Local Happenings

Published as Issue No. 67

10 April, 2013

The Birdman of Hornsey Rd: Peter has had a lifelong interest in New Zealand birds and been banding (ringing) them since the early 1980’s. He is the current holder of the banding permit for the Central Passerine Banding Group based in Wellington. To understand more about this group, and trends in bird populations, go to http://wgtnnzbanders.blogspot.co.nz/. Peter has just produced a summary of our changing bird population and you can join him on his bird netting sessions.

Removal of hazardous trees: Macrocarpa trees at 55 Hungerford Rd will be removed from the road reserve as part of the City Council’s hazardous tree removal programme. Work will commence on Friday 19 April and take four days, weather permitting. Timber recovered will be removed from site and all other wood placed through a large mulching machine. No firewood will be available to the public.

Community Film night: The next film night is Wednesday 17 April 7.30 pm at Houghton Valley School. Seeds of Freedom, narrated by Jeremy Irons, looks at the importance of seed ownership and distribution, especially in relation to the health risks of genetically modified foods. GMO foods are already present in NZ which makes it especially relevant.

Cleaning up Houghton Bay and Lifting the Creek: Three further contributions have been received, and Jenny from Houghton Bay Rd has created an interesting map to show her ideas about the creek and the wetland. She hopes this inspires others to draw their ideas for the next newsletter.

John: “George and I, as Wellington residents who use the south coast a lot, started pushing for action on leachate coming across Houghton Bay in the middle of last year. It was difficult to get information out of WCC but we persevered; now have a pretty good understanding and have linked up with Houghton Valley residents.

Basically, both fresh water from side streams and leachate from ground water flow through the old tip and mix as it is collected coming down the valley. When there is very little flow this goes into the sewer system. With only a little rain the flow passes over a weir and down across the beach. Capacity last year had no plan to solve the problem.

An obvious idea, held by residents and now discussed with Council staff, is to keep the fresh water and the leachate separate in two different flows down the valley. Fresh water can then be taken to Houghton Bay while leachate can go into the sewer system without the added flow of fresh water pushing it over the weir.

The fresh water may then flow through wetlands and there is considerable support for this provided the idea is feasible. However it should be noted that the main problem is the leachate and the alternative idea of a pipe all down the valley and across the beach could work without the wetlands. That said, a push for a wetlands would put the issue more firmly on the agenda and we support this.”

Clarification: “There is uncertainty in people’s minds whether the leachate and fresh water are separate as they come down the valley. They are not. I asked this of Maria Charry (Capacity) when a small group met at the playground and she explained that all water is collected and mixed from the top of the valley down, being brought in the one main pipe down the valley. Any idea of a new jumping weir system above Jacob’s place is not then feasible. The solution requires separate systems all the way down the valley.”

Grant commented: “The point about the mixing of the fresh water with the leachate: Maria’s explanation is only partially correct. We have carried out ground truthing research and discovered that there are seven open streams feeding fresh spring water into the leachate pipe all year round. The first is at Jacob’s place (Haewai Meadery) with the others within 200 metres (north). The close proximity of these open streams means that the idea proposed by Jenny is feasible i.e. that an open channel is created along the side to the western hill face to capture much of the fresh water before it goes into the leachate.

This would be stage one of the project. Stage two could be to continue the channel northwards up to Buckley Rd in order to capture the ephemeral streams. There is also water coming into the pipe from the eastern side and solutions to separating this are probably more complicated.”

John responded: “Agree wholeheartedly. There remains the question of just how much of the water flow is in those lower streams; I understand that quite a lot comes in higher up. If we push on, as with this debate, Capacity may get active, measure of all the flows and produce a realistic plan. So far too much of the information is coming from locals, and Capacity have a job to do.”

Marine Education Centre at bottom of Hungerford Rd: Victor Anderlini the principal champion of the earlier initiative and this revised proposal featured in the Dominion-Post recently. From the interview:

Question: Have you met any local resistance to the exploration centre plans as you did with previous proposals at Te Raekaihau Pt? Answer: No. A lot of people who were objectors … are now fully supportive of the new site.

Published as Issue No. 66

27 March, 2013

Cleaning up Houghton Bay and Lifting the Creek: Comments have been received following the articles in Newsletter 65. Other input welcomed.

David from Cave Rd: “I am fully in favour of finding a solution to the leachate pollution in Houghton Bay. The chemical look and smell on the beach is often disgusting. However, I am opposed to the further development of a wetland in the bottom park of the Buckley Road Reserve (that is, the grassed area between the children’s playground and the houses south of the reserve). This park is the nearest green space for people who live in the southern part of Houghton Bay and, because of the trees beside the road, one of the most attractive green spaces in the reserve.

For people with a disability, as I have had for the past year, it is one of the few accessible recreational spaces in the lower valley. It is also very close to a children’s playground. Children often run down the slope into the park, sometimes without parental supervision. Would it be safe to establish an open creek and possibly a full wetland in such an area? I am concerned that the opinion of people who live below the park, who are most likely to be affected by any changes, are so far not being actively sought by the Council. Therefore, I am grateful for the opportunity to present my views in our newsletter.”

Jenny from Hungerford Rd: “We are still trying to find out what is possible and how it could work. The following is my idea of how it might be: The fields above the playground are rarely used, difficult to access, not very interesting and boggy due to poor drainage. A stream channel for drainage and planting would create a sense of place for these rather forlorn patches. We could then create a walking track linking the fields. Near the playground it may be simpler to pipe the water, but in the lower area there is enough space to incorporate a wetland without losing all the grass. It could be broken into a couple of areas with trees and wetland expanding in the middle.

Essentially there is a wetland there now, and an open stream – the planting around has made it safe enough right next to the playground. A purpose built wetland would be bigger, but not take up the whole space. It would not be more than ankle deep, and overflows can ensure this during heavy rain. There would need to be more containment (i.e. a basin) so that excess water can be held in case of flooding. Planting would help keep younger children from getting near the water; older children would enjoy it! The wetland could have a boardwalk and a track through the bush on the far side made at a grade suitable for disabled access.”

What happened to the Bees?: Despite a special issue of the Newsletter and resultant publicity in other media, Jacob of Haewai Meadery has not yet found the bee swarm he brought back from Otaki to join his own hives. Dave from Houghton Valley Rd, who fits in the role of caretaker at the school around his many other activities, commented – Last Thursday five children at school were stung by wasps and a search soon revealed a nest sited near the slide. It is now eradicated. This forms a reminder it is now wasp season and we should walk around our valley with care, especially if going off the tracks. The summer days and plentiful supplies of fruit such as blackberries provide wasps with ideal breeding conditions. It is also still the season when bee swarms can occur. In general a bee swarm will not hurt you. They are a good sign. Just keep out of their way, observe where the bees settle and ring Jacob or Dave, who will endeavour to ensure they are cared for.

Marine Centre: Huib of View Rd commented on a regional issue in our backyard: “I read that the Te Moana trust have resurrected plans for an aquarium on the south coast, targeting land at the base of Hungerford Road. I haven’t seen plans myself but clearly a huge commercial project ($36 million) of this size would have a massive impact on the surrounding community. I thought it might be good to bring it to the attention of the Houghton Valley community and am interested in other resident’s thoughts.”

See http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/8443647/Lyall-Bay-aquarium-plans-unveiled

Broccoli seedlings: These are available from the community garden over the next few weeks. Come down on Sunday afternoons to collect yours; free cup of tea at 3.30 pm with seedlings (gold coin donation if you insist).

Fires on Te Raekaihau Headland: Geoff from Buckley Rd spotted smoke coming from the headland last week and rang the fire brigade. It seems that some people lit a fire in the picnic area in front of Piebe’s Seat. If anyone sees any smoke coming from this area, please call the brigade.

Norman and Grant

Published as Issue No. 65

13 March, 2013

Cleaning up Houghton Bay and Lifting the Creek: Cleaning up the leachate pollution in Houghton Bay by preventing water from runoff and springs going into the large drainage pipe carrying the former creek down Houghton Valley is under consideration. Local, Jenny from Hungerford Road, staff members from Capacity (the Council owned organisation responsible for water supply and drainage) and Island Bay scientist John Robinson, met on site on Monday to consider the next stage of a feasibility study for this ambitious project.

Jenny has provided the report below; further information attached is from John Robinson, Paul Glennie from Capacity and Ian of Buckley Rd. Grant from Hungerford Rd has created this visual, which shows the idea of capturing clean water run-off in an open channel to avoid it going into the pipe and adding greatly to the volume of polluted water in Houghton Bay.

Various ideas are being explored and others sought. We will be happy to publish comments in the next newsletter.

Regards, Grant and Norman

Jenny wrote: “The top priority for the Council is to prevent the leachate contamination of Houghton Bay. However, Houghton Valley residents want any solutions to this problem to work towards an ideal rather than just a quick fix. Ideally, the tip leachate needs to be permanently directed to the sewer system, and the storm water and fresh water to the beach and sea. Possibly the fixing of the leachate problem will not be fully accomplished without addressing the separation of storm and spring water all the way up the valley, but any steps taken should have a sustainable end point in mind.

If we build a new jumping weir system above Jacob’s place, then at that point the low flow contaminated water could be directed to the sewer system. The current leachate pipe below this point could then be cleaned out and converted to a storm water and overland water system only, which ends up at the beach. The wetland would act as the changeover point. This would keep all the storm water system below the current weir intact and save digging any new pipes (and wrecking the new roundabout!!)

Then, for (hopefully a brief) interim, the high flow could be directed into the larger pipe as currently happens.. Then above Jacob’s place, work could begin on reducing the storm and spring water influx into the leachate pipe by separating them out – creating the wetland and running the clean water overland in a stream channel, working progressively up the valley. (But if the piped runoff system can be devised to cope with untoward water events, then a wetland may not be necessary, and thus save some costs.) The new weir system could monitor the amount of high flow events and as the storm water load is reduced there would eventually be a tipping point where the leachate would be going permanently into the sewer.

Whether this stops the mystery discharges I don’t know, but if we can at least get the spring water above ground and then going down the pipe to the beach, it may keep the pipe clean and not build up any contaminants to create the concentrated discharges.”

Attachments missing:

Stormwater discharge issues.pdf

Further background Information and other comments and perspectives.doc

Published as Issue No. 64

27 February[??], 2013

Bus Service Review: As part of their advocacy on behalf of local people, late last year Christine, Linda and Miranda attended a further meeting with Metlink on the proposed changes to the bus network. Linda has taken the time to put together an update of the changes as they affect Houghton Valley and Southgate services. [No attachment]

Published as Issue No. 61

30 January, 2013

Here is the first 2013 issue of the two-weekly community newsletter which goes to 170 households in and around Houghton Valley. It is compiled by Grant and Norman although much is written by others who provide information about activities of local interest – all contributions are welcomed.

In order to give more notice about events on a coming weekend mail-out has been brought forward to Wednesdays, around 7 pm. Please pass the newsletter on to others who may be interested or provide details so we can add them to the mailing list.

Leachate in Houghton Bay: People concerned about this have arranged to meet with the City Council to present ideas about leachate going onto the beach from the old landfill. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 13 February from 3.30 – 4.30 pm and will be held in Committee Room 2 on the ground floor at WCC Offices in Wakefield Street.

World famous in South Wellington: For the 2012 issue of its magazine Colin Feslier of the Wellington Southern Bays Historical Society, wrote an article about Houghton Valley (not attached). The magazine is held in the Island Bay and Wellington Central libraries. The Society’s collection of documents, photos etc is held at the Island Bay Community Centre and open to the public on Friday’s between 10 am and 2 pm.

Houghton Valley Creek Walk: An email from Jenny of Houghton Bay Road asked:

“I was wondering who would be interested in doing a creek walk one evening in February to share everything we all know about the creek and the dump drainage?  I thought we could arrange to meet at the top and work our way down to below the playground or right to the beach, exploring all the side streams, dump pipes etc.
 
We would share what we know about the history and could also share our ideas as to what we would like “lifting the creek” to be, with the objective of coming up with a shared vision..  At this stage we would not be worrying about the details of how it could be achieved, but what we would like to see eventually.”

So, on Friday 8 February there will be an evening walk to discover Houghton Valley’s (very hidden!) waterways. Meet at 7 pm at the top of Sinclair Park by the old slide, the source of the original creek. The plan is to make our way down the valley following the line of the creek as closely as possible exploring tributaries and sharing knowledge about its history, perhaps finishing at the beach. Ideas will be shared about “Lifting the Creek” Wear appropriate shoes and clothing for scrambling and bring torches for peering down pipes and something for a shared supper. For further information contact Jenny of Houghton Bay Rd.

First 2013 local film night: The first film will be shown on Tuesday 12 February at 7.30 pm at Houghton Valley School. (Please note change of night from Wednesday to Tuesday for a couple of screenings.) Queen of the Sun- What Are the Bees Telling Us? is a look at the global bee crisis. Michael Pollan and Vandana Shiva are featured, followed by coffee, cake and conversation. Further information contact Miranda.

Te Kawakawa Commons: Working bee on Sunday 10 February, 10 am start. Help weed, cut back vines and plant more natives. Excellent company and morning tea provided. Bring along some seedlings/seeds as the vegetable garden’s soil is improving day by day and growing some truly tasty produce. Further information contact Miranda.

On the buses: Christine, chair of the Houghton Valley Progressive Association and Linda from View Rd have been keeping us up to date with their efforts to ensure the present Routes 22 and 23 survive the Regional Council’s major review of routes. Councillor Daran Ponter has reported the design of the new system has now been confirmed with a copy of the final decision available at http://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/councilreports/Report_PDFs/2012_497_1_Report.pdf. [Link not current] The Council is now undertaking more detailed planning of route timetables and will put these out for comment in a few months.

Archaeological dig: Due to on-going interest in what was found, and learned last February a family-friendly gathering is being planned to report back on what was found. This will probably be late in February on a weekend. Date, place and time to be advised in the next newsletter.

Graffiti voucher: As promised in the last newsletter a voucher is attached which can be printed off and taken to Resene to get paint that will deal with any graffiti problems. (no attachment)

Regards, Grant and Norman

Published as Issue No. 60

20 December, 2012

Welcome to the new members. We now have 171 people / families on the list.

An ice cream shop temporarily returned to Houghton Valley this week when Brian and Benje from View Rd decided to celebrate the end of the working year. Ice cream stall: (no photo)

Message from Brenda of View Rd South: The Kae Miller Trust is delighted with the new tree plantings this year around the Alice Kreb Lodge and the park. Well done to the TRIG group – Kae Miller would have been very happy. The lodge has been regularly used this year and bookings are coming in for next year. As well with the work being done now on the tracks by W.C.C. the park is developing and a great place for walks. Merry Christmas and the best 2013 to all. Brenda, caretaker Alice Krebs Lodge.

Message from Peter of Hornsey Rd. Banded Birds: There have been a large number of birds banded in the area over the last 10 years. This includes Houghton Bay, Houghton Valley School and Hornsey Rd as well as further afield at the Wellington Zoo and Island Bay. If you find a dead bird could you please let me know or report it on the DOC website @ http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/birds/bird-banding/reporting-a-bird-band/. (link not current) Even better, if you have the chance to record the band number on a live bird I would also love to get that information. The information we need is date of its demise, or of finding it, the location and if possible the cause of death. If possible I am happy to collect any birds as I can often find out more information by a close inspection. We have had a number of recoveries recently from this area including birds hitting windows, having fatal road accidents, collected by a cat as well as the commonest “just found dead”, or in one case, it fell out of a tree. Every report is valuable and adds more information to the data base. Thanks Peter

Message from Dave of Houghton Bay Rd: Here is a photo of Hugh waterproofing the Houghton Valley hall roof. Thanks Hugh! We all seem to lead such busy lives now that it can be hard to imagine the generosity of the Sinclair family in bequeathing us the land and how the hall was built by a large contribution of labour and money from local people. Over the decades the hall has had many uses. Who knows what wonderful uses our children will find for this community asset?

Message Miranda of Hornsey Rd: Christmas on Te Kawakawa Commons. All are welcome to join neighbours for cake and drinks up on the Commons on Christmas Day from early afternoon.

Message from Emma Titcombe, City Safety Advisor (WCC): Attached is a flyer that gives information on how to remove graffiti and a voucher for free and/or discounted paint at Resene to help paint out graffiti/tagging. Any questions around graffiti do not hesitate to contact me. Thanks.

That’s all folks for 2012. We are going to take a short break. The next issue will appear on Wednesday 30 January (issues will be sent out on Wednesdays from now on). As a community a lot has been achieved this year. Here is a brief list of accomplishments: Archaeological Dig; Arts and Writing group; Bird banding; Film evenings; Ice Cream stall; Chook house, Seedling exchange and upgraded Lizard Sanctuary at the Community Garden; Local bus timetable review; New Traffic Intersection; Plantings by six different groups; Play Centre Anniversary; Te Kawakawa Commons; Track names and track upgrade in View Rd / Te Raekaihau Park. So congratulations to everybody for making our community a better place to live in.

Local Exchange:

Holiday Visitors Overflow?: Separate sleep-out with own bathroom/shower and double bed; also second carpeted room, could supply blow up double mattress. View Rd.

Published as Issue No. 58

6 December, 2012




Welcome to the new members.

At the end of November for the the past ten years or more Brenda of Houghton Bay Rd has been putting up Christmas decorations for the children who come to the playground opposite her house. This year she had some great help from her two grandchildren, Liam and Megan (no photo). Many times in past years Brenda has found a note from children in her letterbox thanking her for making Christmas something special. (no photo)

Te Raekaihau Restoration Group: This Saturday we are having our walk along the Te Raekaihau headland. The plan is for the keen ones to meet at 1 pm to do a bit of tree releasing around the lookout, then about 2.30 pm we will take a stroll along the headland, with a diversion down the Ruru Track (it runs down to The Pines) to check out the gully for some under-storey planting next year. At the headland we shall celebrate the year’s work with an afternoon picnic, so bring some food and drink to share.

Te Kawakawa Opening Day: A reminder the Te Kawakawa Commons (Hornsey Rd) opening day is this Sunday 9 December starting 12 midday with the Mayor officially opening the garden at 12.30 pm (no poster attached). 

Leachates into Houghton Bay: John of Island Bay says local and Island Bay people have long been aware of the pollution of Houghton Bay and in August the stench got to the point they wrote to the mayor. The question was just bounced to the Regional Council. Many further efforts gathered information that the City Council is required to do something, and is planning to do nothing. It is reported that there are two problems; continual leakage and occasions when the flow is too great and leachate, with mixed fresh water, is emptied into the bay. It seems that we need to find a solution and force the Council to take action. More about possible community action in the next newsletter.

Bus Review – latest meeting: Christine (President Houghton Valley Progressive Association) reports the local team who attended the recent meeting in Kilbirnie were pretty happy with the revised plans and the changes are looking positive for Houghton Valley and environs’ residents. Once the new draft maps are signed off they will be posted on the Greater Wellington Council website. We’ll also include them with a future newsletter.

Feedback on Intersection: Whatever improvement have been made at the intersection cars are still travelling too fast once they have passed through. Local feedback sought in the last newsletter:

• ” … acceleration to extremely high speed once they pass the roundabout, this is worrying in any case but particularly so with children often in the vicinity.”
• ” … definitely too fast given that there is a school, park and play centre on that road, cars drive way too fast. Speed bumps would be great!”

Next steps to engage with council under consideration.

Regards, Norman and Grant

Published as Issue No. 57

22 November, 2012

At the movies: The last community film night for the year will be held on Wednesday 28 November, 7.30 at Houghton Valley School. Two short films, totalling an hour, are on offer- Psychology For a Better World featuring Auckland sustainability promoter and psychologist Niki Harre and The End of Growth, a talk by US economist Richard Heinberg (filmed when he was in Auckland) who argues the current economic model of infinite growth on a planet with finite resources is outdated and dangerous to life on earth. But is there another way?
 Cake, coffee and discussion afterwards. If you haven’t been invited to The Hobbit opening this just might be the next best thing! Hope to see you there, Miranda.


An unintended consequence?: Some locals have suggested traffic travelling up Houghton Bay and Hungerford Roads is travelling faster and more often as a consequence of the new traffic intersection – perhaps treating the left-hand turn as a chicane on a race track to be taken at maximum speed. When the council declined to add speed bumps as part of the upgrade they did agree to monitor this aspect and make changes if needed. Let us know your experience, one way or the other, as follow-up could be needed.

Te Kawakawa Commons Community Garden’s Opening Day: This is on Sunday 9 December starting at midday. The Mayor Celia Wade-Brown will ‘open’ the garden at 1 pm. Bring a picnic and enjoy the peaceful surroundings and gorgeous views. A coffee cart will be on site, cake and elderflower cordial provided by local cooks, Common Sense Organics has donated some goodies. Bring veggies or seedlings for the swap and share table, treasure hunt for the children, piñata and excursions to the tree hut. Catch up with neighbours and meet new ones. Miranda 


Elderberry Cordial: Sarah from Houghton Bay Rd asks – does anyone know where I can pick elderflowers (preferably away from the side of the road) to make cordial to sell at the next HVS Fair? 


What’s to be done?: When there is something to be done, someone emerges to do it – or words to that effect, was a comment made when the organizing team for the archaeological dig gathered recently to celebrate the event. Examples of this are many in Houghton Valley, whether its preparing submissions about proposed bus route changes, maintaining the hall, designing a website, planting and re-generation, etc. and working in the community garden. As a regular visitor – but not a worker- I observe the latter as a strong example of community sharing. Not everyone is there every Sunday (sometimes people are busy on other projects or just busy or perhaps unwell) but it all works out in the end. When the vegetables are ready all share in the harvest, including the chickens that alongside Compostologist John have helped fertilise the land. I’ve been known to come away with a seedling or two myself, perhaps recompense for helping produce this newsletter. Norman, with apologies to those involved with all the other projects not mentioned here.

Regards, Norman and Grant