June 14, 2017
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Native tree planting reaches 200,000
What’s inside New website page 4
Warkworth dining feature pages 20-23
Motoring feature Esther Richardson, of Warkworth, joined a record number of volunteers to plant an additional 5000 native trees at the Tawharanui Regional Park on Sunday June 4. This brings the total number of planted native trees, which have been grown at the park’s nurseries, to 200,000. About 180 people turned out for the big plant organised by Tawharanui Open Sanctuary Society (TOSSI). The hillside planting filled a vital link across the park, which will enable native birds to travel more freely. Birds dislike crossing major gaps in tree cover. Eventually, it is hoped the Tawharanui plants will form part of a tree corridor for birds from Tokatu Point to the Kaipara Harbour.
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localmatters.co.nz
Board eyes targeted rate to fix transport Increasing numbers of cars on Rodney’s 600km of unsealed roads will lead to further degradation of the roads, silt run-off into waterways, more complaints about health issues and possibly more accidents, unless more cash can be found to solve Rodney’s transport woes. That’s the view of Rodney Local Board chair Beth Houlbrooke, commenting
on the board’s draft plan that seeks local views on a targeted rate to fund transport improvements. “Sadly, I don’t see any extra funding being applied to road sealing other than at the current rate of $3.3 million a year under the current Mayor,” she said. “We have to get inventive either by finding a way to make the current rate of funding go further or by looking for
ways to raise the funds locally.” In addition to road sealing, other projects that might benefit from a targeted rate include the building of park-and-ride facilities in Warkworth and Kumeu, improved public transport and a possible train shuttle service between Henderson and Huapai, where some of the required infrastructure already exists.
Ms Houlbrooke says the cost of all these projects would run into hundreds of millions of dollars so it would not be expected they could be attempted all at once or be fully funded by a targeted rate. Rather, targeted rate money would be allocated to various stages of each project over time.
Celebrating our First Birthday! To celebrate one year in business we have donated all earnings from the day of our first anniversary to the Warkworth/ Wellsford Hospice. Hospice provides essential palliative care for our local community and we are very happy to give back to such a great cause. Matakana Dental Care wants to thank all our patients and the local community who have made our first year a memorable one!
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Happy st Birthday
p: 09 422 9992 or 0508 MATAKANA e: care@matakanadental.co.nz | Open 7 Days (Sun by appt.) 3/44, Matakana Valley Road | www.matakanadental.co.nz | Follow us on Facebook