11. Chairperson's comment
I have much pleasure in adding my comments to this 2004-05 Annual Report.
As you can see the Wellington Conservation board has had a busy year. We are still fairly focused on the areas of coastal development, the retention of landforms, water quality and the declining state of the NZ eel populations.
In October we farewelled two very able board members - Liz Burge with her resource management background and strong Rangitaane affiliation, and Professor Mike Crozier, head of Earth Sciences at Victoria University. We miss you both with your unique abilities. Mike's work and overall guidance in leading our CMS review process was especially valuable. The new team, however, with five newly-appointed members, swung rapidly into action with much skill and enthusiasm tackling such issues as the proposed sales and development of Landcorp owned Whareroa and Waitangirua farms with measured concern.
Over the year our meeting agendas have been full and varied making for some very long days. Increasing numbers of groups and organisations are requesting time to make presentations to the board whilst the public forums continue to raise a wide variety of community concerns.
We have been careful to choose our issues wisely and then work hard at contributing to favourable outcomes in these areas rather than responding to a larger number of issues in a knee-jerk ad hoc manner.
In February Fran Begley, our community relations officer board support resigned to pursue a teaching career. I wish to acknowledge her efforts in servicing our board - always cheerful, efficient and very effective at chasing up tardy board members.
The Wellington Conservation Board enjoys an extremely good relationship with the Department of Conservation. This is largely due to the effort and attitudes of the conservator Alan Ross and Jeff Flavell. There has always been an openness and willingness to keep the board well informed and to listen to our advice which has been really appreciated by all members. We have received excellent reports from many departmental staff members which has certainly added huge value to our work. Jeff - thank you for the extra workload you have carried since Fran's departure. We are very grateful.
Board members - what can I say!
Last year, when so many of you were new, my challenge was to develop a strong, productive team that functioned well together. By our second meeting you were up and running and working very hard - I know by the late night hour noted on many of the emails that passed from member to member.
I consider it a privilege to have been your chairman during this year. I am proud of the work that has been done and the results that have been achieved. The humour, passion, ability and friendship that exists around the board table creates a wonderful foundation for an even greater contribution to the conservation of our environment in the future.
I wish you well.
Diane Anderson
Chairperson
26 August 2005
Please note: The comments expressed above by the board chairperson do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other board members.
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