Media
Releases
November 2006
30 November
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Brownies visiting Waitakere Central |
Brownies find visit 'sustaining'
Waitakere Brownies are the latest residents to have taken
a tour of the new Waitakere Central Civic Centre in
Henderson to discover its sustainability secrets.
Not obvious from the outside to visitors these features are
what makes this complex a shining example of the
forward-thinking and vision of the sustainable living
principles that the council lives by and wants to
demonstrate to all.
The Brownies aged between 7 and 10 explored the council
complex visiting surprising features such as the worm farm,
the green roof, solar water-heating panels and the infra-red
sensors on the taps in the toilets. They came away from the
tour even more enthusiastic to make a positive difference to
conserving resources and minimising waste in their own
lives.
Lynne Green, Brownie leader says the girls were all
fascinated by the worm farm- they thought it was massive and
a great idea to cut down on food waste. "They were
particularly impressed by the clever use of the staircase to
keep air moving in the building and the idea of the lights
being on sensors to avoid wasting electricity," she
explained.
"The girls do a badge about conservation which involves
planting for Project Twin Streams and planting gardens for
their green machine badge, so this all ties in well with
what they are learning," added Lynne.
Waitakere Central's many special sustainability features can
be discovered by the public every third Tuesday each month
when public tours are conducted commencing at 6pm from the
newly opened airbridge which spans the Henderson railway
line.
Private tours at other times may be available on
request by contacting
Frances Harrison Public Affairs
Advisor, Waitakere City Council.
30 November
Council Promotes District Plan Change
Waitakere City Council will publicly notify a proposed
district plan change to establish an Airport Special Area at
Whenuapai.
The Plan Change is known as Plan Change 22.
The proposed policies to support a new Special Area Rule
reflect the Council's long term goal to preserve the
opportunity for land currently used by the NZ Defence Force
at Whenuapai to be used as a commercial airport.
In 2002, when the government announced that the RNZAF would
quit Whenuapai for Ohakea, the Council campaigned for the
base to be reused as a commercial airport. The government
subsequently said that the move could take up to 10 years.
"So that we can undertake long-term planning for the City
these proposed planning changes will recognise the existing
use of the airbase, and also the Council's objective that it
be reused for commercial aviation in the future," says Penny Hulse, chairman of the Council's
City Development Committee.
"It's extremely important that we look to the future and
don't shoot ourselves in the foot by refusing to acknowledge
and plan for what is potentially a very good opportunity for
our city," she says.
"The Defence Force plans to vacate Whenuapai by 2014. The
cost and difficulty of creating a second airport for
Auckland after this point would be huge, so we're taking a
very sensible approach by keeping the door open."
"The District Plan changes we are proposing will protect an
existing resource - an existing piece of infrastructure -
for the future. This is no different to earmarking farmland
for future use as a park."
Cr Hulse says a plan change takes time to implement.
"Notification of a proposed plan change is the start of a
long and involved consultation process (under the Resource
Management Act 1991) that will include multiple
opportunities for the council and community to address key
concerns and investigate any unknowns.""
In recognising the importance of the proposed Plan Change,
the Council has doubled the statutory submission period (to
40 days).
It is intended that Plan Change 22 will be publicly notified
before the end of the year. Submissions will then be open
until early March 2007.
Once public notification has occurred, copies of the Plan
Change will be available at the Council's main service
centre at Waitakere Central (Henderson Valley Rd,
Henderson), and at
libraries.
28 Novemberr
New eco design advisor service at Waitakere
Waitakere is offering a free eco design advice service
for people planning to build or renovate their homes.
Eco design advisor Fred Braxton can give impartial advice on
sustainable design topics such as energy, water and
materials, for home building or renovation projects within
the city's boundaries.
Clients can make an appointment to meet him for up to two
hours at their own site, at their designer's office, or at
the council -
Waitakere
Central, Henderson.
The position, which is being trialled by Waitakere in
association with BRANZ, aims to make better use of
resources.
Braxton says people are seriously considering environmental
issues in their homes because they want to improve the
health of their family, save money on energy and water
bills, be more comfortable, and reduce their impact on the
environment.
"They can have a more satisfying environment to live in, and
probably increase the resale value of the house," Braxton
says.
He provides independent, factual, and practical building
information on reducing energy bills, improving thermal
performance, reducing water use, better waste management,
careful material choices, and improved indoor air quality.
He has access to a large support network of specialists,
design tools, assessment methods, and materials information
- all free.
Not only homeowners but also designers and other building
professionals can use the service.
For either a new build or a renovation, the best time to
make use of Braxton's skills is at the preliminary design
stage after any planning constraints have been identified.
The service is currently provided at only three councils in
New Zealand, for a trial period of 10 months - Hamilton and
the Kapiti Coast District councils are the others.
For more information visit
www.ecodesignadvisor.org.nz.
Email Fred at
Fred.Braxton@waitakere.govt.nz or call (09) 836 8000
extn 8886.
27 November
Toll road proposal condemns Waitakere to ever worsening
road problems - Council
Transit New Zealand has been told that Waitakere City
Council will not support its proposals to toll the
North-Western Motorway, which will "condemn the city to ever
worsening traffic problems".
The Council is also asking its residents to
send written
submissions to Transit, rejecting the toll proposal.
A meeting of the Council today sent a unanimous message "in
the strongest possible terms", that the toll proposal worked
against the interests of the city, its business sector and
its residents and that it was tired of being marginalised.
"We are the fifth biggest city in New Zealand and a huge
proportion of our population commutes to other parts of the
region, every day," says Mayor Bob Harvey.
"What we need more than anything else, is a much bigger
business sector that can employ more people in Waitakere
itself. But, for businesses to see us as a viable option,
they need access and that is the one thing this proposal
doesn't provide. In fact, this proposal works against us,"
he says.
Mr Harvey says the
toll proposal gives no access to the toll lane along the
North-Western Motorway or at Westgate.
"Some 100,000 vehicles use the North-Western Motorway, every
day, including our commuters and business traffic in both
directions. There is no provision for most of that traffic
to get a better deal. In short, this proposal condemns this
city to ever worsening traffic problems, " he says.
"The toll proposal has huge costs in administration and
interest. These costs are to a large extent being imposed on
businesses which would be charged double the rates. This
largely reduces the benefit of the time saving in using the
new motorway. The region needs to encourage business."
"How can we build our business sector and cut congestion by
employing people close to home, with proposals like this one
which works against us?"
"Waitakere joins the Auckland Regional Council and the
Regional Land Transport Committee in opposing the toll. The
solutions for Waitakere are solutions for the region and
they are obvious. Despite that, we see no plan that gives
Waitakere a fair deal. What it comes down to is that
Waitakere is being marginalised again," Mayor Harvey says.
Mayor Harvey says that the region needs to explore
alternatives that better address a complex situation.
Options include a regional congestion charge (which
Waitakere favours), a larger government contribution or even
a regional petrol tax.
Mayor Harvey says that he cannot remember a time when there
was such unanimity between councillors and community board
members, as there was in opposition to the toll proposal.
"The Community Boards gave the Council their unanimous
support for the its opposition to the proposal and today's
Council meeting was unanimous. I'm not surprised. People are
perplexed and angry that we work so hard for the good of the
region and then we have obstacles put in front of us at
every turn.
"The whole situation is desperately unfair to the people of
Waitakere - many of whom are in the less-well-paid category.
Through no fault of their own, they have to travel across
the region to get work but the costs of commuting cuts into
already small household budgets. And they get to spend less
time with their families - which can have its social costs.
"These are decent, hard working people who are crying out to
the politicians of the region and of the Government, for
some relief from their problems. They pay their taxes and
their rates. They carry their share of the burden. Surely
they're entitled to expect something back from a Labour
Government that claims to have jobs and social justice as
its top priorities?" Mayor Harvey says.
"I hope Waitakere people write to Transit in their
thousands, before the deadline of 5pm on December 4 and say
no to this completely unfair and impractical proposal.
"I also hope they turn up to the
Massey Community
Board's public meeting on Thursday,
at the Marina View School Hall. They'll have their chance to
hear what Transit has to say - and to tell Transit what they
think," Mayor Harvey says.
24 November
Waitakere City Awarded Re-designation as WHO Safe Community
Waitakere City - the first in New Zealand to be
accredited as a World Health Organisation's Safe Community,
has had its accreditation renewed. The ceremony to award
this status will be held on Wednesday 6 December 2006.
"Particular strengths of Safe Waitakere include an
integration of injury prevention, crime prevention,
community action on youth and drug initiatives, other
alcohol projects, as well as road safety and family violence
into a strategic framework", explains Dr Carolyn Coggan,
Director, Safe Communities Foundation New Zealand.
"This approach avoids duplication of effort and results in
continuity of messages," she says.
"Over the years since our original accreditation in 1999,
community safety has become accepted as 'core business' for
the Council, being built into its own policy and
operations," explains
Councillor Penny
Hulse.
Council is in the process of developing an action plan with
the aim of declaring Waitakere a "City For Peace." Once
again this acknowledges that complete peace is unlikely, but
it can be an objective that communities are striving for.
"It is through partnerships between Waitakere City
Council, our local communities and government agencies that
we strive to make Waitakere such a great place to live. This
collaboration fosters a shared commitment to finding new and
innovative approaches to make our region a safer place to
live and work. While there still remains much to be done, we
see identifying, planning and implementing safety
initiatives as part of our commitment here in Waitakere."
says Mayor Bob Harvey.
The WHO Safe Communities model creates an infrastructure
in local communities for addressing injury prevention
initiatives by building partnerships between organisations
as well as providing access to the experience of like
communities throughout the world. It gives the city a
benchmark to reflect on how it is delivering the safe
community principles; signalling direction of developments
and measuring progress.
Our WHO accreditation has provided a greater focus on
what needs to be done and what can be done to achieve a
safer quality of life and it gives us a benchmark to reflect
on how we are delivering the safe community principles;
signalling direction of developments and measuring our
progress.
Date: Wednesday, 2.30pm, 06 December 2006
Where: Council Chamber, Waitakere Central, 6
Henderson Valley Road
24 November
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Kathy Nio-Aporo - Waitakere Libraries, Robyn Campton - eLGAR AirPAC Team, Annie Mahon - Prize Winner, Alistair McIntosh - Telecom, Mary Forbes - Team Leader Waitakere Central Library |
Libraries in the palm of your hand: a winner
Annie Mahon from Herald Island has won the AIRPAC prize
draw having been one of the first users of a revolutionary
software system that essentially allows people to use their
cell-phone to access library services through the greater
Auckland Region.
"Libraries for a Greater Auckland region" (eLGAR) is a
collaboration between libraries in Auckland, Manukau, North
Shore, Waitakere and Rodney to share services for the good
of all their borrowers.
They have introduced the AIRPAC software to allow users
to access their library catalogue through hand-held devices
such as WAP-enabled mobile phones and PDAs (electronic palm
devices). Users can place a hold on a book, renew items or
search the catalogue while going about their daily business.
Now shopping, touring the South Island, travelling on the
bus or taking the kids to the playground can include access
to Auckland libraries.
The pioneer users of the system were entered into the
prize draw which was drawn last week by Waitakere
Councillor
Warren Flaunty JP with Councillor Linda Cooper assisting.
The prize of a Telecom T3G Samsung Blade - which will
give Annie 24-hour mobile access to her library account -
was handed over to Annie at
Henderson Central Library.
"I don't normally enter competitions but I needed a
new mobile and thought I'd give it a go. I'm a busy Mum and
with Airpac I can check when renewals are due and request
books for my 8 year old so easily- it's such a time-saver",
explained Annie.
22 November
Waitakere Public Meeting On Tolling
The Massey Community
Board has arranged a public meeting so residents can
hear first-hand how tolling may affect them.
The meeting will be held on Thursday 30 November at the
Marina View School Hall in Massey commencing 8pm. Transit
NZ, which is proposing to toll the "Western Ring Route" will
attend and make a presentation on their plans.
The proposed Western Ring Route will bring traffic from
north of Auckland along a new motorway between Albany and
Westgate and along the North Western motorway before linking
to the new State Highway 20 via Auckland city's western
suburbs, to Mangere, Manukau City and ultimately
reconnecting with State Highway One, south of Auckland.
Transit says it does not have $800 million it needs to
complete the road in the foreseeable future and to ensure it
is completed quickly, it proposes to introduce tolls.
Waitakere City Council has already expressed its
opposition to the plan, as has the Auckland City Council and
the Auckland Regional Council.
"We believe there are very questionable benefits to the
people of Waitakere city and we'd like people to hear
directly from Transit so they can make informed submissions
on the issue. We expect this to be a constructive
discussion," says Graeme Barnard, Chairman of the
Massey Community Board.
Members of the public are invited to email
stephen.mcdaid@waitakere.govt.nz their questions and
concerns in advance so that Council can arrange to have them
addressed at the meeting. There will also be an opportunity
for the public to ask questions on the evening.
Members of the public have until December 4 to make
submissions to Transit NZ on the proposal.
20 November
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|
Off the Cuff by Amethyst Parker -
winner of the Green Party streetwear category. |
The Trusts Trash To FashionŽ becomes an international event
Trash To FashionŽ delivered its promise of showcasing
glamour and creativity from recycled materials to nearly
4000 attendees at this year's event held at the
Trusts
Stadium in Henderson, Waitakere.
Appropriately located in the heart of New Zealand's
Eco-City, this event focuses on sustainability and
environmental issues through design competition. This year
it reached new heights of recognition and artistic quality.
Over the past 11 years this event has grown to the point
where it attracts international entries which this year
included several from the US and one from Australia.
National entries range the whole of the North Island as well
as the South Island.
Eight categories were presented throughout the show,
interspersed with artistically performed interludes which
followed a continuous narrative.
Supreme and multi-award winner Amethyst Parker enthuses "I
love this event, I've entered three times previously because
it really pushes my thinking on what materials can be used
in new and exciting ways so it makes me be resourceful. I
think that's important for stimulating design and creativity
.I also love the fact that these awards introduce new people
to sustainable living and design."
In addition to her other wins Amethyst received a special
prize at the awards which recognised her exceptional
abilities in creative design and will aid her quest for
design excellence - $2000 worth of study grant donated by
UNITEC.
Some of the more unusual materials utilised by finalists
this year included 1960s doll faces, a bird cage, garden
hoses, bicycle parts, Xrays and also American yoghurt tops.
Loyal sponsors who have repeatedly supported this key
regional event include The Trusts, Kensington Swan, Waitakere City
Council, Unitec New Zealand, Oceania, and Helio Design.
16 November
Sporting Festival of Pasifika Proportions Hits Waitakere City
PasifikaGames is an exciting one day cultural sporting
extravaganza event run by The Village Community Services
Trust and sponsored by Waitakere City Council. The event
provides the forum for recognizing the variety of ethnic
groups within Waitakere through hosting a unique and
innovative cultural sporting event on Saturday 16 December
at the Waitakere Stadium in Henderson.
The event was formerly run by Sport Waitakere over the last
16 years but due to its refocus of its strategic direction,
has decided that the event should return ownership to the
pacific community, where the Village Community Trust has
committed to taking on the event management role. The
Village Community Services Trusts' General Manager is the
former CEO and founder of the Pasifika Games, Tu
Nu'uali'itia.
A key part of this event is to bring the 'Pasifika Spirit'
alive to all sports participants and spectators on the day.
This year's Pasifika Games is action packed with sporting
competitions involving NZ's top rugby talent in the Pasifika
Elite 7's tournament featuring provincial teams including
national champions Auckland, Former All Black Joeli Vidiri
coached Counties Manukau side, as well as the National
Tongan 7's team preparing for the Wellington leg of the
World Series competition.
This year will include the exciting Pasifika 7 Nations Tag
tournament featuring teams from NZ, Tonga, Samoa, Cook
Islands and Fiji to name a few. For the more social
participant the Pasifika Mixed Touch tournament and the
Pasifika Business House Kilikiti tournament, featuring a
'Celebrity Kilikiti Match' will be just as competitive as it
is fun.
"The event is one day of the year in Waitakere City where
people (as are New Yorkers adopted as Irish on St Patricks
day) can become adopted Pacific people at the Pasifika
Games"says Tu Nu'uali'itia, organizer of this years event. The
stage programme this year features NZ's top musical duo
"ADEAZE" as well as other many profile performances to run
during the lunchtime festivities.
Team entries for the following sports are still open so
please get your team registered now: Pasifika Club 7's
section, Pasifika Mixed Touch tournament and the Pasifika
business house Kilikiti Challenge. If you are also
interested in having a foodstall or display please contact
us for registration forms.
Entries close 17 November,
4.30pm.
For more information contact
Tu Nu'uali'itia
14 November
Waitakere Takes World Gold At Environmental Awards
Waitakere is the most "liveable" city in the world according
to the United Nations -backed LivCom Awards, announced last
night.
The LivCom Awards, held in China, is the world's only awards
competition which focuses on Best Practice in managing the
local environment. The objective of LivCom is to improve the
quality of life of individual citizens through the creation
of 'liveable communities'.
Waitakere City was last night declared the winner of the
"Liveable Community" award and was also silver medallist in
Environmentally Sustainable Project Award - for its work on
legislation to protect the Waitakere Ranges from further
unsustainable development.
"There were five finalists from around the world in the
Liveable Communities Award and it is a great honour to not
only be the winner but to separately receive a gold medal
for the quality of the presentation we made to the judging
panel," says Councillor Penny
Hulse who was in the City of
Hangzou to front Waitakere's entry.
"Around 50 countries subscribe to LivCom which is backed by
the UN, and many of those countries are represented here. So
believe me this is a very big deal, and we are being treated
like celebrities. The media interest here has just been
incredible," she says.
Waitakere's entry was basically an overview of the policies
and programmes that the City has to ensure all sectors of
the community can participate in the democratic process
while harnessing the community's energy and ideas to deliver
results that make for more pleasant, more sustainable and
more enjoyable neighbourhoods.
Waitakere believes that by encouraging the community to
become involved in projects such as
Project Twin Streams, it
gets $10 in value from every $1 invested by the council.
The other aspect explored was the City's use of art and
events as a form of communication that help build a sense of
community.
"Migrants in Waitakere come from about 150 different
countries - many of them with English as a second language.
We have found that one of the quickest ways to build bridges
between all those people is to encourage them to share their
arts and festivals," says Councillor Hulse.
The Council also won the silver award in the Environmentally
Sustainable Project section.
"In fact, that award is for work in the area of
environmental rehabilitation but we successfully argued that
we have such programmes going on in the Waitakere Ranges,
but none of them will last without protection of the
environment itself. We submitted that the Waitakere Ranges
Heritage Area Bill now being considered by Parliament
provides that protection," she says.
Mayor Bob Harvey says the awards are a ringing endorsement
of the polices and programmes that Waitakere has delivered
for over a decade.
"Environmental protection and sustainability is not about
tree hugging and eating mung beans. It's about smart
thinking and innovative ways of dealing with the effects of
population growth, crime, increasing waste volumes,
stormwater, and traffic congestion and so on. It's about
smart planning and involving communities in everything you
do."
"What we've been doing for years is not becoming main-stream
and this award is recognition of the fact that Waitakere is
a world leader in sustainability."
Mayor Harvey is at an invitation-only presentation today by
ex-US vice-president Al Gore. Gore is one of the world's
leading environmentalists and recently released the
hard-hitting documentary An Inconvenient Truth.
"That film is a real wake-up call for the planet," Mayor
Harvey says. "Quite simply, unless we all change our
behaviour this will be a very, very, grim place to live. But
Waitakere has shown that by working together, cities and
individuals can make a difference."
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Waitakere
City Council's entry for the Liveable Communities Award
13 November
National Award for Waitakere Student
Waitakere College year 13 student Ho-Ai Yueh has gained a
Very Highly Commended certificate in the Massey University
Resource and Project Planning geography competition. Only
six awards were given nationally and Waitakere College is
delighted that Ho-Ai's project on school travel and safer
routes in the Lincoln Road-Rathgar area has been recognised
nationally.
 |
|
Ho-Ai Yueh |
"Ho-Ai has never studied geography before this year. She has
taken a holistic approach to her level 3 NCEA assignment and
I'm so pleased her excellence has been acknowledged in this
way", enthuses teacher Geraldine Gillies.
Ho-Ai feels that working on the assignment and receiving
nationwide recognition has changed her; "I'm definitely
going to work more with people on social issues in the
future because I feel much more confident. Now I have a
better understanding of the natural side of the world and
what sustainability means," she says.
The competition is open to all year 13 geography students
nationwide. Geographic skills must be applied to a
real-world situation. Projects must look at a social
planning issue as well as formulate a project plan and
students are required to look at how decisions are made.
Ho-Ai had only a month in which to survey neighbours,
conduct desk research on the internet and involve other key
players such as ARTA, Waitakere City Council's travel plans
team and the college business manager. Geography teacher
Geraldine Gillies says her guidance role was limited to
setting parameters for scoping the project, advising Ho-Ai
on resources available and determining what assessment
criteria needed to be met. Everything else had to be
produced independently by the students.
10 November
Council launches Action Plan on Climate Change
The Waitakere City Council has set itself some ambitious
goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, through an action
plan on
Climate Change and Energy.
The goals are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% per
person by 2010, by 40% in 2021, and by 80% per capita in
2051.
Councillor Penny
Hulse says that achieving the 2010 goal will stabilise
gas emissions at their 2001 levels which will mean that they
are not increasing as the population grows.
"Drastic action is needed. We have been saying this for
years - that's why we established the Eco City in the first
place," says Cr Hulse.
"Now the government is saying it too and we are recommitting
ourselves by setting the kind of goals that are needed to
make a difference."
"As the Al Gore film An Inconvenient Truth demonstrates; the
time for talking is past. It is time for action and we are
taking it," she says
"Not only is the time to act getting away from us, it will
never be cheaper than it is now. The cost of acting will be
much smaller than the cost of doing nothing."
Councillor Hulse says the council acknowledges that setting
goals must be matched by the determination to meet them.
"We will be looking at ways to reduce energy use in our
buildings and for transport while at the same time
generating more energy from renewable sources, such as solar
and wind technology and biofuels.
We also want to stimulate debate in the community to
encourage and empower people."
The council is offering a package of incentives designed to
facilitate change, including waiving the building consent
fee for solar hot water systems and providing free,
independent advice on how to build an environmentally
efficient house.
"Using solar energy makes a great deal of sense because it
can significantly reduce the power costs year after year.
This is particularly so when it is used to heat hot water,
perhaps the biggest single energy user in most households.
Not only can individuals benefit in this way but every
installation helps the city reduce the amount of electricity
it takes from the national grid," says Councillor Hulse.
While a building consent is required for all solar hot water
systems to ensure safety and proper installation, waiving
the consent fee makes the option more attractive.
Further incentives are offered by the Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Authority in the form of interest fee loans for
such systems.
Residents wanting more information can visit
www.solarindustries.org.nz or talk to the Independent
Eco Design Advisor, Fred Braxton, based at council on (09)
836 8000 Ext 8886.
Mr Braxton is now available at the council, in association
with BRANZ, to give general energy efficiency, water saving
and eco building advice to anyone planning to build in
Waitakere.
He has many years of building experience and is able to
spend up to two hours with individuals, builders or
developers.
He can offer independent advice on a wide range of issues
from energy efficiency to water tanks and indoor air
quality.
For more information on this project, please go to
http://www.ecodesignadvisor.org.nz.
To obtain a copy of the Waitakere Action Plan on Climate
Change and Energy or to find out more about our commitment
to reducing emissions contact Katja Lietz on (09) 836 8000
Ext 8365.
9 November
Māori Wardens Back On The Beat
The Māori Wardens are to get a new base for their patrols
in New Lynn.
The council's
Finance and
Operational Performance Committee
is looking to lease a building in Memorial Drive, previously
used by the Waitakere City Wardens.
"Over the years, the Māori Wardens have proved to be an
invaluable community resource," says the chairman of the
committee
Councillor Janet
Clews, "their presence on the
streets undoubtedly has a calming and positive effect."
"While a lot of their work is specifically targeted at 'at
risk' Māori youth, the Maori Wardens' services also
complement many of the objectives Waitakere is trying to
meet as a city - primarily public safety."
"It will be great for the community to see the Māori Wardens
back on the beat," she says.
Safe Waitakere together with the police and Māori Wardens
have completed negotiations for the provisions of a patrol
throughout New Lynn.
Safe Waitakere alcohol project leader Roy Hunt says the
wardens will be performing community patrols as part of a
wider alcohol related violence strategy.
"The wardens will conduct patrols in key areas across the
city and predominately focus on "hot spot" locations as
identified by Police intelligence," Mr Hunt says.
The Waitakere Wardens ceased their operations in September
this year.
9 November
Piha Domain Camping Ground Charges
Waitakere City Council's
Finance and
Operational Performance Committee has introduced new
charges for the Piha Domain Camp Ground .
As of July 2007 there will be changes to the nightly rates
charged at the Piha Camp Ground and some small changes in
the way it operates too.
Finance and Operational Performance Committee chairman
Councillor Janet
Clews says the new camp ground charges and operational
modifications have been introduced to bring the Piha Camp
Ground into line with similar facilities.
"These changes are designed to ensure that the camp ground's
facilities meet the current standards expected of them and
that the entire public has access to this unique and
wonderful public holiday spot," says Cr Clews.
"Piha is truly one of the jewels of Waitakere and this
council wants to ensure the public can stay there and enjoy
it," she says.
The new charges coming into effect in July 2007 for an
un-powered campsite will be $13 per night per adult and $6
per child. (Previously $10 and $6 respectively)
Powered campsite - $15 per adult and $8 per child.
(Previously $12 and $7)
Caravan rent - $1500 per year plus a nightly fee, for a
powered site when occupied, of $15 per adult and $8 per
child. (Previously $1,125 per year including 100 nights
accommodation or $672 per year plus a nightly fee when
occupied of $10 per adult and $6 per child)
There are new cabin charges of $50 per night per adult, or
$60 for two adults. Children are $15 per night.
(All new charges are maximum amounts that can be applied and
the camp ground's owner has the flexibility to charge less.)
A number of other changes will also take place at the camp
ground by July 2007.
The council will take over cleaning duties for the
campground's toilet block - due to the public amenity role
it plays throughout summer.
And in a move to free-up access for the public the council
has reduced the number of permanent caravans by half.
From June 30, 2007 only 20 permanent caravans will be
allowed at the Piha's 40 powered sites.
Many owners of these permanent caravans have erected illegal
awnings and structures next to their caravans - these will
have to be removed by June 30, 2007.
7 November
Council to develop Henderson Recreation Centre and West
Wave Fitness Centre during 2007
Henderson's recreational facilities could be significantly
expanded next year with a major overhaul of both the
existing recreation centre and the development of a expanded
fitness centre at West Wave.
The council's
Special Projects Committee heard that the West Wave
Fitness area is already at capacity as the whole
West Wave
facility rides a wave of popularity.
Increasing the size of the gym could bring in an extra half
million dollars in revenue and further reduce the
ratepayer-funded subsidy the council provides to West Wave.
The committee supported expansion of the gymnasium in the
recreation centre, subject to a tour of the facility in
November.
It also supported expansion and refurbishment to the
recreation centre itself, to increase its capacity to host a
variety of groups and be home to the new youth facility.
The recreation centre will be closed for about six months
next year, to enable the expansion projects, plus re-roofing
the facility to remove remaining asbestos, to be carried out
in one go.
Users have been advised the council will assist them to find
alternative premises. The West Wave aquatic centre and
existing fitness centre will not be affected.
"We felt it was better to have one shut down and do
everything at once rather than stage the project and prolong
the inconvenience," says committee chair,
Councillor Ross
Dallow.
"Furthermore, with building costs rising at about 1% per
month the sooner we get the work done the less expensive it
will be. Having said that, this will be mostly will be
capital expenditure. So, we will, in effect, take out a
mortgage to be repaid over time, so the impact of rates will
be minimal," he says.
The projects will cost $2.5 million dollars.
Councillor Dallow says that project is in line with the
Council's objective of building a "people city" by creating
adequate recreation and leisure facilities and building up
the existing facilities.
The council will negotiate lease and hire arrangements with
users once the refurbishment work is finished.
"We won't know until then, exactly what terms and conditions
will apply. It is also possible that by then, some users
will have found premises that suit them better," he says.
"However, we can say that the skaters will not be able to
return because the skates will damage the new floor. That's
a shame but we will obviously do whatever we can to help
them find a new home," Councillor Dallow says.
6 November
Zero-tolerance for antisocial behaviour
A small group of individuals have made Waitakere
residents pay a heavy price for this year's Guy Fawkes
celebrations.
Massey Community
Board chairman Graeme Barnard says a small number of
"idiots" did their best to spoil Guy Fawkes for everyone.
"I'm not against fireworks but I am absolutely against this
small antisocial group who are trying to ruin the
festivities for everyone," Mr Barnard says.
"In Massey over the weekend we had burning furniture,
bonfires being lit in the middle of residential streets and
other abhorrent behaviour," he says.
Mr Barnard says the Massey Community Board has
zero-tolerance for these antisocial youths.
"The community needs to work together with the council and
make sure it reports all these incidents so we can catch
these idiots," he says.
"We also have zero-tolerance for speeding and crime in our
community too," he says.
Torched toilet blocks, written-off wheelie rubbish bins and
truckloads of firework-related litter were just some of the
incidents the council has had to respond to.
All of these incidents cost considerable ratepayer money to
respond to and resolve.
In contrast, the public Waitakere Fireworks Display was a
spectacularly pleasant success.
A massive crowd of up to 10,000 gathered at the Waitakere
Stadium in Henderson to witness the biggest
ribcage-rattling, sternum-shaking, good-old fashioned fun
fireworks display in Auckland.
6 November
Massey Community Board Elects New Chairman
The Massey
Community Board has elected Graeme Barnard as its new
chairman following the resignation of Andrew Good from the
role.
Mr Good stood down as chairman due to increasing business
commitments, but will continue representing Massey as a
board member.
Mr Barnard, a former civil engineer, says he is really
looking forward to his new role.
"This is an amazing opportunity, and while I feel sorry for
the resigning chairman, Andrew Good, who absolutely loved
the job, his leaving the post has opened up an amazing
opportunity for me," Barnard says.
"It's an amazing ward, and the challenge is with me to
provide leadership to the Massey Community Board," he says.
Mr Good agrees.
"It's a great board, a great team," he says.
"I chose to stand down due to my increasing work obligations
and the role of chairman deserves someone who has more time
to devote to the role but I've really appreciated all the
support I have received from my colleagues in my time as
chairman - their support has made the job a pleasure."
2 November
Keep your pets safe this weekend
It's that time of year again: : time to celebrate the
festivities of Guy Fawkes with your friends and family.
The Waitakere City Council would like to remind people that
while you should have fun this weekend it is important that
you ensure the safety of your animals too.
So to help local pet owners the council's
Animal Welfare
unit has prepared this list of tips to help you have a
pet-friendly Guy Fawkes this year:
- Keep pets indoors, with exterior doors and windows kept
shut to prevent them escaping or running away.
- Close interior house doors and draw the curtains. This
will not only block out the flashing lights of fireworks but
also help muffle the sound. Place some familiar items such
as toys and bedding in the room and turn on the lights.
- Put on the radio or television for your pet this may help
soothe, distract and also drown out some of the noise.
- If a frightened animal hides under furniture, don't try
and coax it out as this will only be adding to its distress.
- Make sure that your dog has a collar on with a
registration disk, and cats have a tag with contact
telephone number just in case they escape.
- If your dog or cat is elderly, nervous or has a known
heart condition, speak to your veterinarian before Guy
Fawkes as to whether a light sedative could help calm the
animal.
- Livestock owners should move their animals away from areas
where firework displays are likely to take place. Horses can
be particularly sensitive to loud noises.
One pet-friendly option - which also saves you the cost of
buying your own fireworks - is to attend the biggest
fireworks display in Auckland, Saturday November 4 at the
Waitakere Fireworks Display at Waitakere Stadium, Central
Park Drive, Henderson.
The Waitakere Licensing Trust, together with the council and
the Waitakere City Lions Luncheon Club have organised the
event and tickets are available at Licensing Trust venues
and at the council's One Stop Shop.
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