Kerbside food scrap bin replacements
The high winds we've had over the last couple of weeks have been unfortunate with the rollout of kerbside food scrap bins. Even recycling and general waste bins caused a bit of havoc on East Coast Road some days too. If your bin goes missing or is broken, please contact Council for a free replacement by calling (09) 301 0101 or https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/rubbish-recycling/bin-requests/Pages/bin-repair-missing-bin-request.aspx
Bringing in the bins as soon as you can on windy days is best, but understandably not always possible. In the meantime, I have discussed one possible solution with Council's waste team - I believe the general waste (blue/yellow) bins are coming to the end of their life and are due for renewal soon, so I have suggested the merits of adding a hook to them so that on windy days when the contractor empties the food scraps bins, they can hook the small bin onto the larger waste bin to help secure it. This won't always be possible, but it could help stop the majority of smaller bins moving around on high-wind days.
Work coming up in the East Coast Bays
Mairangi Arts Centre - roof works
Work is scheduled to commence at Mairangi Bay Arts Centre as part of the ‘Hibiscus and Bays – Park Building Renewal’ project. The work started toward the end of May 2023 with an estimated completion at the end of July 2023.
Dan Jones Bluff - tree pruning work week of 17 July
Work is planned to take place on the Notable Pine tree on the cliff edge Dan Jones Bluff, Beechwood Road, Rothesay Bay on 19 July (weather dependent). The current plans are for Treescape to use a helicopter and 90t crane to undertake the work.
During the January flooding event and Cyclone, the ground cracked further and the tree moved/leant over further. These cracks were present approx. 5 years ago but the whole area has opened up further and the cliff face/banking does pose a risk of failure. If this was to happen a large section of the cliff/walkway would fall, due to the movement of the tree and the potential for soil/cliff failure in further weather events. It has been decided in conjunction with the Heritage Arborist and the Senior Arborist, that a weight reduction is warranted to reduce the pressure on the cliff. The tree has begun to show signs of upper canopy dieback and our arborists are unsure of the future of the tree - at some point full removal will be needed, and this tree will be monitored and managed accordingly. It should be noted that the tree will look drastically different once the work has been completed. Please see the image for a rough idea of pruning.
Freyberg Park & Sherwood Reserve upgrades
The bridge and footpath renewals at Freyberg Park and Sherwood Reserve are nearly complete. Some sections within the reserve that was outside the scope of this particular renewal project and will be upgraded in future years.
Aicken Reserve new lighting
This Local Board Transport Capital Fund project is nearly complete.
Track Elected Members' meeting attendance
Did you know that Elected Members' attendance at business meetings, workshops and, where relevant, community forums, are tracked and published? Check it out on Auckland Council Takinga mahi me tōna puata mai / Performance and transparency webpage. This is just one small step Auckland Council have taken in the last year or so to help provide some transparency to residents' of how hard your Elected Members are working for you. A small step to help, but don't be fooled - attending meetings doesn't necessarily correlate to being an effective representative and advocating well for your community.
June Board meetings
This Business meeting had a number of really interesting deputations and public forum sessions. We moved a number of actions to address the concerns raised by residents in and around Bute Road, Browns Bay relating to flooding issues they experienced in January. Equally concerning was the presentation from the Browns Bay Racquets Club outlining the serious issue they have- they've just replaced their courts following flooding damage but have now been told they will no longer be insured.
20 June Business meeting - Local Board Plan Draft and consultation coming
Usually we have just one business meeting a month, but this was added to our schedule to adopt the Draft Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Plan 2023 (our three year strategic planning document).
Upcoming Have Your Say events during the consultation period:
• Tuesday 25 July 2023, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Ōrewa Library, 12 Moana Avenue, Ōrewa
• Tuesday 1 August 2023, 10:00am – 12:30pm, Hibiscus and Bays Local Board office, East Coast Bays Community Centre, 2 Glen Road, Browns Bay
This meeting is also where we adopted the local content for the Annual Budget, which includes the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Agreement 2023/2024.
School holiday ideas
Matariki at MERC
This Matariki (14-16 July), immerse yourself and your family in a celebration of Matariki the MERC way! Expect to gain more knowledge about the celebration of Matariki, engage in recreational activities relating to the different stars of Matariki, and gain a greater sense of community with this family camp experience.
There are booking options for the full weekend experience, an evening and Matariki viewing experience, or a single session experience. Sign up and join the fun.
Arts
Mairangi Arts Centre and Estuary Arts Centre (Orewa) have some awesome creative classes during the school term and school holidays.
Auckland Museum exhibition: Egypt, In the Time of Pharaohs
Experience ancient Egyptian culture and see how life flourished along the banks of the Nile. And if you haven't already, check out Peter and Barbara - two of the rarest, real T. rex skeletons ever discovered in a world-first only at Auckland Museum.
June in photos
Sally Cargill's farewell/thank you afternoon tea; Rotary Browns Bay Changeover night (Julia Parfitt and Sally Cargill both receiving Paul Harris Fellowship awards); Orewa School completed another Ko Te Wai He Taonga (Water is a Treasure programme).
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