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    • Last day to have your say on the Annual Plan 2019 – 2020
      • Consultation on the Annual Plan 2019 – 2020 closes at 5.00 pm today. We invite you to have your say on items outlined in our information and consultation document made available last month. The consultation document outlines the draft annual plan, upcoming changes, current projects and projects set to commence in 2019 – 2020. A freepost submission form is also included with the paper version. All our consultation material (including background information, the information and consultation document and a downloadable submission form) is available online at consultation.upperhuttcity.com/annual-plan-2019-2020. You can also make a submission online. The post Last day to have your say on the Annual Plan 2019 – 2020 appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Recycling Centre at Park Street reopens today
      • Upper Hutt’s Park Street Recycling Centre is now open 24/7. The expanded venue has space for three containers, two of which will take paper/cardboard, plastic (types 1 and 2), and aluminium and steel cans. The third container, which will take glass bottles and jars, is yet to arrive, so we have included two smaller glass collection bins in one of the carparks at the venue. Please note the change of accepted plastics at the site—now only types 1 and 2. For more information, please refer to our previous news item: upperhuttcity.com/2019/04/08/acceptance-of-plastics-set-to-change/ Please ensure all recyclables are clean and compacted where possible. Please follow all signage at the site and make sure that the centre remains clean, safe, and tidy for everyone to use. The park street recycling centre is for domestic recycling only. The post Recycling Centre at Park Street reopens today appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Waste Management postpone Good Friday rubbish bag collection to Saturday (20 April)
      • Waste Management are postponing their Good Friday rubbish bag collection day in Upper Hutt by one day, to Saturday 20 April. If your collection day is Friday, please make sure you put your bag out one day later than normal for collection on Saturday. For more information please contact www.wastemanagement.co.nz. The post Waste Management postpone Good Friday rubbish bag collection to Saturday (20 April) appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Hutt River Trail section at Maoribank reopened.
      • The section of the Hutt River Trail that was previously closed due to an unstable bank has undergone repairs and is now open. Some issues remain with the bank but contractors have erected fencing to enable users to navigate the path safely. Extreme caution still advised The fencing does make the path narrower so pedestrians and cyclists are advised to use extreme caution in the area to avoid collision.   To read the original article on this go to upperhuttcity.com/2019/01/17/hutt-river-trail-section-closed-at-maoribank/ The post Hutt River Trail section at Maoribank reopened. appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Acceptance of plastics set to change alongside opening of expanded recycling station
      • Over the last year the global waste market has been undergoing significant changes, Upper Hutt City Council is making the change to collect only plastic types 1 and 2 at our Park Street Recycling Station. Avid readers of recycling news may have noticed there has been a drastic change in the global market for recycling, meaning fewer types of plastics are being collected, causing increased confusion about what, and how, to recycle. Last week, Hutt City Council announced it will only be collecting plastic types 1 and 2 in its kerbside collection in light of the global context. Council’s contractor, Waste Management, will so be implementing the same restrictions to their private recycling customers in Upper Hutt shortly. Globally Recycling is market based. Over the last year the global waste market has been undergoing significant changes, particularly the plastics market, following China’s nationally implemented ‘National Sword’ program introducing new strict standards for various recyclables. This resulted in a global drop in value for certain materials and the banning or restricting on imports of plastic types 3 – 7. With little to no demand for most plastic types 3 – 7, these plastics are currently being sorted out during processing and sent landfill in New Zealand or shipped abroad where there is an unclear chain of custody over the materials. Locally Upper Hutt is making the change to collect only plastic types 1 and 2 at our Park Street Recycling Station. By doing so, we are ensuring that what we are only collecting what can, and will, be recycled. Private kerbside collection provider, Waste Management, will follow suit with its customers. Locally there is demand for plastic types 1, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and 2, high-density polyethylene, (HDPE). PET 1 is often used for water, soft drink and condiment bottles and can be recycled by Flight Plastics in Lower Hutt. HDPE 2, typically used for milk, shampoo, and cleaning product bottles, can be recycled by Budget Plastics in Palmerston North. Individually Recyclable plastics have a small triangle recycling logo with either the number 1 or 2 inside it, which the upgraded Park Street recycling station will accept. If not, or if in doubt, items should not be put in the recycling stream, but sent to landfill instead. This will reduce contamination of the recyclables collected and will ensure that Upper Hutt’s collective recycling efforts are not compromised. To further reduce contamination, plastics should be washed and squashed, with the lids kept on. Likewise, cardboard should be clean of any contamination from food and flattened, and tins and cans should be squashed, with the lid pushed inside where possible. Recyclables should not be deposited in the station in plastic bags. With the expanded recycling station set to open soon, Council will continue to provide information and guidance on best practice for waste minimisation and the recycling of types 1 and 2 plastics. Upper Hutt City Council will be working together with Hutt City Council to educate residents about these changes to recycling throughout the Hutt Valley. Council’s Waste Minimisation Officer Millie Porter hopes that this change will encourage residents to re-think and see the power in their consumption habits. “Our focus should be on waste minimisation. We should all try to reduce and reuse before we look to recycling as an option to divert waste from landfill.” This change should also encourage residents to think about firstly reducing and reusing before recycling. The post Acceptance of plastics set to change alongside opening of expanded recycling station appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • NZTA resurfacing SH2-Totara Park intersection overnight, 2 – 4 April
      • NZTA are resurfacing the State Highway 2/Totara Park intersection tonight, Wednesday night, and Thursday night (2 – 4 April). In order to carry out the work, State Highway 2 (River Road) will be closed between the Whakatiki and Maoribank intersections from 9.00 pm – 5.30 am. A detour will be in place rerouting through traffic through Whakatiki Street and Fergusson Drive. What about Totara Park residents? Totara Park residents will be assisted through the intersection and are asked to approach it via Totara Park Road. More information For more information go to NZTA’s Facebook post or journeys.nzta.govt.nz/wellington/road-works/wellington-region-maintenance-programme/ The post NZTA resurfacing SH2-Totara Park intersection overnight, 2 – 4 April appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Have your say
      • Annual Plan 2019-2020 consultation is open and we are seeking your feedback. If you did not receive a consultation document in the post and would like one, you can pick one up from Council reception or Upper Hutt Central Library. The consultation document outlines the draft annual plan, upcoming changes, current projects and projects set to commence in 2019 – 2020. A freepost submission form is included for your convenience. Alternatively visit consultation.upperhuttcity.com/annual-plan-2019-2020/ and have your say online. The post Have your say appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Two minutes silence observed by Council
      • Council will observe two minutes of silence today at 1:32 PM as we remember the tragic events in Christchurch on Friday 15 March 2019. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, we encourage you to do the same. During this time our call centre and counter services will be unavailable. The post Two minutes silence observed by Council appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Community gathering to be held at Upper Hutt’s ‘green space’ on Wednesday evening
      • A community gathering will be held on Wednesday 20 March at 5.00 pm to mark the tragic events in Ōtautahi Christchurch last Friday, and to show support for the victims and their families, and our local Muslim community. The event will be hosted by Upper Hutt City Council and the Multicultural Society at the ‘green space’ opposite the Civic Centre and Expressions Whirinaki. The green space usually serves as a make-shift carpark so Council requests that the area remain vehicle-free on Wednesday for the event at 5.00 pm. Council has opened a book of condolences at Upper Hutt Central Library which is available for those wanting to express their condolences. Gathering also at Hutt City There will be another community event hosted by Hutt City Council and the Hutt Recreation Ground at 7.00 pm. Hutt City Council has also opened a condolence book at the Council Administration Building in Laings Road for anyone wanting to express their condolences. The post Community gathering to be held at Upper Hutt’s ‘green space’ on Wednesday evening appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Annual Plan 2019 – 2020 consultation is now open
      • Consultation is now open for the Annual Plan 2019 – 2020 This is year two of the Long Term Plan 2018 – 2028. We have produced an information/consultation document to describe the proposed changes to the Long Term Plan. You can find more information on our consultation page, but here is a brief summary: Council is proposing an average net rates increase of 4.87% for 2019 – 2020 (down from 5.51% forecast in the Long Term Plan 2018 – 2028). Give us your feedback on our proposed changes to the Economic Development Stimulus Policy; help us shape the upcoming Sustainability Strategy review; and let us know your thoughts on recycling for the next Long Term Plan. The key projects commencing in 2019 – 2020 are the Maidstone Max, H2O Xtream and Expressions Whirinaki redevelopments as outlined in the Long Term Plan 2018 – 2028. We are now seeking your feedback. The consultation period closes 5.00 pm Thursday 18 April 2019. Your input is important to us. Go to consultation.upperhuttcity.com/annual-plan-2019-2020 for more information or to make an online submission. The post Annual Plan 2019 – 2020 consultation is now open appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Playground upgrades on the horizon as Harcourt Park pool season ends
      • On Wednesday 13 March, Harcourt Park paddling pool will be closed for the season. Get along today and tomorrow for the last days of paddling enjoyment. Council plans to reopen the paddling pool in November. Harcourt Park playground will be closed for construction from 27 March until late April. We will be replacing old equipment and adding new features in both the junior, and senior areas of the playground. Details of the upgrade will be posted here on our news page closer to the reopen date. The post Playground upgrades on the horizon as Harcourt Park pool season ends appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Gibbons Street/SH2 roundabout partial closure from 11 March
      • Wellington Water has begun the replacement of the wastewater pipe in Gibbons Street. The new wastewater pipe will provide a higher level of resilience for seismic events and accommodate future developments in the area. From 11 March 2019, the Gibbons Street/SH2 roundabout will be partially closed. This means that traffic heading to SH2 will be diverted via Victoria Street and Pine Avenue, around the northeast side of the roundabout. All traffic exiting off SH2 into Gibbons Street will be diverted at the roundabout to left-turn only into Riverbank Street and back to Gibbons Street via Pine Avenue and either Victoria Street or McParland Street. See image. This project is being managed by Wellington Water. For more information got to wellingtonwater.co.nz/work-in-your-area/gibbons-street-wastewater-pipe-project/ The post Gibbons Street/SH2 roundabout partial closure from 11 March appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Zero Waste and Community Environment Fund
      • The 2019 funding round is open from 1 – 29 March. Upper Hutt City Council’s Zero Waste and Community Environment Fund seeks to support practical sustainability initiatives related to waste minimisation, environmental protection, and community resilience. The 2019 funding round is open from 1 – 29 March. For more information, click here The post Zero Waste and Community Environment Fund appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Maidstone Park sports fields upgrade underway
      • Ground will be broken on Monday 4 March as work gets underway to upgrade Upper Hutt’s Maidstone Park sports fields.   UPPER HUTT, Wellington NZ, 01 MAR 2019— As part of Upper Hutt City Council’s Long Term Plan 2018 – 2028, the Maidstone Park sports fields are being upgraded to a ‘sand carpet’ facility. The works encompass an area of 3.9 hectares. The current grass layer will be removed and the area re-leveled. Drainage and irrigation will then be installed. Once this is complete a sand substrate sourced from the Wairarapa will be installed and new grass sown. “We’re excited to have Stage 1 of the Maidstone Sports Hub project underway and within expected time frames,” says Council’s Director of Asset Management and Operations, Geoff Swainson. “Once completed, the facility will have two premier sports surfaces, on par with others in the region.” A tender process saw the contract being awarded to Mexted Performance Sports Surfaces. Work commences Monday 4 March and is expected to be complete in early June. There will be a ‘grow-in’ period of 9 to 12 months to allow the new grass to become established before the upgraded fields are ready for use. The upgraded fields will be of a similar standard to Porirua Stadium and Hutt Recreation Ground. The post Maidstone Park sports fields upgrade underway appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • NZTA: Upcoming Remutaka Hill (SH2) road closures
      • State Highway 2 (SH2) over the Remutaka Hill will be closed for two blocks of five consecutive nights during March 2019 to enable essential maintenance work to be safely carried out. The Remutaka Hill road will be closed from 9pm to 4am, for five consecutive nights on: Sunday 3 March to Friday morning 8 March Sunday 24 March to Friday morning 29 March. Access will be available for emergency services throughout the closure. The night time maintenance work will significantly reduce the number of day time disruptions on the hill road, enable better quality maintenance work, and increase the safety of maintenance crews. This is a news item from NZTA. For more information, go to www.nzta.govt.nz/remutaka The post NZTA: Upcoming Remutaka Hill (SH2) road closures appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Expressions Whirinaki Arts & Entertainment Centre Trust seeks applications of interest for trustee positions
      • Do you have proven governance or commercial experience? Do you want to make a contribution to the arts and culture scene in Upper Hutt?Expressions Whirinaki Arts and Entertainment Centre is an Upper Hutt City Council Controlled Organization (CCO). As per the Trust Deed, trustee positions are required to be advertised when their term is completed. Two trustee positions are due for expiry on 30 June 2019. Upper Hutt City Council is seeking applications from interested members of the community for these two positions on the Expressions Whirinaki Arts and Entertainment Centre Trust. The Board requires a mix of skills, and at this time is particularly seeking people with a legal and/or asset facility management background. Board meetings are held six weekly, and the trustee positions are voluntary. The term of office is three years. Committed, highly skilled people, preferably with a proven background in governance, are sought. Applications close on Friday 29 March 2019 at 5.00 pm If you would like to apply to be a trustee, please send a covering letter with your CV outlining your governance experience and what skills you can offer and either: Post to: The Director of Community Services Upper Hutt City Council, Private Bag 907 Upper Hutt or email to: askus@uhcc.govt.nz The post Expressions Whirinaki Arts & Entertainment Centre Trust seeks applications of interest for trustee positions appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Park Street recycling station upgrade starts next week
      • Upper Hutt’s Park Street recycling station is getting a makeover to expand and improve its operation. UPPER HUTT, Wellington NZ, 13 FEB 2019—Upper Hutt City Council will begin the upgrade of the recycling station in Park Street, next week. This project was included in the Long Term Plan 2018 – 2028 and completion will allow the station to be open to the community seven days a week, make it more user-friendly, and increase its collection capacity. The current recycling station setup will be reconfigured to make its current location available for the upgraded station, without the loss of service during construction. The new temporary setup will be operational from Thursday 21 February 2019. The temporary setup will remain in place for the duration of construction of the expanded and redesigned station. This is expected to take around six to eight weeks, with the planned opening of the new permanent station scheduled for early April 2019. The temporary recycling station will be setup in the carpark further along Park Street, as shown in the accompanying image, to allow the construction to start on the new station. Service days and hours remain unchanged for now. During construction there will be reduced parking available and access to the temporary bins will be different to the current set up. With reduced parking and driving space in the area, Council asks that users please be careful and considerate to ensure everyone’s safety in the vicinity of the temporary setup. In preparation of the new station opening, Council will be removing the shrubbery and the old fence line which runs behind the existing cardboard cages at the station. The wall will be cleaned and a mural with a waste minimisation theme will be painted on the exposed wall to reinforce a waste-minimisation/recycling message. This will tidy the area up and reduce the amount of rubbish that gets caught amongst the vegetation and fence line. For more information, go to www.upperhuttcity.com/recycling or contact Council’s Waste Minimisation Officer on (04) 527 2169.   The post Park Street recycling station upgrade starts next week appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Tenth annual Bike The Trail set to ride on 3 March
      • Get family and friends on their bikes and enjoy a scenic ride along the Hutt River, for the tenth year running of Bike the Trail. Bike the Trail is a fun, family day out, and this year will be better than ever. There will be breakfasts at both start locations, with rides starting 9.30 am at Harcourt Park and 10.00 am at Stokes Valley. The finish at Hikoikoi reserve will host a big screen, and more free return transport for participants and their bikes. Bike the Trail is held on Sunday, 3 March. Those interested in attending can register online, and pick up registration packs at our event partner, Mitre 10 MEGA Upper Hutt, or Mitre 10 MEGA Petone. The first 50 registered participants receive a free gift with their pack. There will be registrations on the day, but only pre-registered participants will be eligible for the major spot prizes which are given out at the event. This year also sees the introduction of a colouring competition, as another way to be part of the fun. Throughout February, people can download the colouring competition image, print, colour, and drop off entries at any Hutt Valley library, Mitre 10 MEGA Upper Hutt, or Mitre 10 MEGA Petone, to be in to win weekly spot prizes. For full information about the event, and to download the colouring competition image, go to www.bikethetrail.co.nz With options of riding the full 25 kilometres starting from Harcourt Park, or just half of that starting from Stokes Valley, anyone can enjoy an easy, scenic bike ride down the Hutt River Trail to Hikoikoi Reserve in Petone. This has proven to be a popular, well-loved event. Upper Hutt City proudly invites you to enjoy our tenth year of Bike the Trail.   The post Tenth annual Bike The Trail set to ride on 3 March appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • GWRC: No swim warning in place for sections of Hutt River and Pakuratahi River
      • Our friends at Greater Wellington Regional Council have been monitoring our river as the summer has progressed. Hot weather and low rainfall have combined to increase the risk of toxic algae throughout the greater Wellington region, with some rivers now over the limit for safe swimming. People are strongly advised not to swim in the Hutt River from Moonshine Bridge to Fairway Drive Bridge, and in the Pakuratahi River from SH1 to its confluence with the Hutt River in Kaitoke Regional Park. Children should be kept away from water in these sites and dogs should be kept on a lead. While currently below “no swim” trigger levels, toxic algae cover is also rising in Wairarapa at Greater Wellington’s Waipoua, Waingawa and Ruamahanga river sites in Wairarapa, and in the Otaki and Waikanae rivers in Kapiti. Find out more about toxic algae at http://www.gw.govt.nz/safeswim/ so that you can keep yourself safe, wherever you are. The post GWRC: No swim warning in place for sections of Hutt River and Pakuratahi River appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Upper Hutt Central Library to reopen 11 March
      • After significant ‘under the hood’ upgrades, the strengthened Upper Hutt Central Library will reopen to the public on Monday, 11 March 2019.  UPPER HUTT, Wellington NZ, 31 JAN 2019—Upper Hutt’s much-loved Central Library is reopening its doors from  9.30 am on Monday 11 March. The opening will be preceded by a blessing. The Library building was closed in February 2018 after a report received by Council found parts of it were structurally unsound. Council moved quickly to close the building for the safety of staff and customers, establishing an alternative ‘Pop Up Library’ in CBD Towers. Remedial works have been ongoing and an increase in scope extended the building work to increase its resilience rating. Much of the work that has been done will not be visible to customers at the library, so staff are working on a display that will tell the story of the changes to the building and give details of the work that has been undertaken. Library management has also taken the opportunity to adjust the floor layout. The new layout will incorporate customer feedback to make navigation around the library easier whilst retaining the serendipitous discovery philosophy—and with lots of display spaces to encourage people to find different and new material to read. “We are delighted to be reopening the Central Library building once again,” says Upper Hutt Mayor, Wayne Guppy. “The upgraded facility will be one of the most resilient in Upper Hutt. It’s great to have the assurance that it is now safe to occupy and use—and I look forward to our established service being back up and running to its full capacity.” Temporary reduction in service Transferral of books and items from the Pop Up Library will take time so the Pop Up Library will close from 6.00 pm on Tuesday 5 March to allow staff to move stock back in to the Central Library. This means that there will be no library service in the city centre for five days from Wednesday 6 March through Sunday 10 March. Customers can continue returning items to the returns bin at the back of the Central Library. Pinehaven hours will also be extended during this time. Pinehaven Library will be open from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm from Wednesday 6 through Friday 8 March, then 10.00 am to 4.00 pm on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 March. Pinehaven Library will return to normal hours from Monday 11 March. The Mobile Library bus will also be running to its normal schedule that week. Customers are welcome to use this service at its public stops which are detailed on the Upper Hutt City Libraries website. We are still finalising plans for Library programmes and events that will be affected by the closure. Details on this will be communicated through the Libraries’ usual channels. We will continue to offer JP services from the HAPAI building on Thursday 7 March. The post Upper Hutt Central Library to reopen 11 March appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • February fun with The Gas Hub’s Parks and Places in Upper Hutt
      • Enjoy your summer with free, family events in Upper Hutt parks. Upper Hutt is celebrating summer with free, family events run by Upper Hutt City Council’s Activation team, and sponsored by The Gas Hub. Make one of our beautiful parks your backyard for the day, gather the family and check out the hottest happenings in Upper Hutt. Family Water Day, Wednesday, 6 February, 11.00 am — 1.00 pm, Harcourt Park. The team at Activation welcomes families to join them for a fun water day at Harcourt Park. Bring a smile, pack a picnic, get the togs on, and slip, slop, slap. Activation, along with Wave Breakers Swim School will be on hand to provide water activities including the famous big slide. Mitre 10 MEGA buggy walk, Thursday, 7 February, 10.00 am, Harcourt Park. The Buggy Walks provide caregivers with under 5’s an avenue to socialise, visit buggy-friendly walks, and get fit at the same time. The walks have been created so buggies can navigate the tracks with ease and caregivers can discover new places to visit with their young ones. These walks are part of a series of monthly events during the year which are held around the Wellington region. This month, its Upper Hutt’s turn to show off the beautiful scenery of Harcourt Park and the surrounding area. The team will be meeting from 10.00 am at the play grounds in Harcourt Park. Walk commences at 10.30 am and will be roughly and hour in duration. There will be coffee from L’Affare and snacks from Southern Cross Restaurant & Bar. Picnic and Play, Thursday, 21 February, 5.00 pm — 7.00 pm, Pinehaven Reserve. For those who want to have fun and avoid the heat of the day, join the team at Activation for a Picnic and Play at Pinehaven Reserve on the evening of Thursday, 21 February. Activation will bring along the Play Pod full of loose parts as well as setting up friendly games of football. Tobilo’s Pizza Bus, and Hungerball, will be joining us. “We see this as a perfect opportunity for the community to get out together and spend some time in one of the fantastic recreational areas that Upper Hutt has to offer,” says Council’s Community Recreation Advisor, Steph Reichardt. The Gas Hub’s Parks and Places runs until 18 March 2019. For more information on events go to facebook.com/ActivationUH or activation.org.nz     The post February fun with The Gas Hub’s Parks and Places in Upper Hutt appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Wellington Water: Baking hot days prompt call for ‘mindful’ water use
      • Wellington Water is asking residents to be mindful with their water use as the hot weather baking the country enters a third day. While long term water storage levels are good, unprecedented daily demand has been putting the supply system under pressure, said Jeremy McKibbin, acting general manager of operations for Wellington Water. “The network can struggle with refilling reservoirs overnight when there’s excessive use. Of course we recognise it’s hot, and using water to cool the kids off is part of what summer’s all about. “We just want people to be mindful and not waste it. Make sure water goes where it’s useful. Put off washing the windows or watering the lawn for a few days until it cools down.” Mr McKibbin said water use had jumped up right across Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua. If key reservoirs in these cities could not be refilled to normal operating levels, it could lead to reduced pressure and water quality issues as sediment in the reservoirs was stirred up. This is part of a media release from Wellington Water. To read the full release, go to wellingtonwater.co.nz/about-us/news/baking-hot-days-prompt-call-for-mindful-water-use/ The post Wellington Water: Baking hot days prompt call for ‘mindful’ water use appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Upper Hutt City Council moved by colourful submission from preschool
      • Colourfully illustrated letters from the children of Premium Preschool in Heretaunga highlighted ways to care for local ducks and waterways. Late last year Council was privileged to receive a group ‘submission’ from the children of Premium Preschool, Heretaunga. Sending a collection of drawings and news articles, they asked Council to post signs encouraging the public to be good stewards of the environment, by learning about the effects of feeding bread to ducks. The children highlighted that bread makes ducks ill, and does not provide the nutrition they need. Also of importance is the effect of bread on the environment. Rotting bread in water sources causes surface algae, which kills fish, and makes the water smell. Taking care of our environment is a priority for Council. “It’s exciting for Council to be able to support community-lead initiatives to keep our ecosystems thriving. Premium Preschool is doing a great job at educating and empowering children in the community to learn about sustainable practice.” says Council Sustainability Officer, Kylie Robinson. The first duckfeeding sign was officially unveiled yesterday morning at Heretaunga Park with Mayor Wayne Guppy, Sustainability Officer, Kylie Robinson, staff and children of Premium Preschool, and local ducks that enjoyed the oats provided to celebrate the occasion. The sign outlines foods that are nutritious and delicious for ducks, such as cut seedless grapes, peas, oats and birdseed. Signs will be posted at Te Haukaretu, Birchville, and Heretaunga parks which are popular with Upper Hutt ducks and visitors alike. Council values input from young people. During Long Term Plan consultation last year, Council ran a tailored workshop with Spearhead Leaders and other invited youth representatives, to better hear youth voices on our plans and projects. It is important that people of all ages have their say through submissions and feedback, and Premium Preschool’s input is a prime example of young people thinking strategically for our future.   The post Upper Hutt City Council moved by colourful submission from preschool appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Hutt River Trail section closed at Maoribank
      • A section of the Hutt River Trail has been closed temporally due to an unstable bank underfoot. At present, the closure is temporary until the area can undergo an engineering assessment. Hutt River Trail users are advised to avoid this section of the path for their own safety. A detour is in place as per the accompanying image. We are also installing safety fencing and signage in the area and parts of the trail leading to it. The detour runs between the beginning of the closed section at the south and follows State Highway 2 to the duck pond access point before the Rimutaka Tavern. Trail users can also choose the Remutaka Cycle Trail’s alternative route through Totara Park using the Norbert Street and Totara Park bridges. Access to the popular Maoribank swimming hole ‘The Elbow’ is available via Te Haukaretu Park (South-bound). North-bound access to the swimming hole via the Hutt River Trail is blocked due to the temporary closure, so swimmers from south of the swimming hole should make use of the detour. We request that members of the public do not to interfere with temporary safety barriers or signage that is in place. The post Hutt River Trail section closed at Maoribank appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Akatarawa Road is now open
      • 1.20 pm Akatarawa Road is now open. Drivers are asked to take care through the area. 8.31 Akatarawa Road is closed to through traffic due to a slip. The slip is approximately five minutes north of Staglands Wildlife Reserve and Café. Staglands remains open and can be accessed from Upper Hutt. Contractors are onsite to clear and reopen the road. Further updates will be posted here as soon as received. The post Akatarawa Road is now open appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Slip blocking Akatarawa Road
      • 8.35 AM, Tuesday 8 January Akatarawa road is closed due to a slip blocking the road. Council officers are investigating and we’ll provide more information as it becomes available. The post Slip blocking Akatarawa Road appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Upper Hutt City Council is Keeping it REAL with second programme success
      • Upper Hutt City Council’s Keeping it REAL youth employment programme gives youth realistic, engaging, ambitious, and lifelong (REAL) opportunities. After a successful first employment programme, Upper Hutt City Council and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) were pleased to provide a second programme to get young job seekers involved in their community and into meaningful employment and/or into further study. 14 young people aged 18-24 were accepted through initial interviews, and goal setting sessions. During their eight-week intensive course, participants learned skills and attitudes that employers say are essential for the workplace. These include having a positive attitude, resilience, and self-management. After developing CVs and cover letters, the young people practised interview skills in a two day intensive workshop. Participants were given the opportunity to gain their driver licences and were provided with practical budgeting advice. They were supported through personal hardships in an environment which was safe and addressed individual needs. Most importantly, young people on the Keeping it REAL programme grew in confidence. Council staff, Ōrongomai Marae, local employers, and local youth health services all gave their time generously, in a truly collaborative way to support the programme. “We’ve enjoyed being able to work with Upper Hutt City Council once again to support more young people into work, study and training. Partnerships between agencies are important in improving the lives of young people and we’re looking forward to continuing this in the new year”, says Ministry of Social Development Regional Commissioner, Louise Waaka. Of the 14 young people who were accepted, eight are now employed, four have moved into study. One in particular, has managed to obtain a niche job which utilises his talents and passions. Community Development Team Leader, Sue Colville says “the programme facilitates the development of lifelong skills while encouraging people to achieve their personal goals and dreams.” Participants shared their transformation and thanks for the positive effect Keeping it REAL has had on them. “Before coming on this programme I wasn’t really doing anything with my life or sure what to do. Through this programme I have found what I love, and I am now chasing my dreams!” says Logan Boys-Cheer. At the graduation, participants gave an outstanding performance — playing out the 7 employability skills and sharing a video of their eight weeks together. Mayor Wayne Guppy presented graduating certificates at the end of the second course and commented, “young people are really wanting to achieve in life and we saw these young people engaging in the programme for the entire eight weeks knowing that every opportunity presented gave them a chance to move forward.” There are two more intakes of Keeping it REAL scheduled for early next year. Council staff are looking forward to continuing their partnership with MSD to support young people in Upper Hutt.     The post Upper Hutt City Council is Keeping it REAL with second programme success appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Upper Hutt’s Central Library Building ready for reoccupation by early March 2019
      • At Wednesday night’s final meeting for the year, Upper Hutt City Council resolved to reoccupy the Central Library building once work is finished in late-February/early-March.   UPPER HUTT, Wellington NZ, 20 DEC 2018—Upper Hutt’s much-loved Library service will be returning to its original location in late-February/early-March next year after seismic strengthening works are complete. The decision to move back in comes on the back of Policy Committee recommendations and seeks to re-establish the full suite of services back into Upper Hutt City Libraries’ portfolio. The Central Library building was vacated in early 2018 after an engineer’s report found the building was not up to appropriate structural standard for its designated public use. Works originally sought to rectify the issues discovered, bringing the building up to IL3 standard by mid December 2018. The scope of the work was extended to increase the rating to IL4 and upgrade the building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system which in turn is expected to extend the period of work to late-February 2019. Once work is complete, the building will be one of the strongest and most resilient in Upper Hutt. The higher seismic rating also means that the building can now be used for a lager variety of activities going forward, such as a civil defence emergency operations centre. “We’re looking forward to seeing the Library back to full-capacity at the newly upgraded space,” says Council’s Chief Executive, Peter Kelly. ”I want to commend our library staff who have been extremely dedicated to the services they have continued to provide throughout this whole process. The move back in will enable staff to continue their great work for library customers and the wider Upper Hutt community.” Council is also exploring the option of relocating the Central Library in the future, to Main Street. Relocating to Main Street will increase foot traffic around Upper Hutt’s city centre retail precinct and contribute to the revitalisation of the area. There may be an opportunity to trial a location in Main Street later in 2019, but from late-February/early-March Council will have its current library facility available for use, so the decision to move back has been made. This will enable the library to restore its full services and save ratepayer money on renting a ‘pop-up’ space elsewhere. Another upcoming resilience project will be the strengthening of Council’s Civic Centre building. This building is not under the same time-pressure as the Central Library was, and a trial move of the Central Library to Main Street, may afford Council some office space in the newly upgraded building while work on the Civic Centre takes place. The post Upper Hutt’s Central Library Building ready for reoccupation by early March 2019 appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • Slip blocking Akatarawa Road
      • 11.40 AM There is a large slip on Akatarawa Road, blocking the road. The slip is located 3 km north of Staglands and has rendered the road impassable until the slip is cleared. Council officers are investigating and we’ll provide more information as it comes to light. The post Slip blocking Akatarawa Road appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

    • GWRC: Pakuratahi Forest Felling on Remutaka Cycle Trail to continue
      • The harvesting in Pakuratahi Forest between Maymorn and Tunnel Gully in Upper Hutt will continue until the end of January 2019. Works in this 48 hectare area have been held up by the wet weather over winter and issues at the port of Wellington. The current Remutaka Cycle Trail diversion for a 4km section in this area will continue until the end of January 2019, to prevent any health and safety issues. For more information go to the Pakuratahi Forest section of the Greater Wellington website – www.gw.govt.nz/pakuratahi The post GWRC: Pakuratahi Forest Felling on Remutaka Cycle Trail to continue appeared first on Upper Hutt City.

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