Member Update Start of 2025

Hi LBRA Members and locals,

Time has flown by and I can’t believe we’re into February 2025 already! Hopefully everyone is enjoying the great summer weather of late. Lots to cover in this update for November, December and January, so let’s get stuck in!

Major Activities/Initiatives:

Predator Free NZ Funding: Traps/Bait Station Consent (and Weed Control)

Back in September we received the fantastic news that Restore Hibiscus and Bays and LBRA had secured funding through Predator Free NZ, and we’ve been planning and initiating actions over the last few months. You might have noticed some publicity on this in the Shorelines Dec/Jan edition.

We’ve been door to door knocking to gauge interest and collect consent forms for those people who would like to participate including receiving a PFNZ trap/bait station free of charge. These will start to be rolled out during February, and we’ll be providing a way for LBRA residents to advise trap catches/checks for upload to TrapNZ. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could reduce predators to the point where kiwi could grace the Long Bay Regional Park similar to those in Tawharanui Park? Check out this video on Facebook by our local resident Mark Scowen. 

Additionally we are also looking for residents who are keen to combat invasive weeds, especially those who border the regional park or reserve/bush areas, and so assistance and consent where suitable is also being requested for those. You can find out more on our website at https://longbay.nz. And see below on the Weed Bashers update!

If you would like to participate and haven’t been contacted, please reply to this email, or fill out our LBRA Pest Control Survey as we’ll be looking to place traps/bait stations in further selected/targeted residential properties in the near future!

Weed Bashers Update

A hardy group of environmentally focussed people formed the Weed Bashers following the success of the Imagining Te Oneroa ō Kahu (Long Bay) initiative and workshops. And our absolutely amazing combo of Tony Cunningham and Dick Downing have been literally knocking it out of the park, when it comes to invasive weeds/plants such as Woolly Nightshade and Moth Plant. If you are 110% committed to helping out our local and native plants and would like to volunteer time to put in the hard yards to combat the invaders, please email through your phone number to add to our WhatsApp group. Or if you have some undesirables on your property and would like some friendly advice/assistance please let us know.

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Photos: Dick – about to take down an undesirable. Tony – excited to find Lace Bugs helping the attack on Woolly Nightshade!

Imagine: A Restored and Regenerating Vaughans Stream Corridor!

Imagine how it would feel walking from the Long Bay Regional Park to the bottom of the hill on

Glenvar Ridge Road along a pristine healthy stream in restored and regenerating bush listening to

the birds and seeing plants you and your family planted?

This is the dream a small group of us are beginning to bring to life in the catchment that runs west of

Long Bay through to the northern end of Te Oneroa ō Kahu – the Long Bay beach.

We are shaping a programme of events and activities that will work in tandem with the planting

done by the developer to progressively:

  • Remove and manage the main pest plants and animals
  • Regenerate native bush
  • Improve the water quality in the stream
  • Bring to life the berms/rain gardens and the stormwater pond; and
  • Provide paths and spaces for people to interact with this place.

To do this we are in the early stages of planning the following:

  1. A Restore Hibiscus and Bays pest plant education gathering/event
  2. Working bees to clear weeds and tidy berms/rain gardens
  3. Pest animal monitoring and eradication

Watch out for updates on the proposed events.

We are also going to need some help, so if this is something you feel you contribute to please reply to this email.

LBRA Christmas Lights Competition

On December 14th we scoured Long Bay to find the winners of our Christmas Lights Competition 2024. Here are those that glowed!

  • Ultimate Christmas Glow – Best overall decorated house: 2 Headsail Drive. Prize: $50 Surf Club Long Bay voucher plus a 1.5 ltr Rosé Whispering Angels from Liquorland Long Bay
  • Themed Christmas Concept – Most creative decorations using a theme: 1 Luff Place. Prize: $50 Surf Club Long Bay Voucher plus a goodie bag from Unichem Pharmacy Long Bay
  • Techy Tinsel Award – Best use of technology: 49 Bounty Road. Prize: $ 50 November Eatery Voucher plus a goodie bag from Unichem Pharmacy Long Bay
  • Paw-sitively Festive Furry Friend – Most festive pet: Matt and Alice Corrin’s Pippin. Prize: $50 November Eatery Voucher

As we had some very generous sponsors this year, we even had 5 more prizes to hand out. The following homes each won a $20 voucher from Long Bay Fisheries:

  • 12 Bearing Parade
  • 5 Tawatawa Street
  • 125 Glenvar Ridge Road
  • 29 Kumukumu Road
  • 73 Glenvar Ridge Road

Thanks to all our sponsors! Long Bay Surf Club, Unichem Pharmacy Long Bay, Liquorland Long Bay, November Eatery and Long Bay Fisheries.

Vaughans Road Closure Update

In early December we received an update about the ongoing Auckland Transport plans for Vaughans Road. We’re currently reviewing those and working on providing a dedicated post soon. However, the essence is that a plan focussing on 5 areas of localised widening has been provided by AT, which looks for a lower budget of $2 million, with community consultation due around July 2025. The goal would be for the budget to be available July 2025 – 2026, dependent on consultant feedback etc. The road will be closed until construction is complete.

LBRA Board Activities:

  • Community Safety & Issues:
    • Piripiri Point Undesirable Vehicle Activities: The LBRA is communicating ongoing issues related to undesirable vehicle activities/burnouts and rubbish dumping on Piripiri Point Drive. This includes correspondence with residents and local authorities such as HBLB. We’ve scheduled a community meeting which is penciled in for March 6th at the Long Bay Chinese Association Community Hub to discuss the matter. This will be officially advised in due course once finalised. Unfortunately our LBRA Local Board Grant Application for funding of CCTV at the end of Piripiri Point Drive was not successful. CCTV has again been mooted given the escalation in activities, so we’re hopeful there will be further traction soon.
    • Crash Information: We received information from the Police regarding a crash on December 26th at Piripiri Point Drive which, indicatively, was related to speed. This further pushes the need for intervention related to Piripiri Point Drive.
    • Parking Issues: Provided feedback and information on a resident’s concerns regarding parking issues on Remuremu Street.
    • Te Oneroa Way road brickwork: We were very pleased to see the brickwork fixes completed, as per reported issue CAS-PC7H8-L4S6C8 at 1 Te Oneroa Way following escalation to Healthy Waters
  • Community Engagement & Events:
    • Christmas Twilight Market: The LBRA participated in the Long Bay Village Christmas Twilight Market on December 15th.
    • Community Clean Up Day: Held a Community Clean Up Day on December 14th. The next one is scheduled for March 15th, meet outside New World 9.30am.
    • Emergency Readiness Workshop: Publishing details for a workshop on tips and tricks for emergency readiness in apartments, in response to a request from Glenn Browne (Community Planning & Readiness Advisor).
  • Environmental Initiatives:
    • Weed/Pest Control: Continued work on weed and pest control initiatives with various community organisations and residents.
    • Green By Nature: Tagging on the pump station at 1 Te Oneroa Way and on the bridge has been addressed.
    • Predator Free NZ: PredatorFreeNZ Funding / Collaboration with RestoreHB is ongoing; Door knocking started on Headsail Drive from December 10th.
  • Partnerships & Collaboration:
    • Restore Hibiscus and Bays: Collaborating on PredatorFreeNZ funding and door-knocking efforts.
    • Hibiscus and Bays Local Board (HBLB): Ongoing communication with HBLB regarding various community matters, including roadworks, maintenance and Piripiri Point issues.
    • Neighbourhood Support North Shore (NSNS): Contact with Neighbourhood Support, with Kahlia McDougall as the new Community Advisor for Neighbourhood Support in the wider region.
    • Long Bay Village Market: Working with Long Bay Village Market, and coordination Bike Kaipatiki who attended on Nov 24th.
    • Long Bay Primary and College: Continued engagement with Long Bay Primary and College.
  • LBRA Governance & Administration:
    • Board Meetings: Regular board meetings held, with minutes recorded and actions followed up.
    • Sponsorship Packages: We’re reviewing sponsorship options. Please get in touch if your business would like to sponsor LBRA’s activities.

Upcoming Events:

  • Food Truck Collective in Long Bay – Thursday 13th February from 5pm
  • Long Bay Village Market on 23rd February
  • Piripiri Point Drive related Public Meeting – LBCA Community Hub on 6th March 7.15pm (to be confirmed)
  • LBRA Community Clean Up Day meet outside New World on 15th March 9.30am
  • Monthly LBRA Board meetings – please contact us to speak with us

Community Activities

There are community activities on the calendar and we’re looking at adding more into the mix! Currently we have:

  • Walking Group: Saturdays at 7.15am meet in front of Long Bay Surf Club
  • Football: Mondays at 6pm – meet at Ashley Turf, all skills/ages welcome
  • Badminton: in planning – contact us if you’d like to help out
  • Community Cleanups: quarterly, usually 2nd Saturday of the month Mar/Jun/Sep/Dec
  • Cooking Classes: we’re actively looking for volunteers – reach out if you’re keen.

Please let us know if there are any others and we can add them to our calendar, see our website home page for the calendar.

Update from Hibiscus and Bays Local Board

A number of recent happenings and Auckland Council “Have Your Says” that the local board have advocated for:

Workshop: Tips and Tricks for emergency readiness in apartments

Are you prepared for an emergency in your apartment? Auckland Emergency Management, in partnership with the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, is hosting a free workshop tailored for apartment residents in our area.

This practical session will cover:

✅ Local hazards and how they impact apartment living

✅ Building safety and preparedness

✅ The importance of knowing your neighbours

✅ Simple steps to boost your emergency readiness

Join the workshop to learn valuable tips and tricks to stay safe in your vertical neighbourhood. Spread the word and bring a friend!

Where: Heart of the Bays Community Centre, Sherwood Room, 2 Glen Road, Browns Bay

When: Tuesday February 18th, 6.30pm – 8pm

Register: Email aeminfo@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Update on Long Bay Village

It has been great to see action in the last few months in Long Bay Village, with November Eatery opening in November, Scrunchy Millers open for Summer season, another food offering is planned for the courtyard area, and some vibrant redecoration and improvements in the village. Exciting times – make sure you support your local businesses!

Changes to the LBRA Board

  • We’ve had to say thanks to Mark Faraj for his short stint on the board, who has unfortunately needed to step down.Thanks Mark and best wishes for the future!
  • We’re pleased to announce that Maeva Ord has joined the team – welcome Maeva.

If you like to volunteer to assist the board, please reach out via email longbayra@gmail.com.

Please Support LBRA!

Thanks to those people who have provided Donations! Please continue to support us by clicking the Donate button on our website. We appreciate your generosity! This covers operational and event costs. We accept payments via credit card and other methods. Please reply to this email if you would prefer to donate directly to our bank account. Please note that we currently don’t charge any membership or subscription fees, so all donations are greatly appreciated. We’re also seeking sponsors for LBRA. If you’re interested, please reach out or spread the word to businesses.

Regards,

Gareth

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