Weekly Bulletin – 05.02.20
Water Update
Kawerau water reserves are good now at between 80 and 90% full. Thank you to those in the community who reduced their usage.
If the reserves remain above 60% it will avoid further water conservation requests. When reserves are below 50% this is not adequate for fire fighting measures.
Water shortages in Kawerau usually only occur during a three-month period in summer and could be attributed to excessive use by a minority of residents.
The Council is requesting continued use of hand-held hoses to water gardens and wash cars.
Extensive use of unattended sprinklers are not advised. Residents are asked to be mindful of using them.
The Council has assessed installing water meters and introducing a charge for residents by volume used per home to lower water usage. However, the cost to install, maintain and monitor water meters would be a significant cost to residents for water.
Kawerau businesses take water from the Kawerau potable reticulation. This usage accounts for less than 10% of the total potable (drinking) supply. These businesses are metered and pay for the water they take.
Kawerau industries that use large amounts of industrial water (such as the mills and heavy industry) have their own supplies (and do not take water from the Council).
Porritt Glade Retirement Village
The Kawerau District Council is now officially registered as a Retirement Village operator.
This process involved the Council appointing a Statutory Manager which is Covenant Trustee Services, the same Trust that is the Statutory Manager for Mountain View Rest Home.
Generation Homes are currently constructing the first six units at the village. The first units are expected to be completed in early June 2020.
The Council is working on the legal documents, which will advise people how to purchase an Occupation Right Agreement, which starts with a 10% deposit of the total $310,000 cost of each unit.
In addition, the purchasers will be required to pay an annual fee of $6,400* to cover rates, insurance, gardening and mowing, exterior maintenance and the fee for Statutory Management and administration. (*This fee will be adjusted each year to cover any changes in these costs).
International Women’s Day programme
The Kawerau Library and Museum has been running events each day this week in the preparation for International Women’s Day this weekend. Daily activities included card-making, a movie screening of Hidden Figure and poetry and stories.
Today there is ‘Muse’ a women’s panel discussion from 12 noon until 1pm. Friday will be TLC for working women’s hands with a free nail buff and polish from 11am until 1pm and a movie screening in the afternoon of ‘War Stories Our Mothers Never Told Us” starting at 12 noon.
On Saturday, 7 March there is kids’ portrait painting session from 12noon until 1pm.
Parks and Recreation projects
Recent Work:
The Parks team (right) cleared obstructions and debris from the Ruruanga Stream behind ‘The Village’ to prevent the water flow being impeded in heavy rain downpours, which resulted in flooding ‘The Village’ in the past.
Friends of Stoneham Walk:
Volunteers from the Friends of Stoneham Walk group (pictured right) cleared out the spring-fed stream from Kirk Crescent that feeds Ruruanga Stream recently. The group meets most Thursday mornings at 10am to work in Stoneham Walk Reserve. New people are welcome to join the group and can phone Sheryll Marshall on 07-323-6675 or 0274-920-999 for more information.
Next Week:
The Ruruanga Stream that runs through Stoneham Walk is having the stream banks lined with rocks in areas that have been washed out to prevent further erosion.
The Bell Street face in Stoneham Walk is being prepared using a long-reach excavator to clear scrub in preparation for revegetation planting in May and June.
Total Fire Ban – Extreme Fire Danger
With only minimal rainfall in the recent week, the Extreme Fire Risk continues.
The Council in conjunction with Fire and Emergency New Zealand wish to advise residents to take caution using machinery and equipment due to the Extreme Fire Risk level. Fires can start from the smallest spark so caution is required when using machinery, equipment and vehicles in the dry conditions. For more information please visit: https://fireandemergency.nz/…/using-machinery-and-equipment/
Kawerau District Council Meeting Dates 2020
Click here for the Kawerau District Council Meeting Schedule 2020
For more information, please contact the Council
Phone 07-306-9009
Visit the Council website www.kaweraudc.govt.nz
Email kaweraudc@kaweraudc.govt.nz