Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association

The Horowhenua District Council is about to begin the refresh of the Hank Edwards Reserve toilet block and wants the community to know what to expect.

Work should begin from 14 March 2022 and it’s hoped to complete it by 08 July 2022.

Update 10 March 2022: The project costs in the region of $354,000. Note: that averages out to about $7,000 per year for the potential 50 year lifespan of the building.

One really important point though is that Covid-19 could take the project off-track in two ways:

a] Supply chain problems. We’re probably all aware that building supplies and many other goods have been affected by Covid. The contractors have most of the materials they require already in their depot, but a few items are still on order.

b] Staff supply problems. Being able to get the job done requires people to do the work. Covid is affecting some workers connected with the project. As we’re in a Covid surge at the moment both HDC and the contractor have already been affected by having staff away because of Covid. The contractor though is keen to get on with the work without delay and will be making efforts to keep the job moving. [Update 08-Mar-22: the struck out section inaccurately said some HDC staff were affected by Covid. My apologies for the error.]

The work plan

Continue reading “Toilet block update March 2022: work begins!”

With peak Omicron nearby this information will likely be useful for all of us:

The COVID-19 Health Hub is a depository of information around what to do if you test positive for, or are exposed to as a close or household contact of COVID-19: https://covid19.health.nz/advice/

The Health Hub outlines the simple steps to take to recover, isolate, look after yourself or access support and provides direct links to COVID-19 resources such as My Covid Record, Book My Vaccine and Ministry of Health and Unite Against Covid websites.

Please share this handy tool amongst the older people in your networks. For those who aren’t able to access the internet, phone support is available:

Healthline 0800 358 5453
Welfare line 0800 512 337.

In fact, just share it with everyone, not just older folks. Maybe print a copy and put it on your fridge. We all hope none of us will need this info, but if we do, we won’t want to be searching it out.

The long-awaited toilet block upgrade will begin in a few weeks. While work goes on two Portaloos will be in place for public use.

Back in November 2021 we wrote: Plans for new toilet block at Hank Edwards Reserve. Now we have an update from Stephan Titze, Horowhenua District Council, Parks and Property Project Lead:

The contract for the toilet upgrade has been awarded and Lee Builders from Palmerston North will start with the rehabilitation work by mid – end March.

The construction will start with the demolition of the male toilet block which means from mid- March 2022 onwards the toilets as such will no longer be accessible for the public. However, as discussed and agreed I have allowed for the provision of two portable toilets for the time being.

the current material shortage has an impact on this development (later start) and will most likely have also it’s impact in later stage. However for now we can’t say how big the impact will be

It’ll be a relief once this work is complete and locals and visitors alike can benefit from a clean, modern, well-lit, safe and accessible public toilet.