ART ESCAPE REVIEW
12 March, 2024 | Proudly locally owned and operated Issue 1096 Circulation 9000
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CONNECTING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COROMANDEL PENINSULA
Welcome to all of the boats, their skippers and teams to the Kubota Billfish Classic From the people of Mercury Bay and the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club Thursday to Saturday this week. See page 17.
PROTECTING WHAT WE HAVE BY PAULINE STEWART
T
o protect long-term our vulnerable towns from an unknown future is still ahead of us. It was exciting to see the large diggers and the transformation of the estuary inlet/outlet of Taputapatea Stream at Buffalo Beach at the close of last week. It means that the water can flow. It is not easy working with changing sculptures of the sand and Cyclones Hale and Gabriel of early 2023 moved a huge amount of sand preventing easy flow and halting the direction of the water course. The resulting fact of the creek not flowing and the consequent build up of growth along the banks has crowded the stream, creating potential dire situations for the nearby homes if a spate of heavy rainfall and high seas occurs. This landscaping of the stream mouth is a big start to relieving this situation. The CounciI is also
preparing to clear out all trees and shrubs except for Pohutakawa from Taputapuatea Spit. Everyone is grateful for this work organised by Thames Coromandel District Council. It is one part of a long coastline but a key one, as State Highway 25 is close by and at sea level. Long term solutions require more work. But a starting place is to understand that many long-term predicaments and situations have not received attention – maintenance or infrastructural development - over a very long period. There is no gain or progress in blame but acknowledgement and a plan of action that affirms, enables and equips residents is a good basis for progress to face unknown and uncertain futures. The cyclones and heavy rainfall of 2023 have exacerbated the issues facing many homes and parts of well-travelled and necessary roads around Coromandel Peninsula but the
risk of flooding and erosion was always there. It is now heightened and front and centre because of the changing weather patterns and further ramped up to critical status in some places because of no proper restoration work followed by necessary infrastructural development that would ensure security for an undefined future period. The predicament of a relatively small number of houses just beyond the Whitianga town centre is a reflection of the issues facing many communities on the Coromandel Peninsula. These houses are near the coast and also near a creek or creeks that intersect with the coast or run parallel to the coast. These homes are generally close to a main highway. In Coromandel Peninsula’s case – SH 25. Jack (substitute for his real name) believes he has a solution to the situation facing his home and that of his neighbours. Continued on page 3
Carpetcourt Whitianga 1 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga
(07) 834 6463
40 * Offers available until 30/03/2024 on selected colours and products or while stocks last.Visit www.carpetcourt.nz for full terms and conditions.
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