Waimea Weekly
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Wednesday 5 June 2024
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River rate system ‘lazy’ and ‘unfair’ MAX FRETHEY
Local Democracy Reporter
Some Tasman residents who receive no direct benefit from flood protection will soon find themselves paying significant bills for the work. The imminent district-wide rating changes have been labelled as “unfair” by two Upper Moutere households facing the increased costs. Properties in X and Y River Rating Areas are rated higher than other properties to help fund river management work that they are deemed to benefit from. Those rates are currently based on land value, but Tasman District Council will shift to using capital value from 1 July. The change is meant to result in properties with higher capital value, and therefore a more valuable asset base, paying more to protect their assets. But Neudorf Rd resident Michael Arbuckle describes the changes as “a targeted wealth tax, and an unfair one at that.” His property borders the Moutere River and is located within the Y River Rating Area, meaning that he is deemed to benefit from erosion
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LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED
Budding choristers; Heidi Strasser, (standing, from left), Jenifer Clark, Lesley O’Rourke, Maureen Clarkson and Joan Evans with Alison Nicholls (sitting left) and Annette Brown, in full voice. Photo: Anne Hardie.
Joining together in harmony ANNE HARDIE Summerset Richmond Ranges retirement village is alive with the sound of music as keen choristers join in harmony to form its own choir. The village has line dancing and hosts musicians regularly, but the urge to sing has brought about 25 residents together and now they need a director to lead the way. Activities director, Sarah
Poepjes, says neighbouring Summerset in the Sun has a choir which sang at the Richmond village and that prompted residents from the villas and serviced apartments to unite through their love of music. “It’s a really diverse group which is good to see because it’s about building relationships,” she says. “Music definitely brings people together.” The choir, which is yet to find
its name, has had a couple of sessions, but Sarah says it really needs a director with the skills to lead the choristers. “A director will make a big difference. They’ve been looking to me to lead it, but I would only sing in the shower and that is about that!” The choir is for anyone who wants to sing and not just those who can sing. “That’s the philosophy of Summerset in the Sun and
we’ve taken that on board.” Chorister Lesley O’Rourke says the establishment of the choir is about a shared love of music and it simply “makes you feel good” to sing. While popular songs from musical productions through the decades will be popular, Six60’s more recent Kiwi classic, Pepeha, has already been picked as a song for the choir. All they need now, is someone to direct their singing.
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