The busy Albert Town Community Association (ATCA) has lots of projects on the go.

It is currently working with the Upper Clutha Wilding Trees Group to clear noxious trees and weeds near the Albert Town Lagoon and making progress on a long sought-after bus shelter for the 40-or-so high school students who wait on Allison Avenue daily for their bus.

“In the future, the bus shelter will also service a public bus route,” ATCA chair Heather Thorne told the Wānaka App. “This project will be our main one for the year.”

Among its other projects are a submission to the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to help ensure a proposed upgrade for the Albert Town Bridge doesn’t slip down the agency’s list of priorities; another historic plaque for the township (this one for the ferryman’s cottage on Arklow Street); and planning for its annual Party in the Park community day.

Read more: Two lane upgrade possible for Albert Town Bridge.

“We’re really busy,” Heather said.

There is one issue that is taking up far more of Heather’s time than she would like, which is dealing with dog poo on the Hikuwai Link Track, which connects Gunn Road, Hikuwai and the Clutha/Mata-Au River.

The Hikuwai loop track. PHOTO: Supplied

Last weekend she and her husband picked up ten three-litre buckets full of dog poo from the track, which Heather said is widely used by walkers, people with prams, and cyclists.

“It’s just gross,” she said. “We want to get the message out that that’s not acceptable.”

Heather said she was aware that it is an issue in other areas in Wānaka, but said the Hikuwai Track was “particularly bad”.

The track, which begins above the children’s bike park on Gunn Road, has a bin for dog poo at the entrance, and Heather is asking dog owners to be considerate of other users and use the bin.

Heather said the verge outside the commercial area in Alison Avenue is also set to be tidied up and gravelled. 

The Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board has agreed to put ‘no parking’ lines on the Alison Avenue entranceway to Albert Town to eliminate illegal parking on the roadside and verges. 

Heather said residents of Hebbard Court have had difficulty safely exiting their street because of limited vision caused by vehicles parked on the verges

PHOTO: Supplied