Our part of town has the unusual distinction of being home base to not one but two of the country’s top harrier clubs.  Wellington Harriers Athletic Club (WHAC) lives on Alexandra Road in the winter and is based at Newtown Park in the summer track season.  Wellington Scottish Harriers is based at Prince of Wales Park in Mt Cook.  Members of both clubs are involved in the fantastic childrens’ athletics programme that runs on Saturday mornings at Newtown Park over the Summer.  While both clubs have members from all over the city bit it was still a buzz to see people from each of these locally based outfits recognised at the recent Wellington Sportsperson of the Year Awards.

Congratulations to Louise Evans McDonald from WHAC who won Administrator of the Year, and Peter Wrigley from Scottish who won Official  of the Year.  Louise’s award relates largely to the huge role she has played in recent years in children’s athletics in the city.  Peter officiates at a huge range of running and walking events and the 2012 London Olympics were his second as a race walking judge.  He has also achieved the rare feat of finishing in excess of 100 marathon races.

The initial round of community engagement finished in late April, and the formal consultation on the draft policy starts on 2 July.  Those with a particular interest in the issues might well check out the reports considered by the WCC Strategy Committee of 20 June (Report 3 and Appendices).  Of particular interest are the comments from the Medical Officer of Health based on an analysis of alcohol related visits to the Hospital Emergency Department.  “This analysis shows that problem binge drinking and “preloading” is predominantly taking place in the Southern, Lambton and Eastern wards. The Mt Cook, Te Aro, Newtown, Brooklyn, Island Bay, Miramar/Strathmore Park and Kilbirnie/Melrose stand out as problem areas.”  Food for thought!  Although one or two sceptics have wondered whether data from the Hospital Emergency Department really captures the incidence of alcohol related harm, or merely records proximity to and the accessibility of the Hospital.

Next week is National Volunteer Week.  According to the 2006 census data, Newtown, Berhampore and Mt Cook all have lower rates of volunteering than the averages for Wellington City and the Wellington Region.  Regard that as a challenge, people!!

The Association’s paper looking at the lessons to be learned from last year’s major works around the intersection of John and Riddiford Streets and, Adelaide Road has been further refined since the drafts we posted on our website.  Now entitled “The John Street Protocols” this was confirmed by resolution at our June meeting, and officially presented to the full City Council meeting on Thursday 27 June.

Communities accept that at times there will be a need for major infrastructure works in our neighbourhoods. Our policy paper The John St Protocols looks at performance measures for such works being expanded to include steps to understand any negative local impacts, and positive steps to mitigate those as much as possible.

A public works project that achieves its engineering and financial objectives but leaves behind it a frustrated and disillusioned community does damage to the council’s reputation, and should not be regarded as a successful project.

The Association extends its sympathy to our near neighbours affected by the Priscilla Crescent lanslip.  The slip, near the Berhampore golf course, happened, with what appears no warning, at about 4.30am on Saturday 1 June 2013. As a result the Council and emergency services evacuated a number of houses above the slip in Priscilla Crescent and Breton Close.
A phone call at 6am with a request to open Newtown Hall in Daniell St in Newtown marked the start of a further step in the response of the Wellington City Council to assist affected resident who were unable to return. Cups of tea and toast were provided in the reasonably warm shelter of the hall by volunteers and Wellington Region Emergency Management staff.  About a dozen people took advantage of the help provided at Newtown Hall.  These folk were allowed to return to their homes around 11am.
Initial reports were that around 90 people were evacuated before daybreak, including about 30 residents of the Kilmarnock Heights Rest Home which was near the foot of the slip. The residents were evacuated to Huntleigh Rest Home in Karori but were allowed to return to Kilmarnock in the late afternoon. Access to the premises is limited due to slip rubble across the road. Anyone visiting Kilmarnock is asked to take care.
However, about 30 residents were unable to return to their houses. Council welfare and housing staff have found accommodation for those residents who could not find their own temporary accommodation. Residents were allowed to quickly go into six of the houses to gather essential items. However two of the houses are deemed too unsafe to enter given the fact the slip has undermined parts of their foundations.
CityCare, Council staff and many other experts are are still investigating the cause which at the time of writing has not been finally determined.

The Dompost reports that Netsafe has surveyed Newtown and found 55 wireless internet connections they could access freely.

Unsecured wireless internet means that your wireless router provides others with free downloads, and it allows hackers to access everything on your network !

The Dompost story on stuff has more details of Netsafe’s survey, and sensible advice on security.

Getting it sorted should not be a problem for those who are members of the Wellington Timebank.  The Timebank has several IT savy people on its books capable of giving advice and assistance ins securing your wireless.   To learn more about the Timebank and how to join see check out their website or drop Hannah a line at wgtn.timebank@gmail.com