Procurement process for design and build of the Harbour Entrance

You can see in this rather full Panui that we have a busy schedule with the pace picking up on the Harbour Project, fundraising for Te

Tāhuhu o Te Rangi (our technology and research centre) and repairs starting as part of the sewerage pro-ject. It will be a busy few months!

– John Forbes, Ōpōtiki Mayor

From the Mayor

Last month we started the formal procurement process for the de-sign and construction of the Ōpōtiki Harbour with a call for Statements of Interest and Ability (SIA). It is an extensive process to narrow down the best industry player to partner with the Council into the construction phase of the

Harbour Project.

Applicants visited Ōpōtiki in March for a briefing and tour of the river entrance. There was a great turnout and some excellent questions were asked. Applicants were par-ticularly interested in a unique component of the process: the successful applicants will need to provide evidence of their capability to work with local stakeholders to provide

training and pathways to work for local peo-ple where possible.

Many Ōpōtiki locals will have already seen ‘Pathways to Work’ in action at the Council’s Pop-Up Shop earlier in the year. This piece of work, being led by Toi EDA, is one of the ways we we are making sure that the flow-on effects of the Harbour benefit the whole community.

Above: the Phoenix, a Sanford boat, in October 2013 heading out to put in first commercial mussel lines.

Above: Ōpōtiki wharf

Briefing attendees were taken out by the Coastguard to look at the harbour

Locally smoked mussels with sweet chilli were on the menu

Robert Edwards, Chair of Whakatohea Maori Trust Board, welcomes representatives from 23 different organisations attending Mondays briefing on the harbour project at the Coastguard headquarters.

Keeping you up to date with O–po- tiki District CouncilApril 2016 – Issue 65

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Sewer network – Find and fix programmeAs part of Council’s ongoing investigation into the best solution to Ōpōtiki’s sewer network issues, a pilot study has kicked off in the area north of Elliot Street. Since we know that direct inflow (stormwater getting into the sewerage system) is one of the main contributors to the overflow problem, we have decided to fix many of the defects in this suburb to see how well that solves the issues. The results from the find and fix programme, along with the other data we have collected, will help us arrive at the most cost effective solution for the whole town - from full replacement to repairs such as the those carried out in the pilot.

We have contacted owners and residents in this area about the pilot and what it means for them. If you live in the area and haven’t heard from Council about the works, please contact Anthony Kirikiri at Council.

2016 Local Authority Elections – We want you to be involved

In briefŌpōtiki’s pound frequently has young puppies and friendly dogs that need new homes. Our Facebook page has been great and we can often find homes through the power of social media. So like us on Facebook to keep up to date with the important things happening around the District.

Council has welcomed a few new staff members this year. Welcome to our new Engineering and Services Group Manager, Chris Hopman; Harbour Project Administration Officer, Astrid Hutchinson; Health and Safety / Human Resources Advisor, Muriel Chamberlain; the new Property and Development Officer, Christine Bryan; and the two new faces at our Waihau Bay Resource Recovery Centre, Michael Benton and John Waititi.

Miniature sewerage display at the Pop Up Shop

Local government elections are later this year. It is your chance to have your say on who rep-resents you on district and regional councils. So it is a good time to check that your details are up to date and you are enrolled on either the general or Māori role.

Find out more online at www.elections.org.nz

There has been a few mixed messages about the new Food Act that came into force on 1 March 2016. The Act rolls out slowly over the next three years and, if you work in this industry or are likely to be effected by the Food Act, we will be in touch with you directly to let you know how the changes affect your business.

We received 31 submissions on the draft District Plan and we are in the process of work-ing through that information so we can formally notify the proposed plan in July.

Reminder to dog owners that dog registrations will be sent out at the end of May and dogs must be registered by 1 July. You can get in touch with Council to discuss paying off your registration in smaller instalments from January onwards. However, final payment must still be completed by 1 July for your dog to be legally registered or penalty rates will apply.

Congratulations to the winner and all the runners up in the water safety lifejacket compe-tition we ran in the last edition. We had plenty of entries and we were able to send prize packs all over our District and beyond. Thanks to all who took the time to enter and please remember to keep safe on the water!

Keeping you up to date with O–po- tiki District Council

The Real Ōpōtiki

Wallabies offside!

Council has joined forces with Studio One Toi Tu on Ponsonsby Road to bring the best of Ōpōtiki art to the streets of Auckland. The exhibition is in July and is called The Real Ōpōtiki. It will feature local Ōpōtiki artists or those with a strong connection to the district. The exhibition will include nationally recognised artists including Te Mete, Mark Anstis, David Poole, Fiona Kerr Gedson, Roka Cameron and more than 20 other wonderful artists.And Council has offered the opportunity for some young or emerging artists to join the exhibition.The exhibition will have the additional benefit of raising funds for Ōpōtiki’s new Research and Technology library.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is reminding those living around Ōpōtiki to keep a look out for wallabies following several sightings in Ōhiwa, Ōpōtiki, Whakatāne and Pāpāmoa.

Wallabies cause significant damage to native bush by feeding on native seedlings, ferns and grasses. They can also cause problems for forestry and farming by feeding on pine and euca-lyptus seedlings and competing with stock for pasture.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is working to get a better pic-ture of the spread of this unwanted pest so are asking people to report sightings outside the areas marked on this map. Find out more on the regional council website www.boprc.govt.nz

April 2016

Queen’s Birthday – Big 3 hunting competition and Wild Food Festival

Try something new! With the changing seasons, the evenings are longer and there is no better excuse to try something new. Ōpōtiki has all sorts of activities on offer with dozens of regular meetings and events, sup-port groups, service clubs, craft groups, exercise groups, singing, drama, Playcentre, beginners courses in Chinese, Scottish Country Dancing and even a Ukelele Club!

What’s on

For more information on any of the wide range of Ōpōtiki clubs, groups, activities and events, visit the Ōpōtiki i-SITE or www.opotikinz.com or call (07) 315 3031.

All Ōpōtiki events are

Raffles winners It has been a busy few weeks fundraising for Te Tāhuhu o Te Rangi – Ōpōtiki’s Technology and Research Centre. There were two raffles run during the popular Pop-up Art Gallery with many happy winners. David Poole donated a beautiful Christmas-themed table piece and Jill Theobold was the lucky winner.

Congratulations to Mr Don Ross who won the first prize of a helicopter trip for four kindly donated by Ōpōtiki Helicopters. Ōpōtiki Drainlayers were the lucky winners of the second prize –a big hamper of goodies.

There has also been a very popular Monster Garage Sale, Mayoral Christmas Cake raffle and, of course, the Auckland Art Exhibition.

Ōpōtiki is a wonderfully scenic and walkable place and the iSITE has plenty of information to help locals and visitors alike make the most of it. They have plenty of information to share about walking and biking tracks, where you can take horses or beaches with easy access. Whether you prefer a flat stroll along a river-bank or a more rugged trek through the bush-covered hills, this District has it all.

Get active Ōpōtiki!

This newsletter is produced quarterly by the Ōpōtiki District Council.

108 St John Street, PO Box 44, Ōpōtiki.Phone: (07) 315 3030

Email: info@odc.govt.nzWeb: www.odc.govt.nz

April 2016Keeping you up to date with O–po- tiki District Council