The Lions Op shop closed yesterday (Thursday 20th June) after being the latest organisation forced out of the CBD by a rent rise - a rise they’ve described as being “very high”. This long time community institution which the Lions Club uses to fund community grants, was unable to find another location in time and will spend the next few days removing the goods from the shop.
They say they’ll continue selling second hand items from their shed near the backpackers and also at the monthly Creative Market. They hope to be able to continue to give financial support to community initiatives such as the Whaingaroa Talent Factory - the youth music event that this week received $1800 in funding for their 2024 event.
The Mayor, local councilors and community board chair had a tour of the Raglan wastewater plant yesterday. As a source of controversy for a long time Watercare, who oversee our 3-waters, were keen to explain how the system works and also to show the early stages of the work to build a new Membrane Bioreactor wastewater treatment plant.
The plant is expected to be completed by June 2025 and will have capacity for twice the current population of Raglan to send their business its way. Once it’s up and running the new plant will treat the waste water to a standard just short of potable water. A Watercare manager said that all it would need is chlorination to be OK for human consumption but it’s unlikely anyone local is going to want that when our water currently comes from a pristine spring at the foot of Mt Karioi.
Two Raglan bands will be playing in the Waikato Rockquest finals this Saturday night at the Clarence Street Theatre. Three members of Wavy State of Mind have already exceeded their performance from last year by making it to the Regional Finals while Abstract Fish Lungs, who came second in last year’s final, will be looking to go one better and take out the top prize. If you can’t make it to the Rockquest finals you’ll be able to see them at the Yot Club next weekend as support for Lost Tribe Aotearoa.
In local sport the Whaingaroa Whai Wahine are playing away but the men's football and league teams are at home this weekend.
The league team will be playing The HCT Tigers at 1pm on Saturday. The Tigers are just a couple of points behind the Whai on the points table so we’re expecting a close match. On Sunday the Roosters Football team are playing a round of the Scottish cup. They’re playing QTM United who are from the 2nd division of the main league. The Roosters need a big win in both this and the next game to ensure a good spot in the round of 16 - the knockout phase of the cup.
The Whaingaroa Whai Wahine will be playing Taniwharau at 2:30pm in Te Awamutu on Sunday for their third match of the season.