Abseil Access is working on the design of our suspension bridge to be built by the hut at Whangawehi. The work is not completed yet but the company sent out a photo that gives a good idea of how the bridge will look like.
This bridge will allow bikers and trampers to cross safely the Whangawehi stream and enter into Grandy Lake Forest.
A big thank you to Martin and Stephan from Abseil for their work
On Tuesday the 23d of June 2020, Wairoa District Council granted a Work Access Permit. This will allow the construction of a waharoa on a road reserve, at the entrance of the walkway to take place.
A big thank you to the WDC team and Chris McGregor in particular for his guidance.
On Friday the 19th of June, Kevin Taylor our surveyor indicated that the digital survey plan, LT 547145, showing the proposed walkway easements in the Whangawehi Catchment on Mahia Peninsula were finally “approved as to survey” by Land Information NZ.
A big thank you to Kevin and his team for this very important work. The next step will consist in recording the easement against the land title of each properties. This will be done in the next few weeks.
On Friday the 19 th of June, several contractors followed a health and Safety induction prior to starting the work along the Whangawehi walkway. The group was presented a work plan, a hazard identification document as well as an emergency procedure protocole.
The group is now ready to start the work which will consist in clearing the track and cutting over hanging branches.
On Friday the 12th of June, Mike Wilson and Nickie Dowdell (from QRS) came to survey an access site for several truck loads of metal-donated towards the walkway. A big thank you to Wairoa District Council and QRS for their support to the Whangawehi Catchment Management Group. This is a dream coming to reality and we are extremely grateful.
Thank you all for your support.
Sophie will be remembered by the Whangawehi Catchment Management Group as a tireless advocate in making our community and environment better places to live in. She gave freely of her time and was driven by passion for what she believed in making her a formidable opponent in any gathering or meeting. She was never afraid to speak up and speak her mind.
She was a woman of strong views, proud of who she was, honest in her opinions and we as a group respected the input she had into the group. She played a pivotal role in connecting people from all walks of life and working through issues in positve and meaningful ways.
Sophie spent many hours out on the whenua and at the schools working with us all, planning, planting, advising and sharing her wealth of knowledge.
She will be missed and remembered fondly as a woman of integrity and someone who walked the talk everyday
Pat OBrien Chair WCMG
On Thursday the 11th of June 2020, Nic zoomed in with Hinetaakoha Viriaere, Senior Resource Consent Officer at Wairoa District Council to progress the Resource consent for the Whangawehi walkway.
Wairoa District Council is offering a pathway to follow appropriate processes around statutory co management duties in regards to resource consent. A big thank you to Hine for her great level of expertise and support.
Nic met with Mo Rongo CEO of the Iwi Trust to discuss the project and facilitate the process.
On Tuesday the 9th of June 2020, Sally Dalrymple from Think Safe Gisborne was asked by the group to upgrade its Health and Safety policy.
The upgrade includes contractors welcome and induction packs as well as a number of cloud based reports that can be filled out from a phone.
A big thank you to Think Safe and Sally for her guidance and support.
MBIE has given the Whangawehi Catchment Management Group the thumbs up in regards to their support for the construction of the Whangawehi walkway. We are now in a position to be able to commence work. An announcement from them will be made in the next few days.
A big thank you to MBIE and the PGF team for supporting this amazing community project that will allow the wider community to enjoy the fruits of a collaborative initiative between Marae, landowners, agencies and local school.
On Friday the 9th of June, Nic met with Elroy Spark from Carters to work on a design for the Waharoa at the entrance of the Whangawehi walkway.
Professional plans are required by Wairoa District Council in order to follow proper building consent processes. The plans should be ready for consideration within 10 working days. In the meantime, affected stakeholders are being engaged to see if they are supportive of the project. The Whangawehi Catchment Management Group would like to thank Elroy and his team at Carters Wairoa for sponsoring this community project.
A big thank you to Wairoa District Council and Hawkes Bay Regional Council staff for their support and guidance on this project
Whangawehi Catchment Management Group 