page SPOTSWOOD DEVON NPGHS 43 DEVON ST WEST SOUTH RD M A N G O R E I R D 8.15AM 8.22AM 43 3.27PM MESSENGER TCE D IX O N S T SOUTH R D W A IR A U R D 4.00PM 7.47AM 43 7.55AM Ōakura *only operates during school terms SCHOOL SERVICE* 43ROUTE Ōakura to NPGHS KEY Bus Centre (Ariki St) Route Direction - AM Route Direction - PM AMDixon St Oakura Hall Devon Int. NPGHS 7.47 7.55
Wairau and Surrey Hill Rd OAKURA OMATA 7.45AM 7.47AM 43 8.00AM 42 44 8.00AM 41 Dixon St Oakura Hall Devon Int. NPGHS 7.47 7.55 8.15 8.22 43 AM NPGHS Devon Int. Spotswood Oakura Hall 3.27 3.40 3.43 4.00 PM 43 AMUpper Wairau Rd Oakura Hall Sacred Heart Highlands Int. 7.45 7.55 8.20 8.30 Highlands Int. Sacred Heart Spotswood Oakura Hall 3.15 3.27 3.36 3.55 PM 4444
Special bus services on Saturday (1 December) will allow families to get to New Plymouth’s Christmas parade minus traffic and parking hassles. Citylink buses will operate on 10 routes, with gold-coin fares accepted. Go to www.taranakibus.info for timetable details and route maps. “The services cover all New Plymouth suburbs, plus Bell Block, Waitara, Oākura and Omata,” says Chris Clarke, Transport Services Manager for the Taranaki Regional Council which provides Citylink services through its contractor Tranzit Coachlines. “There’ll be at least two services into town in the morning, and two back home in the afternoon.” He says that with roads having to be closed in the run-up to the parade, the Saturday services could prove to be a godsend for parents. “Why put yourself through the ordeal of negotiating busy streets and finding a park, when you could be driven to and from the parade?” Saturday services with altered timetables will be operated on Citylink routes on subsequent Saturdays in the lead-up to Christmas. There will also be special Hāwera-New Plymouth Connector bus services on the four Saturdays leading up to Christmas. “We’re pleased to be able to offer these services in the run-up to Christmas, as part of the Council’s focus on improving lifestyles in Taranaki,” says Chris. “If these services are well supported, we will be able to offer them in future years. It’s a case of use it or lose it.”
Free bus services on Saturday (28 November) will allow families to get to New Plymouth’s Christmas parade minus traffic and parking hassles. The free Citylink buses will operate on 10 routes. Go to www.taranakibus.info for timetable details and route maps. “The services cover all New Plymouth suburbs, plus Bell Block, Waitara, Oākura and Omata,” says Chris Clarke, Transport Services Manager for the Taranaki Regional Council which provides Citylink services through its contractor Tranzit Coachlines. “There’ll be at least two services into town in the morning, and two back home in the afternoon.” He says that with roads having to be closed in the run-up to the parade, the Saturday services could prove to be a godsend for parents. “Why put yourself through the ordeal of negotiating busy streets and finding a park, when you could be driven to and from the parade – and all for free?” Saturday services with altered timetables will be operated on Citylink routes on subsequent Saturdays in the lead-up to Christmas. There will also be special Hāwera-New Plymouth Connector bus services on the three Saturdays leading up to Christmas. “We’re pleased to be able to offer these services in the run-up to Christmas, as part of the Council’s focus on improving lifestyles in Taranaki,” says Chris. “If these services are well supported, we will be able to offer them in future years. It’s a case of use it or lose it.” Timetables for parade buses on 28 November
.tpft-fb-col2{display:block;padding-top:15px;text-align:center;width:100%;} #e2369 .tpft-fb-text{color:#f9f9f9;font-size:14px;} } Restore Taranaki Groups on Facebook Restore New Plymouth Western Suburbs (external link) Restore New Plymouth Eastern Suburbs (external link) Restore Oakura (external link) Waitara Taiao (external link) Restore Eltham (external link) Restore Opunake (external link) Follow Towards Predator-Free Taranaki on Facebook - facebook.com/TowardsPredatorFreeTaranaki(external link) What is Trap.NZ? If you’re trapping at home, register with the online
1.3 Applicant and property details Table 1.1: Applicant and property details Applicant New Plymouth District Council Owner / occupier of application site Her Majesty the Queen (owned by Department of Conservation and administered by NPDC under the Reserves Act 1977) Site address / map reference NZTM 1679803, 5669588 Site area Weld Road Reserve & Ahu Ahu Bridge (approximately 1.3 ha) Legal description Section 176-177 Oakura District and Section 182-184 Oakura District
Taranaki speaks with one voice in seeking urgent action on long-awaited safety improvements on the Bell Block-Waitara corridor, says the head of the Regional Transport Committee. The Committee today confirmed the improvements as the top transport priority for the region, after hearing submissions on its Regional Land Transport Plan for Taranaki 2021-2027. “Submitters endorsed the project’s top-priority status by a margin of more than three to one over the next priority, highway safety improvements between New Plymouth and Hāwera,” says Committee Chairman and Taranaki Regional Councillor Matthew McDonald. “Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency should be well aware of the depth of the community’s feeling on this. We urge them to do everything they can to implement these improvements as soon as possible.” Public consultation on the Plan drew a record 55 submissions. “Many good points were made and we appreciate people taking the time to help us in our decision-making,” says Cr McDonald. Many submissions raised concerns about the safety of pedestrians and cyclists negotiating SH3 through Inglewood. Waka Kotahi and New Plymouth District Council have already acknowledged these concerns and their representatives will discuss the issue at an Inglewood Community Board meeting this month. Other submissions focused on the level of investment in roading projects, the needs of pedestrians and cyclists, the need for low-emission public transport options and greater use of rail for freight and passengers. There was also good support for the Taranaki Trails Trust’s ‘2050 vision’ for bike trails, which was included as an appendix in the Draft Plan, noting that individual projects would be led by district councils and/or community groups. The Regional Land Transport Plan is intended to guide the long-term development of transport infrastructure, setting a broad vision and strategic framework and ranking transport priorities for the coming 10 years. Individual projects discussed in the Plan are proposed, managed, implemented and funded by Waka Kotahi, the Taranaki Regional Council and district councils. The Plan agreed to by the Committee today will go to a meeting of the Taranaki Regional Council later this month for formal adoption, then submitted to the Government for inclusion in its national land transport plan. Taranaki’s priorities for regionally significant transport projects, as agreed by the Committee today, are: Safety improvements on the Bell Block-to-Waitara section of SH3, including realignment of Airport Drive to meet a new roundabout at the De Havilland Drive intersection. Safety improvements on SH3 and SH3A between New Plymouth and Hāwera. New Plymouth Coastal Pathway extension from Bell Block to Waitara. Traffic signals at the intersection of Coronation Avenue (SH3) and Cumberland Street, New Plymouth. Traffic signals at the intersection of Vivian Street and Morley Street (SH45), New Plymouth, and traffic signals at the SH3-Henwood Road interchange at Bell Block. (A pedestrian underpass at SH4 at Oākura had also been included but this project is not proceeding.) Brecon Road extension, Stratford. The Regional Transport Committee is made up of representatives of all four Taranaki councils and Waka Kotahi. It is administered by the Taranaki Regional Council.
A beautiful butterfly has arrived in Taranaki but don’t be fooled by its good looks - it has a very important job to do. Three days before Christmas Taranaki Regional Council environment officers released about 100 Honshu white admiral (Limenitis glorifica) pupae at Oākura and another 100 at Kakaramea. Most had successfully hatched when the officers returned a week later. The butterfly was first imported from Japan in 2010 by Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research as a biocontrol agent. It attacks Japanese honeysuckle, an invasive weed that smothers and strangles New Zealand’s native bush. It has been released in other parts of the country since 2014, following a period of containment and testing. Although the adult butterflies only live for about a month, the females will lay hundreds of eggs in that time. That’s good news, as the caterpillars feed on the leaves of the Japanese honeysuckle, damaging the foliage. When present in large numbers they can defoliate plants. It’s hoped that in the longer term, they will help reduce the weed’s growth around the region. The Council is keen to hear from anyone who spots a Honshu white admiral in Taranaki, to help track their progress and how far they spread. It is unique looking so should be easy to distinguish from other butterflies. Adults are black with white markings on the top of their wings. If you see them drying their wings, the underside appears orange. Their wingspan is about 60mm. Environment Services Manager Steve Ellis says the Honshu white admiral is one of several biocontrol agents the Council has released to control weeds. Agents may be used when a weed has become widespread and traditional chemical control is not practical. If you see a Honshu white admiral, call the Council on 0800 736 222 and ask for a Biosecurity Environment Officer or register your sighting at iNaturalist.nz.
Towards Predator-Free Taranaki has welcomed a $750,000 boost that has created six new jobs, accelerating efforts to remove introduced predators and protect the region’s native bush, birds and wildlife. The funding for 12 months has been awarded to the Taranaki Regional Council-led project by Crown-owned Predator Free 2050 Limited, through the Jobs for Nature (Mahi mō te Taiao) programme. Council Environment Services Manager Steve Ellis says the six full time equivalents – a mix of employed staff and contractors - will provide a timely boost to the project, which has been running since 2018. “We believe they will make a real and immediate difference to the outcomes we are achieving and in doing so, accelerate progress towards our end goal,” Mr Ellis says. “And of course it’s been great to offer locals such exciting employment opportunities.” The new team members are already making an impact across Towards Predator-Free Taranaki’s three projects. The rural project targets mustelids (stoats, ferrets and weasels). It is being rolled out around the region in phases, with Council contractors installing traps and reducing mustelid numbers before handing responsibility over to landowners. A new officer will support landowners through that transition and beyond, including helping them efficiently incorporate predator control into their farm work and use the associated technology. In the urban space two part-time community liaison officers are now out and about in New Plymouth. More than 6,000 rat traps have already been set in the city’s backyards, in addition to those in parks, reserves and walkways. “When we launched heaps of people went out and bought one of our $10 rat trap packs, which was awesome. But over time it’s inevitable people forget about it or lose the motivation to check traps, keep them baited and record results on trap.nz,” Mr Ellis says. “So that’s a big part of the new community liaisons’ role – reigniting enthusiasm among those who have traps, as well as getting more people on board.” The ‘zero possum’ project, a joint initiative with Taranaki Mounga Project (TMP), set out to eradicate possums from a 4,500 hectare area including 2,300 hectares of the Kaitake Range, 2,000 hectares of Kaitake farmland and Oākura town. Mr Ellis says eradication is within reach and the new resources allocated to the project will speed up progress. A new technician is now based at Pukeiti, the site of a remotely monitored 1300 trap barrier, while a new contractor is focusing on the farmland. Funding for another two staff has been passed to TMP for its work within Te Papakura o Taranaki (the national park). Mr Ellis says while it’s great to have more team members on board, Towards Predator-Free Taranaki is a community effort and the more people that do their bit, the better the results will be. “We have had fantastic support over the last three years from volunteers, farmers, schools, community groups and residents. Let’s keep that up.” There were previously five Council staff employed on the Towards Predator-Free Project, supported by 25 contractors, hundreds of volunteers checking traps across public reserves and thousands of people checking traps on their own properties. Note: The new funding will cover new staff and contractor wages, as well as the cost of associated equipment, vehicles and resources. For more on how you can get involved follow Towards Predator-Free Taranaki on Facebook.
Towards Predator-Free Taranaki has welcomed a $750,000 boost that has created six new jobs, accelerating efforts to remove introduced predators and protect the region’s native bush, birds and wildlife. The funding for 12 months has been awarded to the Taranaki Regional Council-led project by Crown-owned Predator Free 2050 Limited, through the Jobs for Nature (Mahi mō te Taiao) programme. Council Environment Services Manager Steve Ellis says the six full time equivalents – a mix of employed staff and contractors - will provide a timely boost to the project, which has been running since 2018. “We believe they will make a real and immediate difference to the outcomes we are achieving and in doing so, accelerate progress towards our end goal,” Mr Ellis says. “And of course it’s been great to offer locals such exciting employment opportunities.” The new team members are already making an impact across Towards Predator-Free Taranaki’s three projects. The rural project targets mustelids (stoats, ferrets and weasels). It is being rolled out around the region in phases, with Council contractors installing traps and reducing mustelid numbers before handing responsibility over to landowners. A new officer will support landowners through that transition and beyond, including helping them efficiently incorporate predator control into their farm work and use the associated technology. In the urban space two part-time community liaison officers are now out and about in New Plymouth. More than 6,000 rat traps have already been set in the city’s backyards, in addition to those in parks, reserves and walkways. “When we launched heaps of people went out and bought one of our $10 rat trap packs, which was awesome. But over time it’s inevitable people forget about it or lose the motivation to check traps, keep them baited and record results on trap.nz,” Mr Ellis says. “So that’s a big part of the new community liaisons’ role – reigniting enthusiasm among those who have traps, as well as getting more people on board.” The ‘zero possum’ project, a joint initiative with Taranaki Mounga Project (TMP), set out to eradicate possums from a 4,500 hectare area including 2,300 hectares of the Kaitake Range, 2,000 hectares of Kaitake farmland and Oākura town. Mr Ellis says eradication is within reach and the new resources allocated to the project will speed up progress. A new technician is now based at Pukeiti, the site of a remotely monitored 1300 trap barrier, while a new contractor is focusing on the farmland. Funding for another two staff has been passed to TMP for its work within Te Papakura o Taranaki (the national park). Mr Ellis says while it’s great to have more team members on board, Towards Predator-Free Taranaki is a community effort and the more people that do their bit, the better the results will be. “We have had fantastic support over the last three years from volunteers, farmers, schools, community groups and residents. Let’s keep that up.” There were previously five Council staff employed on the Towards Predator-Free Project, supported by 25 contractors, hundreds of volunteers checking traps across public reserves and thousands of people checking traps on their own properties. Note: The new funding will cover new staff and contractor wages, as well as the cost of associated equipment, vehicles and resources. For more on how you can get involved follow Towards Predator-Free Taranaki on Facebook.