Pipiri (June) 2019 Newsletter
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WAIKAWA BEACH RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION
waikawabeach.org.nz
** Pipiri (June) 2019 Newsletter
Kia ora e te whānau. We’re almost at the turning point of the year: soon the days will grow longer and the Matariki (https://mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/matariki) stars will appear above the horizon in the morning sky. It’s a time to remember the dead, celebrate new life and plant new crops.
There’s been a bit happening lately, so we have news to report. And also a request: John Russell has been overtaken by pressing work commitments and has had to withdraw as Secretary of the WBRA, effective immediately. We urgently need someone to take over from him. Could it be you? See details at: waikawabeach.org.nz/2019/will-you-be-our-wbra-secretary (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2019/will-you-be-our-wbra-secretary/) and step up to volunteer.
** In this newsletter …
- Congratulations to our own John Russell, MNZM (#qb-honour)
- Public Meeting about beach erosion: 08 June 2019 (#beach-erosion)
- The high-angle groyne has been removed (#groyne-removed)
- Horizons Regional Council State of Environment Report (#enviro-report)
- Waikawa Stream Community Catchment Project workshop (#catchment-project)
- Recycling calendar 2019-2020 (#recycling)
- Rural road speed reductions affect us all (#speed-limits)
- Brief updates from the Horowhenua District Council (#updates)
- Property news (#property)
- Next Committee meeting (#committee)
- Subscriptions and contact info (#subs)
- Do you know: Ten-Five is the number for non-urgent Police calls. (#do-you-know)
** Congratulations to our own John Russell, MNZM
Congratulations to our own John Russell (voted in as WBRA Secretary at the 2018 AGM). He was awarded a Queen's Birthday honour a couple of weeks ago for services to education.
The Queen has been pleased, on the occasion of the celebration of Her Majesty’s Birthday, to make the following appointments to The New Zealand Order of Merit: … Mr John Spencer Russell, of Porirua. To be Member of The New Zealand Order of Merit.
** Public Meeting about beach erosion: 08 June 2019
The Public meeting about Waikawa Beach erosion, held on Saturday 08 June 2019, was well-attended. About 50 or 60 people turned up, learned about the Tonkin and Taylor Report and put some excellent questions to Ramon Strong of Horizons Regional Council. Ramon Strong addresses the meeting. Cr Lindsay Burnell is on the far side and John Hewitson close to the camera.
Ramon Strong addresses the meeting. Cr Lindsay Burnell is on the far side and John Hewitson close to the camera..
One key point was that the stretch of the Waikawa River from somewhere above the footbridge is not really anyone’s responsibility. Horizons Regional Council has various duties according to law and when it comes to rivers they work according to ‘schemes’. The Ōhau-Manakau Scheme though stops short of the footbridge.
In order to get that final stretch of river into any workplan for Horizons we need to ensure it’s included in the next HRC Long-Term Plan, which is at least a year or two away. We need to be airing our view that it should be included to Horizons before that Plan is being consulted on.
Meanwhile, Horizons found funds in reserves to deal with the high-angle groyne. See more on that below.
Ramon Strong made it clear in answer to several questions that our stretch of coast isn’t necessarily like any other stretch of coast, here or in other parts of the world. We can’t readily transport solutions from elsewhere. Our coastal and river processes here are highly dynamic.
Read more about the public meeting at: Report from the Public Meeting on erosion (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2019/report-from-the-public-meeting-on-erosion/) .
** The high-angle groyne has been removed
On 12 and 13 June 2019 two diggers and a dump truck worked at the river mouth. They dug rocks out of the river from the high-angle groyne that was built in 2012. Then they stacked those rocks on top of the mainly submerged 1991 groyne that follows the course of the river.
This should help to push the river more readily out to sea.
While the diggers were there they also shaped the vehicle entrance, smoothing the sand and making it a little broader.
See photos of the work in progress and the completed work at Diggers relocate the high-angle groyne (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2019/diggers-relocate-the-high-angle-groyne/) and Groyne changes at the river mouth, June 2019 (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2019/groyne-changes-at-the-river-mouth-june-2019/) . A freshly shaped vehicle entrance.
A freshly shaped vehicle entrance.
** Horizons Regional Council State of Environment Report
Horizons Regional Council recently published their Horizons State of Environment Report 2019 (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2019/horizons-state-of-environment-report-2019/) . It’s a large and detailed report, but includes these statements: * Completed hydrogeological studies throughout the region, including … Ōhau- Waikawa. * Waikawa Beach estuary is identified as moderate to high vulnerability to eutrophication (excess nutrient and sediment loads). * The Ōhau and Waikawa Estuaries fail to meet One Plan targets for dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a. * Waikawa Estuary has a trophic score of 0.85, placing it in the Band D (high) category.
** Waikawa Stream Community Catchment Project workshop
About 30 people turned up to the NZ Landcare Trust community workshop on Wednesday 12 June 2019.
The workshop gave those who attended a chance to discuss their reasons for attending, what they hoped to get out of the workshop and their dreams, goals and aspirations for the catchment. People were enthusiastic to be part of a group aiming to improve the environment — not just the freshwater. Ideas included restoring habitat suitable for whitebait spawning, green corridors to allow native birds to move more freely around the region, fencing stock out of streams and more.
** Recycling calendar 2019-2020
New microchipped recycling bins will be delivered this month. Each household will be able to put out glass in the crate and certain plastics and paper in the wheelibin.
Collection of all recycling will be on the same day, every second week, starting on 08 July 2019.
To help you know when to put out your recycling we made a printable calendar. See Recycling calendar 2019-2020 (https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2019/recycling-calendar-2019-2020/) to get your copy.
** Rural road speed reductions affect us all
At their meeting on Wednesday 12 June 2019 the Horowhenua District Council voted to reduce the speed limit on all rural roads. Signposts will be put up or changed before long.
Waikawa Beach Road, Takapu Road, Emma Drive and Kristin Place will all be limited to 80 Kph.
The limit for Reay Mackay Grove and Strathnaver Drive will be 60 Kph.
** Brief updates from the Horowhenua District Council
From Ann Clark, Parks and Property Lead South • Kaiārahi ki te Tonga, Papa Rēhia, Rawa…
** Beach track signs
One tester beach signpost was put at the west end of the south beach track off Reay Mackay Grove quite some time ago. Posts for the other access tracks have been collected and installation scheduled, along with some new timber bollards. Expect to see them in place soon.
** Footbridge upgrade
“The works on the footbridge include refurbishing the steel (strip and repaint) and additional strengthening. We unfortunately need to obtain building and resource consent (Horizons) prior to commencing any physical works, and subsequently funding has been now split across the 19/20 and 20/21 financial years as it is unlikely we can achieve both the consenting and physical works within a 12 month timeframe. In short, you will not see any physical works happening within the next 12 months.”
** Lupin growing onto the road on Reay Mackay Grove
The roading team will have contractors out (weather permitting) next week to spray the lupin and blackberry within the road reserve. This is their preference rather than cutting it back and having it regrow.
** Problems at Hank Edwards Toilets
“Just a heads up that we are have some on-going issues with regular blockages in the toilets at Hank Edwards Reserve. At this stage we are trying to determine if it is within the pipes to the septic tank or the septic tank itself. Once we clarify what is going on, we can get a permanent solution.
** Property news
Sections for sale: 38 Uxbridge Terrace, 24 Uxbridge Terrace, approx 169 Strathnaver Drive. Houses for sale: 111 Strathnaver Drive, 9 Kristin Place.
** Next Committee meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on the morning of Sunday 27 October 2019.
** Subscriptions and contact info
If you haven't paid your $25 sub yet, it's well past time time. 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 ask your friends, neighbours and newcomers to join too so we can better represent them.
See waikawabeach.org.nz/subs for other ways to pay.
** Do you know: Ten-Five is the number for non-urgent Police calls.
Use 105 for non-emergency situations. … your car has been stolen, property … damaged, or … to give Police information about crime in your area
Use 111 if a crime is taking place or there’s a threat to life or property.
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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