3 May 2023

Around the motu: Diane McCarthy in Whakatane

From Nine To Noon, 10:45 am on 3 May 2023
Whakatāne District Council building

Photo: Supplied / LDR

In a bid to make the most of Whakatāne's high sunshine hours, the Whakatāne District Council is considering investing almost $16 million on solar energy generation discussing the possibility of establishing a 7.2-megawatt solar farm at Whakatāne Airport and installing solar panels on the rooftops of eight council-owned buildings.

Meanwhile Diane talks to Kathryn about Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki townships facing future inundation and flooding, while Kawerau is looking at increased fire risk according to a climate change risk assessment commissioned by Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The Ōpōtiki district will find out next week how its council plans to meet a 15 percent increase in costs in its annual plan. And Ōhope the bronze kiwi has disappeared from his perch on the Whakatane riverfront  - only his foot has been left behind.