The removal of most of the female ginkgo trees in Jubilee Crescent begins this week, following consultation with residents during the past year. The trees, which have affected residents largely through the offensive odours they emit, will be felled by Alfa Contracts Ltd as part of an active management programme.

The Whakatāne District Council has received close to 400 submissions on its Proposed District Plan. Submissions closed on 13 September, with feedback being received from a wide range of organisations and individuals.

All submissions, including the Council’s own, have been made available on the Whakatāne District Council website.

Andrew Irving, the architect responsible for the multi-award winning design of Te Kōputu, the Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre, will give a free public talk on Thursday, 19 September.

This talk is part of the public programmes supporting the new Objects of Desire Exhibition in the Opus Gallery.

The talk will take place 5:30 pm Thursday, 19 September in the Little Orchard Activity Room at Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi. Everyone is welcome to attend.

New Zealand Airports Association asks that candidates for this year’s local body elections remember their local airport is vital for economic growth in their region.

Association Chief Executive Kevin Ward says, “Airports are important for local communities, connecting New Zealanders and local businesses to the rest of the country and to the world. They provide essential services to local businesses and industries, tourism, special events and the health sector. Airports are also a major lifeline for disaster recovery and emergency services.”

Whakatāne has had 1800 hours of sunshine through 31 August, putting it well ahead of all other contenders in the sunshine race.

An additional 170 hours of sunshine during August helped Whakatāne maintain its lead over New Plymouth, which has had 94 fewer hours of sun than Whakatāne this year.

The sunshine hour totals through 31 August 2013 are:

• Whakatāne: 1800
• New Plymouth: 1706
• Blenheim: 1605
• Lake Tekapo: 1591
• Nelson: 1568

The Whakatāne District Council’s Projects and Services Committee has recommended that Chief Executive Marty Grenfell be given the delegated authority to make a submission to its proposed District Plan seeking the introduction of a “deferred marine precinct” zoning for Council-owned land on Bunyan Road.

Recent media coverage of the moorings situation in the Eastern Bay of Plenty has prompted the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Whakatāne District Council to clarify the roles and responsibilities of both organisations and remind mooring-holders of their individual obligations.

The Whakatāne District Council’s Harbour Superintendent is responsible for day-to-day operational maintenance of the Whakatāne District Ports and Harbour facilities, including wharfs, jetties and boat ramps.

Samantha Duff from Murupara Area School has been named as the winner of the TrustPower Whakatāne District Youth Spirit Community Award.

The Award was presented at the TrustPower Whakatāne District Community Awards Tuesday, 27th August) at the Little Theatre in Whakatāne.

Run in conjunction with the TrustPower Whakatāne District Community Awards, the TrustPower Youth Community Award recognises secondary school students’ service to the school and the community. The Award is jointly run by TrustPower and the Whakatāne District Council.

A second rating surplus in successive years will help the Whakatāne District Council keep rates costs down in 2014/15. In a report to the Council’s Audit committee on Wednesday, Acting General Manager Finance Philip Jones described the surplus of close to $43,000 for the 2012/13 financial year as an “important achievement”.