citynews 3 October 2014 Bellbird’s song heard in city reserve The family of Dr Alwyn Seeley is delighted by news a bellbird has been spotted in the city park which bears Dr Seeley’s name. A diminutive male bellbird (korimako) Neil Fitzgerald visited the gully on 11 has been heard in AJ Seeley Reserve, September. He spotted one male bellbird marking a significant milestone for the happily feeding on the nectar of kowhai Seeley family and the Hamilton ‘Halo’ and camellia flowers. project partners. “It’s the first credible sighting we’ve had Following the news, Hamilton Halo in Hamilton in a couple of years, so it stakeholders are asking residents who was exciting to not only hear but to also CHIRP CHIRP: A male bellbird has been spotted in AJ Seeley Reserve, to the delight see or hear the tiny birds to report any see this shy bird,” Mr Fitzgerald says. of the partners in the Hamilton Halo project. further sightings. Hamilton City Council Parks and Open Hamilton Halo is a multi-agency project Spaces Manager Sally Sheedy says the this reserve and it’s a testament to their bellbird in the reserve is significant. which aims to entice tui and bellbirds sighting of the bellbird makes the hard commitment to discover this native bird “It’s a thrill that these birds are coming back into the city. work of staff and volunteers worthwhile. enjoying the environment.” back. This is what Dad would’ve Acting on a tip-off from a local volunteer, “This is fantastic news as many people Rachael Densem, Alwyn Seeley’s wanted and he would have loved the Anthony Endres, Landcare Research’s have put in countless hours to nurture daughter, says the appearance of the community’s enthusiasm.” Plenty of play at Lake Domain An impressive new playground will be installed at Lake Domain, one of Hamilton’s main destination parks. One of Hamilton’s most popular families. Our playgrounds development playgrounds is set for a major programme has enabled us to develop refurbishment, with work beginning in Parana Park and now the Lake Domain. October. Later this year the existing playground at The Lake Domain Playground, on the Minogue Park will also undergo a major transformation. The redevelopment of eastern side of Lake Rotoroa, will these playgrounds reflect the Council’s undergo a two-month transformation new approach to playgrounds, following which will see ageing equipment the adoption of its Playground Policy replaced with modern equipment. earlier this year.” Mayor Julie Hardaker says, “Our kids Sally Sheedy, Hamilton City Council’s and community want destination Parks and Open Spaces Manager, says FUN IN THE SUN: The new Lake Domain Playground will be ready in December, playgrounds - and Hamilton Lake the scale of the project means there will so families can enjoy it this summer. Domain is one of our most visited family be temporary road closures within Lake public spaces.” Domain and some pressure on parking. decisions are made on where they can the park will be impressed when they “This is a significant development and Some items of existing playground be used elsewhere. get to see and enjoy the new equipment it helps us deliver on creating a city for equipment will be put into storage until “We’re confident that children who visit we’re installing.” www.hamilton.govt.nz /hamiltoncitycouncil @CouncilHamilton citynews HOW DO YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR SAY ON COUNCIL ISSUES, Have your say PROJECTS AND PLANS? We would like to hear your views on the Want more parking near Garden Place? Changes to legislation require all proposed Safety in Public Places Bylaw Have your say on a proposed alteration Councils to write a Significance to the Garden Place Pedestrian Mall and Engagement Policy, which sets In response to your concerns about safety in the central city, the Council is proposing a new bylaw that will set boundaries for The Garden Place Pedestrian Mall is a strictly no parking area, out how we will engage with you on what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in the city. The but the Council understands there is a need for flexibility around important issues. Bylaw supports the work we are doing through the Hamilton parking in this area. We’re proposing to make it part of the We’re developing the Policy at the Central City Safety Plan. Shared Zone, which will allow us to fully explore parking options in the area. moment and would love to hear You can find out more about the proposed Safety Bylaw and Submission forms are available from the Council and online - or what you think. submit your views at online. Or you can head along to a drop- by phoning 07 838 6699 to request a form. Submissions are Complete a brief survey online or in information meeting on Monday 13 October at noon to 1pm welcome until 4pm Monday 3 November 2014. pick up a copy of the survey at our in the Council Reception Lounge or 5.30pm to 6.30pm in the hamilton.govt.nz/pedestrianmall libraries or civic building. We want Council Ground Floor Foyer. to know how you feel about ways Submission forms are available from the Council and online - or you can provide the Council with by phoning 07 838 6699 to request a form. Submissions are welcome until 4pm Friday 17 October 2014. your feedback on important issues. hamilton.govt.nz/safetybylaw Take the survey online hamilton.govt.nz/engage Tell us what you think about our Traffic CAPITAL VALUE RATING Bylaw review PROPOSAL UPDATE The city’s Traffic Bylaw deals with issues such as parking, stock Hearings on the proposal to movement on roads, vehicle crossings and managing bus and change to a capital value rating cycle lanes. We’re looking to update it to help us manage traffic system were held on 29 and 30 in the city better. September. Submission forms are available from the Council and online - or Following a one-month submission by phoning 07 838 6699 to request a form. Submissions are period, a total of 666 submissions welcome until 4pm Monday 3 November 2014. were received, with 68 submitters hamilton.govt.nz/traffic requesting to speak at a hearing. Council will make their final decision on 30 October 2014 at a Council meeting after considering all submissions. Getting serious about litter For information on the consultation The Council has adopted sections of the Litter Act which Enforcement options will be brought back to the Council at process to date, visit will allow it to issue fines for littering. the end of November 2014. hamilton.govt.nz/ratingreview Addressing littering is a key action of the recently approved City Environments General Manager, Brian Croad says the Council will take a sensible approach when issuing fines. Hamilton Central Safety Plan. COUNCIL NEWS “Our goal is to create an attractive central city that looks “We have had a lot of feedback about rubbish in the central Visit hamilton.govt.nz to read the smart by reducing litter on our pavements and streets. city and it’s affect on how people feel about being in the Council’s latest media releases. We want to encourage the public to take pride in their city central city. Other councils have used litter infringement and dispose of litter sensibly. The fines are a deterrent; • Zoo’s new zebra a friendly gent successfully. We want to create central city spaces that we certainly don’t intend to be heavy-handed with our • New gallery extends Hamilton’s Hamilton residents and visitors enjoy spending time in” says enforcement,” says Mr Croad. arts offer Mayor Hardaker. hamilton.govt.nz/litter • Council votes in favour of Riverlea land sale UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS Funding available for waste initiatives Visit hamilton.govt.nz/agendas to read all the minutes and agendas. If you reduce, reuse or recycle you could and we want to help accelerate their “We’ve performed to more than 8,000 be eligible for a financial boost from the work. We need to encourage and support people at businesses, clubs and schools • Tuesday 14 October Hamilton City Council. forward-thinking waste minimisation to help people become more aware of CCO (Council Controlled programmes and this fund lets us do The Council receives $50,000 annually recycling. The shows were really well Organisations) sub-committee so,” says Ms Skeer. from the Government’s national waste received and we would not have been • Wednesday 15 October levy for our Council’s Contestable Waste Reducing waste is a big priority for the able to do it without the funding,” says Strategy and Policy Committee Minimisation Fund. This fund helps Council which encourages alternatives Mr Kaye. like recycling and composting. support projects promoting or achieving Application forms for the fund are CONTACT US waste minimisation in the city. Last year the fund helped five groups, available from the Council and online – including comedy group ‘Matt and If you have any questions or The Council’s Waste Minimisation or phone 07 838 6699 to request a form. Andy’. Performer Andrew Kaye says Advisor, Kerry Skeer sees the fund as an Applications are open from Monday 6 comments regarding City News, their 15-minute show uses comedy to please email important part of cutting the city’s waste. encourage people to use reusable cups October 2014 to Monday 3 November 2014. [email protected] “There are a lot of groups with great and bottles for their tea, coffee and water initiatives for reducing our city’s waste consumption. hamilton.govt.nz/wasteminimisation www.hamilton.govt.nz /hamiltoncitycouncil @CouncilHamilton citynews High energy performance promised on city’s birthday Mayor Julie Hardaker Just one day without singing is a very Verity writes and performs her own long time for 11 year old Verity, of music and she has already written five Nawton.