The Eastbourne Herald April 2024

Health centre reduces hours

Changes are afoot at Muritai Health Centre, which is reducing the number of hours doctors are available for face-to-face consultations, due to a shortage of doctors.

Patients received an email this month outlining the changes, which will see the clinic staffed by Drs Ann Van Der Veen and Peter Barwell Monday, Tuesday and Friday 8.30am – 5pm and Wednesday and Thursday 8.30am-1pm for booked GP appointments

. Dr Emily O’Regan will be available for telephone appointments Monday and Tuesday 9am – 1pm, and Thursday 9am – 4pm.

That will leave Wednesday afternoon not covered but Green Cross, who owns the practice said a nurse practitioner will be available to triage patients with urgent needs. A local resident, who didn’t want to be identified, contacted The Eastbourne Herald earlier this month concerned that the changes will have a negative impact on elderly patients. Ordering prescriptions and making appointments using the online app Manage My Health will be challenging for many, he said. Green Cross Health Marketing and Brand Manager Johanna Baikie said despite the reduced on-site doctor hours, patients needing to be seen urgently will be seen on the day either by an onsite doctor, or triaged and evaluated by the nursing professional in the practice, she said. “We are making as many appointments available each day as possible.”

Patients who require emergency medical attention should always call 111. Ms Baikie said they are actively trying to recruit more doctors for the practice.

Bus stop woes for York Bay residents

York Bay residents are up in arms following the sudden closure of the bus stop sheltering them while awaiting buses heading into Lower Hutt, Petone and Wellington.

Residents found out about the stop's closure by chance when they opened the Metlink app to see the stop had been removed. Three days before the event, it was too late to try and stop it.

The bus stop, built in the 1980s, is a safe and sheltered place for those catching buses, York Bay Residents’ Association chair Anna Sutherland told last week’s Eastbourne Community Board meeting. Ms Sutherland questioned the decision that would see residents

help make finishing a project as easy as starting one.

walking nearly half a kilometre to the nearest bus stop, in Mahina Bay.

She said communication had been poor, with residents given little time to prepare.

While she was in support of the shared path project, the lack of communication and temporary bus stop in the bay needed to be addressed.

“Tupua Horo Nuku will be incredible for our community. I’ve wanted it for my children to get to school and now it will be our grandchildren who get to use it,” Ms Sutherland said.

Continues on Page 4

Helen Mulgan waiting at the York Bay bus stop, now closed until December. Photo: Phil Benge.

BRIEFS

Confusion over which side of the Windy Point section of the shared path to walk and cycle on will end when the current signs are changed. Janet Andrew told the ECB that symbols for cycling and walking were painted, confusingly, on both sides of the path, prompting confusion and potential accidents. HCC says the signs will be changed to “keep left”.

Former Eastbourne Community Board member Robert Ashe is teaming up with Hugh Walcott on a project to restore the bush at the pipes, on Pencarrow Coast Road. Mr Ashe said the area, popular with surfersalthough only “surfable about five percent of the year” - has been destroyed by goats. They intend to restore native bush to it for future generations and called on the board to offer what support it could to the project, which is already involving Hutt City and Greater Wellington Regional Councils, along with local iwi representatives. Plants will be sourced from a nursery specialising in plants hardened for the coastal environment. They will be fenced off from goats.

Two speakers at last week's ECB meeting asked the board to help facilitate better communication with the alliance working on Tupua Horo Nuku, over parking spaces at Point Howard. Eddie Mills, a long time resident of Point Howard, said the beach was well used by visitors and locals. The shared path would cut out 18 car parks and make getting to the beach more difficult, he said. Bernard Gresham joined him in questioning how visitors would safely get from their cars to the beach once the shared path went through. The path was a positive addition and he predicted many people would park at the bay and unload their bikes from there to head south. He said the proposal to get rid of the car parks didn’t make sense. “People we’ve dealt with have no appreciation

of the fact that thousands of people each year come to the beach and need the parks,” he said.

It’s not too late to have your say on HCC’s Long Term Plan, which is prioritising spending on water infrastructure. The draft plan proposes a rates increase 16.9 percent. To find out more, go to hutt.city/10yearplan

Eastbourne illustrator Lily Uivel has called on her local environment – including the muchloved driftwood beach structures – for the setting of a new picture book by Angie Belcher for Scholastic. Pipi Dance celebrates the process of gathering shellfish with the whānau for their kai. Lily’s fourth Lulu and the Dance Detectives title with Sally Sutton is also just out, for Puffin.

Plans for a te reo rōpū in Eastbourne are proceeding with two possible tutors and several venues under consideration, most likely for a Matariki start (28 June). If you would like to be kept informed please email editor@ eastbourneherald.co.nz.

Have your say about the Long Term Plan

Have your say about Council’s priorities for the next 10 years during consultation on the Long Term Plan. It’s a challenging time economically for everyone, which is why this is one of Council’s most important 10 Year Plans. Read more at hutt.city/10yearplan.

Consultation closes on 3 May.

Report a problem

If you have an issue or a suggestion for Council, including reporting a leak, complete the Report a Problem form on huttcity.govt.nz. For urgent issues, call 04 570 6666.

Deputy Chair

We rotate our Deputy Chair position during each term. Emily Keddell has taken over this role from Bruce Spedding until February 2025, when Murray Gibbons will take the position.

Contacting the Community Board

Belinda Moss (Chair) 029 494 1615

belinda.moss@huttcity.govt.nz

Emily Keddell (Deputy Chair) 021 188 5106

Bruce Spedding 021 029 74741

Frank Vickers 027 406 1419

Murray Gibbons 04 562 8567

Tui Lewis (Ward Councillor) 021 271 6249

Next public ECB meeting: 7.15pm, Tuesday 18 June 2024

Plea for crossing outside kindy

As Hutt City Council investigates installing a raised crossing by Days Bay Wharf and raises the Village crossing to make pedestrians safer, East Harbour Kindergarten is still waiting to hear whether they will get a crossing adjacent to their site on Muritai Road - more than twenty years after teachers first requested it.. EHK teacher Jenny Caughley lodged the request with the council in February. She said crossing the main road to get to kindy was dangerous for parents and caregivers with small children. Above, four-year-old Emily Abbott waits with her parents Nick and Sarah and baby brother Ethan, for a gap in the traffic to walk across Muritai Road.

Whaowhia te pae tawhiti

Consultation on our draft 10 Year Plan runs from 2 April - 3 May, we want you to have your say on what matters to you.

Check out all the details at hutt.city/10yearplan or visit the Eastbourne Neighbourhood Hub.

Thanks to Phil Benge for this photo from the Fire & Emergency NZ display at the ECB Resilience Expo at Muritai School in March.

Patience runs out for watermain fix Bollards dangerous - cyclist

Life in Point Howard continues to be challenging, more than a year after the watermain burst, cutting water and access off for residents.

Chair of Point Howard Residents’ Association Allison Gandy says the last fifteen months have been difficult, with limited vehicle access up the hill five days a week. The closures present a particular challenge for those needing to leave the Bay for medical appointments for urgent and chronic health conditions.

Ms Gandy said there is a lack of programme management and governance over Wellington Water's work to replace the watermain that ruptured in March 2023. The project was 33 percent behind schedule.

“We have no confidence it’s going to be delivered in a timely manner.”

Residents are tired of “contradictory, wishy washy comms” about the project's progress Residents need clear, concise and informative communications so they could plan for the daily road closures – officially 8.30am-4pm.

The work frequently finished before the notified time and residents needed to be informed when this was taking place.

She was joined by another long-time Point

Howard resident at last week's Eastbourne Community Board meeting who said that some elderly people in particular felt like “prisoners in Point Howard”.

Having to drive down the hill and find a park on the flat – made more difficult by several car parks being taken up by those working on the Seaview Resilience Project – was a scramble most mornings. Carrying groceries up the hill was not easy for many residents, and pushing rubbish bins up the hill to empty into a large bin was very hard..

She said contractors working on the watermain replacement made their own rules and had "not done a full 8.30-4.30 day yet," although the road remained closed regardless.“The people there are not being very kind. They open the bollards up to drive their own vehicles through but close them before we can follow.”

She echoed Ms Gandy’s plea: “We really need to know what's going on. We need a project manager there every day.”

Following the meeting, Hutt City Mayor Campbell Barry said the council had been meeting with Wellington Water to improve the situation for Point Howard residents.

Wildfire season cools off...for now

This summer’s closure of Pencarrow Coast Road was the result of Greater Wellington Regional Council’s first ever year of proactive risk management of its parks.

Baring Head/Ōrua-pouanui and Parangarahu Lakes fully reopened on Saturday, after extreme fire risk caused the areas to close earlier this year.

A mere 33mm of rain fell from DecFeb at Baring Head, prompting February’s controversial closure of the southern end of East Harbour Regional Park.

“Baring Head in particular has a unique microclimate, exposed to the Cook Strait winds with less rain than other parts of the region,” GWRC eastern parks team leader Ricky Clarkson said. “By February, the risk of wildfire was extreme, meaning if a fire were to start it would become uncontrollable very quickly.”

The two areas of the regional park were

closed to the public on 16 February – a measure under Greater Wellington’s new fire risk management system – when the dry conditions meant fire could ignite and spread quickly, threatening people, property, and the environment.

Baring Head and Parangarahu Lakes partially re-opened on Tuesday 9 April, after rain and lowering temperatures made it safe for people to visit before 1pm, with restricted access to some tracks.

NIWA reported the summer as one of the driest on record, with Baring Head receiving less than half of the rainfall that central Wellington experienced from December to February.

Greater Wellington is continuing to actively monitor fire risk across all regional parks. To learn more, go to https://www.gw.govt.nz/ parks/wildfire

York Bay bus stop moves on

From Page 1

York Bay resident Helen Mulgan was also concerned that the bus stop had been closed. A frequent bus user, her solution was for all buses to stop at the remaining shelter on the eastern side of Marine Drive. While that would hold up traffic, “one lane is already held up when the bus stops” and passengers could be escorted around the bus to safely cross the road. This currently happens as the road is reduced to one lane while works take place.

“It’s time people came up with a safe and sensible soliton and they need to give us some notice.”

HCC project delivery manager for transport Rona Lemalu said the bus stop had to be closed as the ground beneath it was literally being moved. She realised the half kilometre walk to the nearest alternative bus stop was not going to work. The council had listened to residents, and a temporary bus stop would now be installed.

“We will do much better with the comms,” she said.

The spacing between white concrete blocks separating Marine Drive from Tupua Horo Nuku are dangerous, former Hutt City Councillor Ross Jamieson says.

He asked the Eastbourne Community Board to lobby HCC to make gaps between the blocks, or bollards. Currently, it was nearly impossible for cyclists to get off the road onto the shared path without having an accident.

“The walkway is great, but you can’t get on or off as a cyclist.”

The bollard spacing in the older part of the York Bay path worked because it was spaced further apart, an initiative of former traffic engineer Ron Muir.

“I’ve lobbied to blazes about this, “ Mr Jamieson said.

ECB's Bruce Spedding, a member of a previous shared path working group said the reason given for small gaps was to reduce risk of cars managing to catch the end of the bollards and going over into the sea.

He said he had been told bollards on straight stretches of the path would be spaced further apart, but saw no evidence of this in the new development around Sunshine Bay.

“You can’t get wheelchairs or prams through either,” Mr Spedding said.

Authorised

Commitment to cause drives firefighters onwards and

upwards

by Ann Packer

Residents in Eastbourne village’s Rona House are used to Monday night action in their stairwell – but there’s no need for alarm, it’s just the Eastbourne Fire Brigade’s stairclimbing team, training for their planned assault on Auckland’s Sky Tower on May 18.

Eight hundred members of brigades from all over the country pay to take part in the annual Sky Tower Challenge, which raises funds for Leukemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand. They also ask for contributions from their communities along the way – our local team have turned out to several events at Muritai School recently, including the Resilience Expo, to help raise awareness of what they do in the community, and their participation in this fundraiser.

Eight New Zealanders each day are

diagnosed with a blood cancer but the charity supporting patients and their families receives little government funding.

The nine-strong Eastbourne crew, part of the brigade’s total strength of 16 men and women, also trains in the Majestic Centre in Wellington every Tuesday night – three times up and down the 25 floors in structural firefighting clothing is good preparation for the Sky Tower’s 51 flights.

On the day, crews must be fully kitted out, including breathing apparatus, and carry 25kg of equipment.

Meanwhile, says Eastbourne’s team captain, Shane Bailey, they continue to train, up and down the Eastbourne hills, on the road and up stairs, “drenched in sweat but driven by our commitment to the cause”.

https://firefighterschallenge.org.nz/shanebailey

Members of the Eastbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade taking on May's mammoth challenge.

OPINION

Housing and Homelessness –What Is To be Done?

There are more than 25,000 people on the housing register, often homeless or living in emergency or transitional housing.

At The Salvation Army we see the anxiety borne from a bitter harvest of neglect written on the faces of people coming to us for assistance. Successive governments have failed to provide adequate and affordable housing for whānau to make a secure home for a base.

According to our recent Salvation Army State of the Nation 2024 Report, the number of resource consents lodged (therefore new houses built) has increased significantly since 2017 to record levels over the last three years. This would be exceptionally good news if it weren’t for the fact that in 2023-population population growth outstripped the year's new supply of housing. Population growth has outstripped housing supply in seven out of the last ten years.

Many new houses are not affordable to potential homeowners and rents have increased so much that after housing costs are covered, many whānau struggle to get the basics like food and heating. Many lower income communities such as Porirua (Cannon’s Creek) have seen some of the highest rental increases nationwide over the last 10 years – 100 percent in Porirua’s case.

No surprise then that we see an increase in whānau living in overcrowded conditions, poor housing or homelessness.

Tenants in transitional housing are searching for permanent accommodation. They rely heavily on social housing because private rentals are mostly unaffordable; some of those who go on to private rentals can’t maintain their tenancy for long because they cannot keep up with their rental payments when unexpected costs come along. Our social housing transforms lives, enabling people to finally make a home with some level of financial security and stability.

This is a wicked problem that we have collectively allowed to develop and not one we can easily or quickly fix.

Building large numbers of social houses is critical to meeting demand. Whether it is done by Kainga Ora or Community Housing Providers ( CHPs) isn’t so important; both have a role to play. We would hate to see Kainga Ora’s recent momentum undermined as the Government moves away from Kainga Ora to CHPs who will need support to reach capacity to build at the scale required. It is a both-andsituation – not one or the other.

Along with building affordable housing and trying to somehow keep private rentals down, The Salvation Army has been advocating for

the review of the Accommodation Supplement (AS) and other housing support mechanisms. The overall rates and thresholds for entitlement for the AS have not kept pace with rising rents and housing costs. Geographical areas deemed as high or lower housing-cost areas are based on urban areas from the 1990s and do not reflect large regional variations in increased rental costs nationwide since then.

The solutions to this crisis involve more than is covered in this article and some measures can be picked up by non-Government organisations or property developers/investors. However, whether it includes providing public housing, capital investment or shifting policy settings, the Government needs to play a major role.

Housing is a human right and a critical part of our nation’s infrastructure – arguably much more critical even than roads. The Government is going to need to invest seriously in this most basic social need and not look to cut corners.

After all the lack of warm, dry, affordable housing is the cause of much of the human misery that we at The Salvation Army see daily - not the fecklessness of the marginalised. Can we afford it? We can’t afford not to.

Is it time to consider reviewing our tax system – another subject for another day.

- Lt. Colonel Ian Hutson, Director Salvation Army Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit

LETTERS

Wharf to Wharf swim thanks

The 2024 Eastbourne Wharf to Wharf was held on Sunday, the 3rd March.

While the day started a little windy, the weather gods played ball and about an hour before the race began the wind completely dropped away. There were 113 swimmers on the day, with Jackson Arlidge the overall winner and Marina Nadilo the first local home.

The Wharf2Wharf committee would like to sincerely thank the following local Eastbourne businesses for their support, along with the many volunteers without whom this event could not take place: Best Couriers, Sign Pro, Pak n Save, and generous prize donors: Artisan Store, Bird n Bee, Chocolate Hair Company, Days Bay Pavilion, Eastbourne Bakery, ESSC Eats, Four Square Eastbourne, Goldie Homestore, Hive, IP Man, Orania, Studio Toru, Tartines Cafe, The Cove.

Thanks again, W2W Committee

Faith in the Community

The quality of mercy¹...

As I write, Nicola Willis is preparing her first budget for 30 May. She tells us she has clear ideas in mind about value for money. As will every Kiwi who reads the outcome. Businesses big and small, investors and wage earners, are always keen to know the impact on the bottom line‘what’s in it for me?’

It’s all to do with value for money, but what price “the quality of mercy”?

When backed into a corner by limited income, rising costs and debt repayment, how do you go about assessing the value of care and compassion? How do you make a place for the needs of those the Bible calls ‘the alien, the orphan and the widow’? People the ancient Hebrews saw as unable to fend adequately for themselves.

Yet we do make judgements about quality every day. Are these just a matter of personal opinion or is there some broadly accepted repository of knowledge about what is good and fair and just? Few would say that cost alone should be the basis of decision, but figures are so much easier to handle. Unless some careful work and clear thinking is put in to establish criteria for assessing relative values and unless strong voices make the case, won’t money win by default?

¹The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene I William Shakespeare

St Alban’s + St Ronan’s: 1st Sundays 9:30am monthly shared communion services (alternating venues, leaders and preachers). 5 May at St Ronan’s church, 2 June at San Antonio church. St Ronan’s: 1st Sundays shared with St Albans (see above). 2nd and 4th Sundays 9:30am informal, 3rd Sundays 9:30am traditional, 5th Sundays 12:00pm fellowship meal. E:office@ stronans.org.nz W:www.stronans.org.nz

St Alban’s: 1st Sundays shared with St Ronan’s (see above). Other Sunday services now at San Antonio church at 9:30am. 1st Thursdays, communion at 10:30am at St Ronan’s church. Details www.facebook.com/ StAlbansNZ E:office@stalbanschurch.nz W:www. stalbanschurch.nz

San Antonio: Vigil Mass, Sat 5.30pm. Sacred Heart, Petone: Mass, Sun 9.30am and 5.30pm. E:holyspiritparish41@gmail.com W:www.holyspirit.nz

Kidztalk

What a wonderful Term we had at East Harbour Kindergarten. We enjoyed being creative and exploring colour. Working together on group paintings, exploring with chalk paint for Holi and making giant bubbles. We look forward to seeing you back in Term 2!

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

News from our local early childhood centres

NEWS FROM EAST HARBOUR KINDERGARTEN PETONE

Girls Years 1–13, Co-ed Preschool

Marsden School

Open Day

Sunday 5 May

marsden.school.nz/register

2025 SCHOLARSHIPS OPEN

Smaller classes

Exceptional teaching and support

Rigorous, future-focused learning

Intentional wellbeing education

Outstanding academic results

View: By appointment Price: By negotiation

A home to create lasting memories awaits, as you meander up the drive, to what can only be described as magnificent and grand in proportion. Upon entry, you will appreciate the care the current custodians have taken to ensure this home remains stunning for the next family to enjoy. Mike Lovell 027 435 6007 mike.lovell@nzsir.com

Step inside to discover a well-maintained home boasting three bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms. The dual living spaces effortlessly flow to an outdoor deck area, where breathtaking sea views from the kitchen and lounge create a serene backdrop.

View: By appointment

Deadline Sale: Closing Wednesday 8 May 2024, 2 p.m. (unless sold prior)

Mike Lovell 027 435 6007 | mike.lovell@nzsir.com

Mondays

• Retired Persons’ Assn meet 4th Mon, 10am St Ronan's Church hall for morning tea followed by a speaker - $2 entry.Transport can be arranged for these meetings on request, ph 562 7365 or 562 8387.

• “Baby Bounce & Rhyme” at the library 10.00am.

• Toy Library - Two Monday Sessions at 1.302.30pm and 7.30-8.30pm.

EastbourneToyLibrary on Facebook. Kathy 0273551950

• DB Playcentre Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 9:15 to 12 noon, Drop in anytime to visit a session or call James on 022 043 7841 to arrange a visit.

• Pt Howard Playcentre. Mon 9.15 -11.45am. Lucy 021 335 391.

• The Historical Society’s Eastbourne History Room above the library is open 2-4 pm every Monday.

• Eastbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade training every Monday 7-9pm. Ph 562 7001 for more info.

• Keas: Monday 5.15pm – 6.15pm. Kea Leader: Ed 021 738 699

• Venturers: 7.00pm - 9.00pm, Susan 0275 35 4962.

Tuesdays

• Pt Howard Playcentre Tues 9.15 -11.45am. Lucy 021 335 391.

• DB Playcentre Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 9:15 to 12 noon, Drop in anytime to visit a session or call James on 022 043 7841 to arrange a visit.

• Muritai Tennis Club 9.30–noon. Merryn 562 0236.

• Eastbourne Homebirth Group 1st Tuesday of the month. Phone Kate 562-7096.

• East Harbour Women’s Club Morning Tea & Chat Group 10am. Contact Glendyr 0210303480.

• Indoor Bowls Club 1.30pm, at the croquet club, Oroua Street. Rosemary 562 7365

• Menzshed 9 till 12 , Williams Park, Barrie barrielittlefair@gmail.com 0204 1234511. Women welcome.

• 9.30am Nia Dance Fitness Class (low impactteens to 70+) Music Movement Magic - Muritai Yacht Club - call Amanda 021 316692 www. niainwellington.com

Wednesdays

• Cubs: 5.30pm - 7.00pm, Ed 021 738 699.

• Library preschool story time 10.00 am.

• Pt Howard Playcentre Wed 9.15 -11.45am. Lucy 021 335 391.

• Scottish Country Dance. Merryn 562 0236.

• Bridge Club 7-10pm. Shona 562 7073.

• DB Playcentre Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 9:15 to 12 noon, Drop in anytime to visit a session or call James on 022 043 7841 to arrange a visit.

• “Steady as You Go” Age Concern sponsored Falls Prevention and Exercise Programme. Held 12 noon each Wednesday at Eastbourne Community Hall. Classes are held for 1 hour

WHAT'S ON

and costs only $2. Improve your strength and balance to reduce falls and injuries. Falls are preventable. Please join us!

• EHock - Fun Stick and Ball game Girls and Boys 7- 13.Eastbourne Community Hall. Wednesdays 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. Derek Wilshere 0274303596 Thursdays

• Menzshed 9 till 12 , Williams Park, Barrie barrielittlefair@gmail.com 0204 1234511. Women welcome.

• St Ronan’s Mainly Music, 9.15am-11.15am, during school terms. Contact Cathy 027 213 9342.

• SPACE at Days Bay Playcentre. Michelle 971 8598.

• East Harbour Women’s Club - Bolivia 12.45pm, Contact Glendyr ph: 0210303480. Guest Speaker (3rd week of month)7pm, drinks and nibbles provide, Contact Celeste 021 206 5713

•Lions meet 2nd Thursday of the month at the Eastbourne Sports and Services Club, Tuatoru St 6.30 pm. New members and visitors are welcome. Graham 562 8819.

• Scouts: Thursday 6.00pm - 8.00pm , Vanessa 021 669 727.

• Eastbourne Bowling Club casual summer bowls 5.30pm for an hour or so. Make up a mixed team of three. Contact Keith Turner ph 04 934 4142.

• Sing Eastbourne: 8pm, St Alban's Hall.

Fridays

• Pop in and Play playgroup at St Ronan's Church Hall, 9am-11.30am during school terms. All preschoolers (0-4 years) welcome. Cath 027 213 9342.

• Pt Howard Playcentre Fri 9.15 -11.45am. Lucy 021 335 391.

• AA Plunket Rooms 7.30pm. Mark 566 6444/ Pauline 562 7833

• DB Playcentre 9.15-12 noon Puddle Jumpers casual ‘drop-in’ session.$5 per child per session. Call James on 022 043 7841

Saturdays

• Justice of the Peace at the Eastbourne Community Library, first Saturday of each month 12pm-1pm.

• Croquet from 10am Muritai Croquet Club. Lyn 562 8722 or Val 562 8181.

• Lions' Bin - cost effective rubbish and e-waste disposal. Last Saturday of the month (except December) by Bus Barns. Gavin 027 488 5602.

RONA BAY BOOKS

Rare books, quality used books bought & sold. See our stock at: www.tinakoribooks.com

Books for a special present

26 Totara Street

562 7376 027 316 4066

tinakoribooks@xtra.co.nz

Sundays

• AA Plunket Rooms 10am. Karen 021 440 705.

• Mindful Mummas group for Mums and preschool children. Childminder onsite. 1011.30. Text Emily 027 552 6119 to join or go to bemoreyou.co.nz for more info.

Spencer Logan Valuations Limited

Registered Valuers and Property Consultants

For professional property advice

Tel: 562-7555

or Campbell Logan - 022 093 8090

Spencer Logan - 021 627 773

Email: admin@spencerlogan.co.nz

www.spencerlogan.co.nz

...the combined strength of our legal teams!

Call 04 939 2366 www.jaglegal.co.nz

APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS

Closing date: 15 May 2024

Applications from EastbourneBays groups are invited. Application forms are available on the website (see below) or from Eastbourne Library.

Please refer to the following website for information on the Trust: www.ebct.org.nz

Contact: Anne Manchester 027 684 5664 or email: trustees@ebct.org.nz

APPLICATIONS FOR EASTBOURNE FREEMASONS’ SCHOLARSHIP

Closing date 15 May 2024

This $4,000 scholarship is available to students who have distinguished themselves during a minimum of three years tertiary study and who have lived in Eastbourne for a minimum of five years during their life.

Application forms available to download from https://www.eastbourne-bayscommunity-trust.org.nz/

Applications to be emailed to trustees@ebct.org.nz (only electronic applications will be accepted).

Contact Gaby: 021 179 5311

Speak up about your local pool

by John McKinnon

Over the past six months the Eastbourne Summer Pool Action Group has carried the plea of its 169 supporters for a season equal to the other summer pools in Lower Hutt and asked the Council to consider opening hours that cater better for local needs. This has involved preparing background papers, attending Community Board meetings and a friendly discussion with the Mayor, Council and Community Board representatives.

The outcome is not very encouraging. City executives continue to hold their position: Eastbourne pool doesn’t pay its way.

We have been asked to find volunteer lifeguards to make up for the financial shortfall. If this is done to their satisfaction the city authorities will consider lengthening our season.

The Eastbourne summer pool is part of our heritage. It was built more than fifty years ago by the community, for the community. Volunteers worked over their weekends and holidays, excavating and mixing concrete by hand, employing trades-people only when more skilled labour was needed.

For years it was run by the Borough Council, volunteers and maintained as a Swim Club, Surf Lifesaving Club and casual swimmer venue.

In the current economic climate community facilities are under threat as councils seek to cut costs. This places a greater burden on communities to keep the services they value. Our pool could be viewed as a ‘nice to have’ or as an essential facility to ensure that water

Open

Monday-Friday 7am-4pm

Saturday & Sunday 8am-4pm

Monthly dinners will be back from Saturday, March 23

www.tartinesfrenchcafe.com

Enquiries: 04 562 0071

Tartineseastbourne@gmail.com

safety, health and well-being are available to everyone.

We believe this is an opportunity for more, not less, where our pool is concerned.

Fortunately the Eastbourne Community Board has indicated a willingness to take on a stronger advocacy role and include a recommendation in their contribution to the Hutt City 10 Year Plan 2024. They have invited the Action Group as well as everyone concerned about pool availability to make a submission.

Better use could be made of this valuable community facility. The current limited period over which it is available means that community needs are not met. Given the late November start Muritai School, the Swim and Surf Lifesaving Clubs have been forced to curtail learn to swim programmes to fit the shortened season: not enough time for children to acquire completely adequate water safety skills before the summer holiday. Many adults who wish to use the pool are unable to do so within the current opening hours. This creates a significant lost opportunity for the health and well-being of our working residents.

Now is the time for all those who care about pool access to have their say and influence the priorities of Hutt City Council. If we want our children to be safe in and around our harbour : they need more time to learn.

If we want our old folk and busy working people to benefit the pool should be open in the morning and evening when they are free to make use of it. If this matters to you please make a submission to the Eastbourne Community Board: Belinda.Moss@huttcity.govt.nz

Submissions can also be sent directly to Hutt City council: haveyoursay@huttcity.govt. nz.

Teams join forces for 2024 season

Eastbourne once again started the season with four healthy masters squads although a bunch of players from last year’s Hammers and Thirsties teams are now playing together in Capital Football’s top Over 45 grade as the Orange Roughies. Other Hammers and Thirsties players have joined forces in Grade 3 and are now playing under the name HammerThirsts.

The Orange Roughies are joined in the top Over 45 grade by the Gs who earned the right to play in the top grade due to their on-field performances last season.

This season Los Toros are playing in Capital Football’s masters Grade 5.

The new HammerThirsts have started the season well after earning promotion to grade 3. After two rounds they lead the competition with 2 wins.  Hot on their heels are Los Toros who have begun the season with two narrow losses.

Both the Orange Roughies and the Gs have had winning starts to their seasons in the top Over 45 grade. There’s already plenty of excitement building ahead of their scheduled mid-May clash at the mighty Bishop Park.

Mark 1pm on Sunday 28 April in your calendars for the first outing of our Women’s Capital 4 team, the Orcas. We’re planning for a very celebratory afternoon!

Juniors kick off on Saturday 4 May and we can’t wait!

On a more sombre note, on 21 April the Eastbourne Bowling Club hosted a memorial event for one of EFC’s finest stalwarts, Jimmy McKinley.

Many of the club’s current masters players remember Jimmy fondly from when they first began their journey playing the beautiful game many moons ago.

Jimmy played in the club’s first senior team, was a prolific fundraiser, coach and mentor to the players.  RIP Jimmy.

- Mike Andrews, EFC

The Orange Roughies.

SPORT

Club bowled over by social season's success

Daylight saving brought an end to the 2023 / 2024 season of Community Bowls at the Eastbourne Bowling Club. The year’s event began back in October 2023 and proceeded with a phenomenal 21 weeks of unbroken glorious weather. Over the summer period upwards of 75 bowlers from the community have participated. It has been an unqualified success. Many have said it has been the highlight of their week.

The green has been filled with 16 teams of three playing for the trophy presented at a very convivial end of season function on 4 April. Team 'Dangerfields' progressed unbeaten until halfway through, then: “It was not that we played worse,” said team manager Baz Ray, “but everyone else got better”. Team

'Rollers', captained by Cory Carroll took out the competition with 14 points. 'Bowl Movements, McFarlane team' and 'Dangerfields' finished 2nd equal just three points behind with several others in close contention.

Everyone from the local community who participated looks forward to the new season when Community Bowls starts again in October later this year.

- Keith Turner, EBC

As a result of this successful sale, we still have several motivated buyers that want to live in the area.

Call Matt today to find out more. bayleys.co.nz/3306759