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Published as Issue No. 112

September 16, 2014

Goodbye to Piebe: It was standing room only at Piebe’s Seat on Friday when 30 people remembered long-standing community stalwart Piebe Kooistra who died earlier this month, four days after his 81st birthday.

Friends and neighbours walked up from Houghton Bay to the seat on the headland overlooking Te Raekaihau Point that was erected by the Houghton Valley Progressive Association in 2011 to recognise his immeasurable contributions from track cutting to maintaining the Community Hall over 40 years. On the Sunday he was planning to come to the community garden to celebrate his birthday but died after completing his regular Sunday morning swim at Freyberg Pool. [Photo missing]

Community Consultation: By the end of the week local residents will have the opportunity to review the Wellington City Council’s proposed approach to addressing the issue of Lifting the Creek in order to eliminate leachate pollution in Houghton Bay.

On Sunday ten members of the community met with Council staff Nicci Woods and Adrian Mitchell. Following a discussion about problems and potential solutions there was agreement on the vision of ‘an integrated amenity civil works project with embedded educational outcomes’.

The next phase involves Council engaging external engineering consultants to evaluate and develop the proposed re-mediation. Community input will be integral to the preparation of this high level scoping document. This work will be completed in November, in time for the results to be integrated into the Council’s long-term plan. Adam from Houghton Bay Rd has undertaken to be the community’s principal liaison with the council for this project.

Playcentre fund raiser: Houghton Valley Playcentre presents the eighteenth annual Great Debate – ‘MMP Does Make For Strange Bed Fellows.’ Speakers are Annette King, Pinky Agnew, David Townsend, Grant Robertson, Heather du Plessis-Allan and Brent Edwards. Wednesday 24 September, Doors open at 7 pm at The Pines, 50 The Esplanade. Tickets $20 from Melissa. Light supper provided and raffles galore!!

Yoga in Houghton Valley: Sunday evenings 5.30 – 6.30 pm at the Houghton Valley Community Hall with Megan. Starting 21 September for six Sundays (until 26 October). $10 per class or $50 for the block of six classes. All abilities welcome. Breathe, stretch, re-energise and relax. Please email Megan.

South Coast Clean-Up: It’s election day but the date is a universal one. Saturday September 20, 10.30 am – 12 midday. Meet at one of the 11 places and look out for the person in the hi-viz vest. All rubbish will be gathered around 12 and taken to Lyall Bay to form a large pile, with a sausage sizzle near the play ground. Bags and gloves are provided but if you have your rubber gloves bring them along. [Attachment missing]

Norman

Published as Issue No. 111

September 2, 2014

Environmental Improvements: Wellington City Council will shortly spend $30-40,000 on a feasibility study to improve the Houghton Valley environment. It will explore the idea of ‘lifting the creek’ with a principal benefit reducing leachate from the old tip polluting Houghton Bay and the south coast marine reserve.

The proposal was outlined at a Sunday meeting in the community hall attended by 35 local people, four Council staff and councillors Sarah Free and Paul Eagle. Residents have been working on this idea for two years. Council infrastructure director Stravros Michael outlined a partnership proposal which will see the community join with staff to work on the feasibility study, to be completed by the end of the year.

Missing cat: Dave, the School caretaker, discovered a deceased brown-white-black (tortoise shell?) cat under the hall. Feel free to contact him for more details if you are missing a cat of this description.

Proposed Subdivision: From Jacob of Houghton Bay Rd: “I recently read a document about ‘Vegetation and habitats associated with a proposed new subdivision at 215 Houghton Bay Road.’ This was included in a larger document submitted on 6.5.14 by Immaculate Construction Ltd to WCC planners in response to a section 92 request for more information about resource consent application SR95568. The document also includes a number of small changes to the project.

“I’ve briefly looked through the changes particularly about vegetation issues and have sent the following letter to WCC as below:

“I feel that it is important to contribute more feedback to WCC in light of these changes to the development, and of the information detailed in the legal representation letter which Barrister Graham Taylor sent to WCC in April and recently published in Houghton Valley Community Newsletter Issue Number 110, August 20, 2014.”

The secret lives of cats: Recently you may have seen cats wandering around the neighbourhood wearing harnesses and GPS trackers. This was all part of a project into cat movements conducted by View Rd resident 12 year old Kate. The project titled ‘Where Does My Cat Go At Night’ was awarded a prestigious 3rd prize for Class 2 (intermediate year 8) at the recent Wellington Regional NIWA Science Fair.

Tracking 6 local moggies she found that the cats ranged over a 6 – 7 km2 area which extended from the Lyall Bay waterfront to the Houghton Valley playing fields. The cats visited any house in their area that had a cat flap so prepare for night time visitors of the furry kind.

Houghton Valley Progressive Association: The City Council intends to invite the Association to join in its current planning process around September 15; if anyone is interested in being part of that group please let Ken know. The next Association meeting will be on Sunday, 12 October at 3 pm in the Hall, all welcome.

Norman

Published as Issue No. 110

August 20, 2014

Community Meeting: Wellington City Council has asked the Houghton Valley Progressive Association to arrange a public meeting to discuss initiatives to eliminate pollution in the Bay from the old tip and lift the creek which currently flows through a pipe under it.

This will be held in the Community Hall on Sunday afternoon August 31 commencing at 3 pm with afternoon tea. Attending will be ward Councillor Sarah Free, Director of Infrastructure Stravros Michael and Senior Advisor – Infrastructure Planning, Nicci Wood. Please come along if you want to know more and have questions; also see the website Lifting the Creek page and the forum discussion [link not working].

215 Houghton Bay Rd: Strong community concern last year about the size of a property development on this vacant land lead to public meetings, discussions with the developer and the creation of a group to oppose this. The attached document [no attachment] summarises the position of the group and provides a copy of a letter sent to the City Council in April.

Now in our Back Yard: An earlier issue discussed the recent decision to build the proposed airport runway extension to the south and into Lyall Bay. The group established to object to its extension into Evans Bay have considered this and resolved the issues behind their opposition remain the same and as a result have changed their name to Guardians of the Bays. To understand more about this issue and further background see the new listing in the forum discussion [link not working].

Norman

Published as Issue No. 109

August 5, 2014

August is a notable month in Houghton Valley history for three events:

• On August 11, 1929, the Haughton Valley Community Hall opened;
• Early August 2010, the community garden was started;
• On August 10, 2013, the Houghton Valley website was launched.

Any excuse for a celebration, so one will be held at the community garden, this Sunday, August 10 starting at 3 pm. All welcome, bring a plate; tell the gardeners what seedlings they should plant if you are interested to buy from them this spring.

Elvis has left Hungerford Rd. Sadly, Piebe’s (Peter’s) black Labrador dog Elvis was recently killed by a car. Piebe, a long standing resident who has contributed to the community in many ways, was often seen walking with Elvis down Houghton Bay Rd to the beach. Piebe has a bush track and a seat named after him in the View Rd / Te Raikaihau Headland Park.

Norman

Published as Issue No. 108

Published as Issue No. 107

July 8, 2014

Celebration reminder: Kae Miller Trust annual founders day is this Saturday at the Alice Krebs Lodge from 2 pm. All welcome, the ten minute walk up from View Rd extension will be rewarded with afternoon tea. There will be tree planting as well from 1 pm. Follow the signs and balloons from Hungerford Rd. [No attached flyer].

Progressive Association: All are welcome to the next meeting Houghton Valley Progressive Association, which is also the Annual General Meeting. If you fancy taking on a role within the Association, such as President, Treasurer or Secretary, come along. It will be held at 4 pm on Sunday, July 20 in the Community Hall. Meetings usually last less than an hour. All welcome.

Local birdlife: On Saturday afternoon a continuous flow of people took advantage of the bright, fine weather to visit the school forest and community garden and get close up and personal with birdlife courtesy of Peter Reese’s bird netting and banding programme.

Norman and contributors

Published as Issue No. 106

June 24, 2014

Invitation: This year the Kae Miller Trust will celebrate Founder’s Day on Saturday, July 12 at the Alice Krebs Lodge from 2 pm. All welcome, the ten minute walk up from View Rd extension will be rewarded with afternoon tea. There will be tree planting as well from 1 pm. More detail next newsletter.

We owe you one: Thanks to the efforts of our website webmaster Ian from View Rd, a potential disaster of losing our website was avoided.

Website changes: Ian has made a change that could be useful. New members to the forum page (Gurgling) will no longer have to get a code from Ian first. To join the forum you only have to use the ‘Apply for membership’ button on the right hand side, type in the capture number displayed/played when you register after you filled in basic details. [Forum page not working]

Hall co-ordination: Andrea Selwood has kindly offered to look after the Community Hall bookings while Miranda is away. If you want to make a casual booking for the hall after July 7 or wish to become a more regular hall user please ring her.

Yams and Strawberry: Jenny harvests yams from the community garden while from now on birds will be kept away thanks to Anna from View Rd who made a scarecrow she has named ‘Strawberry’.

On the buses: Recently Linda Cameron from View Rd attended a public hearing held by the GWRC Transport Committee on the Wellington Bus Review. She gave a brief oral presentation and answered questions on the Houghton Valley / Melrose / Southgate bus submission, which also has support from the Newtown Residents Association.

Councillors indicated details have still not been pinned down including the direct services at peak times for our area and shelter and other facilities at the transfer ‘hub’ outside Wellington hospital. Our community representatives, Christine Fowler and Linda will have the opportunity to continue working through the issues in our latest submission with council officers and will keep you informed.

Annual meeting: The annual meeting of the Houghton Valley Progressive Association will be held on Sunday in our Community Hall at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 20 at 4 pm.

Norman and contributors

Published as Issue No. 105

June 10, 2014

Runway coming our way? An article in the Dom-Post last seek suggested there has been an about turn and any airport extension would be to the south. This will have a much greater impact, visual and noise-wise for locals than the previous plan for the 300 metre extension, to the north and into Evans Bay. People on View Rd will be most affected. See more.

In an article last year about the extension Richard Randerson of Hataitai discussed the issues, NIMBY and beyond. A discussion has been opened on the website including information circulated today by Richard to the group which has been opposing the extension. [link not working]

Memories, good and bad: My name is Peter Drake, I have been asked to share some of my childhood memories of living in the valley. I was born in 1938 and lived on 69 View Road overlooking Lyall Bay. I attended Houghton Valley School from 1943 until 1950 then onto Rongotai College.

Lifting the creek: Working bee, this Saturday from 2 pm onwards, starting at the playground. Locals will be meeting to continue working on clearing the springs and removing weeds and rubbish. Bring gloves and a drink to share for afternoon tea.

Exercise in disguise: Reminder, Houghton Valley Zumba with Natasha. Mondays at 9.30 am at the Community Hall with Natasha.

Swim anybody? A photo of Houghton Bay taken on Monday afternoon. [No discharge photo]

Norman

Published as Issue No. 104

May 27, 2014

Timetable tweaked: Dave of Houghton Bay Rd suggests people to check out the changed bus timetable. He advises No. 23 route has been extended from 60 to 65 minutes so drivers can better keep on schedule; leaving Houghton Bay 9.20, 10.20, 11.20 (now later) 12.20, 1.20, 2.20 (now earlier). All weekend buses leave five minutes later except 4.40pm.

Planting on the Point: After their successful campaign to prevent a marine centre being built at Te Raekaihau Point for a few years local people have been planting council-provided grasses and shrubs as part of its restoration. Council have now taken this over; several hundred have been planted in the last two weeks.

Waterfront Clean-up: Brenda of Island Bay has organised a community clean-up of the south coast Taputeranga Marine Reserve this Saturday morning. Starting at the bait house people will walk along The Esplanade between Houghton Bay and Owhiro Bay. [No attachment]

Penguins in June: Shortly Little Blue Penguins will be coming ashore around our coastline to mate and breed. Places for Penguins, a volunteer group has produced information dedicated to help keeping them safe during this vulnerable time. They are also inviting people to participate in a survey to report on when and where they are seen. [No attachments]

Norman

Published as Issue No. 103

May 16, 2014

Footpath and Beach: Wellington City Council has provided background information and the proposed design drawings to replace/repair the footpath over Princes Bay which disappeared in the big storm last year. [No attachments] Roading engineer Robert Hon is happy to answer any queries. Anybody like to provide feedback on the proposal?

Heavy Flushing: Maria Marillo from Capacity advises next week they plan to work on the elimination of leachate encrustations in the stormwater pipes by heavy flushing, as part of their treatment plan in Houghton Bay. This is carried out every six months. [No attachment]

Bus changes: Shirlee from Buckley Rd comments: Have just discovered the change to the terminus of the 22/23 bus route. From 18 May the 22/23 Southgate buses will turn around at Medway Street near New World instead of going down The Parade and turning around at the old Berhampore terminus at Dover Street.

Historic photo album: This album has been passed from letterbox to letterbox for the past three years but seems to have got stuck somewhere. If anyone knows where it is, please ask the holder to pass it on as there are several waiting to see it.

Lifting the Creek: A reminder that on Saturday, locals will be meeting at the playground (cnr of Hungerford and Houghton Bay Rds at 2 pm) to clear weeds and rubbish from around the many springs that flow down the hills.

Bill Corkery: Recently we lost one of our old time residents. Bill and his wife Brenda moved into 181 Houghton Bay Rd in 1963. In that time, they saw the valley change into a landfill and then playing grounds for the community. Every December Brenda puts up Christmas Decorations in her windows so children playing in the playground across the road can enjoy them. Bill and Brenda were regular attendees of the Catholic Church which once stood on the corner of View Rd and Twomey Cres. They were also great dancers and have been regularly seen getting fit by taking long walks along the Esplanade. Bill was the treasurer of the Houghton Valley Progressive Association for many years, making a valuable contribution to this community. It is with great respect that we honour Bill Corkery. (Contributed item)

Sign of the times? If the community is asking motorists to be courteous by slowing down when driving up Hungerford Rd, then it makes sense to ask them courteously. [Link not working]

Not sure if it’s because they know we expect to be kept informed but the various local body organisations that undertake work in Houghton Valley are doing a much better job these days of telling us what they up to.

Norman