Local elections are just around the corner.

To have your say in the local elections, you must be enrolled to vote by 16 August. Otherwise, you won't receive your voting papers in the mail. (Note that the date may be pushed back to 23 August; we will keep you informed if this happens.)

Voting in local elections occurs by postal vote from 20 September to 12 October 2013. You must be enrolled to receive a voting paper.

Anyone who enrols after 16 August will need to cast a special vote and contact the Council's electoral officer to obtain voting papers.

The possible establishment of flight training operations at Whakatāne Airport came a step closer on Wednesday when the Whakatāne District Council adopted a recommendation supporting the development of a ‘Heads of Agreement’ with CTC Aviation Training NZ Limited.

The autumn splendour of our deciduous trees adds greatly to the visual appeal of the Whakatāne District’s urban areas. There is a downside though, in the form of the drifts of leaves which, if left unattended, can clog our stormwater systems and increase the risk of localised flooding.

To help avoid potential flooding issues, urban residents throughout the district are urged to take action if they see the gutters and stormwater grates in their neighbourhoods are full of leaves.

The centenary of World War I will be marked in the Whakatāne District by a Lottery World War One Commemorations, Environment and Heritage Committee-funded project to digitise public and private photographic and archival collections about “The Great War”.

This is a telephone survey of 300 respondents from across the District. It covers the community’s level of satisfaction with a broad spectrum of Council services and facilities. It also provides an opportunity to gauge the community’s view on some  specific proposals.

 For example, in this survey we are asking the respondents about their views on the following:

Do you have a creative project that could benefit from some funding assistance? With little over a week, time is running out to get applications into this funding round of the Creative Communities Whakatāne Scheme.

The Scheme aims to increase participation in the arts at a local level and enhance the range and diversity of arts available within communities. Funding is divided into three categories: Broad Community Involvement; Diversity; and Young People.

Whakatāne District residents will have an opportunity to express their views on the fluoridation of water supplies in a non-binding referendum to be held in conjunction with this year’s local government elections in October.

The details of the referendum were finalised at yesterday’s Monitoring and Policy Committee meeting, with councillors confirming the question to be asked in the referendum, and agreeing on what supporting information should be made available to inform referendum participants.

Safety upgrades starting later this month on two staircases on the Nga Tapuwae o Toi Track’s Kohi Point Walkway section will affect through-access for the duration of the projects.

The Whakatane Rowing Club invite you to attend their 100 Year Centenary Celebrations over Queen’s Birthday Weekend

Friday 31 May, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd June, 2013

Weekend Programme -

Friday 31  May, 2013
‘Meet n Greet’

Whakatane Rowing Club
Starting at 6.30pm