Welcome:
Roy Bensemann (Chair)
Protocol:
Reminder: No video/audio recordings. No accusatory or inflammatory commentary/questions.
Apologies:
Apologies (Committee):
Apologies (Community):
Matters Arising:
1/ Facilitated meetings with Tapawera Connect (TC):
Whilst TC signed the draft Joint statement, we have not. The meetings have achieved some clarity regarding mistakes and blurring of the lines made in the past regarding roles, and we are now taking a pause while TC consult with their Trustees. It may be the case that we now wait to see the new understandings in action. It’s important that each group is respected for the role it plays in the community. We have asked TC to properly inform the community of their structure and funding model, and to be clear and transparent in all published material, so that the community understands their form and function.
2/ Community-led Development plan meeting:
The term ‘Community-led’ has caused us some concern, as we struggle to see how the community is leading any aspect of their work i.e. how are the community able to raise ideas or have input into the programmes, and how does the community say no to an idea? TC has supported, and continues to support, a lot of worthwhile ventures i.e. youth programmes, community gardens, Shedwood Bush predator control, etc., and we value that part of their efforts for this community.
3/ Re In-committee item from 28th April minutes:
Table until Oct meeting. A letter has been sent advising that a lack of response may mean the Committee making a decision in the absence of their response, which would not be our preferred choice.
4/ Hub:
We have asked TDC for the process to get the Hub off the LTP.
5/ Existing public facilities:
We now have the list from TC regarding which services are currently using and/or looking for space within Tapawera. We are about to begin the work on identifying what is required, and if there is a current solution available. We have yet to receive the custodians information from one group.
We are also looking to put a list on the website of spaces available for community use, along with contact/booking details. As this won’t be confined to the village area, we will be looking to the valleys for their public/hire-able spaces also.
6/ Op Shop project:
So close! We are looking at opening early October!
One of our main volunteers, who has contributed hugely to the preparation work, is leaving the area, so we are needing a couple more volunteers.
The 1st aid course is set down for 23rd Oct (thanks to TC and Jan Barker); Op Shop volunteers course fees will be covered by TDCC.
We are not yet ready to advise FMG of the re-opening.
7/ Sealing of area in front of Community Centre:
John Ridd (TDC manager) suggested that the sealing may come under the beautification funding, but if not, he would look into other budgets it may be slotted into.
8/ Dart Ford, Forestry trees, Tadmor gravel issue etc:
Roy and Trish met with John Ridd (TDC Manager) and John Gully (Ward councillor) on 21st August. We drove around much of the draw area, including Dart Ford, stopping at strategic spots to point out issues. Now John Ridd has an extensive list of items which require a response/action, and he is working through them.
Two immediate results were that all TDC managers have been advised that the proper lines of communication regarding anything which affects Tapawera & districts is through TDCC, and we’ve seen this bear fruit already. The reason this is essential is so that the community can comment on proposals and also so you are well-informed of upcoming works.
9/ Cycle trails:
Roy and Trish met with Belinda Crisp from Heart of Biking, to share info re the hiccups with the cycle trail. We did a site visit to both ends of the village, and the upshot is that she is going to ask their contractor to look at the feasibility of grading a gravel path along the southern side of Tadmor road from the camp end to the bridge so that there is a safe off-the-road pathway. It may include some boardwalk in the narrow spots.
Regarding the other end of the village, if TDC end up having to go to the Environment Court to attain the land required there will be a fairly intensive financial hit, but if the outcome is favourable it would smooth the path for other similar situations and therefore save council money in the long run. The landowners are likely to incur similar costs. It is hoped that a solution can be found before that step begins, saving all parties from large financial outlay, and protecting the kids at the same time.
10/ Constitution:
The draft constitution has gone out to members with this agenda, and feedback is due back by 25th September please. It will also be available on our website. We are hoping that if all goes well, it will be able to be adopted at the AGM, thus saving members an extra meeting.
11/ Agreement for mobile vendors:
(Roy)
12/ Light up Tapawera for Christmas:
Including a competition for best decorated letterbox.
13/ Pathway fence-line:
The on-site meeting with John Ridd (TDC) brought about an offer from him to look into whether the pathway does qualify for fencing assistance.
14/ Noticeboards and map:
We have not yet seen the new proposed noticeboard maps, but did remind TC that the Kohatu map needs doing also.
15/ Shedwood Bush Access:
??
16/ Iwi and TDCC meeting:
(John Gully)
17/ Memorial Hall bookings
18/ Youth Council:
(John Gully)
19/ Locky dock proposal:
Further inquiries has led to some concerns regarding this proposal. For instance, there appears to be no way to make these chargers user-pays. Also, at no stage have existing businesses in our area been asked how the charging station may affect them, nor if they had plans to build a charger such as Flat Rock Cafe offers. Whilst we fully support providing opportunity for cyclists to charge their bikes, we do not believe that ratepayers should foot the bill as they will be in other TDC sites. There is more work to be done before we can endorse this particular scheme.
20/ Emergency planning group:
With the valley meetings completed, we understand the group will be issuing a full report and plans for consultation sometime soon.
Correspondence:
Financial Report:
(To come)
The Audited accounts: (Roy)
Report from John Gully, TDC ward councillor:
[Report details to be presented at meeting]
General Business:
1/ Water treatment plant:
The water treatment plant project will begin it’s next stage in October. The wells were completed earlier this year. We are assured that there will be no traffic management requirement, and the water supply will not be affected.
2/ East bank cycleway:
Ngatimoti residents have been calling for the cycleway to link to Motueka via the east bank, and planning work had started on this. All the landowners agreed, but then one withdrew their support, rendering the project impossible. We believe that such a link would also draw folk from Motueka up to Tapawera for day trips, just as the Wakefield side brought Nelsonians out, and thus assisting the local economy. And who knows, some local folk may have found it useful for biking to town!
We have written a letter of support based on these factors.
3/ Shedwood Hall fundraiser:
Yes, it’s that time of year again when you need to decide whether or not to have an entry in the local phone book, which is a fundraiser for Shedwood Hall. The advertising flier will have gone out to members with this agenda.
4/ Sponsorship of Rivers Magazine for Tas:
$250 plus GST
5/ Advert in Tapawera phone book to support Shedwood hall fundraising
6/ Dog Park
7/ Drinking fountain
8/ Date for AGM
Correspondence list 18th Aug 2026 to 11th Sept 2026 TDCC
Inwards:
- Aug: Request for dog park and a drinking fountain in Tapawera
- 18th Aug: D Luxford copy of her letter to J Gully re bridge abutments risk
- 19th Aug: J Leyland re Ward representation in future, asking TDCC to lobby for a 2nd councillor
- 20th Aug: S Elkington (TDC) re sealing in front of Community Centre
D Luxford query re steering committee and hub - 21st Aug: K Russell re CLDP minutes
D Luxford query re steering committee and hub
T O’Connell (TDC) invite to Community Chairs meeting - 22nd Aug: M Drake re Financial report
I & K Breed re transparency concerns re facilitated meetings & joint statement - 24th Aug: R Moffitt re Locky Docks update-able
R Moffitt TC re Users list - 26th Aug: B Crisp (Heart of biking) re cycle trail x 2
S Fenemor (Tas) re supporting school annual ‘Rivers’ magazine - 31st Aug: K Russell (TC) with revised CLDP minutes
R Moffitt re Locky Docks x 2 - 1st Sept: TDC Adopted Annual Plan 2026/2027
- 2nd Sept: T Fifield (TDC) requesting list of outstanding issues for J Ridd
M Regan re date for Op Shop opening - 3rd Sept: R Moffitt re Locky Docks update
J Ridd (TDC) re outstanding issues list
T Higgins (Shedwood hall) with flier copy re phone book fundraiser
B Crisp (Heart of biking) re East Bank contact - 7th Sept: T King (Mayor TDC) re cycle trail
S Anderson re East bank cycle trail
TDC re Information request re Water treatment plant - 8th Sept: TDC re Water treatment plant
TDC with monthly newsletter (circulated) - 9th Sept: S Anderson re East bank cycle trail
Outwards:
- 19th Aug & 21st Aug: TC re CLDP minutes
- 20th Aug: S Elkington (TDC) agreeing in principle to sealing project
- 21st Aug/22nd Aug: D Luxford re steering committee/hub query
- 23rd Aug: D Luxford re steering committee wording
I & K Breed re TDCC activity - 26th Aug: TC re Locky Dock funding
- 3rd Sept: J Ridd (TDC) list of outstanding issues
- 7th Sept: Mayor TDC re Wakefield section of cycle trail
T Higgins (Shedwood) re phone book fundraiser
TDC re Tapawera water treatment project
S Anderson re East bank cycle link (& two later emails) - 8th Sept: S Fenemor advising earliest approval date 15th Sept
- 11th Sept: Member re outstanding In-committee matter, requesting response by 1st October
R Moffitt (TC) re Light up Tapawera project
