Kapiti Roundup

COUNCIL PUTS PEOPLES SAFETY AHEAD OF WAIKANAE HEDGE

Kāpiti Coast District Councillors are unanimous in their decision to trim back a macrocarpa hedge that is restricting visibility for vehicles and public access to a nearby bus stop on Te Moana Road.

Mayor Gurunathan says the Councillors present at yesterday’s Council briefing all agreed that peoples safety must be put ahead of preserving the aesthetics of the hedge at 84 Te Moana Road.

“We recognise that this hedge is a feature but we can no longer continue to put people at risk. Once a complaint is received the Council has an obligation to the act on the safety concerns raised and that is what we’ve done,” said the Mayor.

Council staff have been proactively working with the owner’s of the hedge since January 2017 to find a workable solution that will address public safety concerns and see the hedge retained. This has consumed a significant amount of staff time and the Council has incurred additional costs associated with external engineering reports.

The hedge is on Council land and encroaches on the road corridor. The Council’s earlier compromise to cut back a corridor along the base of the hedge and to erect a fence to address the safety concerns raised was rejected by the owner’s in March this year.

Group Manager for Infrastructure Services Sean Mallon says the Council has done its best to accommodate the owner’s requests, this includes giving them several extensions of time and looking at alternative options which a representative acting on their behalf said a group in the community would be prepared to meet the cost of up to $82,000 through their own private donations and some fundraising.

“We have followed through on all of our commitments and this matter has now reached a point where we can no longer continue to put road users at risk and work needs to happen now.

“We have been very clear in stating that all costs associated with the alternative option proposed would need to be met by the owner’s – not ratepayers on the Kāpiti Coast - and that if they did not agree to fund the works, as well as trimming the hedge on an annual basis to get it back behind the original kerb line, by 31 May 2017 the Council would take steps to trim the hedge back behind the current kerb at the next available opportunity,” Mr Mallon said.

Ø Media contact for more information – Susan Owens on 04 296 4676 or 027 555 5676.

BE PART OF THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CONVERSATION IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Over the past few weekends, the Kāpiti Coast District Council has teamed up with Red Cross, local Civil Defence volunteers, Volunteer Kāpiti and other community groups to help Kāpiti get tsunami ready. Door-knocking in the Waikanae and Peka Peka tsunami zones is complete and now residents are invited to attend an emergency preparedness drop-in session next Wednesday 7 June from 7pm at the Waikanae Uniting Church Hall.

Group Manager Corporate Services Wayne Maxwell says this is a chance for people to come along and ask any questions they have, as well as be part of a conversation about warning systems in Kāpiti.

“We know that there was confusion after the November earthquake within our community around whether or not people living in evacuation zones should evacuate, and that some were concerned about the absence of tsunami warning sirens,” says Mr Maxwell.

“These sessions are a chance for the community to come and talk to us about what’s in place, and the pros and cons of different options we could consider in the future. Additional sessions will be held in other communities as the door-knocking moves around the Coast, with Raumati up next on Sunday 11 June”, says Mr Maxwell.

More information can be found in the attached flyer.

Photo: Volunteers door-knock in Waikanae to help

Ø Media contact for more information – Cindy Bangs on 04 296 4630 or 027 555 5630.

APPLICATIONS FOR HELP PAYING RATES ENCOURAGED FROM LOW-INCOME EARNERS

Applications for the 2016/2017 rates rebates and water rates remissions are now open.

Group Manager Corporate Services Wayne Maxwell says now is the time for people to be thinking about getting their applications in, as applications close 30 June 2017.

“We know paying rates is tough for some members of our community. Low income homeowners and tenants could be eligible for some help with your property or water rates in our 2016/17 funding round.”

“There are a range of rebates and remissions available, including the Department of Internal Affairs rates rebate subsidy of up to $610 for low income ratepayers, and a Council water rates remission of up to $120 for large families with low incomes, who have high water costs.”

“If you think you could be eligible, check out our website or give us a call to talk through your options.”

For more information:

Visit:
http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/services/A---Z-Council-Services-and-Facilities/rates/rates-rebates for information about the DIA rates rebates

http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/services/A---Z-Council-Services-and-Facilities/rates/Water-Rates/water-rates-remissions/ for more information about Council rates remissions.

Call: 0800 486 486

Email: kapiti.council@kapiticoast.govt.nz

Ø Media contact for more information – Cindy Bangs on 04 296 4630 or 027 555 5630.

WORK TO BEGIN ON PAEKĀKĀRIKI CONNECTION TRACK

Work will begin next week on the first stage of the Paekākāriki Connection Track, a gravel walkway that aims to provide a safer walkway between Paekākāriki and the Escarpment Track.

Parks and Recreation Manager Alison Law says the new walkway will take pedestrians away from heavy traffic volumes through this area. “This section of footpath is used a lot by locals and visitors heading to the Escarpment Walking Track and at the moment, it’s very close to high volumes of traffic. This work will provide a new path that’s pushed back from the traffic in most areas.”

“The works will happen in two stages. The first section will be a compacted gravel path that stretches around 220 metres south of Paekākāriki township. Most of the work will be back from the road so shouldn’t impact traffic and depending on weather, we should be finished in late June or early July,” says Ms Law.

“Once both stages are complete, the new bush walkway will provide a safer option that in most parts will be away from the main highway, and people will be able to walk this track and come out just across the road from the entry to the Escarpment walk.”

ends

© Scoop Media