East Coast bylaw signs installed

Signs outlining the East Coast Beach Vehicle Bylaw 2023 have been placed at beach access points along Marlborough’s East Coast.

The bylaw came into effect on 1 July and places restrictions on using vehicles along the coast from the mouth of the Awatere River south to the district boundary. The rules aim to increase safety and balance enjoyment for all beach users, including wildlife.

Beach users are urged to take notice of signs as there are different zones.

Vehicles are prohibited on beaches from the mouth of the Awatere River to south of the Waima/Ure River, with the following exceptions:

• Boat launching and retrieval in designated areas at Marfells and Ward beaches

• ATV/UTVs are allowed south of the Marfells Beach campsite to the end of the ‘airstrip’, with restrictions

• All vehicles are allowed south of the Waima/

Ure River to the southern district boundary, travelling under 30km/h

No vehicles are allowed on dunes or reefs throughout the bylaw area. You can help by following the rules and reporting breaches of the bylaw to Council. There are three ways to report: through the Antenno smartphone app; by emailing mdc@ marlborough.govt.nz, or calling 03 520 7400. Public reports will be included during the review of the yellow zone after three years, as well as included in a full review of the bylaw after five years. Council is also implementing a scientific monitoring programme. For more information, go to www.marlborough. govt.nz/your-council/bylaws/east-coast-beachvehicle-bylaw-2023

New citizens celebrated Seddon, Linkwater and Rarangi emergency meetings

Twenty five people from 12 countries have become Marlborough citizens.

The new citizens - from Pakistan, the Philippines, Germany, the UK, South Africa, Mexico, Australia, Taiwan, Fiji, the USA, the Czech Republic and Japan - were welcomed at a special ceremony in Council Chambers last Friday. Mayor Nadine Taylor told the group they would all, in future, enjoy the rights and freedoms of native-born New Zealanders.

In welcoming them she said the day was an important milestone in their new lives as citizens.

“Your decision to apply for citizenship was no doubt made after very careful consideration and is a commitment to your future,” she said. “It is not a rejection of your past but in future your first loyalty will be to New Zealand.” Following the Mayor’s opening address and the presentation of certificates, Council’s waiata group performed for the new citizens and their friends and families.

Weed control in the Wither Hills Farm Park

A control programme targeting woody weeds in the Wither Hills Farm Park is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Aerial operations using a helicopter wand (spray gun) will target outlying weed infestations, followed by limited areas of boom spraying in spring and summer. Further wand operations next year will target barberry.

Ground-based work will involve vehicles with spray rigs along tracks and walkways as well as some knapsack spraying. During this time it’s recommended that park users avoid areas where contractors are operating. Access to some areas may be temporarily restricted to ensure the health and safety of park users.

Signs will be placed at the main park entrances and will remain until work is completed, which is likely to continue into early 2024 as weather conditions permit.

All work will be carried out in accordance with the Agrichemical Users Code of Practice NZS 8409:2004. Access to some areas may be temporarily restricted to ensure the health and safety of park users.

Contractors are Valley Pest Control Ltd - Ph: 021 270 2849 and Marlborough Helicopters - Ph: 03 578 9684.

For further information contact James Mills-Kelly at Council - Ph: 03 520 7400.

A series of community meetings will be held this month to help enhance disaster resilience.

Marlborough Emergency Management has been awarded funding from the National Emergency Management Agency’s Resilience Fund to carry out a regional resilience analysis. This is to help identify focus areas for Marlborough’s work programme, Senior Advisor Community Resilience and Recovery Dave Parsons said.

“It will also help identify where work can be carried out to help meet the implementation of the National Disaster Resilience Strategy,” he said.

“Disaster resilience is our tolerance for and ability to deal with disruption, and locals are invited to attend meetings in Seddon, Linkwater and Rarangi.”

“The outcomes of the community meetings will support the project’s goal of identifying focus areas for our work programme and ultimately to enhance disaster resilience at the individual, community and regional levels.”

“We want to understand what disaster resilience looks like for each community, and what could enhance their ability to adapt to an emergency.”

The meetings will be run as a workshop with refreshments provided. The meetings are:

• Seddon - 22 August from 6:30pm to 8pm at Awatere Memorial Hall

• Linkwater - 23 August from 6:30pm to 8pm at Linkwater School

• Rarangi - 24 August from 6:30pm to 8pm at Rarangi Community Hall

Further workshops will be run in other communities in the future.