This government is researching possible reforms to the liquor laws. It is being run by former Labour Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer and apart from some minor amendments is the first major look at these laws since 1989.

The intention is to save intoxicated people from themselves and reduce alcohol excesses. Tauranga City Council is intertwined with this as local government is an overseeing agent along with police. About 70,000 people are involved in the NZ liquor industry, there is turnover of $85 million a month and Kiwis over 15 years of age are on average drinking 9.5 litres of pure alcohol annually. Eighty per cent of the population drink alcohol; some of you must be really socking it back! NZ hasn't really recovered from the ‘6 o'clock swill' mentality when hotels closed at 6pm and the contest was to see how many jugs you could drink after work. There was a lengthy debate on cause and effect and after collating a written questionnaire from elected members council will make a submission on the proposals. You can make one too. Go to www.talklaw.co.nz to read the report. Submissions close 30 October 2009 and the Law Commission will report to government in March 2010.
We were told the World Health Organisation lists alcohol as carcinogenic; along with tobacco, asbestos and formaldehyde. For my two bobs worth, I submitted that we should also legislate and consider the interests of the vast majority of people for whom alcohol is not a problem and who cause no problem and should not be penalised.

Seeking input
Government is also seeking council and public input into making the roads safer. Council has received a presentation on road safety priorities. Drink driving featured (also intertwined with liquor law reform), young drivers (disproportionate in statistics) motorcycles (ditto), safer roads and safer speeds. Interestingly, almost half of the 2300 motorbike crashes did not involve another vehicle. Safer speeds should also include addressing those who travel too slow causing frustration and encouraging excessive speed to get past. Once again elected members will do a questionnaire and a submission will be formulated. Go to [email protected] if you would like to be involved – but move it. You've only got till Friday October 2. Expect a reduction in breath limits, increased minimum driving age, speed limit reductions; maybe even Moffat/Cambridge Road? And a pet peeve: that stupid left turning traffic, giving way to right turning traffic – we're the only country in the world that does that.

Do it once, do it right
Council is looking at what to do on Tara Road Papamoa. With a new college due to be built soon, the road is to be upgraded. We are tossing up whether to do it in stages or king hit it. Staff are nervous that if we do it all at once criticism will come from other parts of town who are long overdue for upgrade and presently jam up sometimes. Do it once and do it properly is a good idea when you have the opportunity in my opinion. If past administrators had followed this philosophy then there wouldn't be half the problems we've got elsewhere. Cost will be around $14 million with ratepayers making a minor contribution. Government and development contributions will be major funders.

A sick harbour
Other reviews council will do this financial year are stormwater pollution prevention. This is a ‘biggie'. Over 800 stormwater outlets from council's system spew raw stormwater into our harbour. Complete with all manner of nasties and heavy metals. We spend a fortune getting wastewater out of the harbour so this is long overdue. Council had a submission from Mike Batchelor around 15-20 years ago that we should get on with it. Everyone agreed, nodded sagely and did nothing.

Public art
We will also review/make a public art policy (I kid you not) and consider commercial activities in council facilities. This is in response to local gym owners complaining about the competition from the gym in Baywave. Also up for review is 'Freedom Campers” and enforcement on Marine Parade, liquor free vehicle free zones, street use and public places. So that's just for the next nine months.
Strategy and Policy Committee also agreed to help facilitate use of suitable reserves for people to garden and grow vegetables in. I said we should make it easy after some elected members raised concerns about consequences. We'll have a couple of trial runs and see how it goes.

Springheel Jack
A correction from last week's item on Springheel Jack. His name was Michael Hodgkins and not Frances Hodgkins, who was an artist and Michael's aunty. That slip was just the artistic side of me bursting to express itself. Michael was born in Dunedin in 1902 and died in his little hut down by the Levers Road overbridge in 1965. The Historical Society has raised funds to put a plaque on his unmarked grave in the 17th Ave cemetery and will unveil it on November 2 at 2pm. It was very sad to hear how he ended up, but that was how it was back then. Murray Guy, Catherine Stewart, Bill Grainger and myself, being the Tauranga born and bred elected members are looking at putting together a more public recognition for him – maybe something like 'Barry” in Katikati. If you've got any ideas or contribution, email me at [email protected] and we'll see what we can organise. He was real Tauranga history. By the way, he did not like his nickname and I only use it for ease of identity.

The airport model
At Airport Committee we heard that things are going well. As I've said before this is a formula for how council operations can be run. Private board members sit alongside elected members and it's all user-pays. Sure, its finances are shored up with leased land rentals, but for a small provincial airport it is very functional.
Things seem to be back on an even keel at city hall. Despite the excitement and carry-on with recent upheavals I'm relaxed that the democratic process is being served as never before. I mean, you couldn't presume anything as a given unlike some in the past.