• Howick and Botany Times
Remembering loved ones
MANUKAU Memorial Gardens is inviting people to take time out during the Christmas rush to remember and reflect on those loved ones who won’t be with them during the festive season.
A remembrance day is held at the gardens on Sunday, with the chapel open from 9.30am-5pm.
It’s the third year that a remembrance day has been held at the gardens.
Gardens manager Noelene Mudgway says: “To meet the diverse needs of the community, there will be three extra services dedicated to children, the Indian community and the victims of the recent Tongan and Samoan tsunami.”
Christmas trees will be set up in the chapel foyer for visitors to place an angel or star accompanied by a personal message to their loved ones. A gold-coin donation will be accepted on behalf of Heart Children NZ.
Services on Sunday at the gardens at 357 Puhinui Road, Puhinui are 10.30am – special children’s services, noon – Indian service, 1.30pm – celebrant Helen Rutledge, 2.30pm – Rev Bob McKay, 3.30pm – dedicated to tsunami victims.
Drugs arrest after bust
POLICE officers armed themselves to execute a drugs warrant because their target has a violent history.
They found cannabis “bagged and ready to go” and traces of methamphetamine along with utensils, such as P and dope pipes when they busted the property in Pakuranga Road on November 27 at 6am. They arrested a 48-year-old man on drug charges.
Sergeant Tony Curry, of Howick police’s tactical crime unit, says the officers were armed because “we knew this guy has a violent history”.
“He was dealing methamphetamine and cannabis from the house, and is linked to a lot of small-time thieves who commit burglary regularly. Drugs and the selling of drugs are linked to burglary so if we can reduce one, it’ll have a flow-on affect to the other.”
Constable Ben Thornton co-headed the case. “It was good work by Ben, another one [drug operation] down,” says Mr Curry.
Meeting to discuss safety
MANUKAU City Council is working in collaboration with police and people in Botany and Flat Bush for a community safety meeting on December 9 at 7.30pm.
The Botany/Flat Bush Residents Association and Combined Neighbourhood Support will join public service advisers at Columbus Coffee, Bishop Dunn Place, Botany South, to talk about safety initiatives and local issues.
Residents are encouraged to voice their safety concerns, and to work collaboratively with the police and the council to consider appropriate solutions.
There will be presentations by Dick Quax, portfolio leader for safe communities and local police. They will be followed by a general discussion on safety issues. Light refreshments will be provided.
Queen’s Badge for boys
DOING what boys love best has earned three teenagers a special award from New Zealand’s Governor General.
Ben Austin, Hayden Starrenburg, and James McArthur, of 1st Howick Boys’ Brigade, each received a Queen’s Badge award from Sir Anand Satyanand at a ceremony in Wellington.
The award, which is the highest honour in the Boys’ Brigade, requires members to complete several years of community work, and classes including camping, sailing, physical and Christian education.
“The Queen’s Badge is the highest award that can be attained through the Boys’ Brigade,” says Mike Austin, an officer in the organisation. “It represents a number of years of dedication and commitment.”
Fire investigation closed
A FIRE which gutted a rental property is no longer under investigation by police.
The blaze at around 12.20am on September 26 destroyed the belongings of the family living at the house on Wellington Street, Howick.
At the time, Howick Fire Station officer Dave Hatton told the Times the fire was started by a female occupant who was cooking on a portable gas stove. Police also attended and have closed the investigation.
Rail goods depot almost complete
CONSTRUCTION of the rail exchange at Ports of Auckland’s Wiri Inland Port in Manukau is a step closer to completion.
Two of three rail siding tracks that will connect the inland port to the Waitemata seaport are in place, and work is advanced on the concrete hardstand.
The Ports of Auckland’s managing director, Jens Madsen, says that the project is on schedule for completion in January.
“This is about bringing the seaport right to the doorstep of businesses in South Auckland,” says Mr Madsen.
“Exporters and importers will be able to drop off and pick up their containers without having to negotiate Auckland’s busy motorways.”
Containers will move to and from the seaport by rail, saving as many as 100,000 central city truck trips each year when the service is fully operational.
“By using the Wiri Inland Port as a storage centre and staging post, we will also free up room and create efficiencies at the Waitemata seaport,” says Mr Madsen.
“A lot of our customers are based within 8km of the inland port, and by using the rail link to the seaport, they will reduce the carbon emissions of transporting their containers by up to 25 per cent.”
Brian Perry Civil and KiwiRail are working on the project, including the construction of the three rail sidings, involving about 2000m of extra rail track.
Each of the three sidings is capable of taking 22 wagons and will enable two trains to be worked simultaneously, with the third track available for repositioning locomotives.
Electric trains boost
AUCKLAND Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) has welcomed a $500 million loan from the Government to pay for electric trains.
“Electric trains are the next stage in the provision of a modern rail network for Aucklanders,” says ARTA chief executive Fergus Gammie.
“The Government’s announcement will enable KiwiRail, with ARTA, to move forward.
“We continue to appreciate its support for the ever-increasing numbers of Aucklanders who choose to use rail.”
Mr Gammie expects electric trains to be running in 2013.
Manukau Mayor Len Brown also welcomes the $500m loan.
He says: “The Government’s support for this vital infrastructure is the news we’ve been waiting for. I do, however, want to understand if there will be any implications for fares in the longer term, when this is a loan rather than direct funding.
“Along with recent developments like double-tracking the western line, the overall electrification project, the Manukau rail link and Newmarket station, we’re seeing progress in getting better transport options.”
Manukau’s transport portfolio leader, David Collings, adds: “Electric trains make it possible to get a greater frequency of services at peak times. It’ll also mean we can increase capacity.”
