Lack of answers adds to flood anguish

Frustration and despair is deepening as local homeowners and businesses wait for answers from Auckland Council on how it will deal with issues raised by unprecedented flooding more than two months ago.

Key questions include the future viability of the worst-hit properties inundated in the Wairau catchment on 27 January, and what infrastructure upgrades might be needed to protect homes in parts of Sunnynook, Forrest Hill, Milford and Castor Bay.

This week, the council’s interim recovery manager, Phil Wilson, was to be shown around the worst hit areas by Devonport-Takapuna

Local Board members. They are keen to ensure that the widespread impact locally is not lost in the wake of higher-profile damage elsewhere from Cyclone Gabrielle, which struck two weeks later.

“The biggest question is what happens next, To page 5

Library-artist a master tagger

National promotes Watts

North Shore MP Simon Watts has been promoted to the National Party’s shadow cabinet. Already National’s spokesman on local government, in which role he has campaigned vigorously against the government’s Three Waters plans, Watts has picked up responsibility for climate change following former leader Todd Muller’s decision to quit Parliament.

Bidding for corner shops

Offers were due on a high-profile Stanley Ave shops site just after the Rangitoto Observer went to press.Located at 5862 East Coast Rd, Milford, the corner site has three tenants – Stanley’s Cafe, a dairy and a sushi shop – on 564sqm of freehold land zoned for a neighbourhood business centre. This allows for buildings up to three storeys high with residential use on the top floors The property had attracted good interest said agent Matt Prentice for Colliers. Other shops at the top of the block are separately titled.

Bun bonanza

Eversleigh Rd bakery Daily Bread has bagged the title for making the nation’s best hot-cross buns for a second year running. Baking New Zealand judges said a “perfect” sourdough starter was used in the recipe. The buns are topped by a shiny orange juice glaze and contain candied orange peel left over from juicing. Around 7000 buns a day are produced by the bakery in the lead-up to Easter.

Local board stands alone

The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board was the only one of 21 local boards to support the withdrawal of Auckland Council from Local Government New Zealand to save membership fees. On Mayor Wayne Brown’s casting vote, Auckland pulled out of the national group to save around $400,000. North Shore’s Chris Darby and Richard Hills were among councillors who opposed the move. The board said the city was big enough to provide its own policy advice and elected member development.

Ride aims to raise $400k

Two Takapuna businessmen have cycled the length of the country for the second time to raise money for mental health and prostate cancer causes. Bruce Cotterill and Paul Muir completed the trip from Cape Reinga to Bluff on 23 March, raising $245,000 by the next day. Last year the pair raised $200,000. With fundraising ongoing and four more cyclists having been in tow this year, they hope to net $400,000 this time.