UPCOMING SUMMER POOL CLOSURE AT COASTLANDS AQUATIC CENTRE

Urgent maintenance work is needed on the main pool at the Coastlands Aquatic Centre in Paraparaumu early in 2017.

Kāpiti Coast District Council Parks and Recreation Manager Alison Law says there is a hole in the vinyl pool liner, or ‘Myrtha’, and the concrete slab under the liner is exposed.

“The slab’s not designed to be in contact with chlorinated water and the liner makes the pool watertight, protecting the slab,” she says.

“We anticipate that the main pool will be closed for up to three weeks in February to allow us to inspect the pool and carry out the required repair works.”

The programmes pool, toddlers’ pool, hydroslide, spa and sauna and Plunge Café will remain open, but there will be changes to the group exercise and learn-to-swim classes in the main pool.

The Council’s other pool in Waikanae is open as normal.
“We understand this is an inconvenience and frustrating in the height of summer and we’re sorry about that, but we do want to get this sorted as soon as we can,” Ms Law says.

TSUNAMI EVACUATION MAPS FOR KĀPITI UPDATED

Kāpiti Coast District Council has updated its tsunami evacuation maps for Kāpiti and is encouraging residents to get prepared and know their zone.

Corporate Services Group Manager Wayne Maxwell says the demarcations for the red, orange and yellow evacuation zones on the Council’s maps are now consistent with the zones identified on Wellington Regional Emergency Management Office’s (WREMO) maps for Kāpiti.

“Both sets of maps are based on the same science so it makes sense for the tsunami evacuation zones to be the same,” he says.

In Kāpiti, the red tsunami evacuation zone is the beach and sand dunes. The orange zone is the dune adjacent to the beach and the streets closest to the beach and rivers. The yellow zone is a further 200 to 300 meters inland from the beach and includes low lying areas close to rivers.

Mr Maxwell says irrespective of what tsunami evacuation zone people find themselves in they need to be prepared and know where their nearest evacuation route is.

“There is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to tsunami threats but the general rule of thumb is if you are in a tsunami evacuation zone and you feel a long or strong earthquake, get out of the tsunami evacuation zone and head inland immediately – do not wait to be told.”

The updated tsunami evacuation maps for Kāpiti can be viewed on the Council’s website at www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/tsunami

COUNCIL CONTINUES TO REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT

In a seventh year of reporting under the CEMARS programme, Kāpiti Coast District Council has retained certification for its commitment to managing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and has continued to reduce emission levels.

Group Manager Strategy and Planning Sarah Stevenson says the Council is delighted with the outcome and in particular the reduction of the organisation’s carbon footprint, which was 24% lower this year than last and 57% lower than its baseline year.

“Key changes that have contributed to our improved performance over the last year are a new method of disposing of sewage sludge, along with more efficient use of electricity and the Council’s vehicle fleet,” Ms Stevenson says.

“The Council has a target of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gases compared to baseline by 2012-22, so we’re continuing to work on improving our performance in coming years.”

WORKS AT BEACH ROAD RAILWAY CROSSING AFTER CHRISTMAS

Works to the Beach Road Railway Crossing in Paekākāriki will result in one lane being closed off to traffic shortly after Christmas.

KiwiRail will be installing new railway tracks from Tuesday 27 December (6am) to Tuesday 3 January(6pm).

Stop/go traffic management will be in place at the crossing 24 hours a day, as one lane will need to be blocked off for the works to be carried out.

Vehicles travelling north to Paekākāriki will be encouraged to turn left into Ames Street instead of Beach Road to reduce congestion.

Drivers will still be able to turn right into Beach Road when heading south to Paekākāriki and turn left or right onto SH1 when coming up Beach Road.

There will be no passenger trains running during the works. Replacement buses will be running between Porirua and Waikanae (stopping off at all stations) instead.

At all times, there will be access to all Beach Road shops/businesses and pedestrian/cycle access across the railway lines.

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