Ngaio Crofton Downs Residents Association

Wellington City Council has engaged Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) to undertake a Pindone rabbit control operation from 6 May 2024 across key sections of the Outer Green Belt Skyline.

Rabbit numbers have soared on the Skyline and are causing significant impact on the environment. This operation aims to reduce the increasing rabbit population in the area.

Pindone is a slow acting anticoagulant toxin. The bait will be distributed by hand across the area in the form of diced carrots coated with Pindone solution and dyed blue green (see image). It is predicted that the rabbit population will be reduced in the treated area by up to 90%.

You can still go into the reserve and enjoy your recreational activities. There are no changes to public access to the reserve as a result of this operation. The operation is low risk for humans, dogs, cats and other pets provided you follow the standard reserve rules and advice.

Precautions:
The operation will begin on 6th of May 2024 and rollout is due to be completed by the end of June. Warning signs will be displayed at all main access points to the operational area. The bait will not be laid in any off-leash areas. Extra precaution is recommended for 8 months from last application and warning signs will remain in place for this period.

Please, follow this advice from Wellington City Council:
• Do not touch baits or carcasses
• Always supervise children
• Keep your dog on a lead at all times
• Do not allow dogs to scavenge
• Stick to the official tracks

Dogs must always be on a leash on the skyline walkway. Remain vigilant and do not let your dog eat any bait or carcasses during the operation and following months. We recommend keeping a short lead (2m) and making sure you have a strong hold.

For further information about the operation visit the project webpage, here. Any questions can be directed via email to pest.animals@gw.govt.nz or the WCC contact centre on 04 499 4444.

Formal consultation on Wellington’s 10-year plan and budget – our 2024-34 Long-term Plan – is open until 12 May.

WCC has a very nice interactive budgeting tool which lets you play with Council expenditure, and see what impact your changes have on the total budget. This tool is loaded with Council’s proposed budget as a starting point, and allows you to change the various budget lines. This budget tool is available here How much will the plan cost?

For Councils full information on the long term plan, go to its Lets Talk pages here Let’s Talk | Wellington City Councils. The budget tool is behind the “How Much Does It Cost” tile

When you have finished making changes, you are able to submit your amended budget to the Council so they can receive them, and there is the ability to make notes to explain your reasons.

Here is a very nice 2 page summary of whats in the Long Term Plan for Wellington, just click on this link: WCC Fact Sheet – LTP Summary

Remember consultation on the Long Term Plan is now open, until 12 May. These posts are repeated on our Facebook page (Facebook) which will be a great place to comment, and discuss your thoughts with the community.

Please note that in the advice that we were originally provided with, the dates for Wellington and Khandallah on-line meetings were transposed. Correct details are:

• Online meeting (Khandallah proposals), 22 April, 6.30-7.30pm: Click here for more information
• Online meeting (Wadestown proposals), 23 April, 6.30-7.30pm: Click here for more information

PLEASE NOTE WCC HAVE ADVISED CHANGE IN DATES – WADESTOWN AND KHANDALLAH MEETINGS ARE SWAPPED. THE DATES BELOW ARE THE AMENDED DATES

The Long-term Plan sets out the Council’s priorities. It includes detailed information on the activities, services, and projects we intend to deliver, and therefore what the proposed rates and debt will be for the next 10 years. Wellington City Council (WCC) has prepared some information on what is the Long Term Plan – if you wish to read it, the fact sheet can be downloaded here FactSheet-What is the LTP.pdf

Consultation on the 2024-34 Long-term Plan is open from 12 April until 12 May.  The consultation document and place to submit a long term is at Long-term Plan 2024-34 website.

As part of this process WCC is holdingthe following hui that you may wish to attend:

• Long-term Plan Webinar, 2 May, 6-8pm: Click here to register

• Online meeting (Khandallah proposals), 22 April, 6.30-7.30pm: Click here for more information
• Online meeting (Wadestown proposals), 23 April, 6.30-7.30pm: Click here for more information

• Hapori Māori hui, 5 May, 11am-1pm: More information to come on our website

More than ever, WCC needs to balance the pace of investment with affordability, so some tough decisions do need to be made. Providing feedback is an important way to have your say on the future of our city, and be part of the decision making.

If you require any more information on the Long-term Plan, feel free to visit wcc.nz/ltp. Follow this site – we will post more information through the consultation period, as this is such an important plan for Ngaio and Crofton Downs, and for all of Wellington.

Im aware that we have residents who are in favour of the cycleway along Ngaio Gorge Road, and some who are very concerned about its impact.

Here is an opportunity to easily give your feedback to Wellington City Council – for small design tweeks, now that we have been using the road or the cycleways for some time.

Wellington City Council (WCC) is gathering feedback on how well the Ngaio cycleway is working. They will be talking with people in the community and observing how people are using the route at peak travel times and at particular locations.

WCC has also set up a quick online form where you can let them know how you’re finding the changes and make suggestions about small adjustments you think could be made. Click on the link below to get to the feedback form.

Share your feedback

Its the first Saturday of April this weekend, so we will be collecting recycling again at Ngaio Union Church, from 10.00am to noon.

This collection we will also be collecting Ewaste, so a good chance to get your old devices into recycling. E waste includes small and medium devices and appliances, but does not include TVs and monitors.

If anyone has cardboard boxes that you want to get rid of, with sides of around half a metre, we will be taking them also this weekend. I find them very handy for dropping off our collection at the Sustainability Trust – but am in short supply at the moment

Most people seem to have the hang of how this operates, but if you need a refresher on what we collect, here is the post to read: – Ngaio Crofton Downs Residents Association — Recycling.

Join us for an afternoon of fun, games, live entertainment, refreshments and raffles!

Pick up a free goody bag for the kids, check out our local stall holders, play a game to win a prize, pack a picnic or grab a sausage, and settle in for an afternoon of connection, celebration and community.

There is a lot of talk at the moment about the number of water leaks around our City, and how long it takes some times to get them fixed.

We thought our readers might be interested in this dashboard from Wellington Water – which shows the size of the problem and status of the repair programme.

882 leaks fixed in February – is very impressive and shows the amount of work involved.

And if you want to know the current status of the network, or see whats happening in your area – here is another helpful Wellington Water link – http://See whats happening in your area.

The Khandallah pool is used by many of our residents, and the possible closure is an issue that we know many of our members have strong feelings about. We are therefore alerting members to the Khandallah pool petition that is running on the WCC website, through to 24 Apri at this link Khandallah Pool Petition. This is not an encouragement to sign – that is your decision, but ensurance that our readers are informed.

The description of the petition states “The summer pool is a treasured part of the northern suburbs, well loved by generations of families and their children. Sure it is a bit tired, showing the effects of no investment for over fifty years, but permanent closure is not the answer!  We recognise things are tight for Council, but we don’t want a brand new pool, just to save the existing facility from closure so that the next generation of children can enjoy its unique experience. While other facilities across the city were being invested in and upgraded, the Khandallah Summer Pool has suffered from a lack of any investment for over fifty years.  There is no similar outdoor pool facility across the northern parts of the city where children and teenagers can hang out over the summer holidays in a safe, active environment. Once closed, it is lost to the city forever”.