Poutū-te-rangi (March) 2021 WBRA Newsletter
Kia ora e te whānau,
Autumn has brought some very photographic morning mists, Misty autumn moods and absolutely stunning days at the beach with calm aquamarine sea and gentle waves lapping at the shore.
Days have tended warm and sunny though nights have often been pretty chilly.
In the last newsletter we mentioned two major incidents that closed the road near Ōhau, one for about 5 hours. Then on 23 March 2021 there was another fatal accident, this time at Kuku Beach Road, and again the road was closed for hours. Maybe it's time to investigate a way to fly between Ōtaki, Levin and Waikawa Beach! (Just kidding! … I think.)
- Property
- HDC Long Term Plan 2021–2041
- Climate Change talks
- Intersection frustration
- Local News
- WBRA Subscriptions
Property
A few houses have been listed since the last newsletter: 34 Sarah St (sold), 13 Strathnaver Drive (sold), 668 Waikawa Beach Road, 60 Sarah Street, 111 Strathnaver Drive (sold). Word on the street is that sale prices have been well above asking. Sales have been pretty quick too.
Apparently a house in James Street is being readied for sale.
First sun touches the Toitoi by Lesley-Anne Walker.
HDC Long Term Plan 2021–2041
Horowhenua District Council have put out their latest Long Term Plan for consultation. Key consultation topics include:
- If HDC should reintroduce Development Contributions as a key tool for funding our growth infrastructure
- Proposed Changes to the Land Transport Targeted Rate differential
- Proposed changes to the general rate.
Read more at: HDC Long Term Plan 2021–2041, submissions close 19 April 2021.
Climate Change talks
Horizons Regional Council have set up a Joint Climate Action Committee, which will include representatives from iwi, Horizons and seven territorial authorities. The Committee will oversee action on climate change across the region. Read more at Climate change concerns Horizons and Horowhenua Councils.
Intersection frustration
(Still) Fed up with the intersection of Waikawa Beach Road and SH1? Well, settle in for the long haul. It seems pretty clear that Waka Kotahi are both unable and unwilling to make any substantive changes. Read the grim details at No Change: intersection SH1 and Waikawa Beach Road, update March 2021.
Local News
Broken windows and missing fairy lights: Duncan and Arthur Streets have had some recent problems.
Australasian Bittern sightings: the critically endangered Australasian Bittern is extremely rare and very hard to see, but we're lucky enough that there's been one hanging round the Strathnaver area. Check the article for a couple of photos.
Bamboo and flood debris lead to eels stranding at the Waiorongomai Stream. Greater Wellington Council aim to get that sorted out.
Awa Pukapuka update. Apparently Horowhenua District Council are stumping up money towards painting the Little Free Library, but the Roading team have been very slow to sort out exact placement for it near the noticeboards. Folks on the Waikawa Beach Facebook page have been very enthused about it, offering help with putting it into position and stocking it with books, DVDs and games.
Morning beach. Photo by Miraz Jordan.
WBRA Subscriptions are due now
It's hardly news: WBRA subscription $25 per year. Please pay up. 😀 Your support helps us work on behalf of the community. Make sure to provide us with your email address! See Subs form to give us your updated contact details and Become a member for how to pay.
Special note: the address for posting cheques to has changed. It's now 93 Mandel Mews, Waiwhetu, Lower Hutt 5010, but pretty soon Westpac will stop accepting cheques anyway.
And with this glorious weather we've been having and some holidays coming up, what better phrase to know than: Ehara i te tī : You only live once. — The various species of tī are noted for their ability to survive in spite of the serious prunings they receive. Even one cut to ground level normally produces young shoots. Moreover they can easily be transplanted from cuttings. Man is quite the opposite. Once he falls (dies), he will never rise again.
— Te Ao Hou, No. 17 (December 1956).
Ngā mihi nui,
Miraz Jordan