Waikawa Newsletter April 2022
Waikawa News April 2022
Kia ora e hoa mā,
We've had the Easter break and have Anzac Day coming up. A couple of people commented to me it seemed quiet around the place. The weather was mostly glorious, with some clear days preceded by chilly clear nights.
A special treat
The bonus in the chilly nights has been the wonderful views just before dawn of a line of planets in the East. Check the eastern sky around 6 am on Sunday 24 April 2022 in particular to see a magnificent lineup, with a crescent Moon (Marama) above Saturn (Pareārau), Mars (Matawhero), Venus (Tāwera) and Jupiter (Hine-i-tīweka). Neptune is actually just above Jupiter too.
Stellarium Web Online Star Map.
Also see 4 Planets and the crescent Moon.
Quick news
- Temporary hold on glass recycling.
- There were a couple of burglaries at Waikawa Beach: Burglary, 18 March 2022.
- Levin parking meters have been upgraded.
- On 18 March 2022 an LPG tanker and two cars crashed at Manakau outside The Greenery, closing the road for hours, though traffic could use a back road. Unfortunately one person died and two people were seriously injured.
- The road between Manakau and Levin is now 80 Kph all the way.
- Transmission Gully opened at last. See Transmission Gully Driving Tips.
- Horowhenua District Council will have 4 general wards and one Māori ward at the 2022 Local Government Election on 08 October 2022. Waikawa Beach continues to be in the Waiopehu general ward which will elect 2 members. The Māori ward will also elect 2 members.
Properties
Sold: 75 Strathnaver Drive.
Newly listed: 123 Strathnaver Drive, 9 Kristin Place
Still for sale: 10 Arthur Street, 13 Arthur Street, 17 Drake Street, 159 Emma Drive, 40 Manga Pirau Street, 58 Manga Pirau Street, 44 Sarah Street, 501A Waikawa Beach Road (3 lifestyle properties), 686 Waikawa Beach Road.
By the way, the median house price at Waikawa Beach seems to have bucked a trend and has increased. See Waikawa Beach median house price, March 2022.
The new subdivision off Reay Mackay Grove now has a name: Ash Fogden Way.
Toilet Block rebuild
Work stalled after demolition was complete, thanks to Covid isolations. It has yet to be resumed.
The next stages will be to sort trenching for the new plumbing in the toilet area and set up for the new foundations, posts and floor to the BBQ area. Toilet block work plan, Week 3 and beyond.
Consultations and Funding
Your thoughts and opinions are being sought on:
- Freshwater quality: What future for Waikawa River water quality? Note: see below re the poor quality of the water in our river.
- Public transport: Public Transport for the next 10 years. With the growth at Waikawa Beach and the urgent needs for action related to climate change, isn't it time public transport served our community?
- Horizons Community Climate Response Fund closes 31 May 2022. Do you have ideas?
- The Horizons Regional Council Kanorau Koiora Taketake - Indigenous Biodiversity Community Grant is calling for applications, which close on 09 May 2022. The vision for this programme is to empower communities to reconnect with and improve indigenous biodiversity. While the Ratepayers Association exists for the people of Waikawa Beach, it could be useful to set up a group to protect and enhance our native environment. A group could allow us to apply for funding in future to do things such as perhaps pest control. Thoughts?
Poor quality river water
This year the E. Coli readings for the river by the footbridge have been quite poor. According to the Traffic Lights System we have seen 10 Red, 9 Orange and only 5 Green as at 12 April 2022.
Horizons Regional Council are undertaking a River nutrient study which is using some very clever technology, including that mystery sensor on the footbridge which in fact has been recording the height of the river. In a few months we should be able to access results.
Did you know?
Brown foam on the beach is actually because of dead algae, not pollution. It's called Surf Algae or Surf Scum.
The dark sky
We're so lucky to enjoy a dark sky. I recently posted on my personal blog a picture of the Milky Way, taken with my iPhone from the deck of our house. Several people who live in places like North America and Europe exclaimed at this as they have never seen the Milky Way and hope to travel one day to be able to. We take it for granted.
Please keep this in mind. Like our wonderful clean air and diverse bird life, the dark sky is a taonga we must treasure. Be careful with outdoor lights and encourage your neighbours to look up at the night sky too.
Big List of Waikawa Beach Birds
I've compiled a Big List of Waikawa Beach Birds. It has about 54 different birds on it, and I keep discovering more we see around here. Our environment's a bit special: we have lakes, ocean, river, wetland, rural and 'urban' habitats. Whew!
I added a link to an excellent resource where you can Learn about bird feathers. They are remarkable things.
Sightings
- The native Eleven-Armed Sea Star
- Dead eels at Waiorongomai Stream mouth
- Dolphins just off Waikawa Beach
- Shiny new dog poop bag dispenser at the Manga Pirau Street beach entrance.
If you know of Waikawa Beach things that would interest others or if you have comments on this newsletter or the websites please let me know at news@wow-waikawa.nz. If you want to suggest others subscribe to the newsletter please send them to: http://news.wow-waikawa.nz/about-waikawa-news.html.
Mā te wā,
Miraz Jordan,
Waikawa News
Wow Waikawa! environment