looking south to Waikanae above Hadfield Road, Peka Peka
30 Saturday Jun 2018
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in30 Saturday Jun 2018
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in29 Friday Jun 2018
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inby John Robinson
There were many complaints last year about vehicles driving across the estuary at the mouth of the Waikanae River. This despite the great environmental value, which was recognised back in 1987 when this was made a special area, a Scientific Reserve.
Efforts to put things right have continued.
This has included my own presentation to the Kapiti Coast District Council (KCDC) on 1 May when I asked that they stop issuing permits for vehicles to drive along the beach for whitebaiting.
Since the whitebaiting season starts on 15 August, time is running out.
Kapiti Council taking action
But at last action is intended. The first phase is:
Here is the essential part of the permits, which will be pointed out to all current permit holders:
“Is hereby authorised to drive a vehicle, described as a …………………………, registration number ………, on the Paraparaumu and Waikanae Beaches, as far as the WAIKANAE RIVER MOUTH (but not on any part of the Waikanae Estuary forming the Department of Conservation Scientific Reserve) for the purpose of white baiting, for the period 15 AUGUST 2018 TO 30 NOVEMBER 2018.”
Two points stand out here:
An environment for all New Zealanders
The Waikanae Sandspit: a treasure for all New Zealanders (David Wall)
The date of the public meeting (the hui) will be known soon. We – those of us who care for the environment, the coast, the beach, the Scientific Reserve – can then turn up and make it clear that proper care must be taken with the Reserve.
It is ours:
This land is your land This land is my land
This land was made for you and Me. (Woody Guthrie)
We are all guardians of our common heritage. Not just some chosen few. The responsibility is on everyone, so turn up and ensure that the councilors get off their backsides and do the job we elected them to do.
Originally posted the on Kapiti Independent News website
29 Friday Jun 2018
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inFollowing the presentation to the WCB, another presentation was made to the council meeting yesterday.
In the article on the stuff website, the quoted comments by Sean Mallon of the KCDC are no cause for optimism that they will take any notice:
“The proposed Waikanae layout was developed following extensive public consultation and looked at many factors, including safety, future traffic use and need to make it a fit-for-purpose local road, he said.
“The design for the road has taken all elements into consideration together, and unfortunately it’s not as easy as changing one or two of the safety improvements without considering the knock on effects on the rest of the design.
“The proposed lights at the Ngaio Rd intersection will provide better amenity and improve safety for all road users.”
Margaret Delbridge of the Friends of the Waikanae Town Centre says in response:
“The Mayor and Councillors certainly appeared to support what we’d done. Whether they will or can overturn their own staff is a different matter. Perhaps Mr Mallon feels he or his staff are under threat for this. I don’t think he need worry, we’re asking for a more lateral, creative approach than just, ‘let’s stick another set of traffic lights in’ and we’re not looking to roll any jobs!
“We did say to the Mayor yesterday that if the answer is traffic lights at Ngaio & Main Road then the problem is not understood or the wrong question has been asked. Traffic lights are unlikely to change pedestrian behaviour much — too slow and the crossing won’t be in quite the “right” place wherever it is.
“The crossings at Ngaio & Parata are a far better model for Ngaio & Main — raised road, 3 way crossings, traffic gives way to pedestrians.”
David Sherar of the group says:
“We won’t let these biased comments by staff at council stop us. The residents of Waikanae have stated that they don’t want these changes and if we all stand together and make enough noise we will get NZTA to have another look at it.”
29 Friday Jun 2018
28 Thursday Jun 2018
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in27 Wednesday Jun 2018
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inWe wonder how much this cost. It has only had 172 views on YouTube.
27 Wednesday Jun 2018
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inOriginally posted on Nwo Report: NASA glaciologist Jay Zwally has openly challenged the prevailing narrative that the earth is heating up and is set to release bombshell data that proves Antarctica is actually gaining ice. Zwally first challenged the “consensus” on Antarctica in 2015 when he published a paper showing ice sheet growth in eastern Antarctica outweighed…
27 Wednesday Jun 2018
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inTom Brough takes us through the third installment in our blog series from the marine reserve monitoring project at Banks Peninsula. With 75 hours of underwater footage to analyse our marine rangers have their work cut out for them counting a menagerie of fish life caught on underwater camera.
via Monitoring our marine reserves: Let the fish counting begin — Conservation blog
27 Wednesday Jun 2018
26 Tuesday Jun 2018
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inAnd if you’re interested in how $325,000 of the amount to be brought in by it will get spent (assuming the councilors rubber stamp it, which they are sure to), you can read this pdf about 10 groups to get “Social Investment Funding”, not just this coming financial year, but the following 2 years — a total of near $1 million.
Should this amount not be spent on essential infrastructure instead?
Unusually, there are no items listed on the agenda for “hush, hush, top secret” treatment.