The unusually dry winter has forced the Whakatāne District Council to undertake sand-disking operations at the Whakatāne River bar, starting next week.

Disking will be undertaken at the peak of the outgoing tidal flow and aims to loosen the compacted sand between the “Narrows” at the river entrance and the river bar, about 50 metres offshore. The loose sand will be taken out to sea in the tidal current, to a point where a proportion of it will carried away by the west-east current along the coast.

The Whakatāne District Council is replacing its existing logo, as the first step in an organisational branding refresh.

The new logo was developed by Council’s in-house graphic designer, in consultation with staff and elected members. A number of concepts were presented through a series of focus groups, with the preferred option being adopted by the Council at its 31 July meeting.

The results of the Whakatāne District Council’s latest annual residents’ survey have shown a solid improvement in the community’s perceptions of most Council services and activities.

The survey involved telephone interviews with 300 residents, randomly selected on a pro-rata basis across the District’s five wards. Its outcomes are used in the Council’s Annual Report and indicate which services and activities are meeting or exceeding the community’s expectations and those where improvement is required.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force’s 40 Squadron will be flying into Whakatāne on Tuesday and Wednesday this week to carry out tactical training exercises at Whakatāne Airport.

Whakatāne District Council Manager Business Services, Aaron Milne, says the RNZAF exercise will involve several night-time landings and take-offs at the airfield, over both nights, with the squadron’s C-130 Hercules aircraft.

This year’s World Breastfeeding Week will see mothers across New Zealand attempting to break the record set last year of 1571 women breastfeeding simultaneously.

Locations are being set up across New Zealand for mothers and babies to come together and celebrate breastfeeding. 

Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service is supporting Big Latch On events throughout Bay of Plenty. Whakatāne mothers wanting to join the event can come along to Allandale School on Alexandra Ave at 9:30 am on Friday, 2nd August. 

The school holiday fun continues at Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi – Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre – next Wednesday 24 July, with musical duo Pacific Curls putting on an exciting and interactive performance for children of all ages to enjoy.

Pacific Curls will be performing several sessions, starting at 10 am in the Sheaff Family Gallery, to celebrate the culmination of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and Matariki events.

A major upgrading of Edgecumbe’s wastewater reticulation system is expected to be completed by the end of this month.

The $1.2 million upgrade will significantly lift sewerage pumping and piping capacity in the western sectors of the town and should bring an end to longstanding sewer overflow issues.

Expressions of interest are invited from suitable persons for consideration for appointment as the Commissioner and/or List Members of the Shared Eastern Bay of Plenty District Licensing Committee. Applications close 26 July 2013.

The Eastern Bay Shared District Licensing Committee will have responsibility for all local decisions on applications made under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, including:

Landslide risk assessment studies for the Whakatāne, Ōhope and Matatā escarpments will be considered by the Whakatāne District Council on Thursday.