Community Update – 28 March 2023

Subject: Invitation to Rates Review hui at Horowhenua District Council

Good afternoon,

We would like to invite you and your members to Horowhenua District Council’s Rates Review hui on Wednesday 29 May at 7:30 pm, at Council’s Civic Building in Levin.

You might remember that last year Council promised to do a Rates Review.  We’re doing that now and would like to discuss that with you.  This is being done as part of a combined Long Term Plan Amendment and Annual Plan process.

Council will be presented with the draft Consultation Document and supporting information to consider adopting on Wednesday 22 May. If adopted, consultation will begin on Monday 27 May 2023.  This sets out the options we’d like feedback on.

The Rates Review is one of the key issues. The purpose of the rates review is to determine if our current system for distributing rates across the district is fair.

Council would like to invite you to the hui we are holding in Council Chambers, Civic Building, 126 Oxford St, Levin.

This is an open meeting but we are specifically inviting iwi, hapu, ratepayers and progressive associations, Grey Power and Federated Farmers to this meeting because of your interest in these issues and to provide you and your members an early opportunity to hear from Elected Members and staff about options proposed, why, and to ask questions as the consultation period starts.  We will hold a range of further events and opportunities for discussion throughout the consultation period, and we’d welcome any further questions from yourselves and others.

I appreciate there’ll be a lot of calls on your time and hope you’ll be able to attend.

Please RSVP, with the number of people attending, to this email address (ltp@horownenua.govt.nz) by COB Monday 27 March 2023.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Thank you,

Carolyn Dick
Strategic Planning Manager | Kaihautū Rangapū Hinonga Arawaka

Waea Mahi | (06) 366 0999
Waea Pukoro | +64272623130

126 Oxford Street, Levin
Private Bag 4002, Levin 5540

Community Update – 11 February 2023

Media Release – Civil Defence Emergency Management team monitoring situation as Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle gathers momentum – 10 February 2023 

Horowhenua District Council’s Civil Defence Emergency Management team met today in preparation for the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle to the district.

Early modelling shows the Upper North and East Coast of the North Island will be most severely impacted by the impending weather system, however Horowhenua can expect severe gales of between 120km and140km from Tuesday, and the Tararua Range is likely to receive a substantial amount of rain.

The severe wind and heavy rainfall anticipated could mean fallen trees, power outages, rapidly rising rivers, potential flooding, hazardous driving conditions and possible challenges for our treatment plants.  Council and contractors are keeping a watching brief throughout the weekend as the situation develops. 

Civil Defence Emergency Management Controller Brent Harvey says “At this stage the modelling is showing Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle’s path veering to the east of our district, however these types of weather systems are changeable, so it’s important we all be prepared.”

 We encourage the community to do what they can to prepare for Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle:

  • In an emergency, call 111.
  • Stay informed of weather updates on www.metservice.com/national.  Follow Council’s Facebook page @HorowhenuaDC for local Civil Defence Emergency updates
  • Make a plan – now is a good time to refresh your grab bag (one grab bag per person) and household emergency plan. More info is available on getready.govt.nz/en/prepared/household/
  • Secure any items that could get blown about and cause harm in strong winds
  • Clean drains and gutters, trim any loose tree branches
  • Check on your neighbours and anyone who might need your help.
  • During a weather event, close windows, external and internal doors.  Pull curtains or blinds over unprotected glass areas to prevent injury from shattered or flying glass.
  • Bring pets inside, move stock to shelter.  If you have to evacuate take your pets with you.
  • Limit any unnecessary travel.

 Always put your safety first. Act quickly if you see rising water. Never try to walk, swim or drive through flood water.

 If need be, follow any instructions about evacuation of your area. Self-evacuate if you feel unsafe. 

Find out what to do before, during and after a storm on getready.govt.nz/en/emergency/storms/.

Committee Update – 7 February 2023

IN MEMORY – Carl GIBSON

Following the sudden passing of well-known and respected local Carl GIBSON, the committee decided to donate to the “Trees That Count” organisation in memory of Carl. The organisation has subsequently advised us about the trees that will be planted in Carl’s honour in a local planting project.

Our deepest condolences to Carl’s family and friends.

Below is the reply the committee received following the donation.

 

Thanks again for your recent donation to Trees That Count. 

We are excited to let you know that the native tree(s) you donated have now been matched to a planting project. Your native tree(s) will be planted by Makaretu Planting Project. To find out more about this planting project, you can check out Makaretu Planting Project’s Tree Profile.  

Thanks for being a part of the movement to see millions more native trees planted throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. We really appreciate your support.

Ngā mihi,

Trees That Count

 

Makaretu Planting Project

Farming / Forestry / Rural (Manawatu-Whanganui)

Makaretu is a 14 Hectare block on the Eastern bank of the Makaretu stream at the confluence of the Ōhau river in the Horowhenua. It has been farmed for over 80 years and there is sparse remaining bush. The terrain is alluvial terraces with a stream, a river and numerous springs feeding wetland areas. The topography is that of numerous terraces that have been carved from the changing course of the Makaretu over thousands of years.

The vision for this block is to retire 70% of the land into permanent native forest, and restore the health of the river, which is located upstream from the potable water supply for the town of Levin. Excluding stock and improving the stability of the river will have a significant impact on improving the water quality for much of the local community. Furthermore the nearby Gladstone reserve on the Ōhau river is a popular recreational area and we hope that restoring the forest adjacent to the Makaretu river will improve the amenity value for the public. We have completed extensive fencing to exclude stock, and undertaken a weed eradication programme to eliminate the naturalised blackberry and barberry on our block. Our neighbours on the eastern side of the Makaretu are committed to undertaking a similar programme of restoration work to ensure the success of this project and the future health of the Makaretu.

Burglary at Waikawa Beach 09 February 2022

From the Neighbourhood Support Newsletter 11th February 2022 a report of a daytime burglary at Waikawa Beach Rd (630-660) on 09 February 2022.

Newsletter screenshot.

Information supplied in the weekly newsletter from Deborah Campbell, District Coordinator | Horowhenua Neighbourhood Support, L/L 06 3660574 – P 021 222 1006, E info@horowhenuansg.org.nz, C/ Levin Police Station: 7 Bristol Street, Levin 5510.

If you’d like to receive the weekly newsletters for yourself, contact Deborah directly.