November 2018 WBRA Newsletter
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WAIKAWA BEACH RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION
waikawabeach.org.nz
** November 2018 Newsletter
Kia ora Waikawa whānau. As we have more warm or hot days with no rain there’s a definite summer feeling already. It’s time to start watching water use so the tanks don’t go down too quickly. That also means it’s time to remember the permanent total fire ban in our part of the world — no fires on the beach or in the yard unless you have a permit.
** In this newsletter …
- Summer’s here (#summer)
- Please pay your subs now (#subs)
- Summer Activities timetable (#activities)
- AGM and committee (#agm)
- Where are all the whitebait? (#whitebait)
- River water monitoring (#water-quality)
- River cut update (#river-cut)
- Tonkin & Taylor assessment (#tonkin)
- Beach access (#access)
- Reay Mackay Grove beach tracks remain pedestrian-only (#no-horses)
- Share the beach (#share)
- Speedy Internet (#fibre)
- Summer Shorts (#shorts)
- Trees removed to improve sightlines (#trees)
- O2NL update (#o2nl)
- Road sealing (#sealing)
- Entrance tidyup (#entrance)
- Vehicles where they don’t belong (no-vehicles) no-vehicles no-vehiclesno-vehicles
- no-vehiclesProperty news (#property)
- Did you know: Our river is fed by two streams (#did-you-know)
** Subs are due now
Many thanks to all those who have already paid their sub. Your support is really important to us. Please remind your friends, neighbours and newcomers to also join. If you haven’t paid your $25 yet, it’s time to do it now.
Pay to account 03 0667 0268929 000, or post a cheque to E White, PO Box 30309, Lower Hutt. Please include your name and beach address so we know who's paid. There's not a lot of space on the bank form, so it also helps if you 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.
** Summer Activities timetable
We’re offering our usual summer activities (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2018/summer-activities-schedule-2018-19/) again. 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.
** AGM and committee
Interested in being on the Committee? Please let us know well before the AGM. If you’re nominating someone else you must have their permission. Committee meetings are usually on a Sunday so you don’t need to be a permanent resident. Making hay while the sun shines. Photo supplied by Kevin Burns.
Making hay while the sun shines. Photo supplied by Kevin Burns.
** Where are all the whitebait?
Whitebaiters are a cagey lot, but one local revealed the other day that although he and his family had enjoyed a couple of feeds, he’d not seen such a low catch in 26 years on the river. He did say the whitebait had run early this year, so at least they’re still around.
** River water monitoring
Horizons weekly summer water quality monitoring started on 12 November 2018. We post results as soon as we can on the front page of our website.
It turns out Horizons Regional Council continue monitoring, though less often, through the winter, but they don’t publish those results. We have a spreadsheet of recent results but are still deciding the best way to interpret and present the large amount of data in that document. Keep an eye on our website for updates.
** River cut update
The river was cut (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2018/river-cut-report-02-july-2018/) on 02 July 2018. It wasn’t long before that cut was wiped out and now the river meets the sea about 200 hundred metres further south again.
** Tonkin & Taylor assessment
Meanwhile Horizons Regional Council and Horowhenua District Council got together to hire Tonkin & Taylor to do an engineering assessment of the river mouth and the erosion in that area.
They took aerial photos with a drone and met with several locals to get historical perspective from some folks who’ve been here a while. We’ll let you know when we have an update for you. They expect their work to be done in early 2019.
** Beach access
The Committee has been told that Horowhenua District Council are negotiating with the Miratana family to secure the all-purpose access to the beach at the end of Manga Pirau Street. If the Council manage to take control of that small piece of land then we can hope more people will be able to use that entrance more often, whether on foot, by horse or by vehicle.
** Reay Mackay Grove beach tracks remain pedestrian-only
Horowhenua District Council received a request to allow horses to use the south beach track off Reay Mackay Grove. There was quite a discussion about this on our website, with divided opinion. The Council decided not to open up the track to horses. That means both tracks off Reay Mackay Grove are off-limits for horses and motor vehicles.
** Share the beach
Over summer our community is very popular. Drivers (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/emergency-and-general-information/our-friendly-streets/) : please remember to slow down in the village and to give horses, cyclists and pedestrians a wide berth. Pass them slowly and quietly. Watch for kids, adults, dogs and horses on the streets.
The beach is officially a road, speed limit 30 Kph. Everyone: watch carefully for all other beach users, and take time to enjoy.
** Speedy Internet
The folks in the village will soon be able to sign up for fast fibre Internet. The crews are laying cable right now. Are you ready for the fibre, which tube do you want to bring your service? The fibre is blown through the tubes individually to each user. Photo supplied by Kevin Burns.
Perhaps too the fibre is the reason for mysterious yellow distance markings on the centreline of Waikawa Beach Road between Emma Drive and Walkers Lane.
** Summer Shorts
** Trees removed to improve sightlines
The Council recently took down a couple of trees and are clearing the bank on Waikawa Beach Road, opposite the end of Sarah Street. This is to improve sight lines and make that stretch of road a little safer.
** O2NL update
We had roading news (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2018/otaki-to-levin-road-improvements-update-october-2018/) that was really no news. The plan is to make safety improvements on the existing road between Ōtaki and Levin and to announce an additional two-lane road sometime soon.
** Road sealing
Both sides of Waikawa Beach Road from SH1 to about Takapu Road have been resealed.
** Entrance tidy up
HDC intends to carry on tidying up at the beach entrance, spreading mulch and planting out new shrubs — hopefully one day.
** Vehicles where they don’t belong
Vehicles aren’t allowed in sand dunes or behind taped off areas, for example where there’s new planting south of the river. They also aren’t allowed on any beach tracks apart from the one at the end of Manga Pirau Street. If you can get a photo (safely) showing the number plate and location of a vehicle in a forbidden place then send that to the Police for follow-up.
** Property news
At the moment there is one house for sale, on Mavis Ave. There are also 4 sections for sale on Amelia Way, off Emma Drive. The house on Sarah Street sold just after the last newsletter.
** Did you know: Our river is fed by two streams
By the time the Waikawa Stream reaches the footbridge it contains water from two streams: the Waikawa, originating in North Manakau, and the Waiauti Stream, which comes from South Manakau and runs behind the Quarter Acre cafe. The two streams join up just west of Whakahoro Road (west of Takapu Road). Read more at Red River Blues (https://lovewaikawabeach.nz/red-river-blues/) .
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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Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association ** waikawabeach.nz (https://waikawabeach.org.nz)
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