With the bridge over the ‘Ewy’ visible.  In a decade or two it will probably all be housing.

by 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:

• KCDC will put up notices at key entrance points telling the public about the Scientific Reserve.
• KCDC is to write to all permit holders.
• KCDC will call a public meeting, a hui, to discuss the issue.
• Permit holders will be told that change is coming, that such permits may not be issued in future.  This is a weak response but at least a first step.

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:

• Since permits explicitly prohibit access to the Scientific Reserve, these permits are perfectly useless for those who want to go to the river bank for whitebaiting.
• Previous permits have lapsed.

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

Following 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.”

It’s been nicely landscaped, but you wonder how often it spills over and floods when the council’s drains clog up.

We wonder how much this cost.  It has only had 172 views on YouTube.

And 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.