Seawall to protect Ōmāpere coastline
Construction of a seawall designed to halt the erosion of land in Ōmāpere, which includes Freese Park, has begun and is expected to take four months to complete.
At approximately 120 metres long, the new structure will ensure an entire section of the beach is protected by filling a gap between two existing seawalls. Installing beach access and landscaping are also part of the project.
Without intervention, council assets including a wastewater pipeline, public playground, toilets, and a carpark are in danger of being claimed by the Hokianga Habour. Coastal erosion has already removed over nine metres of beachfront land over the past decade.
A blessing by kaitiaki from Ngāti Korokoro was held on Friday 24 February and was attended by local hapū representatives, contractors and Far North Holdings, which is managing the build.
As well as the council owned Freese Park Reserve, the sea wall will protect privately owned land at 7 Freese Park Road and 308 Hokianga Drive. Following negotiations, these property owners have agreed to make financial contributions to the project. This was necessary as the council cannot fund structures to protect private property.
The seawall will consist of large boulders placed on geo-technical fabric designed to stop earth from being washed into the ocean.
The council consulted with the community in 2021 on options to protect Freese Park. Options presented included different types of seawall, as well as ‘managed retreat’ (planting to encourage dune stabilisation to slow erosion) or of doing nothing. While cheaper, the options of 'managed retreat' and 'doing nothing' would have required the eventual relocation of at-risk council infrastructure, which would have incurred their own costs.
High tides will influence the June completion time frame of the sea wall, as will weather conditions.
Facelift for Kaikohe public toilets
Public toilets at Kaikohe’s Marino Court are getting a facelift. The refurbishment will involve a full paint job, replacement toilet pans, repairs to the internal doors and brand-new hand basins.
In the meantime, the toilets have been closed to the public. Temporary portable toilets are in place for the public to use. Security fencing is now in place while the works are underway. The refurbishment is expected to take approximately two weeks.
Kai Ora fund applications open
Northland’s successful sustainable kai initiative, the Kai Ora Fund, is open for applications. The Kai Ora Fund provides grants of up to $5,000 and project support for community-led initiatives that increase the availability of healthy kai, address food security, and improve community resilience. Community groups, whānau trusts, social enterprises, and small businesses are invited to apply.
The Kai Ora Fund has supported nearly 250 grassroots projects since it began in 2015. Last year, 42 community projects across Tai Tokerau received a total of $141,195 to support initiatives including māra kai for marae, projects on whenua Māori, and education and capacity-building workshops to help people grow fresh food.
The Kai Ora Fund is a partnership between Mahitahi Hauora, Te Whatu Ora, Te Puni Kōkiri, Far North District Council, Whangārei District Council, Kaipara District Council, the Ministry of Social Development, Foundation North, and Healthy Families Far North. Together they support community initiatives that address food security in Northland through annual grants and project support. Applications close at 12pm on Friday 24 March 2023.
To apply visit www.kaiorafund.com. You can also contact Mahitahi Hauora on kaiora@mahitahihauora. co.nz, or call 09 438 1015 for more information.
Easter shopping confirmed
The council has adopted a new Easter Sunday Shop Trading Policy, reaffirming a decision made in 2017 to allow shops throughout the district to open on Easter Sunday. The new policy replaces the existing one and will apply from this year on Easter Sunday 9 April. While only minor changes and corrections to the wording were made, the council sought feedback from the public on the new policy. The public, business associations, unions and religious organisations, including interdenominational associations, were asked for their views between May and August 2022. In all, 140 submissions were received, 62 per cent were in favour of the draft policy with 36 per cent against. Two per cent did not specify a position.
The council noted that the policy does not stop Christians observing their faith on the holy day, that no complaints about the current policy on Easter Sunday trading had been received, and that the rights of shop employees are fully protected by legislation. Section 5H of the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990, protects the right of employees to refuse to work on Easter Sunday.
Birthday cake for Paihia Library
It's hard to believe it has been 20 years since Paihia Library moved into the Williams House. Council staff marked the occasion with a birthday cake on 22 February. (Thank you Louise!)
The library is an important historical site for the Bay of Islands and an important facility providing library services six days a week for 4000 permanent residents and many visitors to the Bay of Islands.