Hua-angarua river-side planting project starts well

Recloaking the banks of the Hua-angarua River with native species has begun with 40 volunteers turning out to put 600 plants into a 150-metre long stretch of formerly willow-infested riparian strip.

South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group teamed up with South Wairarapa District Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council and community members to plant the river bank with  groupings of trees, shrubs and grasses _ the first stage of land-and-river flow control near Ponatahi Bridge.

For Biodiversity Group president Jane Lenting, this new project “is something closer to hand which is connected to the (Ruamahanga) River,” while earlier planting projects focussed mainly on the Wairarapa Moana area.

“This Hua-angarua work is on private land each side, but with the (Ponatahi) Bridge there it’s quite an accessible spot, and while you can’t simply wander around, it’s more open to the public than somewhere quite obscure.”

Both SWDC and the John’s Road landowner were keen, while Greater Wellington Regional Council wanted to tie the riparian planting in with its flood protection work, “pretty much to try and stop the Ponatahi Bridge from being flooded, including removing shingle from round the bridge area,” she said. … Continue Reading

Lady golfers show Rosebowl winning ways

September has been an up and down month weatherwise for golfers, some beautiful early spring days followed by cold and rain. Thankfully for the important days the weather has mostly come to the party.

Early in the month the Cotter Rosebowl was successfully defended at Carterton by Martinborough’s team of Jo-Anne Loe, Juliana Allen, Emily Loughnan, Bindy McLeod, Jenny Wilkie, and Angela Busby. Well done ladies.

A number of ladies also played at the Riversdale Open on Sunday 22 nd September with Joe-Anne Loe winning her division. … Continue Reading

Libraries return to full service

More than a year after South Wairarapa councillors voted to save $160,000-odd dollars by reducing library hours _ causing a serious negative community response _ the former opening hours have been restored.

Under the upgraded schedule, libraries in Martinborough, Featherston and Greytown opened from 30 September from 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. weekdays and 9:30 a.m. _ 12 noon Saturdays.

“This is fantastic news and we are looking forward to welcoming the community during these longer hours,” Louise Dowdell, WLS Library Services Manager, said in a statement.

Three new staff would bring staffing levels back to normal.  … Continue Reading

Seven more years up Schitts Creek?

By Ray Lilley

Eighteen months of repairs and a block on new sewerage connections – and only seven years to go to fix the mess. When? – 2031.

That was the message from the little-known Joint Community Liaison Group’s meeting to report and review progress on the Martinborough and Greytown sewerage ponds saga, which has seen all new connections suspended after operating consents were breached.

Current plans allow only buildings granted consents before July 2023 to connect to the system, and for the initial work on the Martinborough pond to be completed by mid-2025.

Wait. Only the initial work? But surely that “fixes” the capacity problem? Not according to the Joint Community Liaison Group’s briefing. … Continue Reading