Turns out you can live on the golf course!

take a regional approach to the issue. Board chairperson Damian Light told the committee the reduction in hardstands meant more boats would have to enter the Tamaki Estuary for cleaning, increasing the biosecurity risks.

“We need to make sure we have hardstands and haul-out facilities around the region so when someone does have an issue they can go somewhere that is local.”

Light said if boats couldn’t be cleaned locally they could be dragging pests across the Hauraki Gulf while going to another cleaning facility.

Board member Bruce Kendall said there were neglected boats across Auckland that were growing their own ecosystems.

“Some of those things are fine, like mussels are great, mussels filter the water and all the rest of it but there are also bad things.

“It’s going to be much easier to retain and upgrade the existing haul-out facilities than it will be to build new ones.”

Kendall said it wasn’t just a matter of finding the land to build a new haul-out facility but water depths, weather conditions and tides for a location also had to be considered.

Councillor Lotu Fuli asked Light and Kendall if they’d consider a targeted rate to upgrade the haulout facilities at Half Moon Bay if they believed it was important to protect the area. Kendall replied he wasn’t sure how much Howick’s general community outside of the boating community would appreciate having a targeted rate.

“They may because it is a part of looking after the general environment,” he said.

Auckland Airport Rotary, which has many local members, raised funds for those left homeless following the Turkey/Syria earthquake. Photo Reuters

Airport Rotary’s quake fundraiser

Members of Auckland Airport Rotary sprung into action after the recent Turkey/Syria earthquake. The club maintains an emergency fund which recently received inflows from a Club Cinema Night, Trade Me book sales and members’ donations.

Members voted to allocate $1000 from the fund to help relief efforts in Turkey. However, mindful of how often relief money is swallowed up in administration, the club gave the $1000 to ShelterBox who have a standard family pack containing an erectable shelter and survival equipment.

ShelterBox already have personnel in Turkey and our club money is already providing relief to needy families.

President Mathew Koshy remarked, “It is so good to know that our funds are going to provide direct relief. It makes our efforts worthwhile.”

Despite the name Airport Rotary, the club draws members from all over East Tamaki as well as north and south Auckland. Founder president Guy Slocum said, “We are always looking for new members (part or full time) to expand the reach of our charitable efforts as we are much stronger acting together.

“Anyone interested in our next info evening should ring or text 027 895 2909 for details.”