Despite rain being forecast for the region today, farmers are being advised there won’t be much to help with the dry conditions.
WeatherWatch is only expecting between 5 and 20mm of rain over the next couple of days for Hawke’s Bay.
Head forecaster Philip Duncan said the region might get a “few spits of rain”, but there will be “nothing too significant”.
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The Tararua District Council is currently consulting on its draft Long Term Plan.
Recycling, community development, debt repayment and road financial reserves are the four main areas of the LTP.
The proposed rates increase for Year 1 is 9.82 per cent - the largest rate increase in the past decade.
Mayor Tracey Collis said Council is continuing to look at revenue streams and reduce reliance on rates.
She said in Year 1 of the LTP, Council has increased Fees & Charges significantly, and secured external funding for several key projects.
The LTP Consultation Document is available on Council’s website, and available at district libraries.
Consultation closes on May 12th.
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The Central Hawke’s Bay District Council has received a $20,000 grant from the Glass Packaging Forum to help with expanded recycling services in the district.
The grant is to help the council upgrade its glass storage bunkers following its LTP consultation, which proposes to expand kerbside recycling (including glass) to the townships of Takapau, Otane, Tikokino and Ongaonga from 1 July this year.
Council’s Group Manager for Community Infrastructure and Development Josh Lloyd says the volume of glass collected was already such that the old storage system needed upgrading, so the funding came at the right time.
He says glass must be sorted into its three base colours - clear, green and brown - before being recycled into new containers, and existing bunkers were too small causing contamination as colours accidentally mix.
The total cost of the project is $47,500.
The Glass Packaging Forum’s grants are funded by voluntary levies paid by its members.