Waikouaiti Coast Community Board
The Waikouaiti Coast Community Board started the year in business-like fashion at its first meeting for 2025 last week.
As no speakers were scheduled for the public forum of the meeting, held at Blueskin Bay Library, Waitati, the board took the opportunity to meet police constable Toby White to discuss policing matters in the Waikouaiti area.
Waikouaiti Coast Community Board chairman Alasdair Morrison told The Star that, following speaking with Const White, the board moved to follow up on issues discussed at its meeting in November.
This included following up on concerns raised by Karitāne woman Jude Molyneux about road and pedestrian safety on Sulisker St, Karitāne.
Mr Morrison had been for a drive around the area with Dunedin City Council staff to look at the situation.
Board members had also been involved in a meeting at Hawksbury Lagoon to discuss concerns around potential flooding at the lagoon, also raised at the November meeting.
A further meeting with the Otago Regional Council would now be sought to discuss the management of the lagoon, Mr Morrison said.
General business
Looking at the Governance Support Officer’s Report, the board members discussed their response to the DCC’s draft 9-year plan, with particular reference to plans for the Northern Waste Water Scheme.
A new treatment plant was recommended in the plan, with $70 million budgeted towards it, which would replace both the Waikouaiti and Warrington water schemes, Mr Morrison said.
The board also took another look at its community plan, including discussing priorities, in light of tight council budgets.
The board continued to work on a coastal plan for Warrington and Karitāne Harbour, and the future of the fishermen’s wharf and the shed that sat on it, he said.
Also discussed was ongoing community work on the Coastal Community Connection cycle trail, design work complete and plans with KiwiRail for evaluation.
Although the coalition government had made statements about not supporting further cycle trails, the community continued to "box on" with the project, Mr Morrison said.
