15 February 2011
An airborne geophysical survey of the Northland region is due to commence late February and run through until early April, weather dependent. Locals may have seen some recent publicity about it, and may also see some advertisements in the next few weeks, including this month's Rural Advocate.
The key details are that a plane, similar to a top-dresser, will fly at an altitude of 60 metres at line spacings of 200 metres on a northeast-southwest traverse from Cape Reinga to Te Hana. It has instruments in an attached 'stinger tail' that measure the earth's magnetic field. Whenever it reaches an urban area, it will climb to at least 300 metres to comply with Civil Aviation Authority regulations (CAA have been briefed on the survey).
For primary producers, there will no doubt be a short-term noise nuisance so we are trying to give as many of you as much warning as possible.
17 August 2010
As discussed at our meeting in December last year WDC will be undertaking a second air scouring run in the Ruakaka/OTP area shortly. A letter drop to all households will be undertaken next week with the work due to start in early September. Although water quality has been good since the problems last year this scouring operation will indicate how quickly the pipe deposits are forming and when we need to do the next lot of air scouring. If you have any questions please feel free to call me at the District Council.
