COUNCILLOR COMMENT

The irrigator discharges waste water to land

Martinborough Waste Water:

Martinborough has commenced its discharge of waste water to land through a travelling irrigator (as per the above photo).  The irrigator has operated over the summer months to 5 hectares of land adjacent to the settling ponds.  During this time there were no discharges to the river for 106 days out of the 162 day period which commenced on the 1^st November.  Discharge to the river only occurs in times of above average flow, reducing the effects on the river.  The completion of the first stage of the new consent will see 100% of discharge to land by 2035.

During the above period the irrigated grass has been cut three times with around 160 large round bales  being harvested.  I am advised by Council staff that these are now available for sale.  If you are interested in purchasing any of the baleage, please contact Lawrence on 3069611. … Continue Reading

Cooking Corner

Egg, potato and gherkin salad 

Ingredients

250 gr baby potatoes

2 Eggs 

2 Spring onions sliced

100 gr Gherkins chopped

1 tbsp capers

1 tbsp plain yoghurt

2 tsp Dijon mustard

2 tsp white wine vinegar

2 tbsp Mayonnaise 

Flat leaf parsley … Continue Reading

COMMUNITY BOARD NOTES

A couple of projects our board have been working on are now completed. 

Many people will have noticed the powerbox in the Square now that it has been transformed from a sombre allover green to a stunning artwork featuring a Flanders poppy design. Local artist Allison Hudson completed the painting (a ‘first’ for her) in good time for this year’s ANZAC Day, and a small ribbon cutting ceremony with our Mayor, Board members and Allison’s family on site was held.

ANZAC Day this year had special significance, being 100 years since the end of the Great War. To acknowledge this, some repairs to the Cenotaph were completed, and the park was decorated with white crosses and a superb display of reproduced photographs. Further upgrades are happening soon. … Continue Reading

From the Mayor

Martinborough is now on the international Dark Sky map with the recognition of the International
Dark Sky Association (IDA) that Martinborough is New Zealand’s first town to adopt a 3000K standard for street lighting. It is also the first and big step in attaining International Dark Sky Reserve Gold status. Dark Sky Reserves are all over the world and are highly regarded by residents and tourists especially from those countries who can hardly see the sun yet alone the stars.

We are in a very fortunate position that we have little light pollution, we have vast expanses of really dark sky and really bright stars. People are prepared to travel half way across the world to come and enjoy and wonder at what we take for granted every night.

Martinborough Dark Sky Association has done an amazing job and in an extremely short time to secure the 3000K lighting standard. For me it has been a whirlwind couple of months trying to put people together to ensure that this result was achieved.

So what will this mean to Martinborough, South Wairarapa and Wairarapa other than ensuring we keep light pollution to a minimum? Dark Sky tourism is growing, people are choosing to live in areas where light pollution is minimised so this will impact on Martinborough with increased visitor numbers and residents.

There is more to this Dark Sky Reserve than tourism, there is a potential for development of education partnerships and facilities. Maori have a long history using astronomy and there is potential for the development of a Maori Astronomy Centre.

These new ventures will need planning considerations, not only from the building of facilities but also where they will be located, have we enough accommodation for increased tourism, have we the capacity to transport people to view the Dark Sky and have we the people to provide the services that go with development.

Council will be adopting its Long Term Plan (LTP) in mid-March.  One of the key consultation topics is the development of a district wide Spatial Plan that will address these planning questions and also gives a direction of where and how we want the district to develop.

The Dark Sky Reserve is a very exciting project; if it becomes a real tourist attraction like Tekapo, we need to ensure we have had the discussion around how we can manage any growth.

Please read the LTP Consultation Document and give your feedback either online or on the feedback form attached to the document by 20 April 2018.

Viv Napier