Kawhia Community Board

The following issues were discussed at a Kawhia Community Board meeting on July 28.

New $175,000 loos at Kawhia: Contractor rearing to go

The Kawhia community does not have to hold on anymore, as the development of new public toilets gets underway.
Last week the old toilet block at the end of Jervois St was demolished.
Considered by Otorohanga District Council as very high priority, the project was discussed at a Kawhia Community Board meeting on Thursday.
Having received two tenders for the job, both from Hamilton and similarly priced, the contract was awarded to Mitchell Construction.
Engineering manager Dave Clibbery told board members how pleasing it was to have a contractor who was very keen to get started on the project.
"We've got a rare situation of having a building contractor who wants to get straight to work and wants to start building next week."
With a tendered price of about $175,000, Mr Clibbery said the project would also incur costs of $9400 towards architect's fees and about $15,000 for other works outside the scope of the main contract.
While the overall cost of the project will be relatively high, Mr Clibbery said it was in line with council's expectations.

Treasures are protected

The vulnerability of a historic tree and rock has concerned Kawhia residents for some time.
However, residents will no longer have to worry, following a Kawhia Community Board decision to repair their form of protection.
At a meeting last Thursday it was decided a deteriorated masonry coastal groyne near Panera St would be repaired in order to protect the ground surrounding the historic tree and Te Papa-o-Karewa rock from erosion.
The groyne (a structure of timber used to stop shifting of sea beaches) is believed to be more than 50 years old and has had sections of wall collapse during recent months.
Otorohanga District Council engineering manager Dave Clibbery said the remaining structure is considered "sufficiently sound" for effective repairs to be carried out.
The estimated cost of repairs is about $5000 although this may be reduced, as local residents are willing to contribute labour, plant and materials.
Mr Clibbery said resource consents would need to be obtained from Environment Waikato before work can begin, as the groyne structure had never been authorised.
He said it would is expected that consent would be granted.
Council staff are also investigating the possibility of obtaining funding from the Historic Places Trust.
Board member Ray Tooman said that because of the importance of the area, it was necessary special ceremonies take place before and after any work was carried out.
He also requested that something, such as a garden or low wood structure, be positioned around the tree to prevent vehicles parking on its roots and causing damage.

Unhappy at sinking

The board will voice their dissatisfaction with the handling of a recent boat sinking, to Environment
Waikato.
The issue was raised by board member Murray Livingstone who said he was concerned with how long it had taken for the boat to be lifted from the seabed.
The 48ft steel launch sunk in the Kawhia Harbour several weeks ago, but was still in the water when the issue was discussed last Thursday.
Board members were also unhappy that diesel from the vessel had leaked into the harbour and washed up onshore near Kawhia wharf.
Otorohanga District Council chief executive David Hall said he would send a letter regarding the issue to Environment Waikato.

No light for entranceway

Kawhia will have to make do with an additional streetlight to illuminate the town's entranceway sign. The possibility of installing more lights near the sign was discussed at last Thursday's community board meeting. ODC engineering manager Dave Clibbery said the issue had been discussed in the past and several possible lighting options, such as spotlights, researched. However, the minimum cost of installing these forms of lighting was estimated at $3000.
Mr Clibbery said additional streetlights had been installed since the issue was first discussed but, due to an error in placement by the contractor, a further streetlight would soon be installed near the 50km sign free of charge. The board decided to see what effect an additional streetlight would have on illuminating the entranceway sign before revisiting the issue.

Kawhia alone in emergency

In time of civil emergency, Kawhia could well be left on its own.
That is the message from Hamilton City Council emergency management officer Les Billcliff.
Mr Billcliff told board members he would be spending time in Kawhia in coming months, developing a basic civil emergency plan in case disaster strikes.
In charge of overseeing civil emergencies in the Waipa, Otorohanga and Waitomo districts, Mr Billcliff said because of Kawhia's isolation, it is likely the community could be cut off and left to fend for itself in times of emergency.
However, he believes Kawhia would be more than capable of looking after itself.
"I strongly believe this community would not have an issue surviving 72 hours or more without assistance."
Mr Billcliff suggested the community puts together a civil emergency handbook listing resources such as radios and boats, which would be useful when disaster strikes.
"It's about knowing what's in your community." A similar book has been compiled in Marakopa.
Mr Billcliff said the most likely form of civil emergency to affect Kawhia would be flooding.