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The HDC gave us bike stands by the footbridge in June 2022. They’ve been well-used over the summer. However, the Roading Manager at the time promised road markings to make it clear to cars where not to park by the bike stands, and also further stands on Reay Mackay Grove and Manga Pirau Street. Time has gone by, so I recently followed up, and received this response from the HDC Enquiries desk: -
HDC have sought expressions of interest for a new beach access
Update: after some reflection I suspect the expressions of interest were to hire someone to run consultation meetings. Horowhenua District Council are having an ordinary Meeting on 01 February 2023. Interesting to note these two report items in the agenda at Minutes & Agendas - Horowhenua District Council (emphasis mine): Page 166: “Council Actions Monitoring Report 2023 as at 25 January 2023 — ”Reference: 21/502 Resolution/Action: That the Chief Executive provide a full report on all options in respect of vehicular beach access at Waikawa Beach. -
Strathnaver Drive street sign replaced
A recent visitor drew my attention to the broken street sign at the intersection of Sarah Street and Strathnaver Drive. I reported it to Horowhenua District Council and the sign has now been replaced. Unfortunately a rather large tree on the berm obscures the sign until you’re on top of it… -
Learn about the Ō2NL Expressway
On Saturday 28 January 2023, Waka Kotahi are hosting presentations from technical specialists about the upcoming Ōtaki to North of Levin Expressway discussing: The RMA consents process Design of the proposed road, including local road connections Landscape and planting design Effects of Ō2NL and how these will be managed Speaker presentations run from 11.30am - 12.30 pm, or drop-in anytime from 11am to 2pm. The team will be available before and after, to answer any questions you may have. -
Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway opens 23 December 2022
Waka Kotahi have finally said: The Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway will be fully open to traffic on Friday this week, 23 December [2022]! It’ll help alleviate holiday queues and delays on SH1. Of course, now northbound traffic will bunch up north of Ōtaki, but with any luck lots of people will filter off at Ōtaki so it won’t be as heavy as previously. They go on to say: -
Traffic jams, speed limits and a new Expressway
The summer holidays are just about upon us and this year it’s all about the roads. Traffic jams as usual? Waka Kotahi have produced their usual traffic forecast for the peak Christmas period — visit Summer holidays 2022: The times shown are predictions based on previous years’ travel patterns at the busiest times, and are subject to change based on weather and other factors. When we look at traffic through Ōhau and between Pekapeka and Ōtaki we can see that broadly speaking, if you want to enjoy a free-flowing drive between Thursday 22 December and Sunday 08 January then try to pass through those areas before 8 or 9 in the morning or after about 5 pm. -
Proposed safety improvements on SH1 between Ōtaki and Levin
Median barriers, painted wide centrelines, and side barriers are to be installed between Ōtaki and Levin in the interests of road safety. Whatever the timeline, this is bound to lead to delays in travel as work is done. According to the Waka Kotahi Ōtaki to north of Levin project update, October 2022, they are currently working out a timeline with a contractor for the construction of proposed safety improvements on SH1 between Ōtaki and Levin. -
SH1 Ōtaki to Levin safety improvements out for tender
From the Ōtaki to north of Levin project update – August 2022: Following confirmation of funding, the tender process is currently underway for construction of the safety improvements on SH1 between Ōtaki and Levin. This includes wide centrelines, side and median barriers and turnaround areas between Ōtaki and Ohau. We expect construction work to begin later this year and will keep the community and local residents informed more details are confirmed. -
Bike stand by footbridge complete
At the end of May 2022 the final work was done on the bike stand by the footbridge. Carolyn Copeland, Roading Projects Team Leader says: There is a wheel stop behind the racks, to prevent cars driving into the back of them Nice to see this support for 10 bikes where previously there was nothing for cyclists. As far as I know there will be another bike stand by the toilet block once work there is complete (scheduled for mid-year). -
No funding for a fleet of hybrid electric trains
The Budget, delivered Thursday 19 May 2022, did not provide funding for a fleet of electric trains for the lower North Island. As Budget absence of new trains surprises and disappoints regional councils says: The Budget’s failure to contribute funding for a fleet of hybrid electric trains in the lower North Island has surprised and disappointed Greater Wellington and Horizons regional councils. The trains, which are battery powered on non-electric track, were proposed by the councils in a business case paid for by Waka Kotahi. -
80 Kph Ōtaki to Levin? Speed review
The State Highway 1 Ōtaki to Levin speed review consultation is open. Submissions close on 15 June 2022. See Ōtaki to Levin speed review | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for full details. The proposals suggest a speed limit of 80 Kph all the way from approximately Forest Lakes to the edge of Levin. The article also talks about recently completed and planned safety improvements. The article says: In the past 5 years (2017–2021) there have been 15 people have died in crashes on this stretch of road, and a further 44 people who’ve suffered serious injuries. -
Ōtaki to north of Levin info sessions
From the Waka Kotahi newsletter, April 2022: During May, we’ll be holding a number of drop-in sessions to share more information about the new highway and what is next for the project. … we’ve been working with landowners, community groups, key stakeholders and Councils to continue the technical investigations to identify the preferred alignment of the new highway. From this mahi we have developed preliminary concept designs for the new highway … We’d like to hear feedback from you… Feedback will be open until Thursday 26 May, 2022. -
Public Transport for the next 10 years
As we know, Waikawa Beach is not served at all by public transport. At the very least, you have to get yourself to Ōtaki or Levin to be able to even think about taking a bus or train. Yet Waikawa Beach has been growing over the last few years, as has the fact that we all need to do our part to reduce factors that contribute to climate change. Sharing transport and reducing travel are two relevant measures. -
Transmission Gully driving tips
It’s been so long, waiting for the new Expressway to open, but finally, as of 31 March 2022, it’s open to the public. Update 31 March 2022: Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency say: The new motorway has been gifted the name Te Ara Nui o Te Rangihaeata (the great path of Te Rangihaeata) by Ngāti Toa. It references the journey taken by Ngāti Toa Chief Te Rangihaeata after the final stand-off between Te Rangihaeata and Crown forces at Battle Hill, before Te Rangihaeata retreated to Poroutawhao in the Horowhenua. -
Opinions on public transport?
Do you have opinions on public transport options in Horowhenua? Sam Ferguson, Elected Councillor, Horowhenua Horizons Regional Council, sam.ferguson@horizons.govt.nz, 027 827 7037, wants to better understand what the public transport needs of our community are and the impact of having limited transport options. To that end he’s running a personal survey. If you’re interested, fill in the survey and send the information to Sam. Public Transport in the Horowhenua (40 KB PDF) -
Manakau to Levin road update, March 2022
According to the latest Waka Kotahi newsletter: SH1 South of Levin Chip sealing work for the SH1 safety improvements at Kuku is now complete. Thank you for your patience during this construction period which has been delayed by weather, Covid–19 and the holiday shutdown. Contractors will be back on-site on 27 March to install safe-hit posts (flexible marker posts) and rumble strips (audible tactile profiles). This work will be undertaken over three nights. -
Levin parking meters upgraded
If you use the parking meters when you visit Levin, there are a few changes to know about, as outlined in Parking Meter Upgrade. Horowhenua District Council write (in part): In December 2021 we upgraded our parking meters in Levin and moved away from a Pay by Space (PBS) system to a Pay by Plate (PBP) system. Pay by Plate (PBP) is a ticketless system that uses your vehicle licence plate number to record your parking time and payment. -
Heritage Aircraft in our skies
4 heritage planes in flight. Photo: Air Force Heritage Flight of New Zealand. Photo credit. Keep your eyes peeled on 01 April 2022. It may take more than an hour to drive from Waikawa Beach to Ohakea, but the Air Force Base is actually only 60 Km by direct flight (a distance a T–6C Texan II could cover in ~6 minutes). That may be one reason why we have so many military aircraft passing over. -
18 March 2022 crash closes road at Manakau
Ugh: SH1 is closed at Manakau due to a Serious Crash: 6pm Traffic Update Friday 18th March [2022] Very serious crash involving a petrol tanker and multiple vehicles at Manakau and the road is closed til further notice. there is a multiple car crash blocking the road at Manakau just between South Manakau and Gleeson Rds on the bend. Road is closed til further notice. Detour via South Manakau Rd and Manakau Village. -
Maybe Transmission Gully is opening
From: RNZ News: Transmission Gully to open with next two weeks [by end March 2022] The Transport Agency has told Transmission Gully’s contractor it must open the Wellington highway within the next two weeks. … The $1.25 billion dollar project is almost two years past its original due date. -
Transmission Gully might actually open soon
Although the newsletter for 04 March 2022 isn’t online yet, it does seem that Transmission Gully might actually open before too long. Per the newsletter: Waka Kotahi has agreed to defer 19 outstanding quality assurance tests that were originally required under the contract to be completed prior to the road opening, leaving a total of 81 tests required. Waka Kotahi has also agreed to reduce the requirements for a further 30 assurance tests. -
Road Crash stats, February 2022
Cars stopped across an intersection. Traffic jam at the intersection, SH1 and Waikawa Beach Road, 05 February 2018. Each year for the last few years I make an Official Information Request to Waka Kotahi: My basic query is: Regarding the stretch of SH1 between the intersection with Mill Road in Ōtaki and the intersection with Hokio Beach Road in Levin, for the calendar year [year], I would like to know: How many vehicle accidents were there which closed or led to delays on SH1? -
Bike stands for Waikawa Beach
Last year I contacted Horowhenua District Council and asked if we could have a bike stand at Waikawa Beach by the footbridge. The request was sparked by two things: one day I saw a heap of bikes leaning against the rail by the footbridge. Only one was locked. I know from personal experience that it’s not very easy to lock a bike to the broad rails on that fence. -
SH1 safety improvements; O2NL report
Screenshot: Yellow line on map shows shared path. On 17 February 2022 I Zoomed into a 90 minute meeting about the O2NL Expressway and safety improvements on SH1 between Ōtaki and Levin. There were several particularly interesting pieces of information. SH1 safety improvements Some of the following NZTA plans may be subject to a road safety audit or further consultation. extend the roadside barrier from Waikawa Beach Road to the dairy and possibly add a proper footpath behind the barrier. -
Bike stands at footbridge
More and more people are out on bikes enjoying Waikawa Beach these days, but back in April a bike was stolen from the footbridge. There's not really any good place to leave or lock a bike while enjoying the river and other features of our area. See Bright green mountain bike missing from footbridge, Easter 2021.
It's hard to lock bikes to these wooden rails, or even to leave them carefully 'parked'. In this photo, only one bike was actually locked. After bike stands were requested, Carolyn Copeland, Horowhenua District Council Roading Projects Team Leader, emailed this info: