The
Eastbourne Herald www.eastbourneherald.co.nz
29 July 2017
Ph 562 7500
Road takes a hammering in weekend storm Travelling around the Bays proved treacherous on Saturday, with the combination of high tides and storm surges, along with heavy rainfall, leading to the road resembling a sea bed at times. As this photo from Darren Schollum shows, some drivers did attempt the journey, although Marine Drive was closed on at least two occasions. NIWA reports that the normal rainfall for the area (1981-2010) is 137.2 mm. July 2016 saw rainfall of 58.8mm - 43 percent of normal. For the month of July 2017 through to 9am on the 25th):, there was 201.6 mm of rainfall (147 percent above normal). As for rainfall amounts this past weekend, 16.4 mm was recorded between 9am Thursday and 9 am Friday, then another 9.4 mm between 9 am Friday and 9am Saturday.
Government cash boost for local pest control plan by Carl McRae Mainland Island Restoration Operation (MIRO) is to receive a $35,000 Government grant, to help aid the reduction of predator numbers within the Eastbourne and Eastern Bays area. MIRO Chairman Terry Webb said the organisation was thrilled to receive the grant and that with efforts concentrated on the foreshore and further support for Sally Bain’s ERAT (Educating Residents About Trapping) urban trapping programme, the group will be able to make a lasting difference in the long term. “It’s also about building collaborations in
the community,” Terry said, “and we must also thank the Hutt City Council for their ongoing support, both fiscally and environmentally.” Hutt South candidate and National list MP, Chris Bishop says he is delighted with the announcement, as made by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry early in July and has been an avid supporter of the MIRO/ERAT campaign since Sally presented on the group’s trapping work at a Predator Free public meeting late last year. “The volunteers who run MIRO do incredible work protecting our local wildlife from predators,” Mr Bishop says. “It’s fantastic to see their hard work recognised by this significant grant.”
Sally says that a target of having one in five local households to be actively involved in trapping rats on their properties is a priority. The three-year education and trap-loaning project the cash injection will fund is going to make a significant difference to the local environment. “The positive impact to our native birds, such as the banded dotterel, is going to be just fantastic and I think we’ll see the next generation of MIRO volunteers come out of this raring to get New Zealand to its ‘Predator Free 2050’ goal,” Chris Bishop said. MIRO and ERAT will also work closely with the HCC to control other predators such as stoats and involve local schools through their Enviro-schools programmes.