LIFESTYLER
May 23 2012
Kaipara
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P15
Kaipara bottle neck bridges to stay by Paul Campbell
Bottle-neck twin bridges that ‘throttle the Kaipara’ at Matakohe are not likely to be replaced anytime soon, despite growing public concern that accidents there cut off the Kaipara from the south
Feedback on plan may result in significant changes P5
Beijing — in real time
Thanks to modern telecommunications it is now possible to work anywhere in the world from a remote location …
P7
Glass tree latest attraction at Ernies
A fascinating new addition to Ernie’s kumara farm park is a six-metre tall ‘bottle tree’ ….
P18
A public meeting to call for replacement of the single-lane Hardies’ and Andersons’ bridges a few hundred metres apart on a winding section of SH12, was told last week that the current bridges are sound. More than 100 people gathered at the Matakohe Memorial Hall to hear three representatives from the Land Transport Authority assure the community that the integral bridge structures were safe and regularly inspected. “Discussion took place at the meeting about an alternative bypass road using culverts, thus alleviating the necessity of bridges altogether,” said local resident, Ralph Williams. “It was alleged that land for this purpose has already been acquired. These projects have been brought to the LTA’s attention previously but financial constraints have seen them shelved. “The general consensus appeared to indicate the feeling of déjà vu and that it had all been discussed at a meeting held Bottle-neck bridges not being replaced in the foreseeable future in 2002. Same promises, same results. Once again we will have to wait and see what eventuates. completely block the other approach and leave insufficient In the present economic climate it might be advisable not to time for precautionary action.” hold ones breath for any great length of time. The meeting was also told that the LTA is applying for “The meeting did agree that signage should be upgraded blanket resource consent for all mangrove clearance instead and increased to warn drivers of the narrow bridge danger, of individual applications which are a cause for delay. with observations that the Dome Valley traffic warnings on Northland MP, Mike Sabin, says Kaipara people have raised SH1 were very clear and worked well. Traffic lights were the on-going issue of the one-way bridges at Matakohe and the dismissed as there was insufficient vehicle movement to be closure of driver licence testing with changes to the restricted of any use. tests seeing the LTSA transfer all testing to other areas. Mr Williams added that there was agreement that visibility “The issue of the bridges high risk to the area has to the bridge approaches could be vastly improved. been lingering for more than 40 years, and this is simply “Mangroves on one side of the first bridge, Hardies, unacceptable,” he said. continued on page 3 . . .
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