The Karapiro dam road, on Ariki Street.
Dam road shut
Mercury contractors closed the Karāpiro Dam Road a week before scheduled on Sunday due to unexpected additional critical work on the refurbishment of a penstock unit. The road was to have been open during
the annual Waka Ama championships on the lake but Mercury decided it was best to close it to keep people and the community safe.
Betty found
Betty G, the missing boat belonging to Cambridge fisherman Will Fransen, who spent almost 24 hours lost at
sea earlier this month after falling overboard, has been found off East Cape, nearly 200 kilometres away.
Sign gone
Taylor Street at the northern end of Hugo Shaw Drive in Bridleways Estate.
Waipā District Council will remove a Taylor Street road sign at the northern end of Hugo Shaw Drive in the Bridleways Estate. The announcement came after The News asked whether its presence 450m from the existing Taylor Street would confuse the public.
Kerbside recycling
Recycling being sorted at its ultimate destination – the recycling sorting centre in Te Awamutu.
A standardised collections system for recyclable products will be introduced across the country from February 1. Plastics marked 1, 2 and 5 will be recycled along with ice bream containers, some food trays and plastic bottles – while plastics marked 3,4 6 and 7 and containers for biscuits, bottle lids, pottles and soft plastic bags will go into the rubbish bin.
Craft Fair
Over 130 craft stalls from around the country and a mid-morning organ recital are featured at this month’s St Andrew’s Craft Fair in Cambridge. The 9am to 2pm event on January 29 Auckland Anniversary Day will see four St Andrew’s church musicians perform in the 10.15am Organ Concert.
Tuia leaders
Susan O’Regan
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan is on the lookout for another aspiring young Māori leader to join her Tuia programme. Te Awamutu’s Maude Rewha came under O’Regan’s wing last year and came a long way.
Candidates must be between 18 and 25 and be available for the first wananga at Te Kuiti Pā from March 1 to 3.
Construction begins
A new roundabout is underway in Kihikihi at Whitmore and Oliver streets as part of the $8.04 million Te Ara Rimu-Kihihiki pathway project. Whitmore St is closed from Whitaker to Dick St with a detour in place. The pathway is part of transport agency Waka Kotahi’s $17.4 million investment in the district from the Climate Emergency Response fund offering more transport choice. The other work is in Cambridge.
Rates idea
Mike Keir
Waikato district councillor and The News columnists Mike Keir has penned a thought provoking column – where he says he is calling for a 20 per cent rate rise, and he hoped there will be a revolt.
