Meeting to build community resilience in Matakana

A meeting to help Matakana area residents become more resilient and self-sufficient when natural disasters strike will be held at the Community Hall next month.

Matakana Community Group (MCG) chair Rachel Demler says recent storms and extreme weather have highlighted the need for a local support network.

“We can’t rely on help coming in to us from outside when all the roads are closed, or council coming to clear rivers and drains when they have the whole of Auckland to worry about,” she says.

“We have to become more resilient and be able to help ourselves and each other, so this meeting is to help get us going on that pathway.”

Demler says while floods and slips are still front of mind, it’s not just storms that make rural communities vulnerable.

“It wasn’t that long ago that we had a drought and we were all running out of water. That will happen again in future and we need to be ready for it, not least because council has said there won’t be any more emergency water tankers after they bailed us out last time.”

Several speakers will attend the meeting to talk on different aspects of emergency response and the lessons they learned from recent flood and storm events. These include former MCG and current Rodney Local Board member Ivan Wagstaff and Warkworth Community Resilience coordinator Sue Robertson, who were instrumental in helping hundreds of people stranded during the Auckland Anniversary floods, Friends of Awa Matakanakana vice-chair Martin Evans and Matakana Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Jeremy Gibbons.

As well as a debrief on recent and less recent events that have affected Matakana and the wider area, the meeting will address lessons that can be learnt and plans made, by individuals and groups, to respond effectively in the future.

“We would love to see as many people as possible come along and share their knowledge and ideas,” Demler says. “There are lots of people with the talents or trades who could help in a crisis, but we need to set up some kind of network or hub so people know how to reach out if necessary – even when communications are down.”

The meeting will be held at the Matakana Hall on Monday, May 8 at 7pm. It will also include the MCG’s annual meeting.

Board scraps second transport hub

Rodney Local Board has cancelled its plans to build a $6.5 million community transport hub at Huapai Domain after budget blowouts pushed the estimated costs up to well over $7 million.

Board chair Brent Bailey said the transport targeted rate project had been a cause of frustration since investigations started, with the hub’s location, size and design changing frequently.

“The number of carparks has got smaller and smaller and smaller and the budget has changed,” he said at the board’s April 19 meeting. “It’s been here, and there, and then over there – it’s a constantly moving feast.”

Bailey said the siting issues had been compounded by the fact that Auckland Transport’s Rapid Transport Corridor was now planned to go right through the chosen spot, plus the reserve land would need to be re-designated as a transport asset, adding unforeseen leasing and maintenance costs.

The meeting heard that investigation and design works had already cost $450,000, but there would be just over $6 million left in the Kumeu subdivision targeted rate coffers if the project was halted. Members voted to cancel the project and reallocate the funds to providing footpaths.

Community groups win trapping funds

Two local community groups have won a funding boost in the latest round of pest control grants from Predator Free NZ. Mahurangi East Residents & Ratepayers Association (MERRA) and Puhoi Landcare Group are two of 13 organisations now able to expand their community trapping efforts after receiving a slice of the $50,000 pest-fighting pot. MERRA has been trapping possums in the Snells Beach area for 30 years, effectively eliminating all female animals, as well as targeting rabbits, rodents and mustelids on DOC and council land. With the funding from Pest Free NZ, MERRA plans to expand their coverage to backyards and will train residents on effective trapping. Puhoi Landcare will also be expanding their trap network and involving more residents in pest control. Their funding means they will be able to supply rat and possum traps, combined with personal advice and follow-up support, to 50 new households. By working together with Whitebait Connection and The Forest Bridge Trust, the group aims to protect eggs and juvenile inanga, the smallest whitebait species.

Upcoming fundraiser

A BoostedSport campaign will be held later this year to fundraise for both the multi-sport and the bike and skate park projects. This crowdfunding campaign involves setting a target and encouraging people to donate to reach that target. Board interim treasurer Nicola Jones says you can have seed donors (ones who start you off with a set amount) or match funders (those who match the funding up to a certain value) and then ones who just donate what they can. “It might be a good way to get the community behind this project,” she says. Anyone who would like to assist with the project or donate some funding can get in touch with Jones via mahusport@gmail.com or mahubikeandskate@gmail.com