(NZTA media release)

Motorists on State Highway 2 (SH2) near Taneatua will have a safer road to travel on as soon as July, with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) confirming the new, realigned road will be completed that month.

The realignment project will provide a straighter, wider and safer road by removing the Taneatua Rail Overbridge, upgrading the existing detour around the over bridge (which has been in use since the over bridge closed in 2011) and widening the SH2/Taneatua Road intersection to improve sight distances at the intersection.

Notice is hereby given that the Whakatane District Council proposes to stop (close) part of the service lane (road) adjacent to The Warehouse and public car park off Kakahoroa Drive being between the properties known as 1 and 31 Kakahoroa Drive and shown as Section 3 on the survey plan SO 462740 and being 1192 m2 in area.

The total fire ban which has been in force in the Whakatane and Opotiki Districts since 29 January will be lifted, as from Tuesday 23 April 2013.

Principal Rural Fire Officer Neal Yeates says that following significant rainfalls across the area in recent days, a total fire ban is no longer needed.

“The public are reminded though that the Opotiki District Council Rural Fire District has an all-year restricted fire season, which means that anyone wishing to light a fire in the open air must first obtain a permit from the Opotiki District Council,” Mr Yeates says.

The current water restrictions for Whakatane and Ohope will remain in place until Friday, at least, when we will review the situation again.

The rain over the past two days has substantially increased the river flow, but we need to monitor how quickly the flow reduces before making a final decision. If the rain predicted for the next few days does eventuate, it’s highly likely that the formal restrictions will be lifted. In any event, the need for garden watering in the meantime will be minimal and hence the restrictions will have little real effect on residents.

The Whakatāne District Council is seeking the community’s help to stop motorcycles being ridden on District reserves.

A recent incident which saw a dog killed and a rider injured has highlighted the fact that some motorcyclists have been using the Warren Cole Walkway and the reserves adjoining it as an off-road shortcut between Landing Road and the town centre. Motorcycles are banned in those areas and there is signage at main entry points confirming that their use is not permitted.

Water consumption in the Whakatāne and Ōhope water supply schemes over the past week is holding steady at about 5,700 cubic metres a day, which has allowed the Whakatāne District Council to maintain reservoir storage levels at about 80 percent full.

Anyone wanting to provide feedback on the Whakatāne District Council’s draft Annual Plan for 2013/14 has until 5.00pm on Friday to complete a submission form and return it to any Council office, or visit www.whakatane.govt.nz and make an online submission.

The Council’s Strategy and Planning General Manager, David Bewley, says the submissions process provides an opportunity for the community to voice its thoughts and concerns on a wide range of issues.

With just a week left in the consultation process to gauge the community’s views on possible sewerage reticulation scheme options Matatā, a substantial majority of the submissions returned to the Whakatāne District Council are in favour of full reticulation.

Whakatāne Police have been asked to investigate the disappearance of Sir William Sullivan’s KCMG (Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George) Star and neck badge from the Whakatāne Museum’s collection.

The KCMG star and badge were amongst five items gifted to the Museum by Sir William’s family in January 2002. They were displayed briefly and the star and badge were last seen in April that year.