The Porirua Wellington Web Blog - November 2005
This panegyric blog is about political
and community issues in Porirua City and the Wellington Region. It
is the view of one person, and you are not hearing the other side! For
current material please visit The Porirua Wellington
Web Blog - Current Material
Porirua City Councillor Robert Shaw
ALAN WALLER ON THE ROAD
"The Greater Wellington regional council says there is no money in the kitty to build Transmission gully, but we have not been told as ratepayers why we should be paying for new trains and new stations to heavily subsidise Toll Holdings, TranzMetro train business. Bearing in mind that Toll Holdings is a affluent corporation that is worth billions of dollars I believe that constructing new roads is more important than increasing public transport especially as we should have a alternative route to and from Wellington."
THREE ISSUES FROM THE MINUTES OF THE PLIMMERTON RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION
13. District Plan
JS said that we should find out what we can feed in to the first draft of the District Plan.
HC suggested that we should find out what the timeline is for the revision of the District Plan. Euon Murrell said that Sue Veart was the right person to contact. PP said that he feels that the process is too fragmented. EM said that it is a very complex process and needs to be done in segments which are then dealt with as part of the “big picture.”
TS suggested that JS should take the lead in this issue and asked JS to contact Sue Veart to get a process plan for the review of the District Plan.
14. Heritage Update
Claire Toynbee went through the update on the Heritage Review Project as presented by Peter Matich and Janine Dunlop of PCC in October. CT to continue to provide updates on the progress of this project.
15. Quarry Update
PCC is still waiting for Alex Mathieson to come forward with his proposal for the alternative access. The issue has now been referred to the Ombudsman by Eric Pyle, Chairman of the Plimmerton Quarry Truck Action Group.
November 30, 2005
WHO VOTED FOR WHOM
I am being inundated with requests for information on who supported Shaw and who supported Murrell. I thank those who provided information. The vote was 5:5 and a draw. Hence we drew lots and Cr Murrell won. I congratulate him on his appointment.
For Murrell: Ken Douglas, Jenny Brash, Sue Dow, David Stanley, and himself.
For Shaw: Liz Kelly, Noreen Palmer, Maureen Gillon, Rob Rangi, and himself.
Abstained: Litea Ah Hoy, Tracey Waters, and Taima Fagaloa.
Absent with apology: John Green.
Only the full Council can make appointments, and they will consider this matter
the Wednesday after next.
r
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
VODAFONE HAS A STRONG SIGNAL
Vodafone presented their plan for the City to the Council this evening. They want to put up 8 towers for their new cellphone service (G3). Titahi Bay, Camborne, Papakowhai, Whitby, Onepouto, Waitangirua, Cannons Creek - all will have towers.
The Council has three distinct roles in this:
So far, considering only its ownership role, the Council has decided to issue a draft policy for consultation. Vodafone are also conducting their own consultation.
To orient to this matter I might note that they propose the use of public land, as opposed to private land which they might lease or buy. I believe the sole motivation for the Company coming to Porirua City is profit. Anyone who has shares in a telco knows the score on that point. Talk of how they are helping to develop our City is a bit hollow - there are a raft of other providers looking to assist us also. I asked the Company spokesperson to outline their involvment in the City to date, particularly with regard to the support of social needs, local organisations, and clubs. Evidently, they have supported one person for something in the Wellington region, and have a number of national schemes.
The key points I made at the meeting were:
My motion to consult the public went through, with some amendments including one from Cr Tracey Waters who has a healthy skepticism. Hopefully, these policy matters will be addressed by those responsible for them.
r
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
GOVERNANCE CHANGES
The Strategy and Finance Committee is now recommending some changes to the full Council. They are that:
The challenge for the two chairpersons is to reduce the agendas, manage the officers' workloads, re-structure the planning documents (particularly the LTCCP and the Annual Plan), manage the reformation of the District Plan, and resolve the issues between councillor factions.
Crs Ah Hoy, Green, and Stanley no longer chair committees.
Also, the decision was taken to make Thursdays
the one day of the week that Council committees will meet. This leaves
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday totally free - which is a very good
idea. There is of course more work that needs to be done to make the new
approach work.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
COUNCILLOR LITEA AH HOY COMMENTS BY EMAIL ON MY NOT BEING A CHAIRPERSON
"Robert in the event you didn't notice and i have no sympathy for you, you got f***ed tonight. Blog that!!!"
FOOTNOTE
I have just been asked to provide information on who voted for whom. Will
do so when the minutes come out for I really did not notice much except that
I lost, again! I have now lost 4 ballots for chairperson positions when the
votes have been equal. The chances for that run of luck are 6:100.
r
LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG
I have just returned from 4 days in Hong Kong. The Sha Tin District Council
is an interesting organisation any way you look at it. Two years ago I did a
study tour of local authorities in the UK, including Falkirk, Glasgow, Westminister,
Rotchester, and the Medway District Council. That did not prepare me for the
Hong Kong experience. There is a great deal we can learn in New Zealand about
decision-making and the involvement of the public in decisions. I hope I can
get some of it discussed by the Porirua Council. At least there is some progress
towards alternations to our committee structure.
r
November 28, 2005
POPULAR DECISIONS
Roger Miller, a partner and founder of Porirua City's law firm Maude & Miller was named Business Wellingtonian of the Year.
Michael Campbell, who grew up in Titahi Bay where his parents still live, was named Sports Wellingtonian of the Year.
Poriura City had finalists in five of the six categories with Te Puoho Katene in Arts, Kalia Baker-Underhill (from Aotea College) in the Youth section, and Dr John Hay (Chief Executive of Environmental Science and Research) in Science and Technology.
TRANSMISSION GULLY - THE REAL FACTS
ROBERT COMMENTS:
Comments from some of the consultants employed by Porirua City Council are below. The ratepayers paid $200,000 for this reliable, professional information. The full report is available as a public document.
The fact is what was provided by Transit and some others was contradictory, confused, and against common sense. There was no point in our saying that - it needed to be said by acknowledged experts. That has now happended and the case for Transmission Gully is well made.
I also remember that two regional managers of Transit NZ said Transmission Gully would take two year to plan and two years to build, once the money was secured.
We all must realise that there will be an element of user pays in the Transmission Gully motorway: expect tolls, a regioinal petrol tax, and some rates money to go into the project. In the long run the ratepayers' should get their money back.
THE CONSULTANTS SAY:
John Foster, a highly qualified international roading engineer with many years experience in the Wellington region. He makes the following points in his report:
The precision of the Wellington Transport Strategy Model (used to predict traffic flows) is "barely adequate." (page 5)
He is "firmly of the opinion" that the model used is "severely under-predicting" the north-south traffic flows in the Western Corridor. "The Consultation Document is consequently "seriously in error." (page 7)
The analytical tools used can't be relied upon to compare the merits of the various schemes that have emerged. (page 11)
An alternative transport model predicts "significantly greater" vehicular travel demands in the corridor than the WTSM model." (page 13)
The full Transmission Gully clearly provides the most effective network from the road user perspective having "almost twice the benefit of the Coastal Route Option.... "Moreover, the four lane northern TGM network often performs significantly better than the scheme recommended in the public consultation document." (page 15)
The studies done for Transit "seriously under-estimate" the significance of rising east-west orientated demands involving interactions between Kapiti and the Hutt Valley. (page 15)
"In my considered opinion, a regional network containing the TGM element is clearly superior" to a regional network based on the single "badly located" Coastal Route. Page 17)
The report from the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences says:
The report done in 2004 by Beca (Auckland) was based on a 9 year period and as a consequence "substantially underestimates" the risks to the Coastal Route in terms of landslide size and numbers, debris clearance and road closure times and the potential for liquefaction damage to the coastal highways. (page 3)
A review undertaken of available data shows that the Coastal Route is exposed to more geological hazards and is likely to suffer greater damage and closure times, especially from landslides, liquefaction and tsunamis during large earthquakes. (page 4)
Movement of the Ohariu Fault (that runs through the area) could cause damage or loss of the SH 1 bridge at Paremata and possibly damage the Porirua Motorway. Although "fault rupture" may cause damage to bridges on the TGM, catastrophic bridge failure is low if modern bridge design standards are applied. (page 4)
During an MM9/10 shake, large to very large landslides (up to one million cubic metres of debris) are possible in two to five places along the Centennial Highway and moderate to small slides in many places. Road closure is likely for 10 to 30 days or "perhaps even two to three months" for some critical sites. (page 4)
By comparison, debris clearance and road closure times on TGM are likely to range from two to five days. (page4) Liquefaction (where the ground turns to water) is high to moderate on the Coastal Route and low on TGM. (page5) There are some very persuasive photographs of potential landslip areas on pages 43 to 55.
Linda Kerkmeester and Julia Williams have more than 40 years experience between them as landscape architects. Linda has worked on a number of regional roading projects and among other things, Julia has recently acted as a commissioner for Wellington City on Plan Change 32 and 33. Some of their comment follows:
A "below ground" route around Goat Point and through Plimmerton would reduce "severe effects" on amenity and landscapes in the area. (page 5)
They recommend a "cut and cover" tunnel through the Ngatitoa Domain though they accept this would push the cost of the Coastal Route into the 95 percentile estimate. (page 5)
The loss of natural coastal edge "will be extremely difficult, if not impossible to mitigate." (page 5)
The coastal development of the magnitude proposed is "contrary to the landscape and natural character provisions of all the regional and local policy statements that were reviewed. "This situation therefore puts the issue of consentability of this option at risk." (page 6) Environmental and engineering consultants Tonkin & Taylor were: Critical of the lack of detailed information available. (page 1)
They said there may be a "significant" under-predicting of the cost for the coastal section (which will take up to 20 hectares of the Coastal Marine Area (CMA). (page 2)
The coastal road will have to be raised which means the cost of the project could be out by 80 to 120%. (page 3)
The Coastal Route Upgrade will occupy 18,000 square metres of "intertidal platform" just north of Paremata and "destroy" around 40 metres of sensitive dune system on Ngatitoa Domain and some 200 metres of South Beach. (page 11)
In summary, the team says there are "significant issues and risks" in the design of the coastal works that have not been addressed adequately in the reports prepared to date. "In our opinion, there are potentially major social and environmental effects on the coastal environment of (sic) the CRU option." (page 14)
Cawthorn and Associates say:
The addition of extra bridge supports at Paremata will have a negative impact on water flows and increase sedimentation rates within the Inlet which is a nationally recognised ecological area of the highest importance. (page 3)
Upgrading Grays Road will lead to more vehicle derived heavy metal pollutants which will "significantly compromise" the health of the Inlet. (page 3)
Reclamation over South Beach is likely to increase erosion of the Ngatitoa Domain dunes, the Plimmerton beaches and alter the sand deposition rates at the northern end of the navigation channel into Porirua Harbour. "Safe passage for commercial fishing boats to and from Paremata and keelboats to and from Mana Marina will be compromised." (page 3)
The planned road reclamation and revetment just north of Pukerua Bay will "destroy" the intertidal wave cut platform and its associated flora and fauna and take "decades" to re-establish. (page 3)
A report on economic aspects of the proposed Western Corridor Coastal Plan by McDermott Miller, has this to say in part: Transit's consultants say TGM's relative economic efficiency is 1.5, and below their estimate of 1.9 for the Coastal Route. However, "we estimate TGM's relative economic efficiency to be 3.0 when applying (John) Foster's modelling results, compared with 2.3 for the Coastal Route." (page 15)
The TGM will contribute "significantly more" to regional economic efficiency and therefore the regional economy than the Coastal Route Upgrade." (page 15)
The Planning Balance Sheet-based assessment applied by Transit's consultants is "flawed in many respects" including under-weighting important attributes which favour TGM, such as network resilience. (page 39)
Additional cost variables on the Coastal Route which have been omitted or seriously understated are: cost of overcoming geotechnical challenges of the Coastal Route, impact on the communities of Mana, Plimmerton and Pukerua Bay, impact on ecology due to reclamations, loss of scenic quality along the coast, loss of historical buildings and sites, reduction in air quality, cost of degradation in water quality of Porirua Harbour and Pauatahanui Inlet and impact on iwi. (page 40)
Boffa Miskell was commissioned to review cultural aspects of the CRU and TGM. In part they found: "Significant" deficiencies in the information which identifies, assesses and recognises cultural values for both routes. The lack of any assessment of cultural values, together with limited and non-specific results from consultation with iwi (prior to the completion of the Planning Balance Sheet) and an "underdevaluing" of cultural matters has contributed to a general and consistent under reporting of the cultural significance, cultural constraints, risk and cultural impacts. (page 10) The report makes clear there are many burial sites in the area of the proposed CRU and that desecration of these places by either modifying the place of burial or removing the burials will "likely to be seen" as a significant and serious breach of tikanga Maori and a potential affront to the mana or prestige of individual descendants, their families, hapu and iwi. (page 20)
Hill Young Cooper was asked to look at consentability and planning issues. This is what they had to say in part:
The existing coastal highway and railway designations will need to be altered and or new designations put in place under sections 168 and 181 of the RMA. (page 19)
Authorisations will be required for the destruction, disturbance, damage or modifications to archaeological sites and areas with heritage value. (page 19)
Section 177 of the RMA requires written approvals to be sought from requiring authorities with existing designations prior to commencement of works. These are legal matters on which separate legal advice should be sought. They are raised as a consentability risk. (page 20) Co-ordinating the CRU with other requiring authorities who have different purposes and timeframes has the potential to delay the lodgement of any new or altered designations and their implementation. An example given is the impact on the Paremata School. "If relocation was required, then finding a suitable location for the school with sufficient flat land for playing fields in which is a relatively well built up area would be very difficult."(page 20)
The Porirua District Plan recognises and provides for the Transmission Gully Motorway. If changes to the Plan's Objectives and Policies is required, as suggested on page 20 of the 'Cost and programme review update, August 2005,' "then this would require a Plan Change involving notification, submissions, summary of submissions, further submissions, hearings and the opportunity for appeals to the Environment Court." (page 20/21)
A "major risk" to the Coastal Route is the "cutting off of small communities" in the form of reduced access, demolition of houses, loss of amenity values and loss of services." (page 21)
The acquisition of properties associated with the Public Works Act and other resource management issues linked to the loss of amenity of social and economic values is likely to result in a lengthy process of objections from disgruntled landowners. Significant time delays is a "major risk" to the CRU proceeding. (page 22)
The potential disturbance of recorded or identified archaeological sites or areas in the project area poses "another risk or vulnerability" to the consenting process. (page 22)
The report lists a number of recreational areas that could be lost and the risks associated with this and revocation of reserves under the Reserves Act, 1977 that would 'further complicate the process." (page 24) Three schools will be severely impacted on which all would pose "major risks to the consenting process."(page 24)
Hill Young and Cooper warn that it will be especially difficult to get a consent for any reclamation associated with Grays Road and the coastline between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki. (page 26)
They make clear there will be huge consenting hurdles for changes to any existing structures close to or within the Pauatahanui Inlet area (an area of Significant Conservation Value). (pages 26/27)
They warn that the Regional Coastal Plan may have to be changed which could delay the consenting process. (page 27)
They warn that there could be very serious issues surrounding iwi and the foreshore and seabed which could involve "considerable time delays and uncertainties' in terms of consentability of the proposed CRU." (page 29)
Their report makes clear that consents should be sought for the entire route under the RMA rather than incrementally. (page 47)
It says the failure of non-complying activities to meet the statutory tests may result in the need to seek Plan changes. It warns this is a "major issue" that should be addressed in any consenting strategy... page 47
Given the significance of the CRU proposal and the number of parties potentially affected, there is the potential for the consenting process to "take significantly longer" than the five to seven years allocated. (page 48)
BIRDLIFE - FROM DOMINION POST - POPOKATEA, WHITEHEAD
This is information from the start of this year, but someone asked about it. As
was reported to Council a few months ago, the Council would like to buy more
land to extend the Porirua Scenic Reserve up to and including Colonial Knob.
There have been negotiations with the land owner.
r
"THE observant eyes and ears of two amateur birdwatchers have welcomed back a long-lost species to Porirua .Ian Armitage and Barry Dent have recorded three sightings of the native popokatea, or whitehead, in the Porirua Scenic Reserve -- the first time the birds have been seen in the area for more than 100 years.Mr Dent first saw the birds on Boxing Day and reported the discovery to the Conservation Department. Mr Armitage then went into the bush on January 7 and heard the popokatea's unmistakable call. "We were thrilled," Mr Armitage said. "It's a tribute to the effective predator control Greater Wellington regional council has been carrying out." The birds are similar in size to sparrows but with white heads. Their call is distinctively shrill.
Department spokesman Colin Miskelly said that before Mr Armitage and Mr Dent's discoveries the only whiteheads in the area were a colony of 63 birds released at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in 2001 and 2002. One of the birds seen in Porirua had a band on its leg, meaning it had made the 21 kilometre trip from Karori, a welcome development. The regional council has been conducting intensive pest control at the Porirua reserve since 1996. However, biosecurity officer Ken Wright had not expected long-absent species back so soon. "It's absolutely outstanding." Keeping possum numbers low had allowed the bush to provide a better feeding and nesting environment for the birds. Pest controls had also kept rat numbers low." Saturday, November 19, 2005
DOMINION POST ARTICLE ON PORIRUA CITY'S 40TH BIRTHDAY
PORIRUA TURNS 40 THIS MONTH. SARAH BOYD MEETS SOME WHO GREW UP WITH IT.
TURNING 40 demands a scorecard of achievements and failings, the casting off of myths, the consolidation of the good bits, the contemplation of a makeover. Porirua 's hit that age. It became a city 40 years ago in October 1965, the title bestowed by the governor-general at the time, Sir Bernard Fergusson. It makes much of the youth and energy of its population, but it also has a past -- and a reputation that's constantly being reshaped.
For generations of New Zealanders, Porirua was synonymous with the "lunatic asylum" established there in 1887, now closed but employing 2000 people at one time.
The Porirua region was settled by Maori as far back as 1450. There was a European whaling station at Paremata in the 1830s and, later, tense standoffs between Ngati Toa and British colonists.
The rows of state houses that characterise many of the streets began to be constructed from the early 1950s, in answer to the postwar baby boom. It was also a time of Maori urbanisation and an influx of Pacific Island migrants, who became the labour force for industry emerging in the city.
The immigrants brought their culture, their churches, their drive for a better life for their children. There was poverty and struggle along with success. With the multicultural mix came clashes and the rise and fall of various gangs.
Porirua 's population now tops 50,000. There's some high-priced real estate and new-found respect for the recreational potential of the hills and the water. Some of the big employers -- like the Todd car assembly plant -- have packed up, while huge retail parks have risen in their place and lured shoppers from the region. The Saturday morning market's another drawcard.
The place has its detractors and its diehard believers. People tend to stick around -- generations of a family living nearby. Those who leave often stay connected. People say it's a special place that's shaped their lives -- in particular, their perspective on how different cultures can get on with each other. Three people who are as old as the city, who grew up in step with it, spoke about their Porirua lives.
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ROBERT EDWARDS, 40
Lives in Titahi Bay with his wife and their blended family of eight children. He's lived in Porirua all his life.
"I WAS born at Kenepuru Hospital. Mum reckons I was only about the seventh baby to be born there, it was that new. Mum stayed at home and dad worked in town, at Kaiwharawhara engineering workshop. Later, when I was four or five, he got his own business as a milkman in the Linden area.
When people used to ask me where I was from, I'd say Porirua . They meant where was my father from, which was the East Coast. But I used to say I'm from Porirua .
We went up to the East Coast sometimes on holiday. I spent a couple of weeks up there when I was 10 and I got a hard time. This city kid with all the country kids -- I hated it and they knew it.
We lived in Titahi Bay, then Cannons Creek. When I was 21 we moved to Mungavin Ave, which was the first house my parents owned.
We used to come home from school then straight outside, roaming with our mates -- all the neighbourhood kids. I reckon it was a lot freer in those days. We used to go eeling all the time -- we were sometimes getting 70 a night. A neighbour had a smokehouse so we used to bring them back and smoke them. We used to get rock oysters, too, from the lagoon and spear flounders at Paremata.
I remember Waitangirua Mall opening -- it was the number one shopping place. It was all nice and new and then it slowly just decayed, once the Post Office closed. I couldn't really understand why it went like that.
I didn't take to schooling too good. I went to Holy Family and then Viard College, where I was really into sport -- soccer and rugby and running.
At school there were kids from Paremata and Plimmerton and Tawa, and kids from Cannons Creek were seen as a lot more rugged. We were the tough ones. I wasn't, but I was a hanger-on. I was quite happy to know the tough kids.
I left school as soon as I turned 15, at the end of the fourth form. I worked in Press House for a while as a storeman, but I got sick of going into town, so I got a job out here at the Cryovac factory as a machine operator.
"After about five years, I went to work for the Tawa City Council, and then when Wellington took over, we worked in Wellington. I thought, `Bugger being in town', so I came back to Cryovac. That was in 1996.
Porirua 's changed heaps -- it's hard to remember the way it was. Where the Bottom Tavern used to be there's a car sale yard now. And the Blue Heron -- that was where the Challenge petrol station is. Porirua 's a lot more fast-paced now. The night life has picked up, though that brings a lot of hassles with it -- drunks and pokie machines. There are parts I wouldn't want to go to at night. When I was younger I didn't give a hoot, I'd just walk anywhere.
I didn't have any negative feelings about growing up in Porirua . It was only when I was older and working in the Tawa/Linden area that I could see they were different, with flash houses. Like, at Christmas time, Dad used to come back from those areas with all these presents -- chocolate, cakes, handkerchiefs -- tons of it. Porirua milkmen didn't get much.
The company sent me to England for a couple of months a few years ago. That made me appreciate my home more. I couldn't wait to come back. I walk down the street here and I'll bump into at least three people I know. My parents and my brothers and sisters are all here except for one -- he's in the Hutt.
I don't think I'd be able to handle being away from my extended family and friends."
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CAROLINE MAREKO, 40
Caroline is the Ministry of Education's Pasifika education coordinator for the central south region. She lives in Ascot Park, in the house her parents bought when she was 10.
"WE moved to a Housing New Zealand house in Cannons Creek from Newtown when I was about three, because it was cheaper rent. We knew everyone on the street and everything we did was with the kids in the neighbourhood. Guy Fawkes was a major event -- we'd have a big bonfire on the corner of Hampshire and Sievers Grove. For weeks everyone would be throwing out all the stuff they wanted burned and there'd be this tower of furniture and rubbish and somebody always made a guy to put on top.
There was an area of bush at the back of the street where we made a swing and picked blackberries in season. We used to make go-carts and have races. We were always outside. I was a real tomboy.
When I was about 10, my parents bought a new house at Ascot Park, which was a new development. It was a good buy -- four bedrooms and land for $25,000. It was like starting again because there weren't many houses.
I went to Waitangirua Intermediate, which was a great two years. It was a huge school -- you couldn't move in the hall because of the swarms of Polynesian kids crammed in there. We used to go for bush walks up to Whitby -- there were no houses there.
After intermediate, my parents considered enrolling me at a Wellington college, then along came Aotea College.
My parents' perception was that we wouldn't succeed going to Porirua College. There was nothing wrong with Porirua College, but it was the perception that was out there. Aotea was the place all the families wanted to send their kids. We had all these Pacific Island kids listed as living at our place, so they could enrol at Aotea.
Aotea was surrounded by dust and farmland when I started. It was a great time for me because we were close, that first group of students.
But you were allowed to leave school at 15 in those days and that was when many of our lot left. It was mostly the kids from Waitangirua and most went to what we called Porirua university -- Todd Motors -- or on the dole.
I was one of only a few Pacific Island students at teachers' college in Karori. It was hard. It was "spot the Pacific Islander" who you could gravitate toward. But it was good because I got to learn about how a diverse group of people do things. I travelled in from Porirua for the three years and my family helped support me.
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After training, I chose to go to Waitangirua Intermediate for a year -- no one else wanted to go to Porirua . That was the beginning of my wonderful teaching career. If you live in the area, there's an instant connection. All the kids knew where I lived. I was at Waitangirua for eight years and then I moved on to Cannons Creek school. It was the most wonderful experience, with a fantastic community that supported the school.
Even the families that didn't have a lot going for them -- they were good parents. The kids were street smart. I've taught the Mongrel Mob's children and, yes, they have a different lifestyle, but they still have aspirations for their children.
After my parents retired, my sister and I bought their house and now we all live there, with my son who is 14. I've travelled all around the country and overseas a lot, but I never considered living elsewhere.
I get really angry when people liken Porirua to Otara or Mangere -- I've been up to those communities and it's nothing like here. Yes, we have a lot of graffiti, but someone cleans it up. There've been huge changes, with a lot more people coming in and staying."
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HONE DAVIS, 40
Born October 2, 1965 -- the day Porirua officially became a city. He works for the Ministry of Education's Te Mana programme and now lives in Otaki with his family.
"GROWING up in Porirua most certainly has had a huge impact on the way I view the world and the way I would prefer to see the world. Mum was from south Taranaki and dad was from Raetihi and when they decided they were going to move to Porirua , they were determined to make it work. So we were in with everyone and doing everything -- sports clubs, church groups. The food was great.
We lived just down from where Waitangirua Mall is, though it was farmland in those days. It was the peak of Maori urbanisation -- young men coming into towns from rural areas. There were gangs and a lot of negative things going on that our Mum and Dad sheltered us from. They did a really good job of keeping us on the straight and narrow. Come college time, they sent us to boarding school to keep us away from all that.
But as a kid, I never felt threatened. The gangs used to walk as a whole gang along the street. We'd be playing on our front lawn -- and in those days there were no fences, so all the kids were playing together -- and when the gangs got to us, we'd stop playing and everything would go quiet.
I thought they were cool, they exercised so much authority. They were all leathered out, the boys and the girls. When I went to Corinna School, in 1970, we had to affiliate to a gang so we were safe in the field during lunchtime and playtime. Otherwise you ran the risk of getting caught in the middle. You didn't have to do anything -- you just had to say you liked this gang or that one. I never saw any gang warfare, though it was going on.
So for my father's generation and for mine, there's been that kind of culture present in Porirua . But I've heard some really good things lately about fathers getting out of the gangs and trying to keep their kids out.
Waitangirua Intermediate was a turning point for me -- I had a few teachers who really encouraged me to be me. They had a very strong Maori point of view at a time when nothing Maori was promoted in schools.
I learned about racism when I went away to boarding school at Hato Paora Maori boys' boarding school in Feilding.
The other boys used terminology about other ethnic groups that was totally new to me. In Porirua we did things together -- it was a very diverse culture. The fact that the parents of our mates were talking in their own language, that was just a normal part of life.
My parents were from the era where they were discouraged from learning Maori. When I was 12, I got involved with an iwi development strategy with Ngati Raukawa and two other iwi, and started attending young people's hui and total immersion Maori hui. I met up with (Maori Party president) Whatarangi Winiata -- he was the one who, at my first hui, called me Hone, instead of John. After that I was always Hone.
Dad got me into the Post Office for my first job -- I did that for a few years. Then, in 1982, they established the Wananga o Raukawa and I ended up getting involved in setting up a kohanga and went from there.
I see Porirua as being the catalyst in terms of my success. My wife is from Gisborne and she likes the quiet pace of Otaki, but I certainly would consider living in Porirua again, or investing there or getting involved in some of the community activities. I still feel very connected to the area and I'm still connected to a lot of the families I grew up with. The pull toward Porirua is very strong."
CONSULTANTS CAUGHT OUT - PROTECTING THE PAUATAHANUI INLET - SHARP EYE HAS JEFF FLAVELL
Whitby Land Holdings seeks a Resource Consent for subdivision and earthworks
at Staithes Drive North, Whitby. The Conservation Department opposes the application
and their reasons: insufficient information (twice), uncertainty over cumulative
effects, inconsistency with the Porirua City District Plan. Now how can this
happen? Would we not have expected the consultants for Whitby Land Holdings
to have done better? They should at least provide all the needed information.
I will not name them. What is also interesting is that Jeff Flavell, for the
Conservator, says that there also needs to be a consent from Greater Wellington
The Regional Council and there is no extant application. The
ratepayers can relax - this is all done by Councils on a cost recovery basis. In
case anyone worries, I am not on the hearings committee and this is all public
information and what I say is not about the decisions to be made themselves.
r
Saturday, November 19, 2005
WELLINGTON REGIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS
The quarter has just been released today. Read down the list for each quarter from September 03 to September 05
| 4.7 |
| 5.5 |
| 4.7 |
| 4.7 |
| 3.9 |
| 3.9 |
| 4.8 |
| 4.1 |
| 2.8 |
ROBERT COMMENTS
The Wellington trend is just like the trend for the rest of country. Watch now for the hype-doctors to put out media statements about success and watch them couple these with statements of possible disaster - all to justify their own participation in the economic advance of the region, and all to argue that they get more money from ratepayers to save us from what might be our fate.
Well I remember the year when the annual report of the Porirua City Council
had the Council taking credit for similar statistics for the City. As if the
Council had any effect at all on such numbers! Fortunately, this year they
have moved their report on the business of the Council to a better approach.
Indeed, the PCC Annual Report this year seems to be thinner and with much better
focus - or is that just my imagination.
r
Friday, November 18, 2005
PORIRUA RATEPAYERS TO THE RESCUE
Here is a list of "issues" Porirua City evidently faces:
• Lack of sector diversity
• Mainly small & medium businesses
• Increasing demand for commercial land
• Old industrial development
• The need for redevelopment of City Centre
• Lack of night life
• Not capitalising on the growth of visitors to Wellington
• Uncertainty over roading
• Comparatively low educational achievements
ROBERT COMMENTS
Only one of them is a clear Council responsibility (not that anyone said they were of course). The rest are none of our business. Some could be debated. I provide a list of "issues" the City faces:
WHERE DO THEY GET SUCH IDEAS
The history of local government is that communities came together to build first roads and then other infrastructure. Much later there was the notion that councils should re-distribute wealth, that is away from those who earn the money to those who needed it. Now we have a whole new purpose for Councils, well the Porirua Council at least. We are there to address market failure - so we are told by our chief executive. This was a central government role in the days before Rogernomics. There are many reasons why Rogernomics was a disaster, but the idea that governments are hopeless at addressing market failure is sound.
With dismay I quote the ceo's slide:
"Why is Council involved in economic
development?
…to address genuine
market failure"
It is not that the idea of small government is so attractive, but rather that the size of large government is so excessive. What on earth does the Porirua City Council not propose to do with your money I wonder. The only thing they have not stated they will fix is international terrorism.
Unfortunately, one example of market failure that he cites is Smartlinx3. This is a broadband company that the Council invested in to fight Telecom. That is want was said at the time. There are at least 10 broadband companies in competition in Porirua City and Smartlinx3 charges more than many of them including Telecom. It is hard to see how the ratepayers money is in fact addressing market failure at all. Indeed, what we have is another example of officials and councils being unable to better the market. It is your money they spend in these idle games..
And, someone asks me what should the Council do for business: get the rates
down, fix the roads, pay for the work imposed on us by the Aotea Block,
and facilitate the resolution of the inevitable conflicts between those who
seek only commercial success and those who seek only their own quality of life
(which means sort out the District Plan).
r
November 16, 2005
DO WE HAVE THE ENERGY TO DEBATE ALL THIS - AS USUAL THE WEIGHT OF IT ALL WILL SILENCE US
We have many community outcomes now: I quote but one:
Outcome 1 - A quality
business environment that
promotes economic development
• Maintain sound infrastructure
• Provide support for new and existing businesses
including Business Porirua and Positively Wellington
Business
• Develop a range of business investment incentives
• Provide competitive business rates
• Provide quality regulatory processes
• Develop communications network – broadband
strategy
ROBERT COMMENTS
In theory of course, community outcomes are not necessarily council projects; but this lot is!
In the same list we have many contradictions. We are going to get the rates
down, make our infrastructure "sound", and support two business development
organisations. Evidently we have decided to support both Porirua's business
development organisation and Wellington's business development organisation.
They are cheaper in pairs? Just the cost of establishing a sound roading infrastructure
is beyond us. The Aotea Block generated projects have not even been costed
for the next strategic plan. And, of course, we still have mysterious abstracts
like "the quality of the business environment" which is going to "promote
economic development" - what does this mean in concrete practical terms?
It might mean more rubbish tins, or it might mean we will pave the streets
in gold. It is easy to get people to agree when they are all thinking of different
things. Dream on. In a small place like Porirua we need to plan for a small
number of very specific practical projects - and leave the big words to central
government, they say they understand them.
r
TITAHI BAY VILLAGE PLAN
Public Meeting 1 November 2005
Questions Discussed
PRESS STATEMENT: FOUR LANES THROUGH MANA - COASTAL HIGHWAY GROUP
Commuters are very pleased with the way the four lanes through Mana have speeded up travel times from Wellington to Kapiti. The long queues at Paremata bridge appear to be a thing of the past. However the present arrangement with Transit lanes becoming available for parking after the morning rush is clearly dangerous. The best solution is to have the four lanes open at all times.
Once these teething problems have been sorted out there will be no need for any major work at Mana for many years. A satisfactory road can be achieved in stages by building a Paekakariki interchange ($45 million, 5 years), a Pukerua Bay bypass ($70 million, 7 years) and then completing four lanes on Centennial Highway ($365 million, 11 years).
A true comparison of the costs timing and funding of the two roads is then as follows.
Coastal Route Transmission Gully
TIMING A staged programme over 11 years 15 years at least
COSTS A total cost of $480 million $1090 million
FUNDING Funds available in full $580 million shortfall
The teething problems at Mana can be fixed quite easily. There is certainly no need to spend $1,000 million on a hugely expensive alterative highway just to bypass Mana.
For the Coastal Highway Group Dick Jessup 13/11/05
BETTER DEMOCRACY ORGANISATION
Hi Robert
Just wanted to let
you know we have created a whole new website and even given ourselves a new
name to more reflect what we want... Better Democracy! Thanks to a generous
donation of time and skills from John Syben ( www.webme.co.nz )
John has created www.BetterDemocracy.co.nz Have
a look and let us know what you think. There are more options with the ability
to email all or some of the Members of Parliament and even sort them by parties.
We have now received enough donations to get the highway signs printed and
I hope to start getting them out before Christmas. Let me know when you start
seeing them. Thank you very much to all of you who made a generous donation.
Without your help it would be very difficult to keep our profile out there.
Just remember, with BCIR you could have made the final decision on issues
like abortion, sensible sentencing, prostitution, smoking, euthanasia, GE,
civil unions, lowering the drinking age, removing the right to appeal to
the Privy Council or even sending troops to Vietnam all those years ago.
Best wishes Steve Baron Better Democracy www.BetterDemocracy.co.nz PO
Box 38938, Howick, Auckland Phone 09 537-3935
ROBIN PATTERSON APPEARS - MANY WILL REMEMBER ROBIN
HI! (Well, that's what your site asks me to say.)
Some years ago I might have said "Good evening, Councillor". But since a former PCC CEO decided that my 20 years' experience wasn't essential to his operations I can say what I like about you fellas!!
Anyway, I had a glance at your blog (not for the first time) at its new address and another glance at your own site. Good work all round. I wonder if you would be willing to include somewhere a link to yet another webpage where Porirua people can have their say: http://cities.wikicities.com/wiki/Porirua I created that page and wrote most of it and several related pages, but it's time to encourage 50,000 other people to have a look and to contribute.
As you probably know, anyone at a PC connected to the Web can edit a wiki. With Wikicities you don't even have to register (though there are advantages, one of which, paradoxically, is greater anonymity if that's what you want). Contributions can be factual on the article pages or comment on the Talk pages that are linked to each article. You can start with a couple of paragraphs about the pleasures of living in Papakowhai with all the bush that an energetic Assistant Town Planner helped to preserve...
Keep on truckin!! Robin Robin Patterson, Proofreader and Chief Warden, Brookers Ltd http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brookers PH: +64 4 470 9542 (home 2338458) EMAIL: robin.patterson@thomson.com
MANA TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
Friday 11/11 3 pm – update situation Mana Esplanade
The lines which have now been painted in the kerbside lane to indicate the parking areas and the large sign stating “Thru traffic and trucks right lane” have had some effect but have so far not ensured that all cars (or trucks) stay in the right hand lane. Nor has the erection of additional 50 kph signs (near the Paremata roundabout and on the bridge) had the desired effect. Many cars still travel well above the speed limit and some interesting last minute manoeuvres have been observed when fast moving traffic tries to get into the right hand lane when coming upon the cones blocking off the kerbside lane.
Trucks have also still been spotted in the southbound kerbside lane during the ‘clearway’ period.
Residents, particularly on the western side between the bridge and Pascoe Avenue (entrance Ngati Toa Domain) are finding it extremely difficult and dangerous to exit their property during ‘clearway’ hours as there are no large enough gaps in the traffic. To quote from an email received from one such resident:
“… over the last few days I have tried to leave our property at between approx 4pm to 6pm and I am alarmed at how dangerous and difficult it is to travel to Porirua.** Traffic is moving at speed in both lanes and when there is a slight break in the traffic, it is essential to take off and build up speed very quickly before the oncoming traffic is upon you. I am very concerned about my daughter driving in these sorts of conditions – she is 18 and has just got her licence. Neighbours have also talked about experiencing similar difficulties.
The only solution I can think of is traffic lights being installed at Marina View, which would allow a break in traffic. This would also help greatly for us and our neighbours experiencing difficulty in getting across the road for simple everyday things such as posting letters, walking the dog, visiting friends on the other side of the road etc.
My husband (who does not want to complain) is also now experiencing difficulty in that the steel truck that delivers lengths of steel for our home-based engineering business can no longer stop at peak hours (which is the only time they can deliver – on the homeward run to Levin). He is now travelling to Wellington or the Hutt to collect bundles of steel. I feel this has made his job more difficult and it is unfair as he already is very overworked and very busy.
However, we are finding access to our property easier and much safer outside peak hours with the T2 lane being “coned off”. Crossing the road as a pedestrian at intersections with lights is quick and safe. “”
** Discussing the matter with this resident later, she advised that to go to Porirua she had to travel north and could not get into the fast moving right hand lane to enable her to turn into Pascoe Avenue to reverse direction.
Another problem that has emerged is that residents living near a traffic light on the eastern side are experiencing great difficulty both entering and exiting their property. The narrow footpath means they cannot see oncoming traffic until the front of the car is protruding into the traffic lane which, at that point, is right up against the kerb. A collision with a large truck travelling along the kerbside lane was narrowly avoided.
Entering this property is also difficult as the following traffic is travelling fast (to get through the lights before they change) does not expect them to slow down and in danger of rear ending them.
Judi, November 11, 2005
COUNCILLOR NAUREEN PALMER ON COMMUNITY PLANNING MEETINGS
From: Naureenp [mailto:naureenp@familystart-porirua.org.nz]
Sent: Thursday, 10 November 2005 11:15 a.m.
Subject: Last nights Village strategy
community Feedback
Tena koe,
I believe last nights community feedback was pretty exciting and for me it showed a lot of consultation and hard work took place by Community Groups, Council Staff and lastly Councillors to bring it to this stage.
It was a shame that light refreshments were not put on afterwards for this event. I observed that the community groups wanted to stay awhile and talk about their presentations, to each other and to Councillors. I'm assuming this might have been the first time they had seen the dreams, ideas and work of each other. The sense of ownership was awesome.
I would like to propose that in future, as these plans take shape, we should be celebrating in some way to acknowledge everyone's achievements so it doesn't go by like another city development plan.
Naureen Palmer
November 11, 2005
I SEEK AN ANSWER TO BLOG READER BEN'S QUESTION
Evening Robert, A couple of weeks ago I asked if you could look into the power wastage in the CBD. Namely, the streetlights around the area. Whoever is in charge of these had not adjusted the 'timer' for Daylight Saving Time. An individual fitting would not use much energy, but when you have the amount there are, it amounts to a lot. The Council would be on a better kilowatt rate than the ordinary householder, but that is no excuse to waste energy. Adjusting the 'timer' would not cause any safety issues for those using the CBD, and save heaps on the power bill. Could you look into this, and hustle the person involved, to do the necessary adjustment, a simple procedure. Regards Ben.
OF ALL THE TELLING POINTS FOR TRANSMISSION GULLY - LAND PURCHASES
Of all the telling points for Transmission Gully it sticks in my mind that two general managers of Transit NZ supported the buying of property for the Transmission Gully Motorway. They also both said it would take two years to plan and two years to build.
Tansit NZ purchased $5.3 million worth of properties on the motorway route.
Given all the other things that were needed (injurious affection, fees, etc)
the cost to Transit of this land was $7 million. The total cost of the land
still needed for Transmission Gully is about $12 million. This must be compared
today with the cost of the land required for the Coastal Route, which is about
$71.8 million. Transit already hold $2.2 million worth of property that is
relevant to the Coastal upgrade.
r
Thursday, November 10, 2005
COUNCIL'S ONGOING GRANTS PROGRAMME
Extract from PCC Media release:
"Porirua City Council recently gave over $150,000 to local community organisations working to improve the quality of life for residents in the City. $106,000 from the Community Outcomes Fund 2005/2006 was distributed to 17 local groups to support community outcomes identified by residents and Council in the Long Term Council Community Plan." ...
Others to benefit from the fund include: Focus Trust, Porirua Language Project, New Settler Service, Porirua Budget Service, Te Whare Tiaki Wahine Refuge, Wesley Porirua, Volunteer Porirua, Te Toi Nui, Porirua Living without Violence, Help Foundation, Porirua Habitat for Humanity.
In this round of funding,Council also distributed $21,000 to the Regional Emergency Services Grant including $9000 to Wellington Free Ambulance; $7000 to Wellington Life Flights and $5000 to Mana Volunteer Coastguards. Council also allocates a further $25,000 annually through the Community Development Fund, of which almost half was distributed to 22 local organisations in this first round."
PERHAPS WE COULD SEARCH THE DOGS
To: Roger Blakeley - PCC Subject: Confirm advise Kia ora Roger When the proposed pooper scooper by-law was introduced to the Environment Committee the question was asked, "why do dog rangers need the power to search as stated in our papers"?. The answer given was that if a person was stopped and asked if they had a device to pick up the dogs excrement and they answered yes but refused to show it, dog rangers had no power to search. Would you please confirm that the advice given to the committee was as I have set out. Further would you also confirm that the Officers advised that such wording in the proposed by-law was necessary in order to comply with the requirements of the NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990. Regards Liz
Kia ora Liz I cannot confirm that the advice given to the Environmental and
Community Protection Committee was as you have stated it below . There is no
statement in the report or appendices that refers to the need for the power
of search to be given to officers. They do not currently have such powers and
do not desire such powers. (Then follows details of the report and its references
to searching and aspects of the Bill of Rights Act. r)
Regards, Roger Roger Blakeley Chief Executive Porirua City Council
ROD DONALD
Rod Donald visited the Mana Electorate many times in his role as co-leader of the Green Party. On one occassion I drove him around to visit businessess and community organisations. He was well liked by everyone perhaps because he had a ready wit. He liked to learn of the details of businesses. He could often call upon his own practical experience in his discussions. Rod opposed Transmission Gully and we debated the matter at length. I remember one discussion with a number of Green Party members when out of frustration I said to a woman who was about 17 years of age - "When you are a wife and a mother trying to work and take 4 children to different schools each morning, you will be pleased that we built a few roads!". That was not my best argument.
Rod died on 6 November 2005. Mana has lost a friend. Thank you Rod.
r
Tuesday, November 8, 2005
WHO WILL PAY FOR TRANSMISSION GULLY?
UMR Research Ltd: "93% of those surveyed said they were aware of the Transmission Gully proposal, 70% said they supported the building of the Transmission Gully Motorway, 23% supported the Coastal Route, and 52% said they were either willing or very willing to pay a toll of $3."
But, will they support a rates increase or a regional petrol tax? Or, is going
to be possible to build the road without these impositions, as some would have
us believe, when at this moment is impossible to know the cost of project?
r
Tuesday, November 8, 2005
Just to hand: extract from the full report
"A majority of residents expressed some willingness to pay a $3 toll to use Transmission Gully. 52 of residents said they were willing to pay the toll compared with 27% who said they were unwilling to do so. Of those who expressed some willingness to pay the toll, 32% said they were very willing to pay. 19% were neutral toward the toll."
WILLINGNESS TO PAY TOLL
On a 1-5 scale where 1 means "very willing" and 5 means "not willing at all", how prepared would you be to use the transmission gully route if you had to pay a $3 toll?
|
|
|
% |
1 – Very willing |
32 |
2 |
20 |
TOTAL 1 + 2 |
52 |
3 |
19 |
4 |
8 |
5 – Not willing at all |
19 |
TOTAL 4 + 5 |
27 |
Unsure |
2 |
Also, the geographic breakdown on the key question:
Which of these options do you support?
Coastal / Transmission Gully / Unsure
ALL 300 21% 69% 10%
Lower Hutt City 81 25% 67% 8%
Upper Hutt City 31 26% 72% 2%
Porirua City 38 2% 91% 7%
Wellington City 150 23% 63% 14%
WHAT IS THE BUSINESS OF COUNCIL & THE BUSINESS OF BUSINESS? - SINKING A BOAT OFF MANA ISLAND
Does anyone find my jokes funny? I had to learn not to make jokes at the
Council table (although there were two officers who could be relied upon for
a smile), and it looks as if the same applies in blogs..
r
Dear Robert I wondered who would be the one to make a mountain out of a molehill!! This proposal of Marco's may not even get off the ground. His invite to any of us to visit the Frigate Wellington on either Wednesday or Thursday comes with no strings or expectations and was genuinely meant. The Frigate Wellington will not be around after Saturday to view - it will have been sunk. Can I suggest that if you have concerns simply don't go. This is no problem! Some of your comments about joyrides etc Robert are so stupid I can't be bothered commenting. Jenny
Hi everyone
It is unclear in what capacity PCC is involved in the proposal. We do not own
the sea bed. Council seems to have fallen into the habit of taking some role
or other in every business venture proposed. Perhaps we just have time on
our hands. Presumably, the current Mana proposal is a commercial operation
and they will seek a consent from GW in accordance with the Regional
Coastal Plan. If this is the case, we might wish to be a submitter, although
I find it hard to imagine why unless it is to welcome commercial activity.
We might have concerns about the impact of the attraction on our roads, coastline
etc. Yet these things seem minimal, and obvious, and hardly worth diverting
our officers' time. Anyway, if there is a Council aspect it will be raised
by our officers in whatever is the appropriate way. If the trip Jenny proposes
is a joy ride, we can observe that there are plenty of joy rides to be had
around Council. I cannot see much harm in the trip if councillors want to
attend, but I will not be going.
regards to all
r
Marilyn Tucker wrote:
> Kia ora Jenny , thank you for you invitation.
> I do not trhink thats it appropriate or advisable for DCouncillors to
> be involved in the way in which you are pproposing.
> It is not , in my view appropriate for Councillors to meet the
> advocates of such a proposal with out the Council Officers having had
> the opportunity to make an assessment of the implication for Council of
> the concept. It would be preferable to have the proposal presented in
> detail but even an indicative response from officers of the issues
> likely to be required to be dealt with is the important starting
> pointfor consideration by the Council
> It does seem to me that mr Zeeman should be meeting with Council
> Officers ,who have the responsibility ( and skills ) to deal with such
> ideas in the concept stages of thier development.
> I will not be attending.
> Regards Ken Douglas
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Jenny Brash - PCC <mailto:JBrash@pcc.govt.nz>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 08, 2005 10:56 AM
> *Subject:* Invite
>
> Dear Councillors I met with Marco Zeeman yesterday from SINKF69- he
> has a Dive wreck proposal he wants PCC to consider. He and his
> international team of experts of Sinking operators are presently
> preparing the Frigate Wellington for sinking off Island Bay on
> Saturday. There is a another well known boat he is offering to sink
> for us off Mana Island. He is already having discussions with Matiu
> Rei and Ra Pomare for Ngati Toa and Richard Haigh of the Dive Spot.
> Marco is an ex- Pukerua Bay resident so knows our area. He is
> presently assisting Peter Jackson on King Kong with the freighter
> used in the movie. It is this freighter that they are planning to
> sink 20kms off shore unless we are interested in using it as a dive
> attraction. It is early days yet and Ngati Toa need to be happy
> about this proposal before it goes any further. However, if they
> are, the next stop for Marco and his team will be to come to Council
> with a proposal as resources will be needed (of course!) As the
> Frigate Wellington will be sunk on Friday he is happy to show
> Councillors over the Frigate which is moored at Te Papa either in
> Wellington on Thursday morning or Wednesday lunchtime if any of you
> are interested in seeing how these boats are prepared prior to
> sinking to be used as divewrecks. Marco is very clear that there
> can be no commitment from PCC at this stage - this is a genuine open
> invite for any of you that are interested in seeing how these boats
> are prepared. Don't wear your best clothes- (jeans etc) and you
> would need to wear sneakers or soft shoes. I spoke to some if you
> last night after the workshop about this - can you confirm by e-mail
> of phone to my office if you are interested. Jenny Brash >
Tuesday, November 8, 2005
A WIT
One blog supporter writes from Australia: "I was looking at porirua.net today with interest. Keep on trucking (pardon the pun)."
Monday, November 7, 2005
PLIMMERTON RESIDENTS' ASSOOCATION
Plimmerton Residents' Association Inc
Minutes of Meeting
held at Plimmerton Pavilion
on 26 September 2005 at 7.30pm
Present : Helen Chipper (Chairperson)
Janita Stuart (Treasurer)
Diane Sprowell (Secretary)
George McNeillage
Pip Piper
Tim Sheppard
Barry Cook
Mescal Bradey
Meryl Harwood
Councillors : Euon Murrell
John Green
Robert Shaw
PCC: -
GWRC: -
Visitors: Roger Beauchamp
Robyn Jones
1. Welcome and Introduction
Helen Chipper, Chairperson, welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Apologies : John Lambie; Jenny Brash ; Maureen Gillon
3. Minutes from Meeting held on 22 August 2005
Moved that the minutes from the PRA Meeting held on 22 August 2005 be accepted as a true and correct record of the meeting.
JS/MH Carried.
4. Matters Arising:
Hongoeka residents have issues with PCC encouraging public use of private land for public thoroughfare. HC has written to Roger Blakeley re this issue.
Commuter Carparking – nothing further to report.
There were no further Matters Arising.
5. Financial Report
The PRA Treasurer, Janita Stuart, presented the Financial Report as at 24 September 2005 (copy attached). This report was in a new format which was circulated and discussed. Helen Chipper commented that the $2,000 held over from the Community Arts Fund should be itemised separately in the Financial Report. JS agreed to do this.
JS advised that she had applied for an exemption from withholding tax, as we are a non-profit organisation.
HC queried re internet banking would be an option for people to use for paying subscriptions. Discussion followed and it was agreed that we should put our bank account number on the membership form and also put the details into the November issue of News & Views, to make it easier for people to join the PRA .
There being no further discussion, the financial report was accepted
JS/TS Carried
• Correspondence
As per list attached to the agenda, plus some additional items received after agenda prepared.
Discussed and accepted.
• Karehana Park Open Drain
Roger Beauchamp presented an update on the issue of the open drain and flooding in the Karehana Park area. ( Pip Piper had circulated information via email prior to the meeting).
RB told the meeting that there were continuing flooding problems despite remedial work having been undertaken in the area. This was caused by high spring tides, full moons and seaweed is pushed up the drain, creates a dam and water backs up in Karehana Park . The open drain in Karehana Park is considered a danger – children play in the area and to date PCC do not seem to consider anything needs to be done to remedy the situation.
RB went on to comment on the general state of facilities in the area, e.g. dangerous and dirty toilets and problems with rubbish collection.
Pip Piper confirmed the information presented by RB and discussion followed about the amenities in general in the area.
Mescal Bradey advised letters had been sent to PCC in regard to the state of the toilets in the past, but nothing had been done.
Agreed PP should send a letter to PCC on this subject. PP/DS Carried.
John Green acknowledged that the current state of the toilets is unacceptable and that the current contractor had been terminated and a new contractor appointed. There appears to be an inadequate level of performance monitoring. JG undertook to report back to the PRA Committee. Euon Murrell also undertook to follow up this issue, although he said that the toilets in the area are generally old and need to be replaced.
Roger Beauchamp advised he was going to make it a public health issue.
8. Plimmerton Promenade Update
HC advised that the PP Group were to meet on Tuesday, 27 September to put the information which came out of the public meeting into the concept plans.
Louise Dunning is to then finalise the plans so that the project can be included in the PCC budget round for costing.
Barry Cook thanked Helen for all her efforts. PRA has a good partnership with PCC and both organisations want to get things moving in regard to the LTCCP.
• Coastal Highway Protest Strategy
Tim Sheppard has circulated a large amount of information by email and thanked members of the Committee who have volunteered to help in any way.
TS put a motion forward: “That the PRA contributes $1,000 to the Transmission Gully Action Group advertising fund”.
TS/JS Carried.
TS outlined the upcoming street meetings – all now have facilitators and there are now a group of people willing to assist with preparing submissions. These details will be available at the meetings.
Discussion followed on the whole subject of the roading issues and the stance of the various mayors, in particularly Kerry Prendergast.
John Green said that PCC has been working with the other Council CEOs in the region. He said that the PCC appreciate the level of support from the PRA and considers it outstanding to have a community as action orientated as Plimmerton is on this issue.
It was noted that PCC is totally united on this issue. The efforts of Roger Blakeley, Peter Bailey, Geoff Marshall and Roger Foley were noted with appreciation.
• Golf Driving Range on the Domain
John Green advised that PCC Officers will make a report to the next meeting of the Recreation Committee. It was noted that Councillors and Council Officers need to be aware that there could be other users for the Domain. Several sports groups have indicated an interest in using the Domain. There could be up to 90% of the local residents who do not realise what the impact of the proposed Golf Driving Range would be.
It was suggested that an email should be sent out to the PRA Database on this subject. HC & DS to action.
Discussion followed on the need for a dedicated management plan to be developed. There are still a number of issues to be worked through and if the proposal gains the backing of PCC, it would need to go to public consultation, with competing interests being taken into account.
Further discussion took place on the issue of rating fairness within Porirua City and that PCC has a responsibility to look for other areas of income. HC considered the use of the land should be put out to tender so that any developer had the right to apply for use of the land.
• Porirua Suburban Character Study
Document circulated. It is designed to provide the basis of information for the review of the District Plan and discussion followed on the need to consider opportunities for further development and identification of what areas need to be protected. Janita Stuart suggested that the PRA needed to have input into the draft District Plan now before the first draft is released.
12. Porirua Sports and Events Centre Initial Costings
It was noted that Chris Linnell and Gary Simpson of PCC had sent the requested information to HC. It was also noted that there were very low attendances at the public meetings, with 64 written submissions being received from a population of 50,000 people.
A recommendation has been made that the project goes forward for consideration in the LTCCP.
Discussion followed on the consultation process and whether it was the right options for the City. PRA expressed a core concern that it might be a project funded by loan capital with the potential to adversely impact on rates.
Councillors advised that the next stage is that the project needs to meet the financial definition of significance to go to public consultation. JS commented that it should not be buried in the LTCCP consultation process – the policy of significance identifies that this project warrants its own consultation.
HC noted her feeling that the consultation process is not robust enough. Euon Murrell explained that a lot more information needs to be put forward before the project can proceed any further.
Discussion then followed on the merits of building a new centre versus rebuilding/renovating the existing facility
The following motion was put forward:
“That the PRA expresses its concern at the proposed capital cost if PCC decides to proceed to the next planning stage for the proposed Sports Centre, then every endeavour should be made to maximise funding from sources other than loan capital which would have adverse implications for rates.”
TS/MH Carried.
7 In Favour/2 Absentions
A further motion was put forward:
“That the PRA wishes to convey to the Porirua City Council that we are not in favour of considering a Sports Centre for the City at this cost.”
GMcN/JS
Motion Not Carried.
2 In Favour/7 Absentions
Final comments on this subject were that there is a concern that the project is being sold as having economic benefits vs the public good.
• Community Email Database Update
DS reported that we now have 194 people on the database. There has been very positive feedback from this method of keeping the community updated with information.
• Other Business
• Proposed Truck By-Law
Robert Shaw advised that this was an attempt to keep trucks off arterial routes unless they are servicing the community. This included Grays Road and Paekakariki Hill Road .
Helen Chipper drew a parallel with the Quarry Trucks in Plimmerton, but RS said that the two issues were very different.
John Green commented that we needed to be careful that we did not simply transfer the problem to another areas.
• Porirua City Action Forum
Covers Health & Housing, Youth, Business, Education and Training. JS advised that there is a meeting scheduled for Thursday, 13 October from 1.00pm – 3.00pm . Janita Stuart put forward a paper on this issue. John Green said that Porirua must have city-wide outcomes, e.g. schools, hospitals etc. and a review process for all provider groups.
We have been invited to attend and have input - Pip Piper volunteered to attend on behalf of the PRA .
iii) Economic, Social and Impact Study of Policy on Gambling and TAB VenuesJS advised that PCC have stated that a review cannot be undertaken as resources are not available to complete the study. The purpose of the review was to prove whether the policy was right or wrong. Suggested that JS should write to the PCC suggesting that the review should take place.
iv) Function of Council Helen Chipper put on record that community organisations such as the PRA are currently carrying a heavy work load with a huge level of input within the current Council framework. Robert Shaw agreed and undertook to discuss with Council.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9:45pm
Date of next meeting: Monday, 31 October at 7.30pm . Chair – Tim Sheppard
Minutes taken by Diane Sprowell, Secretary 1 October 2005
MANA ESPLANADE CLEARWAYS ISSUES
Monday 7/11 – 7.30 pm – update situation Mana Esplanade .
Thank you Transit for acquiescing to our request to place cones to indicate the start of the parking lanes during non clearway periods. Though today there were no cones further along the length of these lanes (as we also suggested) ,from what I observed it mostly ‘did the trick’ of keeping traffic out of the parking lane. However being a Monday the traffic was very light. We’ll have to wait for a heavy traffic day to see whether cones just indicating the start of parking lanes will deter people swinging back into the parking lane or use it as an inside passing lane.
It also appears that the police handing out speeding tickets is having some effect. The traffic was definitely a bit slower though as far as I can judge still travelling at more than 50 kph this evening.
I received one complaint. The ‘cone people’ seem to be a bit previous setting out cones in preparation for the ‘clearway period’ (to indicate that there will be no parking). Though there are little notices stating no parking from 3.30 to 6.30 pm, the print is so small that people will assume that the no parking period has started when the cones are in place, which today was at 3 pm.
I took the dog for a walk during the ‘clearway T2 period’ to see what was happening and noticed a large stock truck with trailer using the kerbside lane as well as several smaller trucks. It also appears that some people are unable to count to 2 and keep travelling in the T2 lane with only 1 person in the car. Some motorists also appear to have slow reactions (or have noticed the man in the orange jacket with the camera) and suddenly decide to merge into the stream of traffic in the right hand lane well past the beginning of the T2 lane.
As far as pedestrians are concerned I was not amused that due to the disappearance of the pedestrian crossing by Marina View I had to walk all the way to and under the bridge and back again to get to the Bridgepoint shops. I did consider trying to cross the road but despite having years of experience dodging traffic to cross the road I decided it was just too dangerous. It does not help that the long trudge to the bridge is along a stretch of road which even in the best of weather is very exposed and the walkway under the bridge completely out of sight of anybody. Not a place I like to frequent when unaccompanied.
Walking back along the Esplanade I did marvel at the difference the new noise deadening road surface has made. The noise of passenger cars travelling along the kerbside lane at a speed not too much over 50 kph was not too intrusive. Whether cars will throw up spray drenching pedestrians during ‘clearway periods’ in wet weather has yet to be discovered.
The best was saved for last. There is a traffic light at Pascoe Avenue! Rather than having to run the gauntlet of the traffic to cross the road I pushed a button, waited not much longer than before and walked across in safety and at leisure. Great !
So a mixed bag of some good and some bad.
November 7, 2005
Trevor Boone writes Monday, November 7, 2005:
At last – a hint that they do care….
I spent time on Saturday evening walking on Mana Esplanade.
Inside 30 mins I counted 4 actual near misses with traffic swerving into another
lane and/or coming to a sudden stop
because the road was blocked (by some idiot parking in their 4 lane road).
There were also 2 incidents of road rage observed.
It’s only a matter of time….
Much as I hate to suggest it, maybe a solution is the green painted road a la Mt Eden Rd , Lambton Quay..
Expecting people to keep right is an un-natural act.
Bearing in mind the 1 st rule of the road code is keep left, one can hardly
be surprised that making an exception on
one small piece of road doesn’t work.
One can also ask why in heck T2 was decided upon (by what process?) for a
small bit of urban road leading to nowhere?
T2 would be fine as the last stretch to a destination but in the middle of
nowhere?
The novel concept of clearways (as per the environment court) is a lot easier and more efficient too.
Trevor Boone
----------
10.30 pm – update situation Mana Esplanade November 6, 2005
Some good news !
Many phone calls etc have resulted in Transit at last agreeing to place cones at the start of the ‘dedicated parking lanes’ during non-clearway periods to try and keep traffic in the right hand lane. I have just checked and can report that on the eastern side there are even a few cones about midway along the length of the parking lane, as requested, to deter the traffic from using it if no cars happened to be parked. No cones, except at the start of the parking lanes, on the western side (as yet?). Some progress at last. We will find out tomorrow wait and see in the right hand lane. result.the Kapiti Man Arrea Police Commandered at 85 kph !hecked) omfrotable Ricky whether this has the hoped for result of keeping all traffic in the right hand lane.
We also had a site meeting this afternoon with Inspector John Spence, the Kapiti Mana Area Police Commander (arranged by Roger Blakeley (PCC)). Amongst other things we learnt that traffic along the Esplanade had been clocked travelling at up to 85 kph. Even faster than we thought. November 6, 2005
Sunday 3.30 pm Sunday, November 6, 2005 - Update situation Mana Esplanade
Mana Esplanade still trying to operate as a 4 lane motorway.
Traffic still under the impression that the kerbside lane is a normal lane and ducking in and out of same swerving round cars parked in the ‘designated parking lane’. Many sudden swerves and near collisions due to ducking in and out between parked cars have been observed along the road.
To mention just one:
Eyewitness account from resident at no 96 near Mana View Traffic lights.
Mr McCrae rang to express great concern about the imminence of a fatal accident as southbound traffic which stacks up in the inside (turn off into Mana View) lane at the traffic light, when proceeding in the kerbside lane when the light turns green suddenly come upon cars legally parked in the ‘dedicated’ parking lane. He has observed many near misses when the traffic (and he made particular mention of motor homes) have to suddenly swerve into the right hand lane, which obviously has traffic in it as well, to avoid colliding with the parked cars. He queried whether Transit’s lack of care and concern about the situation was prosecutable under OSH.
The new Regional Manager of Transit, Mr Graham Taylor, has been contacted again today and once again apprised of the situation and our earlier requests for the designated parking lanes to be made obvious by placing ‘cones’ at regular intervals (in the meantime) has been repeated. Mr Taylor appears to be of the opinion that whatever has been done so far is sufficient and no assurances that the situation will be addressed have so far been forthcoming.
Judi Sunday, November 6, 2005
Saturday 5 pm – update situation Mana Esplanade
For those people who have been just added to the mailing list a short recap of what has happened since the traffic lights and ‘clearway’ system came on stream.
OVER THE LAST FOUR DAYS MANA ESPLANADE HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY
This is contrary to:
· Assurances from Transit to the Environment Court that the kerbside lanes would only ever be used by “high occupancy vehicles” during restricted clearway hours;
· Clear understandings that, at all other times, the kerbside lanes would be used for parking only and would act as a buffer between the traffic and properties.
Transit is obliged to ensure that the kerbside lanes are restricted to parking only during all non-peak times. This is not just to allow residents and visitors to park, but also to move the traffic away from the narrowed footpaths, to make it safer for residents to enter or exit their properties and to keep the traffic further away from properties for noise, vibration and air quality reasons.
Instead, we have traffic using all four lanes at all times of the day and night, with heavy vehicles in particular travelling right next to the kerb, others swerving dangerously at the last minute to avoid the occasional parked car or vehicles trying to get out of properties, and abuse of people parking in the lanes. Most residents are not prepared to park their vehicles in the kerbside lanes for fear of damage or causing accidents.
We have repeatedly asked Transit to rectify the situation, have made a number of suggestions and asked for a meeting. As a temporary measure, we have asked that they reinstate the orange cones in the kerbside lanes at regular intervals along the Esplanade to make the position clear. Transit’s response to date has been to change the variable message signs at each end to read “Through Traffic use Right Hand Lane”. This has proved to be ineffective as it is not monitored..
At time of writing 5.30 pm on Saturday afternoon, the road is still being used as a 4-lane highway with traffic travelling at speeds of between 61 and 69 kph.
It is very interesting to note that this afternoon contractors working for Transit assiduously put out cones along the footpath during the designated ‘clearway’ period advising that there is no parking during the designated ‘clearway’ period. After the ‘clearway’ period finished however, the contractors instead of shifting the cones into the parking lane to indicate that this lane was now ‘parking only’, took the cones away. What is sauce for the goose does not appear to be sauce for the gander.
Ergo Transit is educating the public that during ‘clearway’ periods only cars carrying 2 passengers are allowed to use the kerbside lane but at all other times it is a free for all and are thus introducing a permanent 4-lane highway by stealth.
For your information excerpt from email from a resident on the western side of the Mana Esplanade:
“I am reluctant to park the car on the road because of the risk of accidents. The rigmarole apart from getting the insurance money or compensation is too much of a nuisance. The noise has increased considerably, The noise and fumes of cars starting up when the lights turn green is more than what we experienced before hush glass was put in our windows. Not only when starting up, The big trucks seem to disregard the request to not use engine breaking when stopping or slowing down.
The use of the kerb lane by trucks is indefensible. The people I have spoken to say that it has become dangerous to use the footpath. The slipstream is upsetting and when it rains the spray that comes with it will drench anyone using the footpath.
On coming from the North, we are now obliged to go all the way to the Paremata round-about to be able to turn into our driveway. I used the middle strip once, but the fast moving traffic on both my sides with only inches to spare is utterly forbidding.”
Can we have an assurance that Transit will be liable for the full costs of any damage to parked cars and the cost of hiring a replacement vehicle and will also be liable for compensation for any injury or worse suffered by residents due to their cavalier attitude to the conditions under which they were given consent to proceed with the ‘interim upgrade’?
Judi
November 5, 2005
Judi
I sent my comments of my observations using the Esplanade before
I saw this note. Twice when I was down there this morning I saw no evidence
of any monitoring and the the signs were atrocious. The T2 was not being
observed, the queue was travelling at approx 61km per hour and on the return
trip the T2 lane was closed but in full use - yes I know that's a contradiction!!. On
my first trip north I needed to change lanes to the left to get into the supermarket. Vehicles
did not want to let me in and I had the same experience you refer to when slowing
down to turn left even though indicating, of a ute right up my bum who just
about hit me. As it stands the Esplanade is a series of accidents waiting
to happen. It is certainly not a pleasant environment to drive even if
it is moving traffic through and I imagine at the moment its even worse to
live in. Cheers John Green. Saturday, November 5, 2005
Saturday morning – update situation Mana Esplanade. Saturday, November 5, 2005
Mana Esplanade still operating as a 4 lane motorway, traffic still travelling well over 50 kph and using all 4 lanes. Trucks still using kerbside lane at all times despite sign advising them to use right hand lane. Nobody apparently monitoring that signs are obeyed. No cones in the parking lane (as requested) to keep traffic out of buffer/parking lane to allow residents to access the road and/or park with a modicum of safety until such time as Transit can make this project work.
ALSO : long haul trucks travelling through at night now habitually use the kerbside lane adding to the noise/vibration nuisance.
Observed this morning : 4 wheel drive car in the kerbside lane (outside ‘clearway’ period) travelling at speed and so nearly running over cyclist who was keeping strict left that it took my breath away. Car didn’t even bother swerve to the right and was still well within the lane. A very, very near miss.
Experienced this morning : When in my car in the buffer/parking lane a delivery truck approached from behind at speed and tried to bully me to get out of the way. Truck swerved at the very last moment and tightly swerved around my car back into the buffer/parking lane.
Judi
PS
Could somebody please let me have an email address at the Land Safety Authority. I am sure they would be interested.
5 pm update – situation Mana Esplanade - September 17, 2006
I have just walked from 48 Mana Esplanade (opposite the Mana Motel) to Acheron Road and was amazed that nowhere did I see any people in orange jackets monitoring what was happening. If it is left to residents to do the monitoring should we should be put on a retainer.
The northbound T2 lanes seem to be operating smoothly though the traffic still seems to be travelling rather fast and quite a few trucks still use the kerbside lane.
The southbound traffic at this time of day stacks up at the traffic light in the two lanes provided and those in the inside lane continue to travel in the kerbside lane, despite a mad old woman with a dog waving them over into the middle lane ! Shouldn’t your staff be doing that ?
Ergo the southbound lanes have reverted to traffic in both lanes until the kerbside traffic is brought to a sudden halt by a car manoeuvring out of a driveway or by parked cars which creates very interesting situations and consequent difficulties when they try to merge back into the right hand lane.
Further to my last email it occurred to me that the problems in the northbound lanes would be greatly alleviated by the immediate installation of traffic lights at Marina View which would not only serve to slow the traffic, but outside clearway hours would give the traffic time to realise it has to merge into one lane and at the same allow residents of and or patronising the businesses in Marina View, as well as all those living in the town house complexes between Marina View and Pascoe Avenue, the opportunity to get on to the road safely.
Judi Doornbos
Friday, November 4, 2005
Roger/Peter,
For your information. Currently, outside the clearway
periods, traffic is using all four lanes and big trucks in particular are using
the kerbside lanes at considerable speeds. As a result people are reluctant
to park in those lanes which exacerbates the situation. I hope the PCC
will support our demand/request for urgent action as this is both an amenity
and a safety issue - like the Mana View intersection lights and pedestrian
crossing request on which we have yet to receive the courtesy of a response
from Transit! The condition referred to states: " 43A During
detailed design, and prior to completion of construction of the Work, having
regard to the interests of residents, Transit shall consult with the Plimmerton
Residents Assn Inc and the Paremata Residents Assn Inc in respect of methods
including advisory or variable message signs: (a) To discourage drivers from
travelling in the kerbside lanes during off-peak hours and to encourage driver
courtesy; and (b) To encourage heavy commercial vehicles to use the central
lane at all times of the day."
Russell M. ----- Original Message
----- From: Russell
Morrison To: Graham
Taylor - TNZ ; Rick
van Barneveld Cc: Simon
Cribb - TNZ Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 12:23 PM Subject: Mana
Esplanade - 4 laning
Rick and Graham, I have just spoken to Simon Cribb and asked that immediate
action be taken to stop vehicles regarding Mana Esplanade as a four-lane road
and using the kerbside lanes outside of the clearway periods. You should
be aware that this is quite contrary to the evidence given to the Environment
Court -and was a major concern of the Court, as evidenced by inclusion of condition
43A in the Court's decision. I suggested to Simon that - at least
as a temporary measure - the orange cones be put back across the lanes at regular
intervals down the Esplanade and only removed during the relevant clearway hours. We
ask that you ensure this happens immediately and we are advised of what other
action you intend to take .
Russell Morrison for Paremata Residents Association
To all members of the PRA committee.
For your information.
Referring to the correspondence below.
This is not what I understood had been agreed on. We agreed on ‘clearways’ which meant the road would revert to a 2 lane road outside ‘clearway’ hours. We have been duped!
One of the objects of the exercise was to keep big trucks in the middle lane. However, the big trucks are now travelling in the kerbside lane at speeds higher than 50 km (as far as I can judge) and people are reluctant to park as they are confused.
What can we do ?
Judi
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Blyth [mailto:bob.blyth@beca.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 10:37 AM
To: Judi Doornbos
Cc: m.nelson@higgins.co.nz; Andrew Paterson; Peter J Davies;
Peter Bradshaw; Geoff Griffiths; Kevin.Locke@transit.govt.nz
Subject: RE: Thurs 3 Nov
Hi Judi
Outside T2 periods, the kerbside lanes are available both for parking and use by travelling vehicles. For example, southbound after 09:30 am, the T2 restrictions are not in place, so vehicles travelling southbound can use both lanes but also vehicles are permitted to park in the kerbside lane. Vehicles travelling in the kerbside lane will have to contend with these parked vehicles.
The T2 lanes worked extremely well last evening and again this morning.
Kind regards
Bob
Bob Blyth
Senior Associate, Infrastructure
Beca Infrastructure Ltd.
COUNCILLOR LIZ KELLY ON A CELL TOWER
Kia ora So that there is no surprises I propose to put forward under urgent business tonight a request that priority be given to identifying available sites for future usage around our city for telecommunications. The consensus from the public meeting held at Takapuwahia which was well attended and had TV 3 reporting was that PCC should take a pro active approach rather then reactive. By this it was suggested that it be identified by PCC where we will allow these sites and that they be for multiple use and is the responsibility of the telecommunications companies to design and develop there needs for those sites. The meeting was a bit like the league of nations there were residents speaking who were originally from Italy, France, USA, Canada and Eastern Europe they spoke of different options and it was generally very informative. In Italy, France and USA the above approach is what is used. I support this approach in principal and believe we need to be seen to be listening to what the community have indicated. Given there is nothing in our papers tonight which addresses this issue and that there is a growing resentment that we as Councilors are doing nothing I suggest we use this opportunity tonight to show our communities we are interested and will not hide behind the excuse of delegated authority or District Plans. Each meeting that is being held is growing in support. By way of a solution to the problem we have with the existing 2 consents that have been approved. I have flagged the idea to some of the kaumatuas to site the cell towers along the Titahi Bay Main Road and to have them dressed up as the proposed po that would be along the board walk in our village strategy for Takapuwahia. So far it has been favourable and there is support for the idea but I am waiting for confirmation from a meeting. I am asking for your considerations and support to have this issue as a priority raised at the table tonight. I feel if we can do this tonight as a unanimous Council we will go a long way to nipping the growing resentment within our communities and by providing a possible solution to the existing problem we will be able to maintain a desirable relationship with multinational companies that may want to invest in our city. I thought this method was a better way to let you know where I was coming from rather then to perhaps draw out the meeting tonight. I have asked for officer help to word the resolution but am happy to be guided by your experience. Regards Liz
ROBERT COMMENTS
The meeting carried a motion saying the councillors sought resolution of the
issues. The Council must alter the District Plan regarding such structures. We
are not just dealing with Vodafone, but there are several companies with towers
and others seeking to establish towers. Putting them all in reserves is not
a strategy we want to adopt either! We must remember these companies are only
here to make money. When towers are established the ratepayers should expect
a considerable income stream from them. Remember these companeies charge us
by traffic (ie use), and the Council should charge them the same way. I have
asked for a review of the charging policy for telecoms facilities.
r
Wednesday, November 2, 2005
TRANSMISSION GULLY - 98% SUPPORT IN SUBMISSIONS
Support for Transmission Gully this time is at the same level as in previous
consultation exercises. So far, over 2,000 submissions on the issue
have appeared at Greater Wellington. 98 percent of them support Transmission
Gully. Submissions close this Friday.
Submit
online http://www.gw.govt.nz/section1676.cfm
Wednesday, November 2, 2005
GREY POWER & TRANSMISSION GULLY
81.2% of Grey Power Porirua members support Transmission Gully. Good to have
their proactive survey on the matter. The question that needs to be addressed
- are they prepared to pay something towards the road? We must be willing to
pay through a petrol tax, rates increase, or tolls. There is no free lunch.
If we are clever about the finance, we will get the money back. A public-private
sector partnership that generates money from tolls could ultimately return
the ratepayers' money, with interest. I just hope the ratepayers $200,000 investment
in the debate is being spent to work out such details, so a practical proposal
can be placed before the decision-makers (as opposed to the nutty
idea of building half the Gully road).
r
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
POOR WOMAN - THE KAPI MANA NEWS GETS IT WRONG
The Kapi Mana News is corrected on three counts by Joy Gray. First, she does
not have 10 children, as reported. Second, she does not own a farm in Gisborne,
as was reported. And, third, she did not say "rich Whitby people".
Well the Kapi Mana admits the first two mistakes but not the third. Those who
said that Mrs Gray has 10 children and owned a farm in Gisborne, could not,
of course, be wrong about anything else. Nor, evidently, can they view sympatheticly
a misleading statement.
r
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
WE HAVE IT COVERED
Read the list of "community outcomes" proposed for the City by the Council. Everything is there - we have it all covered. The result is of course that we achieve none of it. The whole point of "strategic focus" is to eliminate things and achieve the key goals. So does the Council have the ability to decide priorities, or will we keep on putting up rates and doing everything to some extent all the time.
Jenny Brash appears in the advertisments for the "community outcomes" under
the heading "We need your input". Well she is right about that
- they need you to pay rates.
r
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Final note:
The purpose of this blog is to inform those with an interest in Porirua City and the Wellington Region about issues and opinions. I hope that debate develops and in that way our region becomes smarter and the councils make better decisions. The letters copied here are in their original form, and not the way they were published by the newspaper. Most of the letters were sent to the Kapi Mana News, The Porirua News, The Dominion-Post, the Whitby NewsBrief, or the Northerner. The statements from others are not edited or sanitised.
Robert Shaw
Porirua City Councillor