Property Team Member Changes

It is with sadness that we have said goodbye to Jodie Chatfield from the Administration Team. Jodie ran all of our Property Financials. Cheree has now taken over this role until we can find someone to replace Jodie.

In CNI/Mid North Island we have had Mark Young start in the role of Property Manager Central. Mark comes with a wealth of experience in the building industry, being firstly a qualified carpenter and then in a Project Management role as well as many other property construction related roles in-between. Mark is based out of the Hamilton Office but will be on the road visiting centres and managing projects most of the time. 

Te Kuiti Playcentre gets new playground

After devastating floods in late 2022, and again in early 2023, which ran through the playground at TeKuiti Playcentre, the centre has been without a playground. The bark soft fall was washed away completely, and the playground was left contaminated by the flood waters.

Thanks to the mahi of Te Kuiti’s coordinator, Leigh Henderson and local contractor Aaron Bevedge, the centre now has a brand-new playground surface which should withstand any future flooding.

New drainage has been put in, swings relocated, and the site has been landscaped.

The final touch has been the laying of a poured rubber surfacing by Burgees Matting from Whanganui.

Nga mihi nui to Leigh Henderson for her efforts with fundraising and coordinating with contractors to get this job done.

What to Watch Out For

As most of you know, Playsafe are carrying out two yearly playground inspections on all playgrounds across the country. One of the big things that has come up is the lack of loose softfall. This relates to Centres that have bark, woodchips, pebble softfall. Loose softfall needs to be 300mm deep. It should be topped up every year and fully replaced, including scraping out the composted soil underneath every 9 years. The recommendation is to top up or install to 350mm deep so that there is allowance for settling. 

A great way to check your softfall depth is to mark up a knitting needle with 100, 200, 300mm from the tip. Just be careful when pushing it in that it isn’t going into dirt or compacted soil beneath the softfall. See below image which shows incorrect soft fall situations.

Please make sure you are checking the depth of your softfall regularly. First day of term or if you do holiday working bees is a great time to do this.

If you need assistance with topping up or replacing your softfall please contact [email protected] or 03 260 7787.

Tips and Tricks

If you are planning a project at your centre let [email protected] know as early in the process as you can. This information will then be passed on to the appropriate Property Team Member who will be able to assist you with planning the project and giving advice etc. This can save money and time. There are many aspects to all projects including landlord approvals, building and resource consents, hazardous materials considerations, and regulations/standards. The Property Team are in the best position to provide advice on these.

Hazardous Materials Management Plan (HMMP)You should have a folder at your Centre, if you don’t, please contact [email protected]. Please make every effort to find these folders.

A tip is to photocopy the Hazards Register that is in the HAZMAT report – called Asbestos and Lead Management Survey / Asbestos Management Survey / Lead Management Survey or Mould Management Survey (if you had one. Not all Centres did) and put it on the wall alongside your main Hazards Register.

Please note that Condition Surveys and HAZMAT reports that were completed last year have ben sent out to Centres.  If this affected your Centre, you will be followed up with an email from your Regional team to ensure you have received this.  Please put these into your HMMP Folder and keep it handy so that it can be shown to contractors, DIY or anyone wanting to do any works or putting up whiteboards, etc at the Centre.

Flushing wet wipes

All centre members should be mindful (maybe put-up signs) that wet wipes should not be flushed down the toilets in any circumstance. All wet wipes clog up sewage systems.

Thinking of kitchen renovations?

Below are some key points from MOE to bear in mind:

  • There are facilities for the hygienic preparation, storage and/or serving of food and drink that contain:
    • A means of keeping perishable food at a temperature at or below 4°C and protected from vermin and insects
    • A means of cooking and/or heating food
    • A means of hygienically washing dishes
    • A sink connected to a hot water supply
    • Storage
    • Food preparation surfaces that are impervious to moisture and can be easily maintained in a hygienic condition.
  • Rationale/Intent:
    • To ensure that there are facilities to support the hygienic preparation and storage of food.