The Waiatarua Library will be open for business from this Thursday 21 May 2020. Normal hours will resume.
Thursday 10am – 12 noon
Friday 7pm – 8pm
Saturday and Sunday 11am – 12 noon
All Covid19 Level 2 precautions will be taken.
Look forward to seeing you there!
The May newsletter is out now!
It’s a massive issue and you can read it online here.
We’d love it if you know anyone that would normally get the newsletter in their letterbox but for some reason does not have a computer to print a copy for them. Of course, make sure you wash your hands well before touching the paper and delivering it to make sure it is delivered safely.
This is allowed under the NZ Goverment Covid-19 rules so that people who do not have access to the internet are still able to receive their local printed news media.
NOTE: Since going to print there are two corrections advised to us:
The WRRA have put together these links for you so you don’t have to go searching for them.
If you’re not sure what assistance may be available, don’t know who to contact for help, call the free government helpline on 0800 779 997 (8am–1am, 7 days a week).
For advice and support for essential businesses please contact 0800 22 66 57 (9am–5pm, Monday–Friday).
The #1 site for information is covid19.govt.nz/
Health concerns, information and advice about coronavirus is available from the Ministry of Health.
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus
Wage subsidy available to support employers affected by COVID-19
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/covid-19-support.html
Tax relief and income assistance is available to people affected by the downturn in business.
https://www.ird.govt.nz/Updates/News-Folder/tax-relief-coronavirus
Business Continuity Package to assist businesses struggling due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak
https://www.ird.govt.nz/Updates/News-Folder/covid-19-business-continuity-package
Government guidance and support to the public to help you stay informed.
What to do if you think you have COVID-19 (PDF, 800 KB)
COVID-19 information for people coming into NZ from overseas (PDF, 1.2 MB)
Click on the link below to read the full story about this exciting rescue of a local’s beloved dog.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=12288414&ref=twitter
Parker Rd resident Penelope Sparks was lucky enough to have this beautiful kaka visit recently, contentedly feeding on kowhai flowers in her garden. Thank you for the photo Penny, he or she is certainly a very fine specimen!
Pest free groups working in the Waitakere Ranges heritage area have formed an alliance to support and facilitate their work. Called Pest Free Waitakere Ranges, the alliance seeks to improve the impact and effectiveness of biodiversity conservation in the Waitakere Ranges by supporting the efforts of groups and networks working here, which number at least a hundred.
PFWR does not profess to represent these groups; rather, its role is to provide support and facilitation. These groups are working hard in innovative and committed ways but their potential impact can be increased with collective advantage. PFWR plan to identify gaps where restoration activities can be enhanced and to support all these groups to contribute to Waitakere Ranges wide initiatives.
A committee has been formed to guide the Alliance’s work, a member of which is ex-WRRA President, Peter Casey. Accountability to Waitakere Ranges groups and networks working in the Waitakere Ranges will be via quarterly meeting, the first of which will be held on Sunday 10 November at a venue yet to be fixed.
Contact pestfreewaitakereranges@gmail.com for more information.
Andrew Duncan, Manager Financial Policy at Auckland Council has provided some clarification regarding the council’s decisions on the future of the Waitakere rural sewerage targeted rate.
The council has decided to retain the Waitakere rural sewerage targeted rate until June 2021. Decisions on the future of the service, and rate, will be made in May 2020 as part of development of the Annual Budget 2020/2021, to be implemented in June 2021. This will allow time to negotiate any changes to contracts that would come into effect from July 2021 and aligns with the pump-out cycle and the current service provision contract timeframe.
Options that council will assess include:
Auckland Council’s Policy on Dogs and Dog Management Bylaw is changing, following consultation from 1 April to 10 May 2019, where more than 8000 submissions were made. The Governing Body decided to adopt the proposed changes to the policy and bylaw at their meeting on 25 July 2019.
The new Policy on Dogs and Dog Management Bylaw will come into effect from 1 November 2019 and the key changes are:
Residents may have noticed that, in an effort to improve road safety, in-road red flashing LED lights (cats eyes) have been installed in the road surface leading to the STOP sign on Piha Road where it meets Scenic Drive. These lights flash when drivers approach the STOP sign on Piha Road.
It is hoped the flashing cats eyes will raise drivers’ awareness of the STOP sign. This is a New Zealand first at a STOP sign and AT say that, if successful, it will allow use in similar situations across the country.
In addition, yellow, non-flashing cats eyes have been installed in the road surface on Scenic Drive to highlight the centre line for road users. With a number of incidents involving drivers on the wrong side of the road at this location, highlighting the centre of the road will encourage drivers to stay on the correct side.
Although it is not the much needed roundabout, any improvement to this notorious intersection is beneficial. However, it begs the question: where was the consultation with the community on this matter?
If you’d like to have your say on the library upgrade, or just find out more about it, please click here.
Great news!
Waiatarua Community Centre now has heat pumps in the hall and library; two separate systems!
This has been provided by the building owner, Auckland City Council.
Thanks to the community facilities team and our Waitakere Local Board for the support.
This helps with the climate control for our book collection and much better heat control in the hall, not to mention lower power bills!
We received great news last week that the national Ultra Fast Broadband fibre rollout had been extended to an additional 202 communities.
You may remember the WRRA reporting that when the UFB Phase 2 rollout was announced that Waiatarua didn’t make the final cut.
But now, as well as adding Waiatarua and other communities to the UFB network Chorus will also bring forward the UFB2 and UFB2+ build by two years, to have the build completed by the end of 2022. Chorus hope to update us in November on the the timing for the Waiatarua fibre installs.
However, the current plan has a black spot. Supposedly the area of Waiatarua on Scenic drive between Rose Hellaby House and the Waitakere Estate entrance (around Parkinson’s Lookout) falls below the population density guidelines Chorus has been given relating to property density under its contract with the government. The WRRA will seek to demonstrate why this area is as important as any other part of Waiatarua to get fibre to.
We want the black spot removed.
A huge thanks to Michael DCosta for representing Waiatarua to Chorus and the UFB project on this issue.
Western Water Supply Strategy Presentation December 2016
Peter & Gary
FYI.
It amazes me that the R&Rs in this area weren’t at least notified. I would have thought the Local Board might have advised you. They had two invitees on the group but only one of them got to one meeting.
I hear one of the reasons they are looking at Parker Road is because trees (Kauri) are more important than people.
Regards
John
Auckland council wants to know how good or bad internet services are at your home and office so that they can improve services.
Recycling just got easier with 240 litre bins coming to Waitakere from May 2.
Karekare Road closed until July. The only access to Karekare between now and early July is via Lone Kauri Road.
It’s been a long time coming, but we have a new website!