Water woes budget questions pile up

Water supply and wastage are major issues for South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) and the people of Martinborough, Featherston and Greytown. 

As always, dry summer weather has brought restrictions on household water use and this summer, leaks in the town supply systems are more evident than ever. So what progress is SWDC making?

Recently-released financial data for the half-year ended 31 December 2023 gives some indication. 

But it also raises serious questions about whether SWDC and its water service supplier, Wellington Water Ltd, are anywhere near on top of the issues.

A council Statement of Comprehensive Revenue and Expenses for the half year shows $2,3m in actual operating expenditure on water supply – that is $194,000 less than budgeted for.  … Continue Reading

Lions help make a wheel difference

A Martinborough Lions Club member learnt recently of a family who might need a bit of assistance. The family consisted of mum, dad and seven children – of whom two are fostered. If that was not challenging enough, one of the children in their care has special needs. 

The Lion’s member asked if there was some tangible way in which Lions might help.

Well, it happened that the child with the special needs is fiercely energetic and to burn off some of

that energy the family had had some success with a child’s motorised vehicle, but that vehicle was

no longer available. 

In an ideal world, the dad said he would love to purchase a Go-cart, one where the older siblings could be at the wheel and allow the younger child to expend some of that energy. … Continue Reading

Plan ahead for next 30 Remutaka Hill road closures

The year has well begun and so have the Remutaka Hill road closures, so be prepared for 30 more this year _ already one night closedown has passed by. 

NZTA, or Waka Kotahi, has confirmed that there will be 30 overnight closures between March 10  and June 21 this year. 

This is a larger number than usual, in fact, an additional 13 extra nights of access closures.

The first night’s closedown on Remutaka Hill road was for maintenance on Sunday 14 January.

This was followed by the Tauwharenikau Bridge, closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, from January 23 to 7 February, for bridge concrete and bearing repairs. 

This necessitated a detour along the Number 1 Line. It opened during weekends and on Waitangi Day. 

Work by KiwiRail began on Featherston’s Fitzherbert Street railway crossing between 20 and 22 January – a capacity upgrade designed to support more passenger services for Wairarapa commuters in coming years. … Continue Reading

TREE OF THE MONTH

By Martin Freeth – Trees of Martinborough

What is Martinborough’s oldest tree? Well, it is not the prettiest and it might be regarded a pest by some people. 

The tree is a sycamore – botanical name ‘acer pseudoplatanus’ – and it has been growing behind the Victory Family Church on Jellicoe Street for 127 years.

Near the property’s rear boundary fence along Kansas Street, this sycamore is rather nondescript but in remarkably good shape given its age and many hot summers. It’s been growing quietly on this spot since 1897 – far longer than the more-adored oaks 100 metres away, in the middle of Martinborough Square. 

Our information source is Mate Higginson, Martinborough historian and a life-long gardener. … Continue Reading