Our current newsletter has been dropped into letter boxes in Sandspit District.
In this issue
• Xmas Party Details• Paths• Defibrillator• Website• Roading Update• Rubbish• SYC• Security Camera• Wai Care• Civil Defence• Noxious Weeds & Pest Control• Submission
Chairman’s Update:
My word, the year seems to be racing by so I thought it timely to inform all our residents how the committee that is representing you is going in achieving the original goals set out.Before covering all the work in progress, I wish to clearly state that I could not ask more from a very committed team in the committee. They are all a pleasure to work with.
Christmas BBQ/Party:
Residents can be assured of a fun time at this year’s party to be held at 5.30pm till dusk, Sunday 11th December at the Sandspit Camp Ground.Our longest standing committee member, Pam Eede, is currently researching the best components of previous years’ to ensure all our community has a great time this year. Key inclusions will be games for kids (and adults who are keen!) and a welcoming atmosphere, so bring along your family and friends and enjoy!
What to bring:
Food for the barbeque, a salad and/or a dessert to share plus your own beverage choices, plus your plates and cutlery.Thanks to Jared and Zena for again kindly allowing
the party to be held at their premises! The X-masparty will go ahead rain or shine - We look forward to seeing you and enjoying the X-masspirit!
Paths:
Ken Bogue has been very active, with valuable assistance from Steve Harrison (Past Chairman),and other members of the community. They have finished laying more than 40 new drains throughout the paths and are ready to lay the metal, when the weather allows it.
This has been a big task and again we need to offer special thanks to Mr & Mrs James Kendall ofMatakana Building Centre for supplying all the materials at no charge. Very generous!! and we all need to support their business!
Another resident, Ian Smith, has just finished surveying all the paths so we will have maps for residents in the near future. Many thanks to Ian
This is the current map of the Sandspit Public walking tracks by Parallax Surveyors and Planners. If you wish to obtain a jpg A4 copy, please email Margaret at: norterra@xtra.co.nz
Your committee is currently evaluating the possibility of developing a new path on Brick Bay Drive which is very exciting even though it would be a challenging project. Please don’t hesitate in talking with Ken Bogue with your thoughts on the tracks.
Website
We are sure many residents will have noticed asignificant change in the style of our Website. Margaret McCallum has done an excellent job with Richard Parkinson being very generous in providing excellent new photos. The most significant benefit of the new Web Site is being able to add and delete content without any further costs involved.
Roading Update:
Grant Neill and Bruce McCallum have really achieved an excellent relationship with Council Staff and it is heartening to see progress on our road. You will see numerous road works in the months ahead, including some safety improvements. Steve Garner our local Board member is also supporting these initiatives. We are very aware of the Council’s budget constraints but are delighted to see they have taken our concerns seriously. The community needs to know that we have had word from the Council that the engineers they have engaged have stated that our road is not in danger of a severe collapse, I know many residents have had concerns in this regard. SRRA thanks the Council for their continued support.
Photo - Earthworks on Sandspit Road.
Pest Control:
Mike Smith is doing an excellent job for our community. He overcame the bait shortage situation and after receiving a request from a local resident who is very concerned with Mynah birds,Mike is completing some trials and has provided theinformation below:
Mynah bird – Major Pest
There has been a marked increase in the number of mynahs (also spelt “mynas”) around Sandspit this Spring. For those not familiar with this bird; it can best be described as a brown, cocky version of the blackbird. It also has a yellow beak, but unlike the blackbird has a yellow band around the eyes and white flashes on the wings and tail. Mynahs are often seen in pairs feeding on roadsides and in gardens, but larger flocks are found where food is plentiful. They eat almost anything and their pest status is earned because of their habit of raiding the nests of nicer birds and eating the eggs and chicks.Because of their voracious appetites they are relatively easy to persuade to take bait. Pestoff make a bird paste (available at a price from the Farm Centre), which is spread on bread, cut into small pieces and placed where mynahs are knownto congregate. This paste works by rapidly cooling the bird’s system, so that the birds go into a coma and can be picked up and disposed of. Non-targetbirds can be revived from their cold slumber by placing in the sun or other warm place. Another, more interesting, means to control mynahs is by trapping. A home-made mynah trap is an ideal wet weather project for the keen do-ityourselfer. A detailed plan, using welded wiremesh can be found on the Net by searching for“Pee Gee’s Myna Trap”. A problem with the trap approach is that you are left with live mynahs requiring “euthanising”. Suggestions on how to dot his can also be found on the Net. Anyone interested in building a trap and sharingthe cost of a roll of 25mm wire mesh shouldcontact me. I would also be interested in any other feedback on the subject. Contact Mike Smith – 425 9463
Noxious Weeds:
We are currently obtaining photos of the worst noxious weeds in our area and intend circulating them to the community. Each individual or household can (and do!) control their own weeds,but if any individual needs help they can call for assistance. Next year we will arrange a Weed Bin and will promote a special day to focus on this ongoing problem.
Here is the biosecurity link to inform you about pest plants.
From there click on "Plant Search" and then follow through to type of plant. You will be able to identify your noxious weed from the photos provided.
Civil Defence:
Max Freeman and other Members recently attended a meeting which recognised that Sandspit needs to have improved information, and processes to cope in a local “Natural Disaster”. We are fortunate that Snell’s Beach has a groupthat has been very active for many years and they are willing to assist us in developing an efficient Civil Defence Structure. For information on preparedness visit: www.getthru.govt.nz
Rubbish:
Residents may have observed a family walking along the Sandspit Road with rubbish bags picking up the litter that accumulates on the roadside.Many thanks to committee member Richard Parkinson and his family for taking up this responsibility.
Security Camera:
Your committee has received requests from thecommunity to erect a sign stating that Sandspit has a security camera operating 7/24. We are currently gaining the necessary council permission and obtaining quotes.
Sandspit Yacht Club:
The SRRA Committee have been advised by theYacht Club Committee that we can use their premises free of charge for our meetings. This used to be the situation for many years, so we are grateful that this generosity has been re-established.
Wai Care:
Wai Care is a community waterway education,monitoring and action programme which worksacross the Auckland region. It is funded byAuckland Council.A small group of SRRA committee members areworking with Wai Care to test and monitor the quality of water leading into the Sandspit Harbour.Our aim is to set up a long term plan which will help to improve/protect the water quality in ourharbour. This may include removing invasive weeds, planting along the banks of certain waterways or identifying unwanted runoff into the waterways.The area would ideally include the land on all sides of the harbour. We would like to work with any interested property owners to help improve the waterways if necessary. e.g. providing planting through a group called ‘Trees for Survival’.
Photo - Water quality testing kit.
Submissions:
Grant Neill and Bryan Taylor are presenting a“Submission” to the Auckland City Plan. We feelthat the current Draft Auckland Plan isfundamentally flawed in its strategy for Sandspit.Your committee has taken notice of the key issuesfrom last year’s survey that are consideredimportant to the majority of residents – Sandspit isa harbour and a maritime community, withinterests ranging from environmental management,to water based recreation, and commercial activity,and require recognition to enable strategicmanagement as such.
Defibrillator:
Christine Cadwallader has been working on the defibrillator, with the first step of organising the StJohn’s CPR courses held at the Yacht Club – an excellent turnout of 42 members of the communityattending!The courses were very valuable and following on from this, and with the understanding that thereare considerably higher successes of resuscitation when using a defibrillator; purchase has beenauthorized.If any family would like to contribute a donation it would be gratefully received. Feel free touse the tear off slip below, or contact any one of our Committee.The Morrison family has agreed to have the Defibrillator located at the camp ground, with all theirstaff trained to use it.Please contact Christine on 422 3477 or chriscad@xtra.co.nz for donations. It may save your life!!
We would also like to thank the Committee of the Sandspit Yacht Club and the Morrison family who have agreed to support this project.
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SRRA DEFIBRILLATOR DONATION SLIP:Name:_________________________________
Amount: _________________Address:________________________________________________________
Please post cheques to: Kim Scott, SRRA Secretary, 26 McCallum Drive, RD2, Warkworth 0982, OR
contact Treasurer Mike Smith on 425 9463 for internet payment options.
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SRRA Committee Members:
Alex Fowler (Chairman) 425 7793
Mike Smith Treasurer 425 9463
Kim Scott (Secretary) 425 9817
Christine Cadwallader 422 3477
Richard Parkinson 422 2477
Max Freeman 4222342
Brian Taylor 425 8991
Bruce & Margaret McCallum 425 7024
Pam Eede 425 7203
Nicky Stevenson (membership) 425 7055
