FOOD BILL - Our right to Have Vege Gardens under threat??

There is a piece of legislation going through NZ parliament at the moment called the Food Bill. There is not much information in the media because the media aren’t or can’t talk about it. It will be snuck through faster than a greasy pig while we are on holidays in January. We need action now to get 50,000 signatures – already nearly 13,000 have signed – not enough and we potentially have less than TWO WEEKS.

Sign this petition to show that you oppose Food Bill 160-2 READ HERE

And remember to click on the link in the return email

to confirm your account for the petition.

It is a huge attack on our individual freedom and rights under the guise of protecting our safety. (the same excuse that is used in the US to curb our human rights)

The Food Bill 160-2 will seriously impede initiatives like community gardens, food co-ops, heritage seed banks, farmers markets, bake sales, and roadside fruit & vegetable stalls.
Just like the Otepotei Urban Organics

About Otepoti

Dunedin's network for anyone interested in growing food in their back yards or urban environments anywhere in Otago or Southland. We love to see people creating new gardens and learning how to manage them sustainably. And do ya know what we like most of all? Radical cats who join our seed savers network and participate in our 'Adopt-a-Crop' initiative, where you help to keep a heirloom or open pollinated vegetable variety going and share it with the rest of our seed savers network! visit our website at www.urbanorganics.org.nz for more info, and email otepoti.urban.organics@gmail.com to join the mailing list and receive a seed catalog! Woooo hooo veggies are sooo goooooood.

It is effectively companies like Monsanto preparing the way for total food control.
Affecting seed banks like the awesoem one we have at Otepoti

Food Bill update from Sue Kedgley

READ MORE HERE

Published: September 13, 2011

by Sue Kedgley

So many people have contacted us with their concerns about the Food Bill that I requested a further meeting with officials to discuss these concerns (officials have already agreed to amend the bill to make it clear it will not apply to seed saving, in response to a request from me.)

I concluded from my briefing with officials that the Food Bill has ended up inadvertently capturing things like home gardening, bartering and seed exchange, which should never have been covered in the bill in the first place, because of its broad coverage and definitions (eg its definition of sale includes bartering).

Dunedin shark-nets film 'positive environmental story'

My father Trevor Reeves was a bodysurfer at St Clair in the 50's and 60's and two of his best mates were killed by sharks. I'm looking forward to seeing this documentary when its available.

Home » News » Dunedin

By Nigel Benson on Wed, 16 Nov 2011

News: Dunedin

Film-makers Nicole Schafer and Andrew Scott stand beside the St Clair Beach shark bell. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

Tangled Waters documents the five attacks in Dunedin, between 1964 and 1973, which included three fatalities, and the decision to install shark nets in Dunedin waters.

Film-makers and University of Otago science communication students Nicole Schafer and Andrew Scott (both 27) said it was an important film to make.

"It's a great local story that's never been fully told before," Ms Schafer said.

"It was a unique situation having shark netting. No-one else in New Zealand has had shark nets.

"It's also a great story, because we got the ending we wanted. It's a positive environmental story, which is very unusual."

The 25-minute documentary includes interviews with Dunedin city councillors during the voting decision to remove the nets.

The DCC, led by Crs Richard Thomson, Lee Vandervis and Kate Wilson, began investigating the shark net programme after anOtago Daily Times feature in January condemned the practice of net-setting.

The article revealed the nets had caught no great white sharks in 40 years, but had killed more than 700 non-target species.

Councillors subsequently voted 9-3 in favour of removing the $38,000 annual funding for the nets in the 2011-12 annual plan.

Ms Schafer and Mr Scott also interviewed shark attack survivor Barry Watkins, who was attacked at St Clair Beach in 1971, surfers and beach-goers, and filmed great white sharks in their natural habitat at Stewart Island.

The former St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club members said they wanted to make the film "because we're conservationists and the shark nets were wrong".

"It was the St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club that raised the funds for the original nets after the first two attacks in the 1960s, before they were later taken over by the DCC," Mr Scott said.

"I hope the film teaches people something about the history of a neglected wildlife in New Zealand.
We should be proud, like we are with kiwis and albatross, of sharks as well. We should take them to our hearts. They are so important to the environment. We need them for the eco-system to operate."

The students also gathered thousands of signatures at the Otago Farmers Market for a petition opposing the shark nets.

"Once people got all the facts, they were agreeing with us," Ms Schafer said.

"Everyone responded really well and was reasonable and wanted to discuss it. People think great whites are in Australia or South Africa, but New Zealand is a global hot spot for these animals."

There had already been interest in the film from Australia, she said.

Tangled Waters will premiere at the 2011 Science Teller festival, at 6.30pm today at the Regent Theatre.

Sand Canyon & Puppies

Above: Back Beach Brighton beach a few days ago, by a stormwater outfall pipe. This small stretch of beach is the only place on the south coast that holds this rich golden sand.

Below: some puppies having their first experience at the beach.

Proposed Management Options for Ocean Beach

Proposed Management Options for Ocean Beach

Closes: 25/11/2011

In 2008, the Council appointed a Project Team to gather data and consider management options for Ocean Beach. This followed significant erosion on the beach in June/July 2007, the DCC’s replenishment of sand on the beach and other remedial works as part of a now established ‘holding pattern’, and a comprehensive consultation process. Since then the Project Team has gathered and analysed that data and completed a risk assessment process. It has now identified proposed management options for Ocean Beach, taking into account the existing processes and risks.

A report from Tonkin & Taylor dated October 2011 entitled: ‘Ocean Beach, Coastal Issues and Options’, sets out preferred options for managing the area using an adaptive management approach. The report is available for inspection at the DCC’s Customer Services Centre and Libraries from Tuesday 25 October during their ordinary opening hours. A summary of intent and submission forms are also available. The information, plus background material on erosion at Ocean Beach, can be found at www.dunedin.govt.nz/consultation.

Submissions must be received by 5.00 pm on Friday 25 November. Hearing dates have been scheduled for Tuesday 31 January to Thursday 2 February 2012. Please state in your submission whether or not you wish to be heard.

Consultation documents

• Public Notice (PDF, 21.5 KB, new window)This document is a pdf copy of the Public Notice for Proposed Management Option for Ocean Beach consultation.
• Tonkin and Taylor Report (PDF, 3.8 MB, new window)This report summarises the existing and potential future situation. It also describes a range of potential generic options to address the shoreline erosion.
• Statement of Intent (PDF, 1.7 MB, new window)The Statement of Intent outlines management options for Ocean Beach and summarises the Tonkin and Taylor report.
• Impact of Scenarios on Ocean Beach Domain (PDF, 463.6 KB, new window)this map shows the impact of Scenarios on Ocean Beach Domain.
• Managed retreat sandy backdune (PDF, 1.2 MB, new window)This illustration shows the managed retreat with sandy backdune.
• Reshaped dune marram foredune (PDF, 1.2 MB, new window)This illustration shows the reshaped dune with marram foredune.
• Slideshow Stakeholders Meeting (PDF, 4.6 MB, new window)This is a pdf of the slideshow presentation to the stakeholders meeting.
• Submission Form (PDF, 23.3 KB, new window)This document can be used to make a submission regarding the Proposed Management Options for Ocean Beach.

Consultation details

Closing date	25/11/2011
Contact person	Business Development Team Leader
Public feedback	Online submission form (new window) Email to - oceanbeach.comment@dcc.govt.nz Post to - Proposed Management Options for Ocean Beach, Community and Recreation Services, Dunedin City Council, PO Box 5045 Moray Place, Dunedin 9058, Attention: Lisa Labuchagne Hand deliver to - Proposed Management Options for Ocean Beach, Customer Service Centre, Ground Floor Civic Centre, 50 The Octagon - Attention Lisa Labuchagne
Public meetings	The public meeting is to be held on Monday 7 November 2011 at 7.00 pm. The venue is the Port Otago Room, first floor, Edgar Centre, corner Portsmouth Drive and Teviot Street. All interested members of the public are cordially invited to attend. A summary of the options and submission forms will also be available at the meeting .

Aramoana Paddle Out - October 16th at 12 noon

16th October at 12 noon 85 surfers paddled out at The Spit beach Aramoana to form a circle of celebration for the Aramoana/Spit wave.

The event was held at the mole end of the beach away from the actual surf break for safety reasons. The actual surfbreak is in the background under the cliffs.

The planners in front of the Aramoana Wave mural before the paddle out.

The circle of celebration for the Wave

Sponsors of the event, Surfbreak Protection Society and AirBanners.com

Tony Denley co-organiser with an incoming container ship at the end of the Mole

In the water

Ted Whitaker c0-orgainser of the paddle out

Nic Reeves co-organiser with her painted mural of the Aramoana Wave

Participants after the paddle out.
A video is being produced, published this week sometime.

Check out mondays ODT for an article and photo.

Thanks to everyone who came out for the event and participated.

Dune contamination tests done

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/141606/dune-contamination-tests-done

When is the BIG ONE?

The only earthquake to cause significant damage in Dunedin occurred on April 9, 1974. I remember it clearly actually, even though I was only 4 years old. I was standing in the living room looking out window, the floor was rolling and I was really scared.

The quake was estimated to be 12km deep and centred 10km south of the city. (see ODT articl)

So a major faultline runs pretty much right underneath our house in Waldronville.

Taieri fault lines need research

Otago Daily Times By Eileen Goodwin on Tue, 7 Sep 2010
Research was ongoing, but it was now speculated Dunedin's 1974 earthquake was caused by the Green Island fault, rather than the Akatore fault, whichhad not been active for 1000 years, and 2000 before then. read more here

Quaking in our boots: How prepared is Dunedin?

Otago Daily Times By ohno and Kim Dungey on Sat, 18 Sep 2010

If earthquakes were as regular as clockwork, then a "big one" of magnitude 8 affecting Otago is 43 years overdue. "There is a 50% chance over the next 50 years that there will be a magnitude 8 earthquake on the alpine fault. read more here
Some facts that we should all be aware of. (source)

• The New Zealand Alpine Fault is one of the world’s most prominent and active fault lines
• The East Coast of the South Island is part of one of the earth’s tectonic plates
• The West Coast of the South Island is part of another plate
• The Southern Alps have grown 20,000 metres over the last 25 million years, but have eroded most of this growth away
• Much of the erosion of the high country ends up on the beaches of our coasts
• The Alpine Fault is due to move in a major way
• All of the above will impact upon us, or our children, and how will we continue to live in the “shaky isles”.

"The New Zealand Alpine fault which stretches 650km from Fiordland to North Westland, is known to have been the host of five events of about Force 8 magnitude where the effects have either been observed or can be measured geologically. The dates that can be provided for past events are circa 1350, 1475, 1615, 1725 and 1826. Using these dates, published in the recent “Hostile Shores” by Dr Bruce McFadgen, the interval between major movements coming forward in time, has been 125 years, 140 years, 110 years, and 101 years. The average gap between major movements over these 660 years has been 119 years. Using this average, another major Alpine Fault movement could have been anticipated in 1945. In other words, we are overdue by some 65 years, although if the longest gap of 140 years is used, we are overdue by only 44 years."

It is generally agreed between geologists from all round New Zealand that a Force 8 event would result in an 8 metre horizontal displacement and a 4 metre vertical displacement along the fault.

So with all this earthquake talk, I came across an interesting video on youtube on the "Expanding Earth" theory. Kind of blows the whole tectonic plate theory out the window.

Dunedin Shark Nets, Stay or Go?

Pic: University of Otago forensic dentist Prof Jules Kieser with Barry Watkins' surfboard and a set of shark jams capable of making such an attack. Watkins was attacked by a shark in 1971


Report on shark nets
Otago Daily Times By Chris Morris on Fri, 11 Feb 2011
Shark nets protecting Dunedin's beaches remain in the sights of at least one Dunedin city councillor. Cr Richard Thomson has called for a staff report on the appropriateness of the nets, including their costs, any possible environmental effect and new scientific knowledge relating to the use of nets.

The report was requested at the end of Wednesday's community development committee meeting. Cr Thomson's move follows an unsuccessful attempt last month by several councillors to have funding for the shark nets removed from the council's draft budget for 2011-12.

read more

Shark nets: are they worth it?
Otago Daily Times By Nigel Benson on Sat, 1 Jan 2011
What would we think if the Dunedin City Council paid $36,000 a year to protect us from lightning bolts? We'd think the council was mad, surely?

Yet, the DCC is the only local authority in New Zealand to maintain shark nets.Never mind that there has not been a shark attack in Dunedin waters for nearly 40 years.

And never mind that marine experts, environmentalists and even council staff who oversee the programme say it is nonsensical.

read more

Seaweek Beach Cleanup - Brighton

5 adults and three children, including me and Jay turned up to deposit their collected rubbish from Beach cleanup points along the south coast around Brighton this morning.
A lady who walked the beach from Waldronville to Ocean view with her dog collected a supermarket bag of rubbish. Me and Jay collected rubbish around the surf lifesaving club and back bank, and along the Otokai Estuary and top domain.

Above: Scott and Caleb collected three very large sacks of rubbish from around the Waldronville area and gun club. And pic below: Sean and his daughters' Edith and Faye collected a large bag from the dunes and beach at Brighton.

I believe a few of the boys from Big Rock collected rubbish along the roadside from Brighton to Kuri Bush this afternoon.

The final weight of rubbish collected from Brighton was 170 kg.

Seaweek Coastal Cleanup 2011

BRIGHTON BEACH CLEANUP

Sunday March 6th 10am - All welcome to come along and help out.
A group from Big Rock Boardriders will work their way along the coast towards Taieri Mouth to pick up rubbish in the car lay-bys where the freedom campers frequent.
Please meet at 10am by the Skip

A DCC contractor will deliver two really big wheelie bins to the Brighton Beach carpark at about 9am on Sunday March 6. Collected rubbish can go in the bins, or if there is a lot, it can be stacked within a 2 meter radius of the bins. This will all be taken away by the contractor at or after 1pm the same day. While we still have a central collection point at Hancock Park, St Kilda, rubbish will be going straight into a skip without sorting and weighing as the dirty rubbish cannot be recycled.

Otago Conservancy values Survey

Do you Value the Otago Coastline?
I'm sure you do.

Please take the time (they suggest twenty mins) to fill in the survey stating how you value the Otago coastline, and assist DOC in protecting our conservation land. eg: the beauty and Amenity value for surfing (or other activities), wildlife etc. If we don't make our individual voices heard, then our values are not regarded when conservation issues, development, plan changes and other matters try and weasel into our playground. So don't sit back and bemoan lost paradise in the future.

Make your opinions heard NOW!

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT

Arsenic, asbestos found in Dunedin dunes

Please read the whole article on the Otago Daily Times Website here.

Mysterious sludge at beach years ago, Dunedin man recalls
From the ODT website By Chris Morris on Fri, 26 Nov 2010

Revelations the sand dunes at Dunedin's Middle beach are laced with traces of industrial chemicals have jogged memories of a mysterious white sludge for Dunedin man Wayne Campbell.

Mr Campbell (62) contacted the Otago Daily Times this week. after Dunedin City Council staff last week confirmed traces of arsenic, asbestos and other industrial chemicals had been found in the dunes.

The contamination of the seaward side of the dunes was believed to have come from old landfill buried under what is now Kettle Park, although council staff were awaiting more test results to determine the extent of the problem.

Mr Campbell said he could recall coming across a mysterious white substance while fossicking in the landfill as a young boy in the 1950s.

Please continue to read the whole article on the Otago Daily Times Website here.

Saving Waves: Coastal planning and surf breaks

26th October 2010 at 6pm
Venue: Design Lecture Theatre, NICAI Conference Centre, 22 Symonds St, Auckland.
A lecture by Paul Shanks and Matt Skellern
Paul Shanks won the Ministry for the Environment Green Ribbon in 2006, for community leadership in Whangamata. Since then, Paul has taken a lead in saving New Zealand’s greatest surfing asset, its waves. From an international perspective, New Zealand is innovating in the ways it proposes to protect its world class surf breaks. Surfer and planner Matt Skellern contributes toward surf break protection alongside other surfers with backgrounds in planning, coastal science, oceanography, social science, law, economics along with perspectives from the surfing community and surfing industry.
Globally, surfers have been protesting the extinction of quality surf breaks for years. However, in December 2008, surf break protection was formalised through the World Heritage Surf Break movement based on the UNESCO model of World Heritage Sites. Following a similar trend, New Zealanders adopted the legal process to protect the world class surf breaks in Aotearoa.
Paul and Matt’s presentation aims to raise awareness of surf break protection at home and abroad, identifying potential issues for future ocean planning.

This Saving Waves lecture is kindly supported by the New Zealand Planning Institute and New Zealand Coastal Society.

Keep Dunedin Beautiful Litter Pick

St Clair & Kilda Beach Cleanup

Saturday 18th of September at 2.30pm - meet at the locked John Wilson Gates

Sunday 19th September at 10.30am - meet at the Shark Bell, St Clair

check out the facebook link and register your attendance
organised by Chloe & Tony Denley

he says:
"Dunedin people (or NZ wide if you want to organize a wee group for your local area) - I organized a group of us last year to have a litter pick down in St Kilda...... It wasn't the biggest turnout but we still managed to get over 5 big bags of rubbish!

Was hoping about going big and doing the whole stretch of St Clair/ Kilda on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th of September.... Probably working in groups of 2 so one can collect the recyclable and the other general landfill waste.

Bags and gloves will be provided by the DCC and the bags will be collected from the normal litter collection the following week.

The Saturday I'll be working until 1pm hence a 2.30 start but those who may be only able to do the Saturday are welcome to start a group earlier and i will either join or continue on later.

The Sunday I will be starting at 10.30am.

For those of you not local to Dunedin maybe you know of schools or groups who would be interested in this week.. If so all information can be found on the website.. http://www.knzb.org.nz/"

Previous rubbish collection by Tony last year just one day at St Clair beach.