Minutes of the Newtown Residents’ Association
Monday 15th March at Newtown Hall, Daniell Street at 7.30pm

Present: Nick Jennings, Anna Kemble Welch, Martin Hanley, Peter Frater, Cr Ian McKinnon, Cr Celia Wade Brown, Steve Dunn, Mathew Grainger (Progressive Enterprises)

Apologies: Tom Law

Previous minutes: February minutes are yet to be circulated.

Newtown Fair
Ian McKinnon wanted to record that the Newtown Street Fair was a tremendous and outstanding event.  It was well organised, had colour and vitality and there was generally a good feeling.  He felt that the event has got to continue.  It gives morale and self-esteem to the community.  WCC is doing a review of Community Fairs.  Newtown Street Fair will either be considered in the Annual Plan or Community Fair funding.  A 4 year business plan is being submitted to Council for ongoing long term funding.

Progressive Supermarket, John Street
Matthew Grainger outlined changes to the design since the last presentation in November 2009.  Changes included, 7 specialty shops (previously 5), travellators  (like sloping conveyor belts for trolleys and people) instead of ramps, a new pedestrian entrance from Hanson St and verandas on all road frontages.
The car vehicle crossing on Adelaide Rd has been reduced to 5m making it easier for pedestrians..  The loading zone is fully enclosed. The internal layout has been flipped over to allow art display windows with staffroom windows above looking out to Hanson Street as well as more glass and visibility into the supermarket from John Street.  Changes to road layout to showing the final arrangement include aligning the Adelaide Road kerb close to the current boundary, extending the triangular ‘nose’ to make the intersection smaller, new traffic signals on  Hanson / John Street.
Building construction could start later this year and be over a 18 month period.

Further suggestions from the meeting included providing seats (2) on the footpath at the John St bus stop, repeating the brick bullnose kerb and clay paving infill for the John St corner to link in with Riddiford St detailing, ensure containment of noise from refrigeration / AC vents.

John Street heritage corner
Celia reported that many building owners do not want the John St corner to become a heritage area but NRA members see it as an important part of our heritage and the key entrance to the suburb.  We propose to support a heritage listing during the public consultation process.

Residents.org.nz
Nick showed a copy of technical information that will be presented to windfarm hearing.  He asked for the NRA support for residents.org.nz to establish a database of information that could be used by residents when objecting to windfarms.  There was not a quorum and the meeting could not agree on how that support might be given.

Town Belt Tree clearance
Draft letters and maps showing proposed tree clearance near the Berhampore Golf Club (earmarked for a community orchard) and a triangular 0.7ha area from the end of Coromandel and Lawrence Streets and above Owen St, extending to the south (hazardous).  Memebers wanted tracks made for truck access to be reformed to a more pedestrian scale and that a construction plan be prepared to limit mess on nearby streets.

Our condolences go to Tom and Eleanor Law on the bereavement of Eleanor’s mother.

Next meeting is on Monday 19th April.
Speakers include Trevor Bullen (Safer Roads), Steve Spence (Roading strategy) and Arch Centre rep (Basin Reserve proposals)

Meeting closed at 10.15pm. Steve Dunn     Minutes