Cyberlink

A place for the Omokoroa community to come together to learn about news, events, things to do and more.

BOP Council Update

Have Your Say this Saturday on Recycling, Rubbish and Pokies

Your Kaimai Ward Councillors will be at Settlers Hall this Saturday from 9am -12 Noon to receive feedback from the community on proposals to introduce Council contracted rubbish and recycling collections as well as a number of bylaw and policy proposals including gaming machines and beehives on urban properties.

If these issues are important to you this is your opportunity to speak directly to the Mayor and Councillors and make a submission on any Annual Plan issue.

If you cannot make it to this meeting there will be another opportunity on Wednesday 3 April at Te Puna Quarry Park Gallery from 4pm – 7pm.

How to stop ‘Pokies’ in Omokoroa

One part of the Council ‘Have your say’ consultation running from 18 March to 18 April concerns the Class 4 Gambling Venues. (Pokies, slot machines, gaming machines).
Council is suggesting a sinking lid policy. Only those currently operating can continue. No new ones can be installed and none can be shifted from one premise to another.
If you feel that gaming machines (pokies) are harmful to society then support the Council in this approach.
If the Council proposal is supported by the community then the change will come into force later this year. This means that when the proprietors of the Locals’ Bar and Eatery apply for their licence renewal at the end of their first 12 months of operation, they will NOT be able to apply for a gaming machine licence.
Support the Council proposal and there will never be pokies in Omokoroa.

Neighbourhood Support Street Coordinators

Are you currently running a Neighbourhood Support group on your street but have not heard from Omokoroa Neighbourhood Support lately? Following some changes in the team managing the local network, we may not have your contact details or realise your group is operating. If you think this might include you please get in touch.

Alternatively if you are not currently part of Neighbourhood Support or are interested in setting up a network on your street please also give us a call for more information. We are working hard to build the Omokoroa network this year to benefit everyone in our growing community.

Call Cathy 021 704686 / Annabel 021 445476 or email: nsomokoroa@wbopns.org.nz

Flying start for Pest-free Te Puna

Te Puna’s pest-free programme got off to a flying start on Saturday, 2 March, with more than 100 people attending and all 78 traps given out – with a wait list for more.
Held at Waitui Reserve, the day aimed to encourage the Te Puna community to band together against rodents.
The programme is part of Predator Free Bay of Plenty – a multi-agency initiative supported by Envirohub, Western Bay District and Tauranga City councils, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Department of Conservation, NZ Landcare Trust and Bay Conservation Alliance.
Council’s Community Adviser Glenn Ayo was impressed with the high number of people who turned up at the Te Puna launch.
“It’s heartening to see a community respond so well to what is ultimately the responsibility of all Kiwis, that being the protection of our taonga, our wildlife. This commitment shows the awareness people have and this programme offers a valid way to make a difference from your own backyard. The agencies, such as Council, are just there to support the community,” says Glenn.
Predator Free BOP Co-ordinator Janie Stevenson says the Te Puna programme is away to a great start.
“The take-home message for people getting traps is to check and freshly bait the traps twice weekly – and to persevere with this regime – even if the rats aren’t about. They will come.”
With Autumn around the corner it is a good time for the pest-free action as it is a busy rat season, says Janie.
One trap per household has been supplied by Predator-Free Bay of Plenty and the aim is to get a trap into every fifth backyard.
The pest-free action, which is a project under the Te Puna Community Plan, aims to lend a hand to preserving bird life in the Te Puna bush and river areas under attack by pests.
If anyone would like a trap or advice about the programme, please contact Pest-free Te Puna, Kim Edwards 021 387 929 or Mary Foster 07 552 5516.
Information about the Predator Free Bay of Plenty programme check on this link on Council’s website: https://www.westernbay.govt.nz/our-council/news/pages/Pest-Free-Te-Puna-kicks-off.aspx

KiwiCamp location to go out for consultation

Western Bay of Plenty District Council has put the new KiwiCamp facility at Waihi Beach on hold until next summer.

Discussion on possible location options in Waihi Beach will be part of a future community engagement process later this year.

The KiwiCamp facility was to have been located at the Waihi Beach Community Centre for this summer’s peak season. It was one of four initiatives designed to reduce freedom camping complaints and to encourage responsible, enjoyable travelling for campers, both domestic and international.

“This summer, Council, with Central Government funding, has invested in compactor rubbish bins, security cameras, and increased security services at popular freedom camping sites,” says Mayor Garry Webber.

“Initial reports are positive. There appears to have been a reduction in the number of complaints and with the increase in monitoring we’ve been able to respond to complaints more quickly, particularly after hours.”

Council had also planned to install the KiwiCamp facility, a relocatable, prefabricated building with toilets, dishwashing and laundry facilities, showers, access to potable water, waste and recycling areas, device charging and wireless internet.

“KiwiCamp uses a ‘pay as you go’ funding model, which sees freedom campers pay for the service rather than ratepayers. Our intention was to provide a space and services for responsible campers, in an effort to reduce some of the issues that can occur when people camp irresponsibly,” says Garry.

About 60 people attended a Waihi Beach ratepayers’ meeting in Waihi Beach last week to voice their opposition to the planned community centre site. Some suggested a more appropriate location for KiwiCamp could be the large carpark on Seaforth Road towards Bowentown.

“We’ve listened to these concerns,” says Garry. “Council will put the facility in storage while we consult and decide where in Waihi Beach it will go next summer season.”

Funding for the initiatives came from a Central Government pilot project to improve facilities and provide monitoring for the increasing number of freedom campers throughout New Zealand. Council’s decision to defer installation has been made with the support of Central Government. There are 47 freedom camping sites across the District governed by Council’s Freedom Camping Bylaw which requires all freedom camping to be in self-contained vehicles.

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Garry Webber
Mayor
Western Bay of Plenty District Council
M: 027 270 3971 Peter Watson
Reserves and Facilities Manager
Western Bay of Plenty District Council
M: 027 490 2543

Peter Hennessey
Communications
Western Bay of Plenty District Council
DDI: 07 579 6678
Mobile: 027 210 2370
Email: Peter.Hennessey@westernbay.govt.nz

Dogs in Puketoki Reserve

Hello all Puketoki lovers and users
There seems to be some confusion in the community around the status of the Puketoki Scenic Reserve with regards to dogs. We have been informed that someone has been removing the “dogs on leash” signs ( I wonder if it was a dog owner?) and there is now a current service request to replace them. So could I ask you please to clarify through your network for the sake of residents, that the reserve is a “Dogs on leash” area.

Dog owners should also be aware that the local care group is using poisons in a controlled and approved manner, and dogs off the leash running through the bush are being placed at risk by their owners. (Note; Poisons are not broadcast in the open)

All residents and dog owners should be aware that the reason there are so many ground frequenting birds such as Robins, in this particular reserve, is because of the hard work of their neighbours. Uncontrolled dogs DO pose a risk to these birds, lizards, and fledglings of all species.

If people want confirmation of that dog status they are welcome to check it on our website on Page 17 of the Dog Control Bylaw 2016

If the link below doesn’t work (as sometimes happens) then they can go to

WBOPDC council website/ Our services / A – Z services / bylaws

https://www.westernbay.govt.nz/our-council/policies-plans-bylaws-strategies/Documents/2016-08-25%20-%20FINAL%20Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%202016%20-%20Signed%20and%20Sealed.pdf

cheers

Glenn

Glenn Ayo

Community Development Team

Kaiarahi Hapori

DD 07 579 6508 • M 027 2730235

Barkes Corner, Greerton, Tauranga

Private Bag 12803, Tauranga Mail Centre, Tauranga 3143

E gda@westernbay.govt.nz

www.westernbay.govt.nz

Stray dogs captured by Council

Animal services officers from the Western Bay of Plenty District Council have captured a pack of roaming dogs that has allegedly been responsible for several attacks on chickens and ducks in Te Puna over recent weeks.
Five dogs have been impounded this morning thanks to a resident who called Council when seeing the dogs in the Te Puna area.
Council’s Animal Services Team Leader Daniel Barnes would like to thank the public for being proactive in helping to catch the dogs.
“We received a call early this morning with information of a sighting of a pack of dogs matching the description of a pack we have been looking for. Our team responded to this sighting and within a couple of hours the five dogs were caught.
“The dogs have been impounded and an investigation has begun. The dogs will not be released until the investigation is complete. Without the locals help we would not have been able to catch them.”
The dog owners are being cooperative with the investigation.
In the last 12 months animal officers have responded to 21 incidents related to a pack of roaming dogs. As a result of this morning’s capture it is hoped that all 21 incidents have been resolved.
If you are concerned about any animals in the Western Bay area please contact Council immediately on 0800 926 732 or 571-8008; email information/photos/videos to animalservices@westernbay.govt.nz

Community Message

Hello omokoroa community, I am posting on behalf of the community board of which I am deputy chair.
I am aware of issues ( as is the community board) surrounding threatening and abusive behaviour of some boys at the skate park.
As of yet I am not completely sure of the identity of the child concerned or if it is the same child that is repeatedly causing distress with his behaviour.
I would like to let you all know the community board and the council are taking this seriously.
I have spoken with the police and the advice that has been given I pass on asking that this is followed.
If anyone is experiencing threatening or abusive behaviour please call the police, call 111 this will get the police out as quickly as they can. If you are also witnessing someone else experiencing this and they are unable to call for themselves please do it for them. When you call let the police know the nature of the incident and it will be logged on file.
Please be sensible, we do not want our community to turn on each other but we will also not tolerate unacceptable behaviour from anyone.
We will need to follow the due procedures and processes to deal with this in the correct and fairest way.
If you would like to discuss I am happy to do this.
0211661148
Kind regards
Teresa

Glass bins will remain

The glass recycling bins at FreshChoice Ōmokoroa and Challenge Ōmokoroa will remain, according to supermarket owner/operator Steve Ling.

He’s today met Waste Management’s general manager for the lower North Island, David Howie.

Waste Management was proposing to charge Fresh Choice more than $2,000 per week and Challenge around $1,200 per week for the collection and disposal of the glass from February. The bins were installed last year as a replacement for household-funded kerbside glass recycling.

Steve Ling thanks everyone who has helped achieve today’s positive outcome and says it’s a magnificent achievement for the local community.

Matthew Farrell/Lizard News.