Waikawa Newsletter April 2023
Kia ora e hoa mā,
first up this month I have a recommendation: if you're around people, like on public transport or at the supermarket, wear a mask. There's a really nasty flu going around that can flatten you for weeks even if you've had this year's flu shot. You do not want to catch it. Ask me how I know…
We're into that season of misty mornings and clear blue skies — all very gorgeous.
Unfortunately there's been a bit of trouble around the place in recent weeks. A pack of dogs, known to some in the community, attacked another dog on the beach causing serious injury. The incident was reported to Animal Control. The owner has since reported that they and the dog are now back home in Wellington recovering.
And on the topic of dogs: HDC are consulting on fees and charges, and aim to increase the cost of dog registration, which will begin on 06 July this year. To have your say see the link below.
Another problem on the beach came up over Easter weekend. In one incident beachgoers were very disturbed by a phalanx of 8 motorbikes and quads spread out between dunes and sea, racing one another along the sand. One resident commented: "Not sure if it was dodgems or bull-rush trying to go down for a swim."
In another incident involving the new dune growth and the summer bird-nesting area where the north track off Reay Mackay Grove exits onto the beach, motorbikes and other vehicles roared around in and over the dunes, crushing spinifex roots and tearing small dunes apart.
It's well known that vehicles damage beaches, and nowhere are they allowed on dunes. Whether vehicles should even be allowed on beaches at all is being discussed all over the country. One recent news article was about this issue in the small Northland community of Waipū.
With a study currently taking place about options for how vehicles might access Waikawa Beach in future, this topic is sure to come up locally.
Back along Waikawa Beach Road you might have noticed traffic counting cables near the Blueberry Farm in early April. Roading Operations advised that these counters were:
to gather traffic count information which we are required to do on all our Council roads. The location of the count is because the last one in this location was in 2007 so the data requires updating.
On 20 April 2023 I was advised:
The 2007 ADT (Daily traffic) was 831. The latest count is 951 ADT so slight increase, not as much as expected as the counts were also out for a week of school holidays.
That seems a surprisingly low growth for 16 years, especially given the number of new houses that have sprung up in the past decade.
Did you know that Waikawa Beach Road from Manakau to Waikawa, was first sealed in the 1950’s, Drake and Arthur Streets being sealed at the same time.
For more on local history since the 1950s check the links below. And how's this for a snippet:
According to the book Bitter Water there were at least 3,000 people living at Waikawa Beach in 1845.
Apparently the toilet block was built at the end of the 60s. As we all know, the facilities
block as it now seems to be known was overhauled last year. Information gathered from an Official Information request lodged long before the work was completed tells us:
The total cost of the project is $369,687 plus GST. This equates to a cost of $354,628 (plus GST) for the ablution/changing block, and $15,059 (plus GST) for the BBQ and tables.
One matter of local concern is the problem of feral cats. They've been observed in Strathnaver and also in the village. If you've been thinking of trapping them, there are things to know, especially the laws that relate to this. Beverley Dowling, who used to live at Waikawa Beach but is now Cat Education and Bylaw Compliance Officer in Whangarei has some simple advice to start with: Plan first; Trap second. Read more detail at the link below.
Some locals are actively trapping feral cats and then dealing with them appropriately. To help with funding, Wild Cats of Waikawa are holding a cash only Yard Sale at Hank Edwards Reserve, 10 am to 2 pm on 13 May 2023.
Expect an increase in game birds around the local lakes and ponds soon — Game Bird Season starts 06 May 2023. If you have nervous pets or other animals, get ready for shots fired at dawn.
Above: Australasian Shoveler on lake Puna o te Ora.
We've had another bout of heavy rain recently and all those disappeared puddles instantly emerged again. Another discovered Official Information Request made known that:
There is one stormwater discharge outfall in Waikawa Beach, which discharges into the Waikawa River
That's the drain that runs under Hank Edwards Reserve.
And with a sudden interest in groundwater I happened upon a fascinating article that explained there's no distinct boundary between the sea and our fresh groundwater, but rather salt water can penetrate far into the landscape below ground.
hydraulic pressure from the sea keeps fresh land-based water from draining freely so when there are big tides groundwater levels increase.
A high level of groundwater also affects septic tanks which depend on a certain distance between the outflow and the groundwater below.
In brief news:
- There are various roadworks and whatnot on the road between Ōtaki and Levin. Some sections have a temporary 50 Kph speed limit.
- Folks from Boffa Miskell were out recently with drones surveying the beach areas for possible vehicle access capability.
- Changes in tides and river levels have exposed the rocks where there once used to be an additional groyne in front of the Miratana Track.
- I've updated the Big List of Waikawa Beach Birds. Find it at: waikawanews.nz/big-list-of-birds
- One of the speed signs at the beach entrance had been knocked down or fell over. HDC quickly put it back up. Meanwhile Fire and Emergency have put up an unmissable Light No Fires sign nearby.
- The Manakau Association are holding a Quiz Night on 05 May and their AGM on 16 May 2023. Register your quiz team by contacting Kimbal 029 835 1215 or 36 26 395 or mchugo@mchugo.co.nz.
- Free Electric Blanket testing event on Tuesday 09 May between 11am and 1pm, at the Levin Fire Station.
Links
- Beware a pack of dangerous dogs at Waikawa Beach, April 2023
- Dog registration changes 2023
- Destroying dunes, endangering everyone
- In Waipū the community is talking about vehicles on beaches
- Progress report, Waikawa Beach Community Committee April 2023
- Traffic counters on Waikawa Beach Road, April 2023
- 1950-1980 Waikawa Beach history bits
- Waikawa in the old days
- Toilet block cost per an LGOIMA request
- Tips about trapping wildlife such as cats
- Game Bird Season starts 06 May 2023
- Stormwater discharge into the Waikawa River
- Groundwater, seawater, septic tanks and saline ingress
This monthly newsletter is based on posts I've written during the month, with added sprinkles. If you'd like to automatically receive posts by email as they are published subscribe at https://waikawanews.nz/subscribe/
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 kiaora@waikawanews.nz.
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Thanks everyone for the support. I've had a lot of great feedback on my newsletters. I really appreciate that.
Me te aroha,
Miraz Jordan
WaikawaNews: https://waikawanews.nz