Community

Native parrot spotted in Oratia

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!

 

22 October 2019 in Community, Enviroment 0 comments

New Pest Free Alliance Formed

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.

 

21 October 2019 in Community, Enviroment 0 comments

Future of Waitakere rural sewerage targeted rate

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:

  • Reducing the pump out scheme to the Waitakere Ranges Local Board Area to streamline governance and in anticipation of a reticulated sewerage scheme going into the Whenuapai area as part of its redevelopment;
  • Aligning the pump out service with compliance and monitoring of all onsite systems (to minimise disruption to land owners and hopefully be more efficient);
  • Incorporating all onsite systems and all elements of the systems, not just septic tanks; and
  • Reviewing the costs of the scheme and the targeted rate following renegotiation of the contracts for the service.

 

11 September 2019 in Community 0 comments

Council adopts changes for managing dogs

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:

  • removing duplications from the bylaw, simplifying future amendments to local dog access rules;
  • reorganising Schedule 2 (list of local dog access rules);
  • requiring dog owners to obtain a multiple dog ownership licence for more than two dogs in areas zoned as urban under the Unitary Plan;
  • applying a standard time and season definition of 10am to 5pm from 1 December to 1 March (in places where there is already a time and season rule);
  • extending Council’s ability to protect vulnerable native plantlife from dogs;
  • encouraging responsible dog ownership for owners with dogs classified as menacing because of their behaviour;
  • applying a standard lambing season rule in regional parks with stock; and
  • amending dog access rules at Glenfern Sanctuary, Muriwai, Long Bay and Whatipū to protect wildlife.

 

11 September 2019 in Community 0 comments

Cats eye installation at Piha Rd intersection

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?

 

11 September 2019 in Community, Transport 0 comments

Community Centre now has heat pumps!!

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!

 

15 June 2018 in Community, Library 0 comments

Broadband Fibre IS COMING to Waiatarua!

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.

21 September 2017 in Community, Internet 0 comments