ANZAC DAY Remembrance Service

By Helen Beamish

The annual ANZAC Day Remembrance Service will be held on Wednesday 25 April at the Waitati Hall and Cenotaph, commencing at 10am.

Please bring a plate for a shared community morning tea at the end of the service.

In the style of our past couple of years, Glenys Clements will share stories from her family connection to the wider ANZAC story.

Volunteers willingly accepted for helping with any aspect of this community commemoration – set up, clean up, morning tea, traffic management, sound etc.

Contact Helen Beamish 027 693 0762

New Scheme replaces Rideshare

by Sarah Connolly, DCC Transportation Planning Manager

The Dunedin City Council's Planning and Environment Committee asked staff to investigate alternative ways to reduce parking pressure and increase sustainable travel behaviour, following its decision to discontinue support for the Tertiary Rideshare Scheme.

Now the DCC, the University of Otago and the Otago Polytechnic are referring people to the Jayride website, a national ridesharing network where people can offer or find a ride.

Chair of the DCC's Planning and Environment Committee, Kate Wilson, says she is pleased with this solution.  "It's a simple, cost-effective outcome for everyone. Referring our residents to one website avoids duplication of these systems and keeps it simple for the user. There are personal benefits in the shared costs of running a vehicle and contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas and carbon emissions, as well as benefitting the city at large, with parking pressure eased and, perhaps, greater community connection."

The Jayride website, at www.jayride.co.nz, is free and easily accessed by all users and businesses and community groups can set up pages.

While there is no priority parking associated with this ridesharing network, as there was under the former rideshare scheme, there is a flow-on reduction in parking pressure all over the city as fewer vehicles are used to transport occupants. There is also the added benefit to the users of sharing the costs of running the vehicle.

 For more information

Cr Kate Wilson                                                      Sarah Connolly

Chair Planning and Environment Committee     Manager Transportation Planning

Phone 0274 438 134                                            Phone 474 3577

 

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From blueskin.co.nz and 'Blueskin News' published by Blueskin Media: voluntary/non-profit community publishers in Blueskin Bay (Seacliff, Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati, Doctors Point, Purakaunui), Dunedin, New Zealand. All material sent to or published by us is "copyleft" in the public domain and may be freely shared, archived, re-edited and republished. If you want to credit the source it's "blueskin.co.nz".

WOO News

by Hilary Rowley

So it's autumn again already, and it looks like there is an average crop of apples and pears out  there nearing picking time.

How to tell if an apple or pear is ripe? Try taking its weight in your hand and gently lifting it on its stalk; if it comes off it's yours, if it doesn't it's not ready yet. If you cut an apple in half round its equator and its seeds are dark brown to black then it is ripe.

 

The Waitati Open Orchards (WOO) group, have had a genius called Paul build them a steampunk-styled apple press. This wondrous machine will be operating at  the final harvest market between 10-12 on Sunday morning, April 15.  Do bring along your own apple and pear harvest, and maybe some clean bottles so you can take home some delicious juice to drink or to make cider. This is a WOO fundraiser to help us care for our existing street-side orchards, and maybe plant some walnuts.  Lucky us.

 

You can preserve apple juice (or any juice) by processing using the water bath method:

• Place juice in sterilised glass bottles leaving a 2-3cm head space.  The bottles to use are the ones with metal lids which have rubber seals inside them (as used for blackcurrant or lemon and barley water syrups from the supermarket).
• Boil the lids for a few minutes to soften the seals and screw them lightly onto the bottles. Place the bottles on a trivet in a big, deep pot. You can sit them on folded dish clothes and pack them round with tea towels to stop them falling over or banging against each other too much.
• Fill the pot with water so the bottles are sitting as deeply up the necks as you can without overflowing the pot.  Bring to the boil, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Remove bottles and tighten the lids. You will hear the seals pop down as they cool. If properly sealed they will keep for up to a year in a cool dark place, but refrigerate after opening.

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From blueskin.co.nz and 'Blueskin News' published by Blueskin Media: voluntary/non-profit community publishers in Blueskin Bay (Seacliff, Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati, Doctors Point, Purakaunui), Dunedin, New Zealand. All material sent to or published by us is "copyleft" in the public domain and may be freely shared, archived, re-edited and republished. If you want to credit the source it's "blueskin.co.nz".

Working bee at Orokonui Scenic Reserve

by Lucy Hardy, DoC ranger

As discussed at the February working bee, we plan to hold working bees at the Orokonui Scenic Reserve Living Legends site on the last Sunday morning of every month.  This means that the next one is Sunday 29 April.  Meet at the usual spot and time – 9.30ish at the Orokonui Scenic Reserve at the end of Killarney Street, Waitati.

The plan is to focus on an area where the plants haven't done so well.  Tasks to do include: 

• removing the weed sacks/mats from around the dead plants and marking the spot with a single stake;
• weeding around plants that have done OK, renewing weed matting where necessary so that these plants can be easily identified.

This area will then be prepared in May by spot spraying so that infill planting can be done in the spring.

 

I will be on leave until the end of April, so won't be able to join you this time.  Valerie will be there, and knows the section of planting to focus on.  If you have any questions you can contact Valerie by email at mikeandvalfay@clear.net.nz   Thank you.

 

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From blueskin.co.nz and 'Blueskin News' published by Blueskin Media: voluntary/non-profit community publishers in Blueskin Bay (Seacliff, Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati, Doctors Point, Purakaunui), Dunedin, New Zealand. All material sent to or published by us is "copyleft" in the public domain and may be freely shared, archived, re-edited and republished. If you want to credit the source it's "blueskin.co.nz".

Orokonui Ecosanctuary

By Sue Hensley

Great concern was raised earlier in the year when two stoats and one
weasel (all males) were trapped inside the sanctuary. However, it was
also great to know that the response plan worked extremely well. Like
other sanctuaries (Kapiti and Maud recently with stoats and Ulva with
rats) we know that pests will get in from time to time but the
important thing is that they are detected quickly and eradicated.
Issues with the culverts had been identified and temporary repairs
made. A major culvert upgrade is being planned. The latest round of
tracking tunnels showed no mammal pests other than mice in very small
numbers.

Detection devices to date have targeted the smaller mammals most
commonly associated with reinvasion but recently 24 very large
monitoring tunnels have been added in the unlikely event that a cat or
possum should find their way in. Happily the only prints of anything
large have been kiwi footprints!

Work has begun in preparation for the arrival of a pair of non-breeding takahe later in the year. A small open enclosure with a food
hopper is being built. This can be closed to enable field staff to
more easily catch the birds for health checks. The rest of the time
these birds will be free to roam at will enjoying the introduced
grasses and native tussocks planted for their benefit.

News and events can be found on www.orokonui.org.nz or on our Facebook
page. The Visitor Centre and café are open daily 9.30 – 4.30.

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From blueskin.co.nz and 'Blueskin News' published by Blueskin Media: voluntary/non-profit community publishers in Blueskin Bay (Seacliff, Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati, Doctors Point, Purakaunui), Dunedin, New Zealand. All material sent to or published by us is "copyleft" in the public domain and may be freely shared, archived, re-edited and republished. If you want to credit the source it's "blueskin.co.nz".

Warrington Surf Lifesaving Club

By Pru Casey

What a wonderful summer we have had, and it has been wonderful to see so many families bring their children down to Warrington beach to swim, body board, play, build in the sand, hunt in the rock pools, fly kites, ride bikes, play cricket and spend time together.

The Warrington Life Guards mounted patrols from 11am – 7pm in the holidays. The secret is… the best time of day is 5–7pm after work or tea when the wind has dropped and the sun dips low and golden on the horizon. The Guards will continue to man (and women!!) the beaches until March 18.

We have been very busy this summer with lots of swimmers and training. We have lots of new equipment thanks to our sponsors Bendigo Valley Sports Foundation, Masonic Trust, Macraes and DHL to name only a few of our wonderful supporters.

We now have two Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRBs) and a motor, a new set of rescue tubes, a wonderful bright yellow tent and a new set of rescue boards. Every Wednesday during the holidays life guards have been on the beach training for a full day. You will see the IRBs out training in the evenings and every Sunday morning the IRBs practise racing to be ready for the Southern Series on March 3 and the Nationals here at Warrington March 27 – April 1.

We have had a resident seal with us this season. He is young and very keen to play. Life guards are trained to treat seals like a bouncy, overgrown puppy and he will readily follow them down the beach away from the flagged area while you are swimming.

Our Hector's dolphins remain a well kept secret but they have been seen daily moving back and forward between Purukanui Inlet and our Warrington beach.

If you see a flotilla of paddle boards on the beach, that will be our nippers training on Saturday and Sundays. Our athletes have been training hard to go away to Surf league at Mount Maunganui and half of the Otago team this year come from our club! If you see us training on the beach, or in the orange IRB boats, do come and say hello. We have a BBQ every Sunday after nippers training at 12 noon at the club house. Sausages are only $1, while a cuppa tea and juice costs only a sandy smile. We welcome new families.

 

Surf League

Congratulations to the following Warrington SLSC members who were selected to represent Otago at the Surf League in Mount Manganui early in February.  We are really proud of you all.

U19 Surf League: Angus McKenzie, Pru Casey (Manager)

U16 Surf League: Eilis Doyle

U14 Surf League: Tadhg Kelly, Rebecca McNaughton, Devon Familton, Ali Adams

 

Club Celebrations

Last month Warrington SLSC and Moana Rua Ladies SLSC celebrated their 55^th anniversary. Past and present members were invited along to the club for a shared lunch and to watch the current generation training on the beach as well as have a catch up with old friends. The day was a great success and culminated in a celebratory cake being cut by founding member Pat Ellison with youngest current members Roland Ozanne (4) and Madison Lobb (5) (see photo).

 

Upcoming Events

Good luck to Ali Adams and Devon Familton who are representing Warrington at the Under 14 Surf Life Saving championships at Mount Maunganui on the 23 to 26 of February.

Saturday March 3 – BP Surf Rescue Series (IRB), Southern Region (Warrington Beach)

Sunday March 4 – Junior Otago Champs (Warrington Beach)

Sunday March 18 – Final patrol of the summer (Warrington Beach)

Friday March 30 - Sunday April 1 – BP Surf Rescue NZ Champs (Warrington Beach)

 

 

Photo of the U14 team - back row from left: Richard Murray (manager), Justin Pickering, Connor Cawley, Bailey Brandham, Lachlan Brandham, Tadhg Kelly, Dave McPhee (coach). Front row: Devon Familton, Ali Adams, Sapphire Tapsell, Mikayla Garforth, Rebecca McNaughton

 

Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust

By PJ CLarke

Trustees have had a busy month, with a number of meetings and planning sessions. Some trustees have taken on new roles. Work on the Blueskin Energy Project has occupied a high proportion of the Trust's time and resources over the last few months, but the trustees are also considering how they can best support other community projects in the Blueskin area. 

In February BRCT delivered an oral submission on the DCC's draft Spatial Plan. The Spatial Plan is important because it will inform other DCC policies and decisions. It outlines options for managing land-use, transportation, food production and energy. It will contribute to the development of the next District Plan, the document that guides the Council's management of the City.

The draft Spatial Plan prefers a management option described as 'Distributed Development.' BRCT supports this concept. Of the options proposed in the Spatial Plan, it is the most favourable for small communities like Blueskin Bay.   

At 7pm on Monday the March 19, Nicole Foss will participate in the Building Local Resilience Forum in Waitati Hall. Nicole is a world-renowned Canadian commentator on oil, financial and environmental issues. She also writes under the nom-de-plume 'Stoneleigh.'

Check out http://theautomaticearth.org/Front-Page.html .

We're lucky to be the first stop on Nicole's NZ Lifeboat Tour. Her visit is well-timed as we are all facing the consequences of rising costs, the global economic crisis and questionable government policies. We are confident the Forum will provide ideas, stimulate discussion and inspire action. Don't miss it.

BRCT is endeavouring to establish an energy advice service. This service would provide householders with free, on-demand expert advice on home energy management.  Two recent requests for funding were declined, but establishing this service remains a priority. BRCT is currently engaged in very positive discussions with the Hikurangi Foundation, about support for the Blueskin Energy Project.

As always, BRCT welcomes any feedback on its activities and offers of assistance. One of the best ways to find out about BRCT is to talk with trustees or contact Scott at the trust office (482 2048.) BRCT trustees are Ross Johnston (co-Chair), Chris Skellett (co-Chair), Antony Deaker (Treasurer), PJ Clarke (Secretary), Kate Parker, Tony Wilson and Gerry Carrington. Jeanette Fitzsimons is the Trust's patron.

You can also find out more about the Trust at: http://www.blueskinpower.co.nz/