Hakihea (December) 2018 WBRA Newsletter
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WAIKAWA BEACH RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION
waikawabeach.org.nz
** Hakihea (December) 2018 Newsletter
Kia ora Waikawa whānau. November might have had a summer feeling, but the last 4 weeks brought us spring weather, not to mention lupins flowering, which is bad news for those of us with hayfever. So the good news is: no drought. On the other hand lawns and weeds just keep growing.
Meanwhile, we need a new Secretary. Could that be you?
We also need announcers for Boat Day and Sports Day this year — none of our usual willing helpers are available this year. Could this be you? Please let us know as soon as possible.
** In this newsletter …
- Spring's here (#spring)
- Committee nominations & AGM (#agm)
- Subs are due now (#subs)
- Summer Activities timetable (#summer-activities)
- Christmas lights (#christmas-lights)
- Arthur Street caravan fire and thefts (#arthur-street)
- Summer water monitoring (#water)
- River clearing (#river)
- Local growth news (#growth)
- Fatal crashes and safety measures (#fatal-crashes)
- Expressway route has been decided (#expressway)
- Drivelive (#drivelive)
- Property news (#property)
- Did you know: The 4 metre seal of 1906 and its tremendous fins (#did-you-know)
** Committee nominations & AGM
This year we need a new Secretary, and welcome nominations to the Committee and to any office-holder position. Please let us know before the day of the meeting if you wish to nominate someone. They must agree to be nominated.
Our AGM is on Thursday 27 December 2018 at 3 pm at Hank Edwards Reserve. Bring a chair or blanket. If wet, we’ll move to the Manakau Hall. Stay on for the BBQ and drinks.
Financial members are eligible to vote. See below for how to pay your subs.
If you have any issues you want to raise, please let us know as soon as possible.
read the Unconfirmed Minutes and Financial Report of the 2017 AGM (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2018/agm-28-december-2017/) .
** Subs are due now
If you haven't paid your $25 yet, it's time to do it now. Pay to account 03 0667 0268929 000 and email wbra.committee@gmail.com with your name, beach address, postal address, email address and date of payment so we can make sure our records are completely up to date. Thanks to everyone who has already paid their sub. Your support is really important to us. Please remind your friends, neighbours and newcomers to also join.
See other ways to pay (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/subs/) .
** Summer Activities timetable
We’re offering our usual summer activities (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2018/summer-activities-schedule-2018-19/) . Full details are on the web and the noticeboard.
Thursday 27 December, 3 pm, AGM at Hank Edwards Reserve.
Friday 28 December at 2 pm, Boat Day at the footbridge.
Tuesday 01 January 2019 at 3 pm, Sports Day at Hank Edwards Reserve.
Saturday 19 January 2019, judging at 4 pm, Sand Sculpture Day.
** Christmas lights
The James Street Lights, put up each year by Wendy and Peter Clark, are one of the highlights of a Waikawa Beach Christmas. Last year their hard work was rewarded with a first place prize. Make sure you visit in the evenings to see this year’s effort. Good luck Peter and Wendy! 2017 Christmas lights at Waikawa Beach, courtesy of Wendy and Peter Clark.
2017 Christmas lights at Waikawa Beach, courtesy of Wendy and Peter Clark.
** Arthur Street caravan fire and thefts
A couple of weeks back a caravan on the verge in Arthur Street burned down.
A few days later (and unrelated) local residents noticed people behaving suspiciously, going on to properties. They alerted the police who quickly caught up with the suspects and took them into custody on charges of theft.
Stay alert over the holidays and be sure to lock up your valuables.
** Summer water monitoring
Horizons weekly summer water quality monitoring started on 12 November 2018. So far our river at the footbridge has had: 2 green, 2 orange and 1 red readings. However, based on 3 years of data our overall bacterial risk is rated as red.
** River clearing
A digger’s been operating west of Takapu Road for a few weeks. It seems to be digging out the river channel and building up the banks. It’ll be interesting to see what effect this may have on the river at the footbridge.
** Local growth news
In 2019 the Horowhenua District Council will develop plans for growth in the region. That might include us:
In 2019 the conversation will shift to each location, and the first conversations will be with residents in Levin, Foxton Beach and Waitārere. We will be creating master plans for new neighbourhoods in growth areas in each location and that will then lead to District Plan changes.
… later in the year Council will bring to the community an urban growth District Plan change that will propose to rezone some of the growth areas identified in the Growth Strategy in Foxton Beach, Foxton, Ōhau, Manakau, Tokomaru and potentially Waikawa Beach.
Read more at: Potential for growth at Waikawa Beach (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2018/potential-for-growth-at-waikawa-beach/) .
** Fatal crashes and safety measures
It’s been a bad few weeks on the roads in the wider district. One evening there were 2 fatal crashes within a couple of hours of each other, one at Ōhau, the other between Waikawa Beach Road and North Manakau Road. Of course traffic was backed up, and the road closed.
There have been calls for immediate measures to improve safety, so the NZ Transport Agency will:
implement a number of safety measures on State Highway 1 [before Christmas] including flexible posts on flush medians, temporary electronic safety message signs, and radio advertising targeting traffic over the busy holiday period.
Read more at A possibly slightly safer road to Levin before Christmas 2018 (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2018/a-possibly-slightly-safer-road-to-levin-before-christmas-2018/) .
** Expressway route has been decided
Meanwhile, there is actual news about the Expressway (https://www.nzta.govt.nz/media-releases/nzta-announces-selection-of-otaki-to-north-of-levin-corridor/) :
The NZ Transport Agency has announced that the preferred corridor for the new 24.2 kilometre Ōtaki to north of Levin road is one that runs closest to State Highway 1 and, in the northern section, alongside State Highway 57.
In time, of course, this should relieve the pressure on the existing SH1 and make those local trips safer.
** Drivelive
Driving between Wellington and Waikawa Beach? Did you know about DriveLive (http://www.drivelive.nz/smartcapital) , with its live travel times? Check out where there are delays and schedule your trip more effectively. Drivelive, a typical 5pm journey.
Drivelive, a typical 5pm journey.
** Property news
One house for sale at the moment, in Mavis Ave; nothing sold recently.
** Did you know: The 4 metre seal of 1906 and its tremendous fins
On Friday a party of ladies and gentlemen from Manakau proceeded to the Waikawa beach for the purpose of sea-fishing. On arrival there they found a very large seal stranded on the beach, apparently washed above high water mark by the tremendous sea which was running. Seagulls were picking a hole in the seal’s head, from which blood was running. Some of the party put ropes round it, and with the aid of a horse dragged it to the Waikawa river. The seal made a bound and plunged into deep water. It appeared none the worse for its experience and when the party left it seemed able to take to the sea again when the tide was favourable. It measured twelve feet long and had tremendous fins.
Source: Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3722, 30 October 1906 (http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19061030.2.4) .
Have a great summer everyone!
Ngā mihi nui, Miraz Jordan By the way: do we have your email address wrong, or maybe you don't want these newsletters any more: use the links at the very bottom of this email to make changes.
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** (https://waikawabeach.org.nz) Our mailing address is: PO Box 30309, Lower Hutt 5040. wbra.committee@gmail.com
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