Media Releases

June 2005

 

30 June

Waitakere passes innovative waste bylaw

Waitakere City last night passed a new bylaw that is regarded as the most progressive waste minimisation programme ever proposed by local government.

The Council has joined forces with North Shore City to formally address all aspects of the region's waste, including collection and disposal, "scavenging" of inorganic rubbish, the distribution of unsolicited mail, waste management facilities and waste collection operations.

Rodney District Council is also expected to pass the bylaw in July.

The changes replace the Councils' existing waste bylaw, which they had a statutory obligation to review by 2008.

The main objective of the bylaw is to standardise the City's waste management activities and support a number of national waste initiatives and Central Government legislation, which include the New Zealand Waste Strategy (a joint effort between the Ministry for the Environment and Local Government New Zealand), "Zero Waste" policies, the Litter Act, Health Act, and Local Government Act.

"The reasons we have passed this bylaw are obvious," says Councillor Vanessa Neeson, chair of the Council's Planning and Regulatory Committee. "Rubbish is increasing at astronomical rates and so are the environmental consequences of dealing with it. We need to do more to discourage the people who are creating rubbish and littering our streets."

Following is a brief summary what Waitakere City Council's waste bylaw covers and the rationale underpinning each section. Complete copies of the bylaw can be obtained by contacting us.

Levies and licences

• Summary: Businesses and individuals involved in waste collection, transportation and disposal will be required to obtain a license. The councils will enter into consultation early next year to determine what levies may be required.
• Rationale: The aim is to make people more responsible for the rubbish they generate. The user pays for the rising costs of disposing of rubbish.

Inorganic collections & scavenging

• Summary: It will be an offence to remove inorganic waste placed out for collection if: 1) it is repeatedly being taken for the purpose of resale or commercial gain; or 2) it is removed in a manner likely to cause injury; or 3) it is scattered, damaged or broken in such a fashion that it could become a nuisance. Note: this part of the bylaw does not apply to licensed waste collectors contracted to Council.
• Rationale: The councils have an obligation to ensure they provide a safe and orderly inorganic rubbish collection service.

Distributing unaddressed, unsolicited material

This part of the bylaw will not become operational until July 1, 2006. The Council is working closely with the Marketing Association to develop a national code of practice aimed at regulating the distribution of unsolicited advertising material based on these guidelines. If the outcome of this code meets the council's expectations then this part of the bylaw may be revoked.

• Summary: It will be an offence to distribute or authorise the distribution of any unaddressed or unsolicited material - including newspapers, community newspapers, community newsletters, public notices, charity appeal notices and any unaddressed, unsolicited advertising material (e.g. circulars, leaflets, brochures, flyers or magazines) - to a letterbox marked "addressed mail only." If letterboxes are marked "addressed mail and newspapers only," then addressed mail, newspapers, community newsletters and public notices are permitted. If letterboxes are marked "no junk mail," "no advertising material," or "no circulars," then newspapers, community newsletters, public notices, and charity appeal notices are permitted.
• Rationale: The aim is to reduce the significant amount of waste and litter generated as a result of the distribution of unsolicited advertising. Much like central government's proposed anti-SPAM legislation, the council is telling businesses not to distribute their direct advertising to people who clearly indicate they don't want it. A recent analysis of Waitakere City street litter shows that 16.6% is junk mail. The analysis also shows that the junk mail content of litter increases by a massive 33% on the day it is delivered, costing councils tens of thousands of ratepayer dollars to clean up the mess.

Managing waste at special events

• Summary: Special event organisers will need to produce a waste management plan when applying for consent to use a public place to host a special event.
• Rationale: The aim is to make the user address the waste they are responsible for generating.

The bylaw also covers the other areas, including the use of public litter and recycle bins, and the provision of waste management plans for multi-unit properties that have been granted building consent after July 1, 2006.

29 June

Survey reflects business confidence in Waitakere City

The majority of business owners in Waitakere rate the city as a "good" or "very good" place to do business, according to a just released survey.

The Waitakere City Business Survey Report is published every two years and explores the relationship between the business community and the City Council.

This year around 500 small, medium and large enterprises were surveyed, with 73% giving Waitakere City and its economic activities the thumbs up.

"Developing a strong, innovative, economy is a key objective" says Mayor Bob Harvey.

"This survey gives an indication of how the city is performing, particularly in areas of accessibility and support of business and the results are hugely encouraging."

Bryan Mogridge Chairman of Enterprise Waitakere, the city's business development agency, says that the survey shows that the city is on the right track and backs up the Waitakere City Business and Economy 2004 report.

"The document released recently is a positive signal. In Waitakere we have all the ingredients for an upbeat business climate - there is plenty of passion, enthusiasm and innovation out west, as shown at the recent Waitakere Business Awards," says Mr Mogridge.

Other key findings from the Waitakere City Business Survey Report 2005:

• Most businesses in Waitakere use the internet, with half using broadband. About a third believe that the Council is "very" or "somewhat supportive" of business, with the remainder tending toward neutral rather than negative.
• Over 80% are interested in future developments at the Whenuapai and the Hobsonville airbases.
• Half are aware of Council's current projects: Henderson's development as a city centre, rail station upgrades, expansion of Unitec and Waitakere Central Library, town centre upgrades, investment in and promotion of public transport and the future development of the Westgate town centre.
• When quizzed on their current environmental practices, 83% of businesses say they use at least one environmental practice as part of their core business activity with 69% saying they recycle.
• A majority of businesses (61% ) have 75% or more of their employees living in Waitakere.
• Waitakere has predominantly small businesses. Of those, two thirds have fewer than 10 employees.
• A quarter say that the Eco-City direction contributes "significantly" or "somewhat" to their business.
• Of all employees, about 85% are full time, 10% part-time (15-28 hours a week) and 5% more occasional (less than 15 hours a week).

Background releases

Summary from Waitakere Business and Economy 2004
Waitakere City's economic performance in 2004 was strong. It recorded growth in employment (5%), the number of business units (10.3%), real gross domestic product - GDP (4.8%) and population (1.9%). It outperformed New Zealand on all these key performance indicators and the Auckland region on employment growth, business growth and real GDP growth. The population growth in the Auckland region was marginally higher than in Waitakere City.

The housing market was also buoyant in Waitakere. In the year to June 2004, growth in house prices (22.4%) and house sales (14.5%) has outpaced the Auckland region and New Zealand. Growth in tourism (represented by total guest nights) for the year ended November 2004 slowed down to 1.1 percent - lower than both the Auckland region (3.1%) and New Zealand (5.1%). Overall, Waitakere City ranked 13th out of 73 Territorial Authorities (TAs) in 2004, placing it in the top 20% of all TAs.

Out of the Auckland region TAs, Waitakere outranked North Shore City (15th), Auckland City (32nd), Papakura (39th) and Franklin (40th). It trailed both Rodney District (2nd) and Manukau City (6th). Waitakere City improved its rankings in employment growth (19th) and GDP growth (24th). Over the long term (ten year period 1994-2004) Waitakere City has also performed well, generally outperforming the New Zealand economy although slightly trailing the Auckland region. It has maintained an annual average economic growth of 4 percent, well in excess of the population growth of 2.7 percent. Employment grew at an annual average rate of 2.8 percent, while the number of business units increased by 5.4 per cent per annum during the ten year period. A closer analysis of the sectors and industries in Waitakere City suggests that the economy is by and large locally oriented, driven primarily by its population.

While the growth patterns are geared toward service sectors and construction that serve the local residents, the average business size in terms of the number of full time equivalent employees (FTEs) is relatively small and contracting at a faster rate than regionally and nationally. Manufacturing industries do not fi gure highly in the top ten rankings for size and growth of FTEs and value added. A good example is that in the ten largest industries by value added (GDP), the top four are Property Services, Business Services, Construction Trade Services, and Education.

Manufacturing is still a major sector accounting for 20 percent of the total employment in the City in 2004. However, its relative importance is slowly eroding - in 1994 it accounted for 25 percent of total employment. There are some pockets of non-population related growth industries such as Non-metallic Mineral Product Manufacturing, Machinery & Equipment Manufacturing, Petroleum, Coal, Chemical & Associated Product Manufacturing and Printing, Publishing & Recorded Media.

$7 million film studio for Waitakere
The Waitakere City Council has agreed to enter into a joint venture to develop a major new film studio in Henderson, using private sector investment funds. The new $7 million studio will be built on vacant land at the existing Henderson Valley Studios, which the Council purchased in 2002.

The Council will sell the current studio complex for $6 million to a joint venture company, which it takes a 40% investment in. The company will then be responsible for raising the funds in order for the development to proceed. The Council will also own 40% of the management company that will run the studio complex.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise has approved a $1 million grant towards the costs of the new studio (also subject to confirmation of the private sector investment), as part of a Major Regional Initiative through the industry body, Film Auckland.

Plans see work on the new studio, which at around 2000 square metres will be one of the largest in the country, begin at the end of the year be completed by June 2006.

Waitakere has a long record as a film and television production base. The industry is estimated to inject $64 million dollars into the local economy annually. Mayor Bob Harvey says the industry is one of the largest employers in the city and the new facility will enable more national and international productions to be based in the Auckland region.

"Not only will this bring jobs and economic benefit to this city and the region, but it means we will be able to attract truly international productions," says Mayor Bob Harvey. "It cements Waitakere's position as the Hollywood of the South Pacific. Recently the multi-million dollar The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Disney) was shot almost entirely in the city. State of the art new studios and sound stages mean we will be able to attract more projects like that."

29 June

Visitors tour eco village Earthsong.

Waitakere looks to the future

Waitakere residents recently had a glimpse what the future holds for their city.

The Waitakere City Council Exhibition at West City mall showed the changing face of the city with models and displays of new designs soon to become reality - the Waitakere Central Library, Unitec and carpark complex, the Civic Centre with its associated office and apartment blocks and adjacent transport hub.

Also on offer was the chance to visit successful developments normally off limits to the public. 'Open House' was a one day event as part of the Year of the Built Environment, organised by the Ministry for the Environment to allow public viewing of significant buildings in the four main city centres

"We had some terrific feedback at the Waitakere City Council Exhibition on the Council's plans to bring Henderson into the 21st century. Our display at West City was a great opportunity to show people what is going on and the comments they made were valuable," says Councillor Penny Hulse, chairperson of the City Development Committee.

"A few people started out with a negative slant, but when they took the time to talk, they commented that it was good to see Henderson on the way to being a real city centre, with a four storey library, a six storey car park, a tertiary campus, an over-bridge to the Civic Square and Centre, right beside an integrated transport hub with double rail tracking," she says.

"When people learn that the Council is planning to give the city a heart at Henderson, they start to see the potential that will be realised. There is a predicted economic upswing as early as next year when the Council's 800 employees and around 1000 Unitec students will be in and around Henderson," she says.

The Open Day included bus tours to the eco village Earthsong at Swanson, the environmentally-designed Waitakere Hospital and Harbourview, a medium-density housing development at Te Atatu Peninsula.

Expert guides were on hand to tell the story of each site, chosen because of an outstanding feature or contribution to its local environment.

Open House was supported by the New Zealand Institute of Architects and a consortium of local government, industry, research organisations and professional institutes.

28 June

New Zealand's largest recycling service begins 1 July

New recycling sorting centre also opens, marking another NZ first for Councils

A new fortnightly recycling collection service using blue and yellow mobile wheeled bins will be launched in Waitakere City on July 1 and in North Shore City on July 4.

Residents, as well as participating schools and businesses, will have their recycling collected from 140-litre mobile recycling bins (wheelie bins) instead of the smaller 45L crates currently used in both cities. Paper and cardboard, to be placed separately beside the recycling bins, will also be collected fortnightly.

More than 15,000 tonnes of recycling - enough to fill over 73 Olympic swimming pools - will be collected every year from both regions and then brought to a new sorting facility, the only one of its kind in New Zealand. Located at Waitakere City's Refuse Transfer Station, the sorting facility will employ at least 11 new staff when it officially opens on July 1.

"The ultimate goal of these new waste minimisation initiatives is to reduce the amount of rubbish we are sending to landfill," says Waitakere City Councillor Janet Clews. "By working together with our neighbours on the Shore we are gaining efficiencies in several areas that will benefit both cities financially and environmentally. The combined volumes of recyclables that we will collect from both cities make this project a viable business operation."

These combined recycling volumes are projected to increase by more than 200 tonnes per month within a year's time.

Glass, metals and plastics from New Zealand's fourth and fifth largest cities will be tipped into a hopper and then fed onto a conveyer belt where all but the metals will be sorted by hand. Steel and aluminium will be pulled up off the belt by electro-magnetic and electrical current separators. The system, designed by Auckland-based engineering firm Alert Engineering Ltd., is designed to cope with the forecasted increase in recycling.

"Although common overseas, we are not aware of any Council in New Zealand using a system of this magnitude, particularly one that involves glass." says Mike Huddleston, CEO of Onyx Group Ltd., the company responsible for building and staffing the operation, as well as collecting the recycling from both cities.

The new recycling collection programme will replace the more hazardous and costly method of sorting recycling on the kerbside, where collection staff manually lift heavy crates, tip them into the truck and sort the contents in the middle of busy roads.

Street litter will also be reduced, as the bins will protect the items inside from being blown about by the wind, some of which end up blocking stormwater drains.

The new blue and yellow mobile recycling bins that have been delivered to all households free of charge are three times the size of the crates they are replacing, and will make it easier for people to waste less and recycle more.

"The easier you make it for people to reduce rubbish, the more likely they are to do it," says North Shore City Council's Infrastructure and Environment Committee Deputy Chairperson Chris Darby. He says these types of waste minimisation initiatives are vital for the long-term health and sustainability of the region.

A purpose-built fleet of vehicles painted with an eye-catching new theme emphasising recycling and waste reduction will be collecting all recycling and rubbish from both cities.

28 June

Annual Plan deliberations completed

Today, Waitakere City Councillors completed their deliberations on, and have adopted, the City's Annual Plan (budget) for 2005/2006.

The meeting concluded several months of discussion, debate and public hearings. The Council has adopted a 7.11% rates increase to fund their programme for the coming year and to meet its strategic priorities.

Regional levies outside of the City Council's control (Watercare Services Ltd, Auckland War Memorial Museum and MOTAT) increase the overall figure to 7.65%. This is the same figure that was proposed in the draft Annual Plan.

Traditional areas of expenditure such as roads, parks, libraries and stormwater, and waste water continue to receive the most attention, accounting for more than $73 million (or 72%) of the total rate requirement.

That figure includes:

• $12.8 million for roading maintenance and depreciation
• $1.4 million for new library books (an increase of $287,000)
• $13.2 million for parks maintenance and depreciation
• $20.1 million for wastewater maintenance and depreciation. (This includes a $14.6 million payment to Watercare Services Ltd for wastewater treatment)
• $3.1 million for stormwater maintenance and depreciation

In setting the rates the Council also reviewed the level of its Uniform Annual General Charge - a proportion of the total rates which is paid by every property. That goes from $460 to $540 and has the effect of "smoothing" the impact of any rates rise across all properties in the City.

Examples:

• The average residential property in the City has a land value of $150,000. Next year that property owner will pay approximately $1517, a reduction of $7 over what was proposed in the draft Annual Plan.
• A property with a land value of $210,000 will pay around $1805 (a reduction of $33).
• At the other end of the scale, a property valued at $90,000 will see an increase of about $27 (to $1133).

New Lynn ward Councillor Janet Clews is chair of the special committee which reviewed the draft Annual Plan.

She says the end result strikes a "good balance" between areas of traditional spending (such as roads and footpaths) and on-going support for community groups. "Most of the budget increases are to pay for the rapid growth that we are experiencing," she says. "For example we have an extra $540,000 for new footpaths (taking the total to be spent on footpaths to $2.25 million).

"We kept our own internal costs very close to the level of inflation. But some things are completely out of our control, such as world-wide price rises for oil, steel and cement, which are reflected in the cost of bitumen and other construction material."

The Council received 525 public submissions on its draft Annual Plan, compared to 425 for 2004/2005. As a result of these submissions, there were a number of changes to the draft plan.  Additions included:

• $100,000 for stage 1 of the Don Buck / Red Hills Road intersection
• $120,000 to establish a trust and develop a Pacific Islands Arts Centre at the Corban Estate in Henderson
• $110,000 for new toilets at Taipari Strand, in Te Atatu Peninsula
• $60,000 for a series of free music concerts during the summer
• $68,000 for preservation work on the historic Ambrico Kiln in New Lynn
• $50,000 for design work for upgrading Te Atatu Peninsula Community Centre
• $20,000 for the Auckland Philharmonia and $25,000 for the new Waitakere City Orchestra
• $271,000 for safety work on Coronation Bridge in Henderson
• $200,000 for upgrading the intersection at Henderson Valley Road and Border Road
• $110,000 for maintenance and new staging at the New Lynn Community Centre
• $20,000 to investigate a new helicopter landing pad at Piha
• $400,000 for additional Water Main Renewals

An issue highlighted by the Council for community consultation was the proposed closure of the Te Atatu South library. The Council has decided that it will remain until the new library in Henderson is opened (expected to be February 2006). It will operate on reduced hours until then.

"The decision was taken in light of the fact that there is a good library at Te Atatu Peninsula and that the new Henderson Central library is coming on stream," says Councillor Clews. "So it was time to look at the future of the facility in the longer term. Te Atatu South has a relatively low number of users and these other libraries are within 5km. In fact the majority of people who use Te Atatu South (67%) also go to the libraries on the Peninsula and Henderson regularly - so they are well catered for."

The eventual closure will bring savings of around $230,000 a year.

The Council will collect $101.220 million in rates for 2005/2006.

The Annual Plan is based on year 3 of the Long Term Council Community Plan, which set the priorities for the City's growth and development for the next 10 years. It comes into effect on July 1.

17 June

Chance to be a part of Waitakere's Diwali Celebrations

Come and be a part of one of Waitakere's biggest festivals! The 'Festival of Lights', or Diwali, is coming to Waitakere City at the Trusts Stadium on Sunday 16 October and the organising team is keen to hear from potential performers and volunteers. Get involved and experience the richness of India's culture and heritage, right in the heart of Waitakere.

Diwali is commonly known as the "festival of lights" as the common practice is to light small oil lamps (called diyas) and place them around the home. The celebration of the festival is invariably accompanied by the exchange of sweets and the explosion of fireworks.

The Festival is being organised by the Waitakere Ethnic Board with the support of the Waitakere City Council.  Diwali is one of the most important festivals for the Indian community all over the world and is well-known and celebrated by Indians here in New Zealand.

In recent years the Diwali celebration has been seen as a series of Bollywood-type performances. However, Waitakere City's Diwali will reinforce the cultural significance of the celebration.

17 June

The last Mayor of New Lynn (1989), Bruce McNaughton, and New Lynn Councillor Derek Battersby stand at the front of the partially-completed New Lynn library.

Full steam ahead for New Lynn Library

Six months after work started, the roof is now on the New Lynn Library.

At the completion celebration earlier this afternoon, New Lynn Councillor Derek Battersby hoped the community will appreciate the integration of the library with a service centre and the Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB).

Glen Eden Library led the way with the integration of a public meeting room, learning centre, CAB and library in one building. The move to integrate reflects the move to have libraries as centres of learning for the whole community, encompassing teaching, information, books, cds and dvds, along with an extended children's area.

Watts and Hughes Construction, who built the New Lynn Community Centre, are on target to finish the complex and be ready for opening in October this year. Architects CraigCraigMoller have designed the complex with a large verandah canopy which extends out over Memorial Square.

20 June

Tears of joy and sorrow at wetland opening

A downpour provided the perfect demonstration for the need for the Manawa Wetland Reserve Extension at its official opening on Saturday.

The heavy rain was ideal weather to illustrate the ultimate purpose of the constructed wetland to cleanse pollutants in stormwater draining from the roadsides and gutters.

Many at the gathering of local and national politicians, conservationists, artists, residents (including ducks and pukekos) agreed that the urban wetland at New Lynn is a significant turning point in the ecological renewal of Waitakere City.

"This is a link, I hope the first of many projects that will see the biodiversity in urban areas increase by leaps and bounds. As things progress, there will be a range of insects and fantails will be two a penny," said newly elected national president of Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society Dr Peter Maddison.

Dr Maddison intends to monitor the biodiversity of the new wetland's animals and plants.

For the Manawa Wetland Advisory Committee, the project represents seven and a half years of collaboration with the council. "It's been a long haul, but it's worth it," says representative Bob Neville.

Resident Theresa Dee is delighted with the reserve. "It's now a lovely place to visit and already the birdlife is flocking here. I've seen gold finches, chaffinches and herons as well as pukekos and ducks."

During the official speeches, Councillor Penny Hulse acknowledged New Lynn's famed industrialist Sir Tom Clark, who died last week: "it's as if the raindrops are tears for Sir Tom who's being buried on Monday," she said.

20 June

Winter warmth at Sturges West

There were warm smiles despite the early morning chill when the first sod of earth was turned at the Sturges West Community House.

"This is great -so many have worked to make sure it happened," said a jubilant Christine Shepherd Chairperson of the Waitakere Community Board.

Waitakere's Mayor Bob Harvey said it was heartening to see so many turn out for the blessing of the house. "The community house that will be built on this site is the result of a very successful partnership between the community and Council over the past four years," he said

The idea of a community house next door to Summerland Primary School grew into a model partnership between the community, Council and the Ministry of Education.

Mrs Shepherd is pictured with newly-elected Chairman of the Sturges West Community House Incorporated Society David Hallet (pictured).

13 June

Waitakere opening its doors

Waitakere City will be opening its doors for the public to have a look inside some of its most successful developments.

Environment and Urban Affairs Minister Marian Hobbs announced 2005 to be the Year of the Built Environment earlier this year.

"As New Zealanders, we have always delighted in the beauty of our natural environment," Marian Hobbs said. "As it is the Year of the Built Environment 2005, we want to broaden that focus to include the stunning architecture and urban design that grace our cities and towns.

"Open House is a perfect opportunity to give people a new perspective on the buildings, spaces and structures in which we work, live and play. It will give us a fun look into buildings and spaces we've passed a hundred times, wondering what goes on inside."

Waitakere will open its doors this Sunday, offering up a glimpse of life at Earthsong and Harbourview, as well as inside the new Waitakere eco hospital.

Free bus tours of the three sites will be departing outside West City mall in Edsel Street.

All Open House events will be free and expert guides will be on hand to tell the story of each site, chosen because of an outstanding feature or contribution to its local environment.

Open House is part of the Year of the Built Environment 2005 events being organised by the Ministry for the Environment with support from the New Zealand Institute of Architects and a consortium of local government, industry, research organisations and professional institutes.

13 June

Te Whanau O Waipareira loan costs ratepayers nothing so penalty payments part-refunded

Waitakere City Council today part-refunded penalty interest payments, made by Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust, on a loan from the Council in 1998. The loan was to assist the trust to buy land for a whananga.

The Council's Finance and Operational Performance (FOP) Committee heard that all the Council's outstanding costs had been met from penalty interest paid by the trust, with $35,577 left over.

Councillor Derek Battersby moved that the $35,577 should be refunded to Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust. The motion was carried seven to six.

"The bottom line on the deal in 1998, was that the loan would not cost the ratepayers anything and we have achieved that," says Cr Janet Clews chairman of the FOP committee.

"The trust paid half a percent on top of interest, from the start, to cover the Council's administration costs. The capital was repaid in December 2004 as was interest and penalty interest. All l outstanding costs have been met from the penalty payments made by the trust, so this has cost the ratepayer nothing," she says.

"In the meantime, the trust has entered into a new social project. A portion of the land is being used by Housing New Zealand to build affordable housing, including housing for the elderly."

"If the trust's substitute project had been purely commercial we probably wouldn't have made the refund, but the housing project is for the public good," says Councillor Clews.

10 June

Marjorie Leatua of the Pacific Island Advisory Board

PI youth take responsibility for themselves over substance abuse

Pacific Island youngsters are taking an anti drug and alcohol message to their peers, through the churches popular with different Island communities

"This is about youth taking responsibility for themselves and their choices," says Marjorie Leatua, the Pacific Island Advisory Board's youth representative.

"We are seeking to help youths make connections with treatment and raise awareness in the community. The church as the hub of Pacific Island life is a good place to start, with a cultural provider paving the way," Marjorie says.

"They are getting the drug and alcohol message at school, but this coming right into the heart of their communities," says Ms Leatua.

The promotion titled "It's Up to You" will be pitched to Cook Island, Niuean, Tuvalu, Fijian, Samoan and Tongan youth groups. The project seeks to make connections from Pacific Island communities to mainstream providers such as CADS, Tupu and Odyssey House.

"It's Up to You" will be officially launched at 11am Monday 13 June at the Lincoln Green function room, Lincoln Rd, Henderson.

The service will be provided by Pasifika Healthcare through the CAYAD (Communities Action on Youth, Drugs and Alcohol) programme.

10 June

'Native to the West' returns

Waitakere City's acclaimed guide to planting and restoring the area's ecosystems is back.

The new 'Native to the West' expands on the success of the 1999 edition, which celebrates Waitakere's distinctive ecosystems which are home to particular mixes of native species.

If you live in Waitakere City and want to know what native plants to grow on your property, this booklet is for you. It offers useful information, whether your patch is in suburban New Lynn, backs onto bush in the Waitakere foothills or is within walking distance from a West Coast beach.

You may want to 'restore' a piece of land to its original bush cover or simply create a corner for native plants in your urban garden to attract native birds, lizards and insects.

Whatever the size and scope of your planting project, 'Native to the West' is a clear guide to researching your back yard's ecosystem and helps you decide what natives are best suited to your conditions.

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey says that Waitakere is "blessed with a unique natural heritage and we have just taken a huge step towards keeping it that way, with the legislation to protect the ranges and foothills."

He encourages residents to be part of the Green Network programme which encourages people to look after our city's valuable natural assets.

"Community involvement is vital to the success of conserving our distinctive native environments. People couldn't do better than start with this book a valuable tool to help residents care for and restore the nature of Waitakere.

"By planting ecosourced natives we retain the genetic diversity of local species. This special mix of vegetation is the basis of habitat and food sources for native insects, lizards and birds. Weed and animal pest -free habitats are essential to the long-term survival of biodiversity in our city," says Mayor Harvey.

More pictorial than its predecessor, the new edition features a botanical planting chart that details plants' preferences within each ecosystem.

'Native to the West' is available free to Waitakere City residents and rate payers, from libraries or contact us.

9 June

Sturges West community to bless their new house

Sturges West community members will gather very early on the morning of 14 June to bless the site of their long-awaited community house.

Waitakere's Mayor Bob Harvey, Council members and staff will be present at the blessing and for the sod-turning by Chairman of the Waitakere Community Board Christine Shepherd and the newly-appointed Chairman of the Sturges West Community House Incorporated Society David Hallet.

Work on the house, expected to be a hub for young and old in the community, is due to start soon after the blessing.

The building contract was recently awarded to local firm D.J. Wood Building Contractor.

"The community house is the result of a successful partnership between community and council over the past four years," says Waitakere Community Board Chairman Christine Shepherd.

"There is a special feeling about this house because of the effort that so many have made to make sure it happened. There is a long-term vision for this place as a centre of living and learning," she says.

The idea of a community house next door to Summerland Primary School grew into a model partnership between the community, Council and the Ministry of Education. The council bought five sites in 2001 adjacent to Summerland Primary School, with nearby linkages to the many walking tracks along the Paremuka Stream and surrounding areas.

As a central meeting place for the community, the new facility will embrace the community's multi-faceted needs. Prospective features include a large kitchen that will allow for catering and also for cooking demonstrations which may call upon the skills of the strong migrant presence in the area, "Kiwi Culture" classes, a staffed IT Learning Centre, enclosed playground, drop-in lounge, room for groups to meet.

8 June

Hui on the future of our city

Waitakere City Council is about to review its Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) and is calling on Maori to be involved and have their say on the city's long term direction.

A hui is being organized in conjunction with Te Taumata Runanga, to hear people's views.

The Waitakere LTCCP, first written in 2003/2004 after extensive consultation, set a vision for the next twenty years and describes the features, facilities and services residents wanted to see being put in place over the next 10 years, to achieve that vision.

By law, councils have to refresh their LTCCPs, in consultation with their community, every three years.

Waitakere's updated LTCCP will be consulted on during 2006 and be published in a draft form, for submissions, in April next year. It will be adopted in June 2006 and cover the period 2006/2007 to 2016/2017.

How Maori see the City in the next ten years; what they most value about their neighbourhood; and what their main concerns are relating to the future of Waitakere, are all questions being asked in a project to set out the strategy that will take Waitakere City forward into the next decade.

For catering purposes those wishing to attend should contact us or by email on info@waitakere.govt.nz.  If anyone has transport or childcare requirements they are also welcome to contact us for assistance.

8 June

Host responsibility tops menu

Licensees from North West of Auckland are urged to attend an expo on host responsibility at North Harbour Stadium, Albany on 14 June.

The North West Host Responsibility and Safer Environments Expo is organised by North Shore City Council, Waitakere City Council and Rodney District Council, Auckland District Health Board, Alcohol Healthwatch and the Police.

The Expo promotes safer environments in and around licensed premises.

"We are encouraging licensees to be aware of their responsibilities as hosts and understand what makes for safer situations. It's important for them to be aware of safe transport options and to offer healthy substantial food in a drinking environment - not just a supply of frozen pies out the back," says Waitakere City Council Advocate for Children and Youth Cr. Ewen Gilmour.

"The young have learned the habit of having a designated driver. This is something that licensees need to impress on their adult customers as well, that it is not OK to drink, then drive," he says.

The expo aims to demonstrate to licensees the urgent need to reduce intoxication levels on licensed premises and also to encourage them to provide low and non-alcoholic drinks.

Presentations on the day include: drink spiking (Waitemata District Health Board), changing the culture of intoxication (ALAC) and Gambling, alcohol in raffles (Department of Internal Affairs).

The results of the Auckland Regional Exit Breath Survey will be available at the expo. The Auckland-wide survey records intoxication levels of patrons leaving licensed premises.

7 June

Sriya with a family and their temporary house

Myriad issues for tsunami relief worker

New Zealand water engineer Sriya Fernando is using her expertise to help fellow Sri Lankans displaced by the Boxing Day tsunami.

Conditions in Ampara , the worst affected district, are harsh and hot, with temperatures of up to 40 degrees centigrade. Over 130,000 people need temporary housing.

Mrs Fernando has been seconded by Waitakere City Council to a World Vision relief effort. She says housing the survivors is number one on a very long list.

World Vision has started building 2500 temporary and 500 permanent houses to replace 17,117 Ampara homes totally demolished in the disaster. The death toll in the district was 6166 out of the Sri Lankan total of 31,141.

As the only engineer at World Vision's Ampara office, Mrs Fernando is in involved temporary housing contracts, the designs for Kalmunai Hospital's water supply scheme, construction of three pre-schools and five health centres, as well as the repair of schools and paddy fields.

"You might wonder whether I am really handling all these!" she says.

"The answer is yes, as I seem to be the only World Vision engineer in Ampara at the moment. I am giving priority to the water supply project and housing during my stay.

"People affected by the tsunami are mostly the fishing community. They are so eager to move into their houses. They need shelter above their heads and are so very cooperative, appreciating the good work World Vision has done over the past 10 years. The temporary houses look like toy houses - the floor area of each is 17-20 square metres," says Mrs Fernando.

The World Vision team is dealing with issues of design, construction, cost and the current government policy of the houses, which are to be occupied for three to five years.

All the non governmental organisations in Ampara attend a compulsory weekly meeting on water and sanitation chaired by the area's government agent. The organisations include German Red Cross, Danish Red Cross, Mercy Corps, Solidarities, World Health Organisation and Unicef.

Mrs Fernando visited a 'surfers' paradise' at Arumugam Bay, three hours' drive from Ampara, which was badly affected by the tsunami, but which is slowly returning to normal, with a few motels set up in the area.

2 June

Track cleared for heritage station move

Henderson's Heritage Station building will combine the "best of both worlds" following an independent commissioner's decision released today, allowing Waitakere City Council to move the building 30 metres south of its original site.

The heritage station will have a prime position beside the new Transport Interchange.

Commissioner Les Simmons's decision requires formal approval from ARTNL and OnTrack.

The station has been the subject of intense scrutiny since Waitakere City Council applied to shift the building from its present site on Railside Avenue.

"I'm really happy about this. It's the best of both worlds - an optimal solution. It keeps the integrity of preserving a heritage railway station, adjacent to the new transport interchange," says Councillor Penny Hulse, Chairperson of City Development Committee.

"Having the station close to the double railway track will breathe life into the heritage building. We're one of only a few councils that understand the significance of giving new life to heritage buildings.

"I was involved in the moving and restoration of the railway station at Swanson which, as a café, has become the hub of the community, as well as a community-run railway station," says Councillor Hulse.

The Council has agreed to provide financial assistance to the Henderson Heritage Trust for on going maintenance of the Henderson Heritage Railway building. However the Trust has to find funds for the building's restoration.

"The Trust is now in a position to do that and there is a certainty that there will be some Council support," says Councillor Hulse.

The complementary arrangement was worked out by the parties involved and does not involve cutting off the verandah. The building will be shifted after the new platform is operational, when double tracking is completed near the end of June 2006.

**Waitakere has recently appointed a Heritage Manager to oversee the city's legacy of older buildings and structures.

2 June

Elvis statue 'all shook up'

Elvis undone at Cranwell Park.

Vandals have shaken Henderson's Elvis memorial plaque to its foundations at Cranwell Park.

The marble statue of Elvis Aaron Presley erected by the Memories of Elvis Fan Club in 2000 was found knocked off its block this morning by local residents.

While the base plinth is intact, Elvis and his guitar took a beating and have parted company.

"The Elvis memorial is not a Council-owned asset. The contractors will hold the pieces until the fan club decides what it wants to do with them," says Henderson Ward Councillor Ross Dallow.

1 June

Con-Man warning

Waitakere City Council, the New Zealand Fire Service and the local Licensing Trusts are warning against a con-man operating in the Glendene Area.

Recently a shop keeper in Te Atatu South was approached by a man who claimed to be working for the City Council. He asked to inspect a fire extinguisher which had been given to the woman as part of a community donation by the Waitakere and Portage Licensing Trusts. He then declared that the extinguisher was faulty and sold the woman another one for $200.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Peter Wilding says a similar scam has been attempted on the North Shore. "We are very concerned that people are claiming to represent the Council or Fire Service to extort money from trusting members of the public" he said.

Murray Spearman, Chief Executive of The Trusts (Waitakere and Portage) says: "This is pretty low - around 60,000 fire extinguishers were given away in this hugely successful community safety initiative and it is just disgusting that someone should try and take advantage of it like this."

Homeowners are advised to ask for identification if they are approached by anyone making similar claims to the con-man. They are also advised to contact the Police immediately.

Mr Wilding says that for peace of mind, people with extinguishers provided by the Trusts can check the readiness of the equipment simply by looking at the gauge on the top. If the needle is in the green area, it is ready for use.

1 June

Killer dog impounded

An eight year old pit bull terrier has been impounded following a fatal attack on another dog yesterday. The dog's owners are being asked to formally hand over ownership.

It is envisaged that once that occurs the eight year old bitch will be put down. If the owners refuse to hand over ownership, the matter will proceed through the Courts. Yesterday's incident occurred in Withers Road, Glen Eden. The pit bull attacked and killed a Jack Russell terrier which was being walked by its owner, a pregnant woman. She was also knocked to the ground and bitten on the hand. The pit bull was not registered and was roaming free.

Waitakere City Council Animal Welfare staff have praised passers-by who stopped to assist the woman by beating off the attacking dog until they arrived some 10 minutes later.