Friday, August 25, 2006
The Riverside Walkway - a Not-So-Hidden Gem
When is a hidden gem not a hidden gem - when it's the Helensville Riverside Walkway.
There has been heaps of local publicity about this wonderful new town asset - yet I wonder how many locals have actually walked along it.
Running from the Riverside Reserve to the carpark beside the chemist in Commercial Road, it's a credit to the hard-working volunteers of the Helensville Riverside Heritage Trust.
The Trust has toiled away on the 1km stretch of walkway beside the Kaipara River for five years, planting around 4000 native trees and shrubs and spending approximately 3500 hours weeding, clearing, and planting. Particularly impressive are the structures at the Commercial Road end of the walkway, with viewing platforms, stairs and boardwalks.
It's true, the Kaipara isn't the most scenic river in the world, but the walkway still shows a wonderfully different aspect of Helensville. And the river was, of course, of utmost importance in the original development of the town.
The walkway is still under development, with plenty of work planned in the future. It's a great way for people staying in the township to reach the new historical Pioneer Village at the Riverside Reserve without having to walk along the busy main road.
So come on locals - get off your butts and go for a stroll. It only takes a few minutes, and you will see a side of Helensville you won't have seen before.
There has been heaps of local publicity about this wonderful new town asset - yet I wonder how many locals have actually walked along it.
Running from the Riverside Reserve to the carpark beside the chemist in Commercial Road, it's a credit to the hard-working volunteers of the Helensville Riverside Heritage Trust.
The Trust has toiled away on the 1km stretch of walkway beside the Kaipara River for five years, planting around 4000 native trees and shrubs and spending approximately 3500 hours weeding, clearing, and planting. Particularly impressive are the structures at the Commercial Road end of the walkway, with viewing platforms, stairs and boardwalks.
It's true, the Kaipara isn't the most scenic river in the world, but the walkway still shows a wonderfully different aspect of Helensville. And the river was, of course, of utmost importance in the original development of the town.
The walkway is still under development, with plenty of work planned in the future. It's a great way for people staying in the township to reach the new historical Pioneer Village at the Riverside Reserve without having to walk along the busy main road.
So come on locals - get off your butts and go for a stroll. It only takes a few minutes, and you will see a side of Helensville you won't have seen before.
Monday, August 07, 2006
At What Rate Progress?
Property rates - now there's a subject guaranteed to get people hot under the collar.
Every year, when councils up and down the country set their annual rates, property owners are up in arms at the ensuing increases. Rodney homeowners are no shrinking violets when it comes to lambasting council spending.
And yes, Rodney District does, this year, have one of the largest average rate increases in the country. But when you stop and think for a moment, it's hardly surprising. Rodney covers a large land area, yet has a relatively small population - but one that is growing fast and thus putting a rapidly increasing load on local resources. The council still has to provide the same essential services as elsewhere, but spread over an enormous area. Just look at the huge percentage of roads in the district which are still unsealed, and you can see that huge expenditure is required.
I live at the end of an unsealed road, and have been known to wonder aloud on occasion what exactly my rates are being spent on. My road gets graded maybe four times a year (if we're lucky). Footpaths and street lighting - forget it! We have no reticulated water, nor a sewerage system.
Yet when my daughters have to go to the Helensville library for a school project, or play soccer on a Saturday morning at one of the local parks, my rates bill doesn't seem such a burden.
I used to work in the public relations department of Auckland City Council, and was constantly astounded at the small-mindedness of ratepayers who would phone up to complain about their rate bill, especially when it came to "non-essential" services - which pretty much meant anything other than water, sewerage and roading.
Just forget libraries, art galleries, theatre, public artworks. Forget about future generations. Forget about what makes an environment livable.
These people were adamant their rates should not be used for anything other than the absolute necessities. But surely it's all those other things which make living somewhere pleasant and fulfilling? I realise that rates bills can be a burden for some people, however I suspect the most vocal opposition are just pissed off at having to spend money on something they don't really want to spend on - and over which they have little control.
These people seem to think the council's sole purpose is to take as much money off them as possible. They seem to conveniently overlook the fact that councils are (generally) trying their hardest to improve the quality of their residents' environment. Sure, there are inefficiencies, and I too am disheartened when I see money wasted on shoddy road repairs which need to be re-done every few months. But on the whole, councils do have our best interests at heart.
Every year, when councils up and down the country set their annual rates, property owners are up in arms at the ensuing increases. Rodney homeowners are no shrinking violets when it comes to lambasting council spending.
And yes, Rodney District does, this year, have one of the largest average rate increases in the country. But when you stop and think for a moment, it's hardly surprising. Rodney covers a large land area, yet has a relatively small population - but one that is growing fast and thus putting a rapidly increasing load on local resources. The council still has to provide the same essential services as elsewhere, but spread over an enormous area. Just look at the huge percentage of roads in the district which are still unsealed, and you can see that huge expenditure is required.
I live at the end of an unsealed road, and have been known to wonder aloud on occasion what exactly my rates are being spent on. My road gets graded maybe four times a year (if we're lucky). Footpaths and street lighting - forget it! We have no reticulated water, nor a sewerage system.
Yet when my daughters have to go to the Helensville library for a school project, or play soccer on a Saturday morning at one of the local parks, my rates bill doesn't seem such a burden.
I used to work in the public relations department of Auckland City Council, and was constantly astounded at the small-mindedness of ratepayers who would phone up to complain about their rate bill, especially when it came to "non-essential" services - which pretty much meant anything other than water, sewerage and roading.
Just forget libraries, art galleries, theatre, public artworks. Forget about future generations. Forget about what makes an environment livable.
These people were adamant their rates should not be used for anything other than the absolute necessities. But surely it's all those other things which make living somewhere pleasant and fulfilling? I realise that rates bills can be a burden for some people, however I suspect the most vocal opposition are just pissed off at having to spend money on something they don't really want to spend on - and over which they have little control.
These people seem to think the council's sole purpose is to take as much money off them as possible. They seem to conveniently overlook the fact that councils are (generally) trying their hardest to improve the quality of their residents' environment. Sure, there are inefficiencies, and I too am disheartened when I see money wasted on shoddy road repairs which need to be re-done every few months. But on the whole, councils do have our best interests at heart.
