Kaiwaka Can: Leadership change, footbridges approved

Hello there Mangawhai Focus readers, we're Kaiwaka Can, and we're stoked to be here!

You may know us from projects such as the community garden, local pest control initiatives and the sensational Kaiwaka lights, and that's just a few.

We'd like to kick off with three cheers for Derek Christensen, stepping down after six years at the helm of Kaiwaka Can as chairman. Derek has done so much for the Kaiwaka community, some of which resulted in permanent speed limit reduction, pedestrian safety zones, and improved speed signage. Derek's unwavering dedication as chairman over these years has been instrumental in making Kaiwaka a safer place to live, work, visit and play.

Enjoy the peace and quiet Derek, you utterly deserve it.

Local David Wright has accepted the challenge to Chair, and his knowledge, skills, experience and connections will be highly valuable for our group and in turn the Kaiwaka community.

As a group it’s our mission this year to better link in with other local community groups, businesses and residents so we can all work together in our vision for a more connected Kaiwaka.

In latest news, on February 18 Council approved the procurement plan for the much anticipated Kaiwaka footbridges. Community engagement sessions on the bridges last year confirmed overwhelming local preference for both of the bridges being on the western side of town linking both sides via underpasses and through to McClean Park. Councillor Jonathan Larsen has ensured the procurement plan states that the bridges are ‘on the western side of State Highway One’.

The total allocated budget is $750,000. Council will be using a fixed price tender approach with a budget of $600,000 for the design and construction of the bridges and related footpaths. The first priority will be the two bridges, followed by the underpass of the northern road bridge to link to Gibbons Rd and Kaiwaka Four Square. The balance is comprised of $50,000 spent on investigation and concept design, with the remainder as contingency.

The scheduled programme is May 2021 Award contract, July 2021 Obtain all consents, August 2021 Commence construction, February 2022 Construction complete.

It's going to be a busy and exciting year for our hard-working group.

n If you would like to get involved and/or think you have some skills that might help us push a project forward, please get in touch at facebook.com/kaiwakacan/