa Byrnes is hoping to change some minds at Tauranga City Council.
"There is an election coming up, and there's a lot of interest in changing the council, or at least having an influence over certain issues, and this is one of them," says Vanessa.
"It's really galvanised people from all walks of life, all ranges of income, educational background - whatever.
"There're aren't many issues that do that, so I think one of the things I'm going to do this afternoon is to highlight that.
"This is a really important social issue for Tauranga as a community."
The Tauranga City Councillors are focused on the money and are not looking at the greater social costs, even when the symptoms are right in front of them, says Vanessa.
Libraries provide important foot traffic into central business districts that support a host of local businesses.
"Businesses around a library depend on that library for foot flow.
"They also buy a lot of their material from local businesses.
While other cities have stand alone libraries in prominent central locations, Tauranga city's library is being squeezed further back into the building that was originally built for it.
"It is a pretty clear statement how the council views the library," says Vanessa.
"We need a whole different mentality. In a way that's what I'm trying to change."
18 comments
Posted on 11-05-2010 10:53 | By SpeakUp
We need a whole different Council.
croaky
Posted on 11-05-2010 16:19 | By Croaky
Yes, Rob - it does cost, and the point is that we are ALREADY paying - our rates supposedly cover the library service! There is nothing selfish about ratepayers getting fed up with being charged twice for everything.
HE WHO MUST OBEY
Posted on 11-05-2010 21:25 | By The Master
It is true to say that the services that are provided have to be paid for, not so long ago a concept of user pays was widely published and postulated as the answer. It is also put forward about the community and having heart and such things, also that it is important to cultivate the minds of the young and old alike. But bottom line is that the city is going broke like a train heading for a brick wall, we either back reasonable, sensible, objective decisions of a government appointed Commissioner will replace Council and senior management, then the decisions will be made because they have to be. What is hard to believe is how on earth it costs $6.7m to run a couple of libraries ? this can not be real, perhaps it is a bit of paper shuffling like the water department where TOWN Hall has just reallocated the costs with the stroke of a pen then said that will be a 50% rise in water rates. Transparency is required here !
Posted on 11-05-2010 22:36 | By The Master
Perhaps the $295,000 would be better spent by putting it towards the libraries ?
Get with the Programme
Posted on 12-05-2010 10:43 | By Nessdirect
to honestine: perhaps you would like a copy of my speech and submission? everything i have stated is fact, not exaggerated or dredged opinion, and our campaign stands by it. i enjoy solid debate- infact welcome it - so if you are not in favour of the charges please do contact our group to put your agruments forward. [email protected]
Cr Mike Baker
Posted on 12-05-2010 17:17 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
The more often that PICK 6 supporter "THE MASTER" pens his confusing comments the more obvious it is as to who THE MASTER actually is. The Master of PICK 6 fame has responded 3 times in the past 2 days, does that show some form of desperation or what??? Of course the councillors are listening (at least the bulk are) to the community and the submissions, in person, that we have heard over the past 3 days along with the written submissions have been excellent and most helpful in hopefully reaching a decision that will satisfy the bulk of the community. Maybe its time for PICK 6 supporter "THE MASTER "to come clean and state who he actually is before he is exposed?
COSTS SAVINGS EASY AS
Posted on 12-05-2010 20:38 | By The Master
Perhaps the saving that could have been made on the Indoor Sports Facility of $9m had of been voted for instead of against by Councillors Moultrie, Baker and *** then there would have been enough money to buy a museum and the debt would not increase. All reflects what happens at "TOWN" Hall Cost saving can be made indeed, they are easy, simple and obvious, the missing element is a willingness to "look and do"
FUSTRATED MOULDY BAKER
Posted on 12-05-2010 20:45 | By The Master
***Line removed by editor*** It is obvious you think that the writer is Cr Evans, sadly you are misguided again in your dreams and beliefs. The desire must be exceeding the objectivity here and you are seeing more than you should be, perhaps to long has been spent in TOWN Hall looking gleefully over to the other side of the room. Your wait will not last, elections are coming your time is up
HALF BAKED GLASS HOUSE
Posted on 13-05-2010 09:30 | By The Master
Perhaps Cr Baker should step outside and suck in some fresh air, this may help clear the air a lot. Would he like to explain in public his association with Alex Were and why he placed a resolution before TOWN Hall about knocking over some beautiful Pohutakawa Trees ? TOWN Hall this time had the sense enough to reject it, but it does give a clear indication of the modus operandi. Perhaps you are so cunningly clever that you would think that no one would ever see or know the truth behind this. When one lives in a glass house one should not throw stones.
Get real
Posted on 11-05-2010 15:52 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
All this posturing and claiming some sort of moral argument is totally illogical - it costs to provide citizens with what in todays world is mainly entertainment - there is no shortage of free educational material available - so if you want to continue borrowing books that are costing the ratepayers millions to provide to you then at least pay the pittance they are asking you to provide this world class service get real - there are other people living in this fine city beside your selfish group!
HALF BAKED SHATTERED
Posted on 13-05-2010 09:30 | By The Master
While you are at it you could also explain your relationship with Mark Simons ? It is Baker that needs muzzling not Vanessa, Come on Mayor Frisbee stand up and take charge of your man.
Posted on 12-05-2010 12:48 | By The Master
Go Vanessa Councilors will display all the interest, kind thoughts and always significant sympathy when it comes to listening to the submissions when in a public forum, however when the door gets shut, the public are not there to question or challenge then the decisions are made. Get HONEST honestline TOWN hall have already made the decisions before consultation, it is a case only of how much heat they feel. Most importantly how much votes are involved, they are presently gauging the impact. Further this is really a merely a side show issue that will go no where, that is essence it is distracting from the good stuff that will sail though regardless e.g. Rick s failed motion to save $2.5m in costs so as to reduce rates increases and burden on all.
COME ON BAKER
Posted on 14-05-2010 11:07 | By The Master
You are avoiding the questions as listed here Mr Baker, lets see you front up with the answers, the whole truth and nothing but the truth ... Mr Bakers bun has fallen off the wall and even with all the kings men they can not put all the crumbs back together again
Cr. Mike Baker
Posted on 16-05-2010 14:50 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
Few comments made by PICK 6 Team member THE MASTER require a response but as THE MASTER has felt the need to respond 5 times in 48 hours guess who we can be led to believe is becoming nervous???????. However Pick 6... THE MASTER is 100% wrong over the name of the person that proposed the motion to remove the Te Ngaio Road Pohutakawa trees as it WAS NOT ME (I have always supported there retention) and as far as I can recall it was actually PICK 6 Co-Leader Cr Murray Guy that lead this charge following personal discussions that he had held with several of the parties concerned. THE MASTER is now beginning to display "memory loss" and my suggestion to THE MASTER would be to get your facts right before making accusations, as false accusations can come home to roost.
Oh dear Mr Master
Posted on 17-05-2010 19:04 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
The Master tells me to get honest and now is exposed as being wrong, wrong in a big way. This is poetic justice for trying to distract from the topic of this forum, the debate of library book charges, I dislike dishonesty, factual innacuracy and innuendo. I wish The Master shared such values. After being so clever and smart in a childish way, The Master is shown to be wrong.
BAKER BITTING BACK
Posted on 19-05-2010 02:38 | By The Master
Mr Baker you are off the track here, it is not about voting for or against the trees being knocked over. The question raised and not so cunningly avoided so far is your association with Mr Alex Were ? Come clean please ? answer the question honestly and 100% clearly then we can move on to the next question for you and then the smoke will clear inexorably.
Cr Mike Baker
Posted on 14-05-2010 18:26 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
PICK 6 supporter, THE MASTER, is once again showing how desperate they are by having to write 5 responses in the past 48 hours. I am very disappointed that THE MASTER has lowered themself to such an extent that they need to name people who are unable to defend themself by naming two residents in the articles published. Worse still they name names whilst they remain annonymous... what a coward. For the record in respect to the Te Ngaio Pohutakawa trees I DID NOT propose a notice of motion for there removal and in fact I recall that it was PICK 6 Co-Leader Cr Murray Guy that lead the charge for there removal following discussions that he had had with affected parties. Fortunately only a few were removed but too many, in my view, as they were splendid trees. I am increasingly wondering how PICK 6 members Cr. Curach and Cr. Catherine Stewart are accepting the ongoing diatribes and antics of their supporter THE MASTER or are they leading the charge?
Cr Mike Baker
Posted on 19-05-2010 09:14 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
Poor old PICK 6 supporter THE MASTER obviously cannot sleep as his latest response was forwarded in the wee hours of the morning!!!!! In response to THE MASTERS ongoing asperions my Association with Mr Were goes back some 30 years and the only issue involving him, that has EVER been presented to Council, were the beautiful Pohutakawa trees situated in Te Ngaio Road so I cannot understand what PICK 6 supporter THE MASTERs beef is over?? especially that contrary to what THE MASTER said I supported their retention whereas PICK 6 Co-Leader proposed their removal... however some sanity prevailed. Moreso why bring this up now, being some 6 months since the issue was discussed and resolved which clearly indicates the closeness of PICK 6 supporter THE MASTERS association with Council and once again makes it easier to realise who they actually are. Rather than constantly hiding behind a nom de plume THE MASTERS views would possibly carry more credence if they exposed who they were before somebody else does. For THE MASTERS information I will not comment any further, in this forum, on any person that THE MASTER names as it is not fair to them but accept that care should be taken as other steps could be proceeded with should anyone be defamed.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.