WATERCARE PLANT

A better ecological assessment needs to be done on the potential sites for a new water treatment plant (WTP), the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society says. Its submission to Watercare said birds had been counted at Manuka Rd, but otherwise only vegetation - mostly trees - had been looked at across the shortlisted sites. Freshwater ecology in waterways, amphibians, reptiles, bats and insects had not been looked at. WRPS said that without a full ecological assessment it was impossible to fully understand the effects of a new WTP at the different sites. However, based on the information available, the society supported rebuilding on the current site first, next to it on Manuka Rd second and on Parker Rd third.

GREEN FLAGS

Three west Auckland parks are among 11 in the city to receive a Green Flag Award. Twenty-two were given out across New Zealand and Australia for the 2016/2017 year, and included Olympic Park in New Lynn, Parrs Park in Glen Eden and

Waikumete Cemetery in Glen Eden. An Auckland Council press release said the award was launched in England 21 years ago and was an international quality mark for parks. The council’s head of parks services, Mark Bowater, said a Green Flag represented the highest standard of park management in community involvement, public safety, maintenance and sustainability.

NEIGHBOURLY SWAPS

Unwanted items can now be traded on the social media website Neighbourly. In a council press release, Waitakere councillor Penny Hulse said the move would foster closer community relationships and reduce the council’s inorganic collection.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BILL

A new law to better protect victims of domestic violence in the workplace is now being consulted on. Green MP Jan Logie’s members bill would give victims a minimum of 10 days’ paid leave among other changes. Go to tinyurl.com/DomesticViole nceBill for more.