Chopper Cleans Up 2 yrs After Rain Event
A
helicopter was used on Wednesday this week to remove around 80 loads of log debris weighing up to 900 kg each from the Rangitopuni Stream. The debris had washed downstream during Cyclone Gabrielle in January 2023 and had remained in the stream for two years.
The work was carried out by Auckland Council Healthy Waters under the Making Space for Water programme which aims to improve overland flow paths to prevent flooding.
According to Pradip Baisyet project manager at Healthy Waters, the inaccessibility of the logs along 2 km of the Rangitopuni Stream meant retrieval by air was the best solution.
"Our contractor HEB who's responsible for removing the debris, couldn't get
heavy machinery into the area close enough to that part of the stream along Sunnyside Road, so they had to find an alternative method," he says.
The logs had to be removed because of the threat they posed to the environment and property owners. Pradip says they caused the stream to dam and if there was another weather event, as well as the risk of flooding, the waterlogged stream banks were also likely to suffer erosion and possible collapse.
Healthy Waters' process of assessment involved drone surveys, walkovers as well as health and safety for contractors, risks if work was not done, plant/materials needed, and cost to clear the blockages. On this occasion, the helicopter ticked all the boxes.
Left: the helicopter transported loads of debris from the stream to a site nearer the road where logs were processed. Right: A load lifted from the stream on its way to be processed. Although it seems from the photo that the helicopter carried loads over the power lines, it did not. It worked on the far side of the power lines at all times
I'm excited to bring you this issue. Not just because it's the first one of the year, but ever since I became The Coatesville Chronicle's editor and publisher, I've received one consistent and clear message from readers. That message is: we miss the recipe.
You might think it's no big deal, and to be fair, I thought that – for a while. But the message persisted from the vocal community of people in and around Coatesville who enjoy a culinary touch to the newsletter. Don't think I wasn't listening. I looked for a food contributor and asked several local people to take it on. In spite of being happy to pay them, no one felt they were ready to take it on.
I had almost given up – until recently. I was listening to the radio one Saturday morning and tuned in to the voice of entertaining food personality and cook, Annabelle White. Knowledgeable, funny and tolerant of callers wanting to tell her how to make a pavlova – as if she didn't aldready know! – as I listened, a light bulb went on in my mind.
I emailed Annabelle and asked her if she would be interested in contributing to The Coatesville Chronicle and after a chat she said YES! At last, a food contributor and more than that, a food expert with
over 30 years' experience!
To introduce Annabelle, I've asked her a few questions and her answers are on page 3. On page 10 you'll find her column and some cooking ideas that I hope foodies will enjoy. There's plenty more in this issue. Our community groups have been busy. Pest Free Coatesville is embracing the AI challenge with new trapping technology that's incredibly sophisticated. The Friends of Green Road Park have formed an incorporated society and their volunteers are already tackling the park's pest plants.
The centre pages feature the Coatesville Half Marathon and on page 8 Louise Johnston shares news from the Rodney Local Board. This month she asks readers to provide feedback on Council’s annual budget/ plan before 28 March so Rodney can receive its fair share to invest in local projects – like Green Road Park! So, pop the kettle on and settle in for a read. You might even see some familiar faces in the photos.
Diary
Dates
∞ 28 February, Friday, Starting today, you can give your feedback to Auckland Council's annual budget/plan. Go to Akhaveyoursay.co.nz to respond.
∞ 1 March, Saturday, Autumn starts today.
∞ 23 March, Sunday, 9.30am–11.30am Easter-themed flower arranging workshop at Kaipara Coast Plant Centre. Tickets are $30 per person and bookings are essential. Email info@ kaiparacoast.co.nz to buy your ticket.
∞ 28 March Feedback deadline ends today to Auckland Council's annual budget/plan.
∞ 29 March, Saturday, PFC Gala Dinner at Huapai Golf Club. You don't need to be a ticket holder to bid in the silent auction. Check out the PFC's Facebook page for more information and to find the link.
Your editor, Vanessa Johnson
Email: coatesvillechronicle@gmail.com, Phone: 021 724 001
∞ 31 March, Monday, End of the financial year.
∞ 6 April, Sunday, DAYLIGHT SAVING ENDS at 2am in the morning. Remember to check the batteries in your smoke alarms.
Q & A with Annabelle White
CC: What do you love about cooking for family and friends?
AW: Food brings us all together - everyone is equal at the table and days can be celebrated and bad days made better with comforting home-cooked meals
Yes, food is sustenance, but the emotional enrichment is as important - listening - sharing - showing joy and voicing appreciation - the food doesn’t have to be fancy but just cooked with care. To live is to cook and to cook screams love and warmth. My happiest childhood memories were sitting around the table discussing “the day“!
CC: What's your go to meal to feed unexpected guests?
AW: Often a delicious salad with my mint and parsley dressing always in the fridge and bread rolls in the freezer to quickly heat up. I also have a favourite soup brand at the supermarket that I always keep in fridge and left-over chicken and frozen vegetables can make it into a hearty chowder/stew served with rice or pasta.
CC: What's your take on the cooking reels on social media?
AW: it’s great people are following cooking on instagram and especially during Covid people got very adventurous and extra confident in the kitchen which is great. But the clips are less than 3 minutes and for a new cook it’s too fast! Seriously, I still love my paper copies of recipes in a cook book that keeps things simple and not running all over town to get ingredients I might only use once and then get anxious I’m not using it more often!
CC: Is life too short to make your own mayonnaise?
AW: If you want to make your own mayonnaise go right ahead, but 95 percent of the time I use a good commercial brand which is available at the supermarket. I often grab Best mayonnaise.
CC: What food related items do you travel with?
AW: I often ask well-known foodies what they travel with. Nigella told me she always travels with her own particular English mustard and now she tells me she travels with a favourite salt. Recently I caught up with Julia Child's personal assistant for 16 years Steph Hersh and I asked her if Julia Child ever travelled with any particular foods. She said no, but told me Julia always travelled with a salad spinner. You may think it was because she was concerned about how well the salad greens had been washed, but no, this thrifty Yankee took the salad spinner because at hotels she would hand wash then spin her smalls and her stockings in it to save on laundry bills. For me, I travel with my Aeropress coffee maker and my own ground coffee, my favourite tea bags and often I will travel with my favourite salt and pepper. You may think it’s crazy but it’s brought me so much joy over the years. Nothing is more frustrating than an insipid tea bag in an international hotel and I can pick up my Barry‘s tea bags (Irish tea) and be as happy as can be!
PFC Upgrades to High Tech AI Trapping
Pest Free Coatesville and six other Rodneybased conservation groups, are about to change gear in a collaboration that will see them install a network of AI traps between Kaukapakapa and Kumeu.
According to PFC leader, Gary Langridge, the aim is to create a conservation corridor for kiwi to use so they can continue to move through the Rodney area.
"We know there are kiwi in Kaukapakapa and they've been also sighted in Point Wells, Mangawhai and other areas after having been released in Mt Tamahunga (near Warkworth). By diligently trapping predator animals, all seven groups are making it safer for kiwi to continue their move south and spread throughout Rodney."
The new generation of trap models are called AT520-AI and are made by NZ Auto traps. On the company's website they say: The AT520-AI is the auto resetting and reluring pest trap that includes an intelligent Yarn Mesh Node AI with remote monitoring. The AT520-AI trap targets specific pests for smarter predator control that protects native species.
The traps use AI technology to build a profile of target pest animals. A camera located on the trap takes pictures that help identify the target species so that only pest animals will activate the trap - domestic pets stay safe.
"They interact and continually send data back via the network," sys Gary. "So, if a trap doesn't clear and becomes blocked, images will be sent back that show what's happening at the trap and also identify which trap is affected so you know exactly where to go to clear it."
Although the cost of each trap is roughly $1000, Gary says the groups' ambition is to make it a cooperative venture. He says the ongoing data collection makes the investment worthwhile. "Our aim is to establish 200 of these traps over 24 months."
Although the PFC is committed to funding the first 75 traps, they are also seeking additional funding from the Rodney Local Board. Their submission was made earlier this week and they are currently awaiting the board's decision.
Getting Behind Green Rd Park
TSite(s): RWNZ5108
Ray White Swanson
Business: Totally Amped Electrical
Ship To: 14 Bethells Road, Auckland 0816 New Zealand
Contact: Coel Jackson
urning Green Road Park into the Cornwall Park of the North Shore is going to take more than just Council funding. People power is a huge component and the group of volunteers shown above, from Coatesville and Dairy Flat, have been among the first to roll up their sleeves.
Phone: 021 770 696
waterway running through the park near the northern boundary. Now, with the Privet cut back, the light can get in and native seedlings will be able to thrive, helping the native bush to regenerate.
resource that will take shape over many years."
GRAPHICS PROOF SHEET
Email: totallyampedelectrical@gmail.com
The latest working bee on 9 February was the third time this group has donated their time and energy to helping eradicate pest plants in the 154-hectare park. Their target was Privet and they spent an hour or so cutting back mature plants and pasting the stumps with a product that will kill the remaining root system.
Their work was focused on a 250-metre stretch of native bush, part of a 1.5km strip that skirts the
Mike Rowe, Chairman of the newly formed Green Park Incorporated Society, says the group is progressing well. “We’ve received support from Auckland Council who gave us the pruning saws and the Rodney Local Board who have provided the chemicals we've used for the Privet eradication. We're also working closely with a community park ranger so there's lots of support. Moving forward, we hope to engage more young people and get kids involved because this is an inter-generational
07 5699 8109 07 5575 9748 graphics@movingtogether.com Po Box 847, Burleigh Town Qld 4220
The Rodney Local Board is funding construction of more footpaths and bridgesat the park through the targeted rate. And, under the Fairer Funding Model, Louise Johnston from the Rodney Local Board says there will be around $8M more to spend locally on projects like Green Road Park.
"The way that funding will be secured is via feedback to the Annual Budget which will be made public from 28 February until 28 March," says Louise. There are many more working bees planned so locals can come along and help out. A planting day scheduled for June this year will involve the wider community and will mark the formal launch of the project.
Volunteers: Privet cut-and-paste crew
Horse riders and walkers enjoying Green Rd Park
Privet stumps Council donated saws
S CCGC AGM and BBQ
ince the Christmas luncheon at Black Cottage in early December, we gardeners have engaged with festive and family gatherings interspersed with occasional gardening activities.
Since early December, there have been two visits to Kawau to prepare Mansion House gardens for the summer influx of visitors. Maintaining the gardens with a once-a-month visit is hard and we work the Ranger Thomas Hynes fully. He attends to the watering and mowing in the gardens area along with all his other duties.
Maintenance during summer is made less for us depending on the rain/showers' frequency, that reinvigorate growth. If they're too frequent, they can set the gardens into jungle mode! The dry spell was tested when we returned on February 12 to focus on mowing, edges and hedge cutting in readiness for a music event.
Later in the month we will go back to check up again. With the Coatesville Country Garden Club reference posted on several notices, we want to reflect on the skills and knowledge we know exists among us.
January couldn’t pass without a coffee catch up at Fernielea which drew 30 members all eager to see each other and talk. These gatherings are very popular and mean our association with other members is very valued – it’s time to catch up with different people than is possible to associate with at a normal meeting. The next gathering at Kings Silverdale was equally as popular, but included more members now retired in that area.
The AGM is always scheduled at the start of the new year and so far we have fine weather which means our following BBQ is outdoors and a pleasant scene. The same committee is working again this year and there are exciting trips and speakers planned. Our volunteer working groups are up and functioning – Mansion House Kawau gardeners will make two trips in February, The Couldrey House team of gardeners (Wenderholm) visited recently with Richard Bampton, and we also keep an eye on WildWood in the Coatesville reserve. While most of these volunteers are from the garden club, you don’t need to be and you would be welcome to join in.
Our meeting activities, include raffles, bloom and produce competitions, and in between meetings (on the first Tuesday of the month) there are Coffee catchups Blokes and their sheds and open gardens, or mini trips to interesting local places.
We value our gardens, our friendships and our members and the interaction we generate for the benefit of everyone. Any enquiries should be directed to Shirley Jensen 021 211 0433.
By Jenny Hunter
Coatesville Half Marathon
unday, 9 February dawned with perfect weather conditions for a road race/fun run. Still, dry and overcast to begin with, the temperature was a little chilly as the organisers and first participants arrived to prepare for the start of the half marathon at 7.30am.
The chill in the air matched the event vibe as around 1500 competitors plus supporters, arrived, most parking on the reserve. As always, the start of the half marathon included a number of Coatesville locals as well as runners from all over the city and some from further afield.
Running Events, the company behind Coatesville’s only sporting event, set up their chutes, flags and tents on Saturday in preparation for the early start on Sunday. By the time the runners were at the starting line, two ambulances and a medics’ tent at the finish line were set up and at the ready, the monitored secure spot for bags was fenced-off and food trucks were in position. At the finish line, colourful medals were stacked, ready to be handed out as hundreds of runners would soon be corralled past protein bars and electrolyte-rich drinks to help them recover from the exertion. It's a serious business until after the safety briefing from Rob, Running Events race director.
Rob gives thorough warnings to the runners to stay in their lane and watch out for residents’ vehicles. He advises people to listen to their bodies and one or two other helpful hints, then the humour starts and once the drone is in the air, the start is moments away.
Roughly 1 hour 15 minutes later, the first runners completed the 21.1 km course that took them up to Ridge Rd, then along to Wake Rd back up to Ridge Rd until the C-R Highway, then back along Ridge Rd, down Glenmore Rd and lastly through the shadey respite of Coatesville’s leafy reserve. Although they’re truly shattered at this stage, some runners still manage to kick it on their way to achieving their personal goal. Each competitor wears a timing gizmo
linked to their race number so when they pass across the finish line, their race time is recorded against their number. This means that event results can be loaded onto Running Events website on the day of the race. Again, no time is wasted.
This year’s top three half marathon runners finished within a few minutes of each other. First place winner, Dylan Logan (1:15:57), followed by Mark Boyce and Joshua Hunter. The first three women home were Gabriela Diver (1:27:34) followed by Briar Preston and Ady McKenzie.
The 8km Classic included a large field of runners. First home was Clinton Loveday in 00:28:07 and first woman home was Krystyna Knight in 00:31:29. However, one 8km runner was a stand out. Harvey Dapiere, aged 9, who attends Coatesville School completed the 8km in 00:41:42. Harvey told the Chronicle it was the first time he’d even run that far. Audacious effort Harvey!
Captions (from left to right):
1. Joshua Hunter, Dylan Logan and Mark Boyce; 2. Isla, Anna and Lottie Hawkes; 3. Amy Everett and Emily Grant; 4. And they're off in the 8km Classic; 5. Ady McKenzie, Briar Preston and Gabriela Diver; 6. Harvey Dapiere and his proud dad Kent; 7. Damian Schade; 8. Refueling; 9. The race course; 10. Getting airborn; 11. Sophie, Daniel and Kendall Bodewes; 12. Race director Rob; 13. Ninja runners; 14. Millie, Stevie and Sarah Spence; 15. Nene, Bob and Dot; 16. The refueling station gets hammered; 17. Supporters at the finish line.
Local Board News
As we start the 2025 academic year, I hope everybody had a great summer. It is certainly going to be a busy year! This started last week with the road sealing on Coatesville-Riverhead Highway which has left many road users frustrated. Not so much with the work but the lack of communication around the works, detours, bus relocations etc. We have escalated this lack of communication to senior levels within Auckland Transport. They are reviewing how this happened and what can be improved. We need this to be in place especially when construction starts in April for the Mill Flat Bridge replacement project.
This is an important month for Council, as elected members will be consulting on Council’s annual budget/plan. While this might sound quite boring, this year it is rather exciting with the introduction of the Fairer Funding model for Local Boards. This new funding model finally addresses Council’s funding inequity across Auckland. For the Rodney Local Board this means approximately $8M additional funding each year for projects in Rodney ward.
As far as council facilities go, the Dairy Flat subdivision which includes Coatesville, Dairy Flat and Milldale is hard done by compared to other areas of Rodney. I do think this additional funding is an opportunity to tidy up the area, especially along the roadside berms which are often overgrown with privet and other pest plants.
The additional funding could be used to cover projects such as:
∞ Pest plant removal along our roadsides.
∞ More gravel pathways.
∞ Installing a Portaloo at Green Road Park until the construction of the permanent toilets.
∞ Increased funding for our Pest free groups.
∞ Specimen tree planting in our reserves.
By Louise Johnston
∞ Funding riparian planting along our streams.
∞ Installing more horse mounting blocks at Green Road Park.
∞ Tree Swings and nature play such as using felled trees for climbing at Green Road Park.
You can have your say on the proposed annual plan from 28 February to 28 March. We don’t have the link yet for this feedback but Google AKHAVEYOURSAY and it will come up. Rodney is a massive area that goes all the way up to Wellsford, includes Omaha and Helensville and we need to ensure that we get our voices heard, so that money is spent in our area.
Lastly, there has been quite a bit of discussion on Facebook especially in the Kumeu area, around the raised pedestrian crossing in the Coatesville Village by the dairy. This crossing is being funded by the Local Board Auckland Transport Capital fund. Each political term, the local boards are allocated funding for local transport initiatives. During Covid this funding was cut due to the emergency budget. This pedestrian crossing has been
on the list of possible projects to be delivered in Rodney since 2018. To date, $200K has been allocated to the crossing and additional $125K is required which will be discussed at our next business meeting. The Rodney Local Board have always covered construction cost increases and the budget is available for this. This project is being delivered together with the footpath and parking at the bottom of Glenmore Road. These projects are being packaged together to save on traffic management costs. The projects would have been delivered at the end of 2023 if there had been certainty that the speed limit through the village could be reduced to 50kmp/ hr. There will be limited consultation on the raised crossing and footpath and parking project, but it will not be a referendum.
Please get in contact if you have any questions or are considering running for the Local Board this year as I would be more than happy to meet up to discuss the role.
Louise.Johnston@aucklandcouncil. govt.nz
Construction of the permanent bridge at Mill Flat Lane will start in April this year to replace the Bayley Bridge which was constructed in February 2023, shown above.
Trusts and Tax: The Bill That Could Have Been Avoided
Kathy’s husband, Jack, passed away three years ago. They held a trust which owned their home, a commercial unit and an investment portfolio with a reputable investment advisory company. Kathy and Jack had two sons, Mark, who lived in Australia, and Glen who lived in Auckland. Glen wasn’t good with money which was a concern.
When Jack died, Kathy thought about winding the trust up. They held the trust to give them some tax flexibility and protection for the business, that Jack was a director of. The reasons were outdated, but Kathy wanted to ensure Glen was protected if she died. She knew direct payments to him wouldn’t last.
Kathy saw her lawyer as she didn’t think she needed an independent trustee and that her preference would be for Mark to be appointed as a trustee as he would be able to look after the funds for Glen. The lawyer drew up the paperwork and Mark was appointed as a trustee.
Kathy decided to sell the commercial property. She was receiving enough income from the investment portfolio and wanted to use the funds to
help the boys out. Mark had a large mortgage in Sydney and half the value of the commercial building could buy an apartment for Glen. The property was sold, and the trust made the distribution to Mark and purchased the apartment for Glen.
A few months later, Mark called Kathy, distraught. He had been issued with a large tax bill from the Australian Tax Office – the Australian equivalent of the Inland Revenue. The distribution to him from the trust was taxable in Australia, and he was now facing a bill equal to 45% of the amount that the trust had distributed to him. Kathy got in touch with her accountant who said yes, he had heard something about distributions from NZ trusts to Australian beneficiaries, being taxable in Australia. He said that in the past some of this would have slipped through, but with the new disclosure rules in NZ and information sharing between the international revenues it’s likely that these things would be picked up. He was concerned that Mark was a trustee of the trust, as this meant that the trust would also be pulled into the Australian tax net and that it was
New Zealand Trusts And Overseas Tax Implications.
Trusts are invaluable asset protection mechanisms, which allow a person to hold property and assets on behalf of another for the good of the beneficiaries.
However, if you have beneficiaries or trustees that are tax residents overseas, there needs to be careful planning and structuring to avoid unintended tax consequences. Laws around trusts and tax are not the same overseas as they are in New Zealand.
Contact our Trusts and Wealth Protection Team for specialist asset structuring and planning advice.
possible that there would be capital gains tax to pay in Australia on the sale of the commercial building. He also said that there could be a tax bill for the trust relating to any capital gains and/or exchange gains in the investment portfolio.
Her accountant recommended she got some specialist tax and trust advice. He said that her lawyer was a general practitioner and had overlooked the complexities around overseas beneficiaries and trustees.
The rules relating to overseas beneficiaries and trustees of trusts are changing constantly and it’s imperative that you receive specialist advice before taking any action in this area. Kathy’s intentions of protecting Glen’s inheritance ended up having financial consequences that could have been avoided.
Tammy McLeod, Trust Law specialist, Managing Director, Davenports Law
Less is more is the advice often given and when it comes to home cooking and entertaining, it’s certainly true. In these remaining few weeks of warm weather, it’s a great time to plan a get together and over the next few months I will share with you some great recipes that will not only delight your dining companions but will not strain the budget.
Years ago, a well-known Australian chef said to me – tell your readers (home cooks) spend less time cooking and more time shopping. He wasn’t suggesting Jimmy Choo shoes or Prada handbags, but search out great local products and support the local producers. Then do as little as possible to great ingredients. For example, today’s fig platter, search out a good fig supplier and the dish will be superb. But remember home entertaining is not like Master Chef or other cooking reality shows. It should be relaxing and fun, not stressful. Your friends will not judge you if your soufflé collapses or the meat is overcooked. It’s not a cooking competition.
Far better for you to be relaxed, share the load (potluck is a great idea) and enjoy your time together. Seriously, I wouldn’t even attempt soufflés at this time of the year for a crowd – warm peach cake is a better option.
To encourage you further to do less – consider this, an American entertaining expert has been quoted as saying, if in your concern you make more than one dessert – you are “socially inadequate” which is harsh, but there is good reason to take this on board.
Sure, make a dessert or serve today’s fresh figs and have a bowl of fruit and a little dish of chocolates to one side –if your company do not like figs or are allergic to dairy (cheese) and have a problem with nuts (why did you invite these people? lol) then they can help themselves to chocolate and fruit.
According to Annabelle Less is More!
Top Tips forSweetcorn Before the season ends
1. Into a microwavable bowl place some freshly cooked corn or frozen – add a couple of spoonfuls of crème fraiche or sour cream. Cover and cook for 2-3 mins on high – season and add a little finely chopped chives or spring onions or parsley or combination of the three and serve with grilled fish or slices of chicken – the best creamed corn ever!
2. After shucking the corn, don’t throw out the corn cob straight away – put it into a pot with cold water and simmer gently – this “corn stock” can be frozen for later use when you make vegetable soup or corn chowder – not wasting a thing!
3. Next time you make corn chowder add a strip of kombu (available at Asian shops and worth the drive!) This dry seaweed gives the most delicious non fishy umami flavour. Leave the strip in the hot pot till you are about to serve or a good hour.
Fresh Figs With Blue Cheese
Serves 3-4 as a shared platter
∞ 60g creamy blue cheese cut into small pieces
∞ 6 fresh figs, cut in half
∞ ¼ cup almonds
∞ 1 Tbsp runny honey
METHOD
Take the blue cheese out of the fridge and let it reach room temperature before serving. Cut into small pieces while it is still cold.
If the figs have been in the fridge, take them out and place on bench to get to room temperature.
Gently heat the almonds in a dry pan unti lightly coloured (watch them, they burn easily).
Take your favourite white platter and place figs on the platter, scatter the nuts and cheese and lightly drizzle with honey.
∞ This doesn’t need bread or crackers and you can adjust the quantities as per your want – for example – more cheese, more nuts not a problem – even increase the honey if desired.
Clean Out the Fridge Chicken Salad
If you are time poor, a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket skinned, deboned and shredded can be added to your favourite salad greens. Also add toasted walnuts, thin slices of cheese, a little red onion, finely-chopped capsicums and sliced cucumber then dress the salad with your favourite dressing – confession time – this is one of my favourite meals all year round.
∞ If you're making a salad dressing ahead and it’s in the fridge, let the amount you need come to room temperature, and if there is a fresh lemon or orange in the salad bowl, add a squeeze of fresh citrus to a homemade or commercial dressing to give it a great zap of flavour!
Annabelle White
Helpful Hints from the CRRA
Civil Defence
Classified Advertising
Agricultural contractor mulching/ gorse clearing, mowing (& lawns), rotary hoeing/seeding, stump grinding, Graeme 027 533 3114
Born To Build Ltd - Outdoor building specialists - We are here to help you create your outdoor vision, call Leon with all your deck, fence, retaining, pergola and horse & yard works! We are a small local quality business, been in the area for 10 years, helping our customers create their outdoor living dreams! Leon 022 0431443 borntobuild@hotmail.co.nz
Clean Queen I'll have your house looking like a castle. References supplied. Ph Angela 021 0832 9352
Coatesville Mulch Mowing 1 to 50 acres, local contractor, affordable rates. Phone Warren and Brenda Mills on 415 6503 or 022 315 1953
Connect Electrics For all your electrical solutions, Phone Kris 022 332 6663 or 412 6066
Check www.dpanz.org.nz to learn the 4Rs if someone is in trouble in
Clean & Green
Keep it green while you get clean. You’d be amazed how the water adds up and your plants will appreciate the effort.
Gardener Are you looking for a gardener who will nurture and take care of your garden on a regular basis;
AUTO GATES LTD
someone who is conscientious, diligent & creative? If this sounds interesting, please don’t hesitate to email, call or text me for a noobligation chat. Phill M: 021 928 469 E: phillpriestley1@gmail.com
GET IN SHAPE Local private gym for one-on-one training or small group sessions, specialising in weight loss, general fitness and rehabilitation. Call Debbie 027 441 8769.
Local Shearer, Kevin Abel, 021 223 5033
Mister Sharp Mobile Knife, Scissor & Garden Tool Sharpening Service. Onsite at your home or business, priced per item with no call-out charges - just a minimum spend please of $50. Ph 027 444 3348
Odd Job Company For building & landscaping projects, call Peter 027 453 0570
Painters & Decorators Marshall
Painters can help with all your painting needs; interiors, exteriors, even waterblasting to make sure you get the top quality finish we're famous for. Call Marcus on 021 024 86516 or email marshallpainters@gmail.com.
Pilates in Coatesville Hall, Thursday @ 6pm. Special – 2 free lessons for new clients. $12 school term, $15 concession card and $20 casual class. Contact Abraham on 021 122 1530 or abrahampardo@gmail.com
Scout Marquee for hire, 6m x 8m, $250 per day. Call Garth 447 1863 The Blooming Beekeeper fully maintained beehive service. The ideal eco-friendly gift. Bee packages; beekeeping lessons; artisan bee products; swarm catching. Coatesville based. Call Val 021 755 833.
Who’s your caterer? Beautifully presented, great tasting food, at competitive prices. Phone Helen Cato 415 7771 or 021 211 8223.
Renovate and Maximise
Renovating to sell? Where to spend and where to save? With many properties for sale at the moment in Coatesville and the cost of living still high, it's important to find the balance between making your property stand out when selling and not spending money where you don't need to. What you do, depends on what you are starting with, for example, if your property is a complete renovation then spending money on some areas only, may well be the wrong choice. However, whatever you do it must be about first impressions! Make sure you have a house wash on your list which costs approximately $1000 depending on house size. Check out repainting your front fence, front door, tidy your garden, pathway to the home and mow the lawns. If some things aren't upgraded, they can become barriers to insurance, i.e. you could spend around $2000 – $3000 upgrading the electrical board, but sometimes that could be the difference between securing your buyer or not; insurance can be a barrier.
WHAT ROOMS MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT? Focus your attention on the kitchen and bathrooms. Even a spruce up, like replacing kitchen handles, taps and installing a new splashback. With bathrooms, again you don’t want to overspend, but look at updating things like taps, and flooring.
SHOULD THE SEASON CHANGE YOUR FOCUS? We love to entertain so it’s key to think about indoor outdoor flow if selling in summer. If there’s potential to have an opening out onto a deck, or a non-structural wall that can be taken down, this can open up the space easily and quickly. In the winter it pays to start thinking about heat pumps, heaters and putting in a fireplace or look to get the existing fireplace surround redone to make it a focal point. Winter renovations can be as simple as painting a room with warmer colours. Also look at flooring and carpeting. If your floor is hard on the feet, spend a bit more and put something gentle on the feet. A great underlay is your friend when it comes to comfort.
WHEN SHOULD I START RENOVATING? When it comes to deciding on the right time to start renovating, always contact your real estate agent who can offer the right advice on what renovations are going to add value. It’s important to plan ahead and allocate enough time so that you're not rushing a renovation just before coming to market. An easy way to manage improvements is also by thinking constantly about updating your property in small increments. You never know when things can change for you, and markets also change.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I BE SPENDING? Some more extreme renovations can get to $50,000 by the time you clean and paint your roof, the exterior of your home and do touch ups. Depending on what you need to do to add value the realistic amount could be anything up to $5000, but it really depends on the size of the house. Ultimately though, your spend should not be zero. Every kitchen and bathroom is quite different. You can buy a tap for $300, or you can find one for $30 with similar results. The key is you don’t want to overspend, however you need to be smart.
WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO SAVE? Lights for example, there are one-off shops or op shops, put a light on a chain and give the room a unique style. Do make sure all your lights are working and the same colourway i.e. cool or warm light bulbs, they must all be the same.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS? DECLUTTERING is massive, clearing excess furniture, photos and ornaments can give the illusion of space. It is easy for people to visualise living in a home if they can see space and picture their furniture in the home. STAGING pays for itself with return on investment, as this is ultimately about first impressions. Plants and artwork also add personality to a space, and make it feel a little more homely.
Whatever your thoughts, let me check this out with you. Call me to organise a walk through and decide what best works for your home!
