You are invited to attend the

TTK AGM on Friday 11th March.

@ REAP,  Kauri room, Puckey Ave, Kaitaia.

Starting at 5.30

A light supper will be served during the meeting.

The AGM will be followed by our monthly film at a slightly later time than usual at 7pm. See poster below.

By Imran Ali :The Northern Advocate 2nd March 2011

A Northland hapu is hoping to galvanise public support with a meeting in a last-ditch attempt to oppose a major power generation project in their harbour.

Te Uri O Hau Settlement Trust (click here for contact details) is organising a public meeting at the Dargaville Town Hall on Monday and among those expected to attend is mayor Neil Tiller and well-known Kaipara resident Des Subritsky.

The hapu became involved in the project, spearheaded by Crest Energy, through its environmental subsidiary Environs Holdings after concerns were raised over ecological and cultural implications. The Environment Court last month gave Crest Energy the go-ahead to set up power turbines to generate 200 megawatts of electricity - enough for 250,000 homes or all of Northland's power needs.

Artist impression of a Crest Energy marine turbine for electricity generation to be built in the Kaipara Harbour. Picture / Supplied

Crest will install up to 200 marine turbine generating units in the harbour and install two 7km power transmission cables linking the turbines at Pouto. Although the hapu is pleased that the Environment Court has placed additional restrictions on the project, there are other concerns..

The hapu is worried about effects the project would have on snapper and other marine life, such as maui dolphins.

The purpose of Monday's meeting, meanwhile, is threefold. The first is to consider whether community representatives should meet Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson in an attempt to convince her not to accept the court's recommendation. A postcard outlining concerns and addressed to Prime Minister John Key is also a possibility. The meeting hopes to gauge support for a group to engage the Northland Regional Council to ensure Crest Energy meets obligations under resource consent conditions.

Envirofest – a fantastic one day event (12 March) celebrating ideas, products and services that enable Northlanders to live smarter and cheaper.

Northlanders rely on their environment to earn a living and create healthy, enjoyable lifestyles. Envirofest is the chance for the community to come together to embrace environmental sustainability.

Key Event information

When: Saturday 12 March 2011;

9.00am – 4.00pm

Where: Kerikeri Domain, Cobham Road, Kerikeri, Bay of Islands

Entry: free to all

For more information visit:

www.envirofest.co.nz

Enter one of the competitions:

• Recycled Garden Sculptures
• Best Ever Preserve: Pickle, Chutney, Sauce, Jam
• New from Old: take old garments and make a new one.
• Best Artwork made entirely from recycled materials

Learn how to make an Adobe Pizza Oven

Attend a seminar to learn more about organic fertilizers, caring for your septic tank, financial sustainability, keeping chooks etc.

Visit the many sites showcasing building, business, home and family issues.

Have the kids entertained at the games area

FREE ENTRY with prize draws throughout the day.

Live Smarter, Live Cheaper.

Each summer, Northland Regional Council test the water quality at a number of Northland’s popular coastal and freshwater swimming spots to make sure it’s safe for swimming.

Beach water quality for week starting 21 February:

Warning signs have been placed by District Councils at the following sites (please see all the results below):

• Matapouri 1st Bridge
• Paihia Waitangi Bridge
• Waipu Cove at beach

Status system

NRC give a three tier status system for swimming water quality.  This is based by assessing the risk of contamination at a beach swimming site using levels of the indicator bacteria Enterococci.  Find out more about what NRC test for

Green: safe to swim
Enterococci count less than 140/100ml

Orange: caution, potentially unsuitable to swim
Enterococci count more than 140/100ml

Red: unsafe to swim
Enterococci count more than 280/100ml

This weeks' results:

Far North

Full weekly results available below. View a map of the testing sites.

To view an aerial photo map of the location where the samples were gathered, click on the site name link.

North East (Coopers Beach to Matauri Bay)

Full weekly results available below. View a map of the testing sites.

To view an aerial photo map of the location where the samples were gathered, click on the site name link. 

North West (Hokianga Harbour)

Full weekly results available below. View a map of the testing sites.

To view an aerial photo map of the location where the samples were gathered, click on the site name link. 

South West (Kaipara District)

Full weekly results available below. View a map of the testing sites.

To view an aerial photo map of the location where the samples were gathered, click on the site name link.

South East (One Tree Point to Mangawhai Harbour)

Full weekly results available below. View a map of the testing sites.  

Bay of Islands and Oakura

Full weekly results available below. View a map of the BOI and Oakura testing sites. 

Tutukaka

Full weekly results available below. View a map of the testing sites. 

Check before you swim

In general, water can be contaminated and unsafe for swimming if:

• there is a warning sign erected indicating water is unsafe.
• there has been heavy rain recently.
• the water looks dirty (murky).
• there are several potential sources of contamination nearby and upstream such as:
  • houses on septic tanks;
  • stock with access to the water; or
  • a sewage treatment plant discharge. 

Who to contact

NRC are responsible for routine surveillance monitoring. These results are sent to the District Councils and Northland Health, who then carry out follow-up sampling as required and warn the public of any swimming sites that may be unsafe.

For information about a specific area or a warning sign contact your local District Council or the on-duty Health Protection Officer at Northland Health.

Far North District Council

Freephone: 0800 920 029

Whangarei District Council

Phone: 09 430 4200

Kaipara District Council

Phone: 09 439 7059

Northland Health

Phone: 09 430 4100

For general information contact:

Northland Regional Council

Freephone: 0800 002 004

Each summer, Northland Regional Council test the water quality at a number of Northland’s popular coastal and freshwater swimming spots to make sure it’s safe for swimming.

Freshwater quality for week starting 21 February:

Warning signs have been placed by District Councils at the following sites (please see all the results below):

• Ocean Beach Stream
• Otamure Bay Stream
• Lake Waro
• Whangarei Falls
• Coopers Beach Stream

Status system

NRC give a three tier status system for swimming water quality.  This is based by assessing the risk of contamination at a freshwater swimming site using levels of the indicator bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli).  Find out more about what NRC test for

 Green: safe to swim
 E. coli less than 260/100ml

 Orange: caution, potentially unsuitable to swim
 E. coli count more than 260/100ml

 Red: unsafe to swim
 E. coli count more than 550/100ml

This weeks' results:

The table below shows the most recent results for all the freshwater sites sampled in Northland.  All locations are in alphabetical order.

LOCATION	Site No.	Status	Result
Aurere River, at Aurere Beach Road	110324	Green: Safe to swim
Coopers Beach Stream	101870	Red: Unsafe to swim
Kaihu River, at campground	102221	Green: Safe to swim
Kapiro Bridge, at Purerua Road	102838	Orange: Caution
Kerikeri, Stone Store	101530	Green: Safe to swim
Lake Coca Cola	110323	Green: Safe to swim
Lake Ngatu, south end	100402	Green: Safe to swim
Lake Taharoa	105434	Green: Safe to swim
Langs Beach, toilets	100686	Green: Safe to swim	148
Ocean Beach Stream	102077	Red: Unsafe to swim	2481
Omamari Beach Stream	102305	Green: Safe to swim
Otamure Bay Stream	108859	Green: Safe to swim	61
Otaua Stream	108510	Green: Safe to swim
Raumanga Stream, Whangarei	103246	Green: Safe to swim	171
Tirohanga Stream	102252	Green: Safe to swim
Twin Bridges	105973	Green: Safe to swim
Victoria River	104908	Green: Safe to swim
Waipapa Basin, at Charlies Rock	110348	Green: Safe to swim
Waipapa River, Puketi	103248	No data
Waipoua River, at DOC campground	108613	Green: Safe to swim
Waipu Cove Stream	101207	Green: Safe to swim	52
Waitangi, at Lilypond	104830	Orange: Caution
Waro Lake, Hikurangi	107272	Red: Unsafe to swim	754
Whangarei Falls	105972	Red: Unsafe to swim	717

Check before you swim

In general, water can be contaminated and unsafe for swimming if:

• there is a warning sign erected indicating water is unsafe.
• there has been heavy rain recently.
• the water looks dirty (murky).
• there are several potential sources of contamination nearby and upstream such as:

         - houses on septic tanks;
         - stock with access to the water; or
         - a sewage treatment plant discharge.

Who to contact

NRC are responsible for routine surveillance monitoring. These results are sent to the District Councils and Northland Health, who then carry out follow-up sampling as required and warn the public of any swimming sites that may be unsafe.

For information about a specific area or a warning sign contact your local District Council or the on-duty Health Protection Officer at Northland Health.

Far North District Council
Freephone: 0800 920 029

Whangarei District Council
Phone: 09 430 4200

Kaipara District Council
Phone: 09 439 7059

Northland Health
Phone: 09 430 4100

For general information contact:

Northland Regional Council
Freephone: 0800 002 004

The map below represents the results of the Doubtless Bay freshwater quality samples taken on 19th February 2011. For more information on the monitoring programme and all the results, please click here.

NZ Landcare Trust is seeking to appoint a new Regional Coordinator in Northland. Regional Coordinators are key staff within NZ Landcare Trust, directly responsible for delivering our mission:

‘Sustainable Land Management Through Community Involvement’.

This means managing the delivery of significant projects and providing support to a number of landowners, farmers and community groups who share an interest in Sustainable Land Management (SLM). The Trust is looking for a candidate who exhibits strong communication and interpersonal skills, planning, problem solving and organisational ability, initiative and the motivation to work unsupervised. Excellent project management skills are also required along with an affinity for rural living and a very good understanding of sustainable land management issues.

Further information including a schedule and a position description is available from our website:

www.landcare.org.nz/news-features/northlandpost/

The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 11th March.