Tag: Paul Pope

Otago Peninsula Volcano Walk

On By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community IncLeave a comment

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It dawned cool, crisp and clear in Portobello today with a solid frost on the windscreen of the car to remind us that winter still bites. Portobello School have been studying volcanoes and were taking the short climb to the top of Harbour Cone (Hereweka). The cone is a remnant of the volcano that exploded 10-13 million years ago and created the Otago Harbour. After a short steep climb the spectacular views across the Peninsula and harbour are worth the effort, and the whole area was bathed in bright sunshine. Enjoy the pictures by clicking on them for the viewer.

Papanui Inlet and Victory Beach – Harbour Cone
Hooper’s Inlet, Allans Beach and Mt Charles – Harbour Cone

Main Street Landscaping Project

On By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community IncLeave a comment

Portobello Main Street LandscapingMembers of Portobello Community Incorporated have worked steadily over the last few weekends to get the planting and edging of the main street plot completed, and what a difference!  With a donation from the Dunedin Amenities Society for the plants from Ribbonwood Nurseries, a good supply of mulch from John Clearwater Contracting and using the old Portobello Jetty timber for edging, this little project has really tidied up an unused area of the main street of the township. Thanks to all of the team from Portobello Community Inc. especially Paul, Peter, Richard, Wayne and Geoff Sheridan for the use of the truck to cart all of the timber. Well done, let’s do more! Click on pictures below to see in viewer.

View from the Creek
Main street landscaping
Overview from bus shelter

Changes to Hooper’s Inlet Channel

On By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community IncLeave a comment

A noticeable increase in width of the channel

The opening of the Hooper’s Inlet channel by the Dunedin City Council on the 6th of June saw a marked change in the water levels within the inlet. Since the opening work was undertaken the Otago Peninsula has been in the grips of a keen storm front that has swept across from the South Island into the central North Island. Accompanying the storm were high seas and tides and it was worth the chilly walk to see how the channel opening had coped since the original opening.

There has been a marked increase in the width of the channel as the eastern edge has eaten into the existing dunes. This has increased the height of the channel upwards of 3-5 metres in places. Typically of storm periods there was significant debris on the beach which had also been pushed into the inlet. Noticeable too has been the increase in water around the old channel position across the beach, though it was difficult to see whether it had reopened back into the sea. There is still extensive water movement in and out of the channel and visitors should be cautious while visiting the area. Certainly the recent tidal and wind conditions along with the water movement have altered the area and it will be interesting to see how the channel changes once the weather calms down into spring and summer. The pictures taken here were at high tide on Sunday the 23rd July. Click on pictures to view in gallery.

Compare the pictures from the initial opening.

High winds blow loose sand across the beach
The easterly movement into the existing dunes
View from the inlet showing the easterly movement
A large log washed up on the inlet edge
Debris field on the inlet side of the dunes
High tide and strong seas

Opening of Hakuiao at Otakou

On By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community Inc1 Comment

SONY DSCThe opening of the new wharekai building, Hakuiao at Otakou Marae was a milestone day for Te Runaka O Otakou. The blessing and opening of Hakuiao fell on the 173rd anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi at Otakou, June 13, 1840. The runaka hosted a significant number of people from a wide range of organisations and regions at the powhiri. The generosity of the hosts was also evident in the sumptuous kai served  at the table with tuaki (cockles), titi (muttonbird), koura (crayfish) and many other tempting dishes for the large group of manuhiri. With its excellent kitchen, dining and sleeping areas, Hakuiao its something that Te Runaka O Otakou and all Kai Tahu can be  justifiably proud. A great achievement, that will serve its people well for many years to come. Kiaora.

Portobello school children look on at the marae
Sumptuous kai in the new Hakuiao dining room

Main Street Landscaping Project

On By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community IncLeave a comment

Main street landscaping project - Portobello

Members of Portobello Community Incorporated began its main street landscaping project on Sunday 9th of July. The landscaping project is being carried out beside the Portobello Hotel and the planting at Portobello Creek. The landscaping will utilise low growing native plants and will be edged with some of the timbers from the old Portobello Jetty.

On Sunday the group took time to clean out the litter and weeds as well as digging and levelling the area in preparation for the edging and planting. This area has been in need of tidying up so that it links the Portobello Creek planting undertaken by Paul Pope of Spiralis Ltd, Save the Otago Peninsula volunteers and the Portobello Bowling Club. The new edging should be installed over the next 2-3 weeks and will be a welcome addition to the look of our main street. Looking forward to seeing this project completed. Click on the images below to view.

 

Cleaning up our Place

On By Portobello EditorIn Dunedin, New Zealand, Otago, Otago Peninsula, Peninsula, Portobello, Portobello Community IncLeave a comment

SONY DSCGreeted by a glorious Mother’s Day morning members of Portobello Community Incorporated gave up their breakfast in bed or preparing it for mum, cleaning up litter around the township and outer areas. With a busy day in Portobello with the Peninsula Challenge event being held this was an opportunity to make our township shine a little brighter in the autumn sun. Among the bottles, cigarette packets and fast food wrappers four traffic cones were retrieved from the  harbour on Harrington Point Road. Nature has an incredible ability to adapt and the cones were encrusted with chitons, tube worms  and other sea life, many of which were removed and returned to the shoreline. With support from Keep Dunedin Beautiful who supplied bags and gloves the morning was a positive step to keep our area clean and tidy. It was also great to receive encouragement and words of thanks from cyclists and walkers passing by who praised our efforts.