If residents have a business or information website I suggest you talk to Mike about a link on to www.lakeokareka.org.
Last month we all received our rating information for the 2012/13 year and as expected there were some unwelcome surprises partly as a result of the new valuations but also unexpected and unexplained increases for water and the Regional Council rates.
Unfortunately it is probably unrealistic to expect any rationalisation of the various areas of duplication between the District and Regional Councils but in my view it is long overdue and would result in savings and more reasonable rates. We wish !!
Fund raising for the new Okareka Fire Engine has been very successful and whilst still to be signed off by the District Council the required funding is now in place, a suitable chassis located and hopefully it will be finished and available prior to Christmas. Congratulations to Phil Muldoon and Kierin Oppatt and the team that put the project together and of course a very big thank you to the trusts and residents who contributed to this very important community resource.
The Community Notice Board on the post adjacent to the jetty has been taken down by LOCA in an effort to help the Council rationalise and reduce the number of signs at the boat ramp and we plan to have a more “resident friendly” notice board separate to the boating information placed adjacent to the toilet block. Council permitting!!
We now have two smart new picnic tables at the lake front and we are also on the list for improvements to the children’s playground at Boyes Beach. Thank you RDC
We have received a proposed Contract to Manage the DOC Camp Ground and hope to have this approved by DOC and operative before the summer rush starts. At present the area is closed to traffic as improvements to the camp parking is underway and we are awaiting a new double toilet to replace one of the single units. With the experience gained by the community volunteers who looked after the camp last summer we are confident there will be ongoing financial benefits for future community projects.
We are looking for additional residents to help with cleaning etc during summer and we will be in a position to reimburse helpers. If you are interested please contact Sandra Goodwin
Despite the apparent lack of action on the proposed Walkway from Boyes Beach to the DOC Campsite we are continuing to work thru various requirements with both RDC and DOC and the management of the DOC camp will be of assistance with this project.
Your committee continues to monitor the Events at the Blue Lake and Okareka but this is difficult as RDC’s Events & Venues staff insist on making decisions on events & their dates and then coming to tell us how important these are for Rotorua and of course at that stage it is too late to take on board any suggestions from the community.
There is a “Festival of Triathlons” scheduled for Saturday Dec 15 involving Triathlon NZ & the Half ironman which involves a lake closure at the Blue Lake and cycling/running on Tarawera Rd and all the traffic to and from Tarawera will be diverted thru Okareka & of course as this is summer holidays if the day is fine there will also be a large influx of from Rotorua to enjoy the lakes etc.
The Triathlon was held on Nov 6 last year and in an effort to minimise the disruption to residents of Tarawera and Okareka we met with representatives of Triathlon NZ and the Half ironman to ask for the event be held outside the summer holiday period but neither they nor Council were interested in change.
The only concession they made was to not have a cycle race through Okareka & will send out a letter to all ratepayers with details of the Traffic Management plan.
Last but not least our congratulations to the Fishing Club on a very successful July fishing competition and with a fine weekend it was great to see all the young fishermen and fishergirls participating and enjoying themselves.
I would also like to draw attention to the work in progress on the new walking track from the top of Summit Rd down to the Bus Shelter next to the Pump Station. This goes thru some of the intensive shrub plantings in the area that are now starting to make a major contribution to a much improved entrance to Okareka.
Thank you Landcare Okareka
As always we welcome your comments on any issues affecting Okareka and its residents.
Geoff Palmer
Chairman
LOCA