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1585 days ago

Fire proofing Palmy - IF appropriate

Bruce from Takaro

- Sorry to post this at Christmas, but the constant fire news is waking me up to local family concerns far beyond shopping and nice dinners. This photo looked exactly like our Esplanade, 'was what triggered this...
- 'Just saw a hot, tired 18-years-service Aussie fire captain in uniform saying that the fires are "unprecedented", and that the govt should be preventing them in all the usual ways. Carbon reduction, different spending to protect environment, etc.
- The fires are gale-force-wind-driven, throwing burning embers up hundreds of metres in a high shower ahead, igniting the grass and vegetation and houses.
- I rang the PNCC civil defence person, Stuart someone I think, to ask bout Palmy's vulnerability. 'Wasn't called back.
- My questions are...
○ In view of many droughts I've experienced in my last 19 years here, how vulnerable is Palmy, the city where my home is, to being overrun by fires like the Aussies are getting? Note: We've even had small tornadoes in Manawatu, and generally the windstorms in the world are increasing because there's more energy in the atmosphere from global warming.
○ If there's significant chance of it (even small chance of such a dreadful damage) might the community agree to...
• Conserve water in our dam? On request by the authorities, we could water our lawns and shrubs etc. to keep them basically green. In a big, wind-blown fire we'd have emergency hose water and barrels of water to douse starting fires.
• Have public education (meeting, leaflet, online) so people learn about aluminium shielding vulnerable items (as some Aussies have successfully done to save their homes burning down), and sprinkers system options, evacuation options.

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More messages from your neighbours
4 days ago

Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

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Does the building consent process need to change?
  • 91.5% Yes
    91.5% Complete
  • 8.1% No
    8.1% Complete
  • 0.3% Other - I'll share below!
    0.3% Complete
1171 votes
20 hours ago

Lest we forget...

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

On this ANZAC Day, let's take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.

Tell us who are you honouring today. Whether it's a story from the battlefield or a memory of a family member who fought in the war, we'd love you to share your stories below.

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A
10 hours ago

Stolen Pot plants

Audrey from Milson

Last week on my return from a few days away a green 33cm shrub tub of petunias was missing from the front of my garage,
Today a 39cm terracotta tub of orange pansies and a 33cm shrub of pansies was mmissing from alongise my driveway in Fairs Road.
I have reported these losses to the police.
Should anyone notice that neighbours suddenly have pots or tubs of flowers, either call the police or ask them to return them. They know where they got them.