www.gopi.wellington.net.nz
PO Box 57034
Mana
Porirua

Secretary: Ken Rae 233 9614

From the Chairperson

Your committee’s efforts recently have concentrated on formulating submissions on the draft long-term plans of the Porirua City Council and the Greater Wellington Regional Council. As intimated in the last newsletter, the former contains a new strategic focus on the Porirua Harbour and provides a framework for spending about $2.5 million over the next ten years on the measures needed to put into place a programme for the “restoration of the Onepoto Arm and the continued protection of the Pauatahanui Inlet”. While welcoming this expanded focus we have expressed our concern that the manifest needs of the rest of the harbour must not be allowed to reduce the rate of implementation of the Pauatahanui Inlet Restoration Plan. We are as determined as ever to fight for that. To do this, we need your continuing support. Our most effective weapon is a strong membership that indicates to the authorities the depth of our support in the community. To that end I encourage you to take every opportunity to help us expand our membership – try recruiting your relatives, friends and neighbours to the cause; they can join online at the website or by contacting Ken Rae or me for a brochure and application form. The text of our submission will shortly be sent to you and placed on our website.

As you will see below, Jenny Brash, the Mayor of Porirua, will address the AGM on this new programme; come and listen to her.

John Wells
234 1788

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

 Thursday 29 June at 7.30pm
Bradey Room next to the Whitby Library, Discovery Drive, Whitby

Jenny Brash, Mayor of Porirua

'Protecting the Inlet, the Council's Role.'

The Council's new strategic focus, 'Healthy Harbour, Inlet and Waterways' is a significant response to ongoing representations from the Porirua communities and from our organisation in particular. The presence of a goodly number of our members will underline our ongoing concern for thoughtful and effective maintenance and protection of the Inlet.

A short business meeting to receive the annual report and the financial statements, elect officers and a committee, and discuss general business will precede the talk

Make it a date––and bring a friend

VOLUNTEERS, PLEASE

We need your help on the Committee. The only skill required is enthusiasm about the health and beauty of the Inlet. If you are interested please contact our Chairperson John Wells (234 1788) or the Secretary Ken Rae (233 9614) in advance of the AGM.

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

An urgent task for the new committee will be to appoint a steering group to organise the 2007 Photographic Competition, and allow us to build on the heightened interest of this year's competitors and the increased willingness of local businesses to join us as sponsors. If you have ideas or comments about the future form of the competition, or about the way it was done in 2006, please contact Ken Rae 233 9614 or at ken.rae@xtra.co.nz.

STREAM MONITORING

The winter stream testing programme will be undertaken in July. These tests, carried out over seven sites in four streams feeding the Inlet, are the Guardians' contribution to the Greater Wellington water care programme that you will have heard about it in previous newsletters. This may be the time when you would like to join the 24 people involved in the work. Two hours four times a year is what you would be contributing and training is available. Contact Alastair Harray, phone 233 6648, or email: mary.et.al@actrix.co.nz.

Thanks to all the people involved in this programme.  Our results are sent to Greater Wellington and are recorded along with results from the testing of other streams in the Wellington region.  You can see the summaries online at www.gw.govt/nz1428. 

TREE PLANTINGS

On June 6 Porirua City Council kicked off a city-wide tree planting programme as their contribution to Arbor Day and World Environment Day, between the bridges near the mouth of the Pauatahanui Stream. The trees and shrubs will contribute to streambank stability and make this area more attractive generally. More than eighty members of the public, mostly children from local schools, and Council staff, were on hand to witness Deputy Mayor Euon Morrell plant the first tree. GOPI Committee members and past members were out in force but were unable to compete in the elegance stakes with pupils of Samuel Marsden Whitby campus, resplendent in crisp white shirts. Photographs are being posted on the web-site. PCC hopes to do similar plantings in 2007.

INLET PATHWAY

The first stage of the ambitious PCC and Rotary plan for an Inlet Pathway is near completion with the laying of two footbridges over the Horikiri stream. The next stage is planned to continue the path on to Pauatahanui village. This is likely to be much more controversial as the route must at least pass very close to ecologically important parts of the Wildlife Management Reserve. We will keep you posted on this issue.

HOT NUMBERS FOR THE PAUATAHANUI INLET

Pollution: Discharges of contaminants to air, land, stormwater drains, rivers and the sea––and for after hours resource consent compliance queries––ring Greater Wellington 0800 496 734 (24 hours).

Boating infringements: Greater Wellington 384 5708 (24 hours).

Fisheries issues: Ministry of Fisheries 460 4702 (24 hours).

Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve: Department of Conservation 0800 368 468 (day), 0800 362 468 (a/hrs).

Let us know what you have reported so we can keep and accurate record and follow up if necessary––Ken Rae 233 9614.