July 19, 2019
Community Notices
Planting at Bann Street Reserve: this Saturday July 20 is another try for weather good enough to get some plants in the ground. From 10.00 am – 12.00 midday. Help revegetate our local landscape! Bring a spade and sturdy footwear and meet at the entrance to the reserve.
Helping out at the Alice Krebs Lodge: our little lodge up on the hill in Te Raekaihau Park at the end of View Road needs a few people to help out with stacking firewood and clearing weeds from around the plantings nearby. If you can help please contact Brenda.
Local Vandalism: Further to the report about the throwing of books in our library down the bank, the Playcentre has also had some trouble recently with people throwing eggs and fruit at the building, drawing on things and using the play equipment inappropriately. It may well be the same people, so keep an eye out, especially in the evening.
Houghton Valley Progressive Association AGM: at the AGM, Ken Munro was re-elected as President / acting Hall Manager, and Grant Corbishley as Secretary. Brian Fowler will take over the role of Treasurer from Christine Fowler. (This will be the first time in over 20 years Christine not been doing a job of one sort or another!) Discussion was held around how the hall is being managed (as it is currently a shared role) and it would be great to have an event in the hall for spring … is that talking to you?
Drama classes for children: Marrzipan Drama run classes in the Community Hall on Thursdays from 8 – 8.45 am. Enrol now for Term 3!
Marrzipan drama helps the development of shy children, especially those with anxiety, autism and selective mutism. But the classes are also for the super crazy and dramatic types too, as they focus on positive leadership and social skills. They are super fun and exciting for children and work towards an end-of-term production. For more information and registration go to: www.marrzipandrama.co.nz .
How busy is Hungerford Road?: a recent road count noted an average of about 2,400 cars traveling back and forth over Hungerford Road. In 2013 a local attempted to convince WCC to do something about the road’s overuse due to short-cut traffic. The planner stated that as there have been very few crashes, any works would fail benefit-cost tests. Benefit assessments do not include reduced local noise, air pollution or community well-being. The planner also boldly claimed any works would find local opposition. He will try again and ask WCC if they consider the volumes and average speeds shown by the count to be appropriate for Hungerford Road.
Koha Coffee: the next Koha Coffee will be on Saturday August 3, 10.30 am – 12.30 pm in case there isn’t another newsletter before then.
Council Related Notices
Infrastructure issues in Houghton Valley: Councillor Sarah Free has made contact with Wellington Water on our behalf about continuing leaks in the valley and Zac Jordan from Infrastructure responded:
- Land Stability: I understand there has been some concern regarding the stability of the embankment adjacent to the pathway leading to 50 – 68 Hornsey Road. I have investigated this internally and have been advised by the Council Roading Team that they are updating their investigations on this pathway and associated embankment – the job is ‘live’ and I am in touch with the engineers from the Roading Team who will see this through and provide you with a more detailed update on this matter.
- Water Leaks: There have been a handful of water leaks in the Houghton Bay area in the past 12 months, some large and easy to access, some smaller and difficult to access for repairs. The residents of Houghton Bay are fantastic at using the Council’s FixIt App and Contact Centre for reporting water leaks. Communication back to those who report the leaks could have been better – the Council and Wellington Water are working on this aspect.
Clearly if there are current jobs that need to be escalated, please let me know and I will do so. Otherwise, Wellington Water has now established a dedicated Customer Hub Team that can respond to escalation issues directly customer@wellingtonwater.co.nz or provide more information as to where a job is tracking. There will be a unique number for the job logged and this number makes the enquiry a lot easier to track if it is quoted.
The HVPA says: please get in touch if there are any specific issues near you and they will collate them and arrange a visit. Contact Ken .
Bus Consultation: our advice is that the 23 and 29 routes that concern most readers will be included in the Southern Consultations and there is no date for that yet. However, this should not impede going along to the Eastern Consultation and raising the issue! Online consultations will be phased in as well with the Eastern one open now. Kilbirnie drop-in bus workshops will be held at Toitu Poneke Community and Sports Centre – the hub, 49 Kilbirnie Cres, Kilbirnie.
- Sunday 21 July – 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
- Monday 22 July – 1.00 pm to 7.00 pm
Let’s Get Welly Moving: The Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay and Rongotai Residents Association has organised a Lets Get Welly Moving presentation on Tuesday July 30th at 7.30pm. The 20 minute presentation by Andrew Body and Willy Trolove of LGWM will include an update on the redesign of the Basin Reserve. They will then open the floor for questions or to voice your opinions.
The venue is the Harbour City Funeral Chapel on Cockburn Street, (not the Funeral Home further down Onepu Road). The entrance is beside the car park behind the Chapel.
(135 recipients, 102 opens)