Pirongia park
Skate park concept designs for Pirongia are being finalised following community consultation earlier this year. The adjacent playground has been included in the project which will draw on community fundraising activities and Waipā District Council to fund.
Reserve refresh
Consultation with iwi is underway for the renewal of the playground in Hiskens Place Reserve, Te Awamutu. Waipā council has also conducted a customer survey. Construction should start later next year.
Garden beds
The Te Awamutu Food Forest continues to attract strong community support and more garden beds for vegetables have been developed in Pekarau Reserve, where a wastewater upgrade is due for completing this month.
Jockey top again
James McDonald. Photo: Trish Dunell.
Waipā jockey James McDonald soon to join the Cambridge Sports Walk of Fame, has been named the world’s best jockey for the second time in three years. Kaipaki born McDonald received his trophy in Hong Kong last Friday.
Open garden
Jan and Bill Mathers’ Cambridge garden, which featured in the recent Rotary Garden Festival, will be open to the public on Sunday. During the festival visitors said they would be keen to return when the hydrangeas were in bloom. The couple will donate the $5 entry fee to Kids In Need.
April theme
Jan Mackenzie was first in the short story competition watched by sponsor David Cooney and festival chair Alana Mackay.
The theme for Cambridge Autumn Festival’s short story writing competition is April Fools and entries close in early February. The festival will be in full swing on April 1 prompting organisers to come up with the theme. Cambridge’s Jan Mackenzie this year became the first Waipā author to win the competition.
Spraying done
Waipā’s sports fields and open space have had an extensive tidy up with spraying for Onehunga, Cape Daisy and general broadleaf weeds top of the work programme. Staff also took the opportunity to fix damage in nearby plants and playgrounds and clean up graffiti.
With the flow
The flow form waterfall when it was running. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The flow form waterfall which has been out of action at Cambridge’s Lake Te Koo Utu for some time because of a bore issue, could begin flowing again. The council is working with designer Ian Trousdell to repair parts of the asset.
Venues miss out
Cambridge Town Hall missed out on Entertainment Venues Association small venue of the year award and Simon Brew the team leader at the association’s annual awards in Auckland last week. It was pipped to the under 1000 seat title by The Turner Centre of Kerikeri. Mystery Creek Events Centre lost out to Go Media Stadium for the large venue of the year title.
Fluoride order
Water. Photo: Pixabay
Director-General of Health Dr Diana Sarfati has confirmed Cambridge’s water supply must have fluoride added to it, endorsing an original July 2022 directive. Her assessment is that the benefits of fluoridating the water in Cambridge outweigh the rights of individuals to refuse medical treatment. It will take about nine months to install equipment to add the fluoride.
Local expert
Te Awamutu waste to energy board of inquiry member Nicholas Manukau is the Environmental Protection Authority’s local expert. At December’s Strategic Policy and Planning Committee meeting Waipa District councillor Lou Brown asked strategy group manager Kirsty Downey which of the three board members who will decide Global Contracting Solution’s resource consent application had local knowledge. “My understanding is that Nichola Manukau fulfils that role,” Downey said.
More time please
Cambridge’s Chamber of Commerce has told the Waipā District Council it wants 60 minute parking in the town centre extended to 90. The chamber said a survey of retailers supported more time, but they were divided over 90 and 120 minute limits. Waipā District Council was expected to confirm this week a trial for the new times.
Weeds winning
Bamboo can be seen from the Camellia Walkway.
Large areas of Te Koo Utu reserve have been overtaken with weed growth including bamboo, convolvulus and jasmine prompting community concern. Waipā Community Services manager Brad Ward said staff do not have te resources to manage the weeds, particularly those on steep banks. The areas will be incorporated into a Vegetation Management Plan and considered for the Long Term Plan.
Double trouble
Waipa’s new double decker bus
The double decker electric bus which was to have been on the Cambridge 20 regional bus service from this week has been delayed due to a power lines issue in Leamington. Driver testing discovered the issue and Waipā Networks will move the lines. The double decker is operating on the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi 24 service.
Lights on
The green space by Cambridge’s Jubilee Gardens – in front of Cambridge Town Hall – will be among town landmarks lit up from Sunday for the festive season. The aim of the light installation is to enhance the CBD’s natural beauty, said Cambridge Chamber of Commerce chief executive Kelly Bouzaid. Other landmarks, the Town Clock, National Hotel and the Town Hall will also come to life.
Regatta starts
2600 rowers are competing at Lake Karapiro this week. Photo – Art of Rowing / Rowing NZ.
The Lake Karāpiro Christmas regatta which gets underway tomorrow for three days is the largest ever held in New Zealand with more than 2600 rowers competing on the lake. There will be a 2000m race held every four minutes over 10 hours each of the three days, organisers say.
New playgrounds
Designs for a new playground at Whakahaumako Reserve in Keri Rua Road – just before the Kaipaki Rd turnoff in Leamington – have been finalised and construction is underway. Another new playground in the Bridleways Estate, behind Patrick Hogan Ryman Retirement Village, will open in February. Meanwhile Leamington Domain playground renewal and upgrade starts early next year.
Street names
Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā have provided three Kotare Park Developments road names for use in the subdivision off Silverwood Lane in Leamington. Mahi Kaari (gardening), Whakapiki (sustain) and Whakarawe (provide) lanes are a continuation of the gardening theme in the development.
Old oak to go
Waipā District Council arborist planner James Richardson with the 100-year-old oak tree in Victoria Square.
Two significant tree removals are scheduled for Cambridge, including the removal of a 100-year-old oak tree from Victoria Square and pine trees from the riverbank below the Meadow Walkway. The oak tree, one of the original plantings in Victoria Square, has developed two significant vertical cracks, and was assessed as a safety hazard to people using the park.
