Kāpiti Coast Roundup

Kāpiti’s Great Waste Reduction Initiatives Get Council Grants

Kāpiti Coast District Council’s Grants Allocation Committee has announced this year’s community recipients of its Waste Levy grants for waste reduction projects and technology in Kāpiti. The grants support practical on-the-ground projects that benefit the community by minimising waste, and encourage participation and education.

Nine groups have been selected for full or part-funding of an activity. The separate Innovation grant category for seed funding will be awarded next year.

Just over $10,000 has been awarded to Energise Ōtaki for their Green Bike project, Kenakena School for classroom bins and a worm farm, and Paraparaumu College for materials to build a beach cleaning robot.

A further $10,000 will be shared among six other community groups to part-fund their projects. These include everything from reusable produce bags to an online plastic-free shopping guide for Kāpiti.

“Every year our two grant categories attract a wide range of applications from the community and business. The programme uncovers great initiatives, and helps keep those local ideas and inspiration flowing when it comes to reducing waste coming out of our district,” said Deputy Mayor and Acting Chair of the Grants Committee, Councillor Janet Holborow.

Valued at a total of $70,000, the grants are awarded for ‘Community Education and Projects’ (up to $20,000) and ‘Innovation: New Technologies and Seed Funding’ (up to $50,000).

“Our policy is to allocate this funding so we continue to see an increase in the number, range and scale of waste minimisation activities happening throughout the Coast,” Ms Holborow said.

“The keen interest again in this year’s grants reflects the increasingly positive role the local community and business play in achieving the lowest waste outputs they can - both supporting our local environment and benefiting our economic growth.”

The Council received over a dozen applications this year across both categories.

Community grant recipients are: Energise Ōtaki Inc., Kenakena School, Paraparaumu College, Kāpiti Fresh Coop, Māoriland Charitable Trust, Ōtaki Toy Library, Paraparaumu Baptist Church, Rachel Benefield and the Whaanau Collective.

The innovation category has received three applications to go through to the next stage of the selection process. They are: Organic Wealth, to offer their “Save on Waste” consultancy service to businesses at a reduced cost/partly free; Silaca Glass Crushers Ltd., to support the manufacture of soap containing crushed glass to act as a replacement for plastic microbeads; and Laybys New Zealand Ltd., to purchase equipment for the production of building blocks from recycled glass.

About the grants

The grants are funded by part of the Waste Levy fees paid by waste disposal operators through the Ministry for the Environment, which is then allocated to local bodies to administer. There is no rates funding involved.

The Community Projects category is open to community groups, businesses, Iwi/Maori organisations, educational institutions, neighbourhood groups of at least five households, and other community-based organisations.

The Innovation: New Technologies and Seed Funding category is open to businesses, organisations and individuals. The fund seeks to encourage the establishment of waste minimisation businesses on the Kāpiti Coast and create opportunities for waste minimisation and economic development through innovative processes and technologies.

KĀPITI LIGHTS INVITES COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE THEIR NEW LOOK

The Council’s Kāpiti Lights improvements are almost complete and to celebrate the area’s new look, businesses, with Council support, are inviting the community to participate in an evening of food, family fun, music and entertainment on Thursday 23 November, between 5pm and 7pm.

Mayor Gurunathan says this is a chance for the community to come together and see for themselves how the upgrade has improved the public amenity and increased the vibrancy of the Kāpiti Lights area.

“New paving, planting, seating and local artist Theo Arraj’s mural ‘Metamorphic’ have transformed what was previously a fairly un-inspiring walkway, service lane and car park into welcoming public spaces that everyone in our community can enjoy.

The Kāpiti Lights upgrade has been a joint initiative between the Council, Coastlands and Kāpiti Lights business owners. It is one of the first projects to be completed in the Council’s Paraparaumu town centre transformation programme, which aims to deliver a more a connected, accessible and thriving town centre.

Iride McCoy says Kāpiti Lights businesses and property owners are delighted with the results and can’t wait to show off the area’s new look.

“The late-night opening on 23 November provides an opportunity for the community to explore businesses in the area and how the improved public spaces can be used.

“There’ll be plenty to keep people entertained, with games, face painting and music in the family area, as well as a butterfly hunt,” says Ms McCoy.

“For those who fancy grabbing a bite to eat from one of the many eateries in the Kāpiti Lights area, a dining area with more music will be set up in the Coastlands Parade laneway.”

Coastlands Managing Director Richard Mansell says the upgrade has significantly improved the connections between Coastlands and Kāpiti Lights.

“This will make it safer and easier for people to move around and will encourage more people to stop and explore our town centre.”

If the weather isn’t favourable on the 23rd, the late night opening will be postponed until Thursday 30 November.

For more information about the Kāpiti Lights late night opening and the Council’s town centres transformation programme visit www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/town-centres.

Photo opportunity: Please come along on 23 November and see what’s going on. The Mayor will be doing the official opening at 5.30pm in Coastlands Parade laneway.

KĀPITI COAST BEACH PATROLS START THIS WEEKEND

The Kāpiti Coast District Council starts its annual summer beach patrols this weekend with assistance from the Police, warning people about where they can and cannot drive.

Environmental Standards Manager Jacquie Muir says that Council staff will be working closely with the Police to ensure that beaches are safe for all users, at all times.

“The stretch of beach from the Paraparaumu Boating Club north to Waikanae is the area most densely populated with walkers and people playing in the sand or water. This is why our beach bylaw restricts cars driving on that part of the beach,” she says.

“The only reason vehicles should be there is to launch or retrieve boats at designated spots or if they have specific permission to park for easier access.

“The Council will provide details of offenders who have previously been spoken to, and request that the Police issue infringements to them.”

Under the Land Transport Act, the Council has no power to issue infringements for moving vehicle offences and it is up to the Police to enforce at their discretion.

For more information about beach safety, go to http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/Our-District/Beaches/beach-safety-over-summer

FREE NEUTERING SERVICES OFFERED ON THE KĀPITI COAST

Council is offering free neutering services for menacing dogs thanks to funding provided by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).

Environmental Standards Manager Jacquie Muir says that Kāpiti Coast District Council is one of 34 councils in the country receiving a grant for neutering menacing dogs, which aims to reduce incidents of dog attacks.

“All five classifications of menacing dogs – American Pit Bull, Brazilian Fila, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa and Perro de Presa Canario – are eligible for the free neutering. Unregistered menacing dog breeds that have never been registered with the Kāpiti Coast District Council are also eligible for free microchipping and registration under the campaign.”

For more information, please contact the Council on 04 296 4700 or 0800 486 486 or visit our website www.kapiticoast.govt.nz.

DECEMBER OPENING FOR ŌTAKI POOL CONFIRMED

The $5.4 million Ōtaki Pool redevelopment will open Friday 15 December, right in time for summer.

Parks and Recreation Manager Alison Law says this is great news for the Ōtaki community.

“We're really excited to reopen this fantastic facility that Ōtaki locals have waited so patiently for. We'll formally open the new pool and free-to-use splash pad on the Friday and hold a fun day on Saturday 16 December. We're sure everyone will be excited that this is happening right in time for summer and the school holidays."

The upgrade brings improved access, with the addition of a ramp to the main pool, a more user-friendly reception and entrance, and the removal of fences between Haruatai Park, the pool and the new splash pad. The rebuild also includes separated filtration systems between the toddler and main pools, the installation of acoustic panelling to reduce noise, and an upgrade to the air handling system.

While Ōtaki residents wait for the pool to reopen they can continue to swim for free at the Coastlands Aquatic Centre in Paraparaumu and at Waikanae Pool.

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