Meetings
The following members were elected to the WBRA Committee for the 2018 year. Elaine White, Treasurer; Kevin Burns, Secretary; Liz Duncan, Lesley-Anne Walker, Warwick Bainbridge, Yvonne Small, Miraz Jordan, Debra Betts, Gary Whitaker, Dominic Hayden, John Sharp, and John Hewitson as Chairperson.
Membership
In the 2017/2018 financial year our membership was 89 paid members and so far this year 2018/2019 we have 72 fully paid members.
This year we gave the newsletter a new look and started putting it out monthly and in return there has been a very positive response. We email the newsletter to 184 people. There were 125 comments on the website, and most were about the Horowhenua District Council Plan consultation earlier in the year and quite a few about horses on the southern track in Strathnaver.
In 2018 we updated our brochure, and thanks to Margaret and Kevin Burns it was put in most letter boxes around Waikawa.
We also use Twitter and Facebook to keep the community informed.
Rubbish Collection
We remind residents to get rubbish out before 7.30am or it might not be collected. The response by residents to recycling has again been very good, and the support for the H.D.C. sponsored recycling truck at Christmas/New Year was excellent.
Defibrillator (AED)
The pads were replaced during the year and battery condition is checked regularly.
Beach Access
Access to the beach has been a real problem during the year and despite many meetings with both Horizons Regional Council and the Horowhenua District Council (H.D.C.) nothing has been resolved. Meetings have also been conducted between our committee, affected residents and the Horizons Consultants Tonkin Taylor to supply them with as much detail as possible, but to date we have not heard back with any plans for remedial work on the river.
Roading and Grounds
Because of the lack of good safe vision past the planting at the entrance to the Waikawa Settlement the HDC removed most of the foliage on the left hand side to remedy the problem.
The HDC has also carried out a survey on Waikawa Beach Road between Emma Drive and Walkers Lane in preparation for upgrading this section of the road. (yellow markings).
The committee has had to contact HDC on several occasions to get parts of Waikawa Beach road repaired and this is ongoing.
Peter and Wendy Clarke have again kept the lawns and gardens at the entrance tidy.
HDC contractors have mowed the grass berms around the village and at the Hank Edwards Reserve and the gutters have been swept periodically during the year.
Repairs have been carried out on the footbridge and further work is planned for the coming financial year.
Neighbourhood Support and Vandalism
New signage has been erected around the settlement about Neighbourhood Support. In recent weeks a very alert resident spotted unusual activity around houses and reported immediately to the Police. As a result three persons were taken into custody after two homes had been entered and a quantity of property stacked ready for removal.
Again, we encourage everyone to jot down the registration number of suspicious vehicles at neighbours properties. Security cameras and alarm systems are also good ideas.
General
Wendy and Peter Clarke are to be congratulated for their wonderful lighting display at 2 James Street.
I would like to thank the following for their support during the year.
Councillor Christine Mitchell (HDC) for her support for the committee at council.
Kevin Burns for his work as Secretary during the year.
Elaine White for her work on our finances.
Miraz Jordan for all the hours upgrading our communications systems and the wealth of information she has passed on to members.
The committee and their spouses for all their support ideas, and behind the scenes work.
John Hewitson
Chairperson
Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association