The Star reporter Simon Henderson looks at highlights from the Waikouaiti Coast Community Board.
Crossing being looked at
The challenge of crossing the road at Waikouaiti was highlighted recently.
During a public forum at the latest meeting of the Waikouaiti Coast Community Board on December 7, resident Shirley Hewett asked for a pedestrian crossing for the main street.
She had asked for it to be established "before someone gets killed".
"Time and time again you see so many close calls, especially with logging trucks and stock trucks."
The town had children and elderly people who were vulnerable, and she suggested putting a pedestrian crossing by the dairy and Beano’s Bakery.
Senior officer Mike Cartwright said the Dunedin City Council had been in discussion with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, and the agency was planning on looking at crossing options in that location.
"It is not in their schedule or anything at the moment, so I can’t tell you about timings but it is well and truly on their radar."
Catchment group busier
Interest in improving water quality and biodiversity is increasing says the East Otago Catchment Group.
During a public forum at the latest meeting of the Waikouaiti Coast Community Board, East Otago Catchment Group co-ordinator Stephanie Scott, chairman Hamish McFarlane and committee member John Fitzgerald provided the board with an update on the group.
Ms Scott said the group was formed in 2019 and encompassed the Waikouaiti, Shag and Pleasant River catchments.
About 75% of the area they focused on was within the Waitaki District Council and 25% was within the Dunedin City Council.
The group worked with landowners to help improve water quality and biodiversity.
"We do this by running field days, workshops and events for landowners in our area."
The group was seeking advice from the board on other funding avenues as the workload and demand for catchment groups was increasing, she said.
The group also saw itself as connecting all landowners, not just farmers.
"So working with urban and rural communities, bringing people together through planting days or working with students at school ..."
