A baby fur seal also known as a Kekeno made it's way onto this flood wall in town, exciting local residents. Photos/Michael and Kelly Ross
Fur seal swims into town
It's not every day you open the front door to your house to see a fur seal staring at you.
But that's exactly what happened to one Dargaville family this week.
River Rd resident Michael Ross said his wife Kelly first noticed it sitting across the road from their house on Wednesday morning.
"She came in to the room all excited, saying there's a baby seal on the flood wall.
"It's been there since early morning, happy as.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) said as long as it's healthy just leave it be. Cool to wake up to a beautiful morning and a cute Lil critter sunning itself."
That night Mr Ross said the seal had waddled over to a car sniffing tyres, "like a dog," then it jumped back on to the flood wall and then into the river.
"It was last seen playing in the water heading south."
Mr Ross said last week a car had plunged into the river.
"Can't wait to see what next week brings".
DOC spokeswoman Leigh Anne-Wiig says this time of year they often turn up in unusual places.
"Once near extinction due to widespread hunting, New Zealand fur seals are now experiencing a population comeback and recolonising much of their former range. This means we'll be seeing more of them playing along our rocky shorelines throughout mainland New Zealand, the Chatham Islands and the subantarctic islands."
Safety guidelines from DOC when watching seals:
•Stay at least 20m away
•Don't disturb seals by making loud noises or throwing things
•Keep dogs and children away
•Don't feed the seals
•Never attempt to touch a seal.
Car plunges into the Wairoa
It was a lucky escape for the occupant of a car which ended up in the Northern Wairoa River recently but not so for the vehicle which looked like some sort of scary sea monster once it was retrieved.
Dargaville Fire Brigade deputy chief fire officer Michael Ross said the accident occurred around 6pm last Monday not far from his home.
"One occupant, got out himself, fire, police and ambulance all attended. Sounded like thunder and the house shook. Lucky the tide was out."
The accident occurred near the cul de sac end of River Rd.
"It's usually a quiet street, I've also had mini horses on our front lawn and a cow which swam into the river but it managed to swim to other side."
Police are investigating.
New street lights cause safety concerns
Lights by their very name are supposed to produce light and, depending on the situation, enough of it, but not so according to some Kaipara residents who say new LED energy efficient street lights are not lighting up their streets like they should.
The Kaipara District Council started replacing the majority of street lights in the district with the energy efficient bulbs at a cost of $1.2million, (comprised of shared funding with the government) earlier this year.
However, some residents claim the new lights just aren't as bright and this has ignited concerns around safety and security. And now Northland MP Matt King is getting involved.
King said a local resident contacted him concerned they could no longer read number plates or distinguish vehicle colour when trying to provide a description of a vehicle to police after they had witnessed it being driven dangerously in their street.
"Prior to the fitting of these new lights apparently it was not a problem, for this person."
King said he was asked to look into the matter because a complaint they claim was sent to council never got responded to.
"We have contacted council which plans to bring a specialist vehicle with monitoring and measuring equipment to the area to assess the overall performance of the lighting and to see if the complaint is valid.
"I have not been to the street myself but I am told the intensity of the lighting can be adjusted and apparently they can be more directional so less light spills into properties and more out on to the street."
It has also been reported that the Pahi Reserve Society, which administers the Pahi Beach Holiday Park, has asked that the issue be dealt with, as "a matter of urgency".
We asked members of the Paparoa facebook page what they thought.
Dyan Louise Taylor said, "they are terrible, Pahi is dark enough as it is now, worse with these lights ... at least before the glow spread out a bit …"
Gaewyn Dawn Pook said, "I like them! I only visit my family there but I think it's a great change."
Similar concerns were raised by residents living in Palmerston North after LED lights were installed in early February 2017.
Ashley Ellmers posted to facebook saying, "I don't like them, makes the streets to my place and my street darker ... walking or driving."
Daniel OldAcc said, "… they don't light up as much of the street and all night I'd like the street to be bright so I can clearly see any animals or pedestrians."
A council spokesperson said all the residential streets in Kaipara (excluding the State Highways) are done.
We've received three complaints directly about the lights, (including letters to the editor).
When asked what remedies are available, the spokesperson said; "There are standards defined by NZTA, areas found not to be standard will have to be remedied this could include …
"KDC uses the NZ Transport Agency and Austroads Standards to determine the design specification and requirements. Should there be any issues with the perceived performance level issues, KDC will investigate these and respond accordingly if needed "
Whangarei is currently having new LED lights installed.
Council backtracks on rates
Kaipara District Council has adopted its Long Term Plan and has back-tracked on the level of rate rises in the district.
The average rates increase for the 2018/2019 year across the district is 4.97 per cent, down from the consulted on 5.45 per cent.
Kaipara Mayor Dr Jason Smith says the recently adopted Long Term Plan is an example of "courageous, collaborative and cautious decision making".
"We'd like to thank all of the people and groups who made submissions and the people who took time out of their days to join us at the hearings.
"The deliberation process has been thorough and there has been a lot of debate around the table as we carefully considered every submission received. We've been bold where we reasonably can be, we're seeking better outcomes for the community and we're living sensibly within our means" he said.
Actual cost increases will differ between properties and communities.
Key projects to come out of the Long Term Plan 2018/2028 that was adopted at the June 26 council meeting include:
• Allocation of funding for a comprehensive review of the District Plan, with growth zoning aspects being the first priority.
• Delivering on agreed programmes of work – Mangawhai Community Plan, Kaiwaka Improvement Plan and Dargaville Placemaking projects.
• Transferred $200,000 over the first three years from low cost, low risk work to fund walking and cycling strategy projects and new footpath programmes.
• There are also a number of investigation projects to look at improved digital capabilities for communities, facilitating business development, increased support for the Kaipara tourism sector, and a digital community hub for Dargaville.
The full agenda report and 2018-2028 Long Term Plan can be found on council's website www.kaipara.govt.nz
■ Email Rose — if you have news that you would like to share with Northern Advocate readers. Rose.stirling@gmail.com .
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