We met on Monday June 15th at Newtown Hall at 71 Daniell St – the first face-to-face meeting since the covid-19 lockdown. We talked about Newtown issues and developments.
Category Archives: Consultation
Next Meeting – Monday 15th June 2020
Newtown Residents’ Association Meeting: Monday June 15th 2020, 7.30pm at the
Newtown Hall, 71 Daniell St
After two months of Zoom meetings we are able to meet in person again! However if you would still prefer to stay home and attend the meeting remotely, let us know – we can arrange for you to Zoom in to join us, but we need to be able to contact you!
The agenda will include an update on events and developments in Newtown.
We can also talk about Wellington City Council submissions – see WCC consultations – we recently submitted on the Parking Policy and the Annual Plan. Current consultations include the Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy Review, closing 26/6, and Fairer Rents for Council Tenants, closing 30/6, and it would be good to hear from people with an interest in these topics. Could you please have a look and either let us know your thoughts by email to newtownwellington@gmail.com or be ready to make a comment at the meeting?
We will also start to plan for a Meet the Candidates meeting for the Rongotai Electorate – nominations close 21 August, advance voting starts Saturday 5th September, and election day is the 19th September.
We are looking forward to seeing you on Monday evening – everyone welcome!
Submissions – Parking Policy and Annual Plan
On June 8th we made two submissions to Wellington City Council.
Draft Parking Policy – we approved the parking priorities as outlined in the policy, and said that we want to discuss the details as they apply to Newtown as part of Area Based Planning.
Draft Annual Plan 2020/21- we accepted the need for a 5.1% rates rise, but added that we approve of the proposal to defer rates payments without penalty where this is necessary to ameliorate financial hardship caused by covid-19. We also recommended publicising the Rates Rebate available to low income households.
We also approved of some other policies, see the full submission for details.
Minutes of the May meeting
We met again by Zoom on Monday 25th May. After a discussion of local issues and projects we moved to a discussion of the Wellington City Council Draft Parking Policy and Draft Annual Plan.
Submissions are due on June 8th for both of these consultations.
See the minutes of the meeting here.
Next Meeting Monday 25th May 2020
Newtown Residents’ Association Meeting
Monday 25th May 2020, 7-30-9.00pm, via Zoom
Our meeting was going to be on Monday 18th May, which is our regular 3rd Monday of the month, but there is a Wellington City Council Paekawakawa Southern Ward webinar to discuss the WCC Annual Plan and Parking Policy at 7pm on the 18th – see below for the details.
We have decided to postpone the Association meeting and encourage everyone to attend the webinar. Then we will be in a better position to discuss any submissions we might make as an Association.
On the 25th May we will meet by Zoom, as there are still significant restrictions on numbers for meetings. We will email a meeting link to our members and other regular meeting attendees. If you want to make sure you are on the list to get the link please email newtownwellington@gmail.com with ‘Zoom Meeting’ as the subject.
Paekawakawa Southern Ward –
A Kōrero about Your City 2020-21
7-8pm May 18th
You are invited to join the Mayor and Councillors from our Ward for a Q&A webinar session on the big issues facing the city, and what it means for our community.
For more information and to register, visit: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1625242419890892813. Please note that when you register you will be asked for your questions on the Annual Plan, Parking Policy and any other issues of concern, so it is a good idea to look at the consultation documents first.
In the 2020-21 Annual Plan Wellington City Council are proposing a 5.1% rates rise. Their position is that this balances Council’s loss in revenue against ensuring affordability for rate payers. See more details about the annual plan and other current consultations here: https://wellington.govt.nz/have-your-say/consultations. Submissions on the Annual Plan and Parking Policy will close on 8th June.
Minutes of the March 2020 Meeting
Minutes of the Newtown Residents’ Association meeting 16th March 2020
Present: Rhona Carson (Chair), Steve Cosgrove (Minutes), Leonie Walker, Jane Patterson, Jill Ford, Alison Borbelly, Keith Powell, Tom Law, Don McDonald, Warwick Taylor, Peter Frater, Effie Rankin, Faye Tohbyn, Lyn Morris, Sam Somers, Eileen Brown, Neville Carson, Kevin Lethbridge, Graeme Carroll, Merio Marsters, Marion Leighton.
Apologies: Paul Eagle, Dom Shaheen, Steve Dunn, Martin Hanley, Anna Kemble Welch, Jan Gould + Marion Leighton(for lateness)
Noted that Paul apologised because MPs have been advised to stay away from community meetings due to Covid-19 risks..
Rhona welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Newtown Festival
- Rhona thanked all the marshalls and other volunteers for helping. The meeting made an enthusiastic vote of thanks and appreciation to the organisers for another very successful Festival.
- Sadly there was one violent event later in the evening; this seemed to be the result of a personal conflict between two visitors to Newtown. The Police and Community Patrol were involved.
- Don asked what the noise policy is, as he worries about how loud the Festival is. Tom Law outlined the Council policy.
Wellington City Council Consultations
Parking Policy.
- Consultation opened today and will run till April 14th. WCC had a traveling road show on the subject in Newtown Mall this morning. It wasn’t widely advertised and no one at the meeting knew it was going to be there, or attended.
- Rhona noted that the policy is very high-level at this stage. We recommend that people look at the material on the website. The questions on the web site are quite general so Newtown-specific concerns would need to be added in narrative form.
- Some general issues were discussed.We will consider different things we can agree on, such as further communication with WCC to develop a Newtown-specific plan, and sensible Residents’ Parking areas and fees.
Planning for Growth
- The WCC Consultation Team were to have a Newtown Festival stall but cancelled because they were not quite ready to go.
- Next consultation meeting is on 26 March at Prefab – Jane and Rhona interested in going. No one had any further comment: Rhona suggested reading the web page and keeping up-to-date with progress on the development of a proposed spatial plan for the city.
- District Plan Review – this is beginning at the end of this year or early next.
Water
- Warrick is concerned that water metres are coming back into discussion. This has resulted in some suggesting we ‘need’ water metres to pay for replacement of aged infrastructure.
- A number of views were expressed regarding the pros and cons of water metering.
COVID-19
- Eileen Brown is working for the Council of Trade Unions developing plans and consolidating ideas for “managing the risk and flattening the curve”.
- The current situation was outlined, along with common narratives being used to describe the situation and management options. Eileen described then distributed some information.
- Marion Leighton (Consultant Physician at Wellington Hospital) arrived during this discussion, having been at a hospital meeting on the same topic. She outlined the hospital’s plans for managing an influx of seriously ill patients and also answered questions.
- Most important thing is to wash hands frequently and thoroughly, cough and sneeze into your elbow or tissues, don’t touch your face, avoid physical contact with others and self-isolate at the first sign of any symptoms.
- We are in this for the long-term, so make sure you have a reasonable plan.
Emergency Management Discussion
- Neville Carson outlined his background in Civil Defence (previous name for Emergency Management, and introduced “Wellington Conversations” – facilitated conversations on various topics which have been running in Newtown and elsewhere for several months.
- Neville is organising a meeting to discuss Emergency Management issues on 31 March, 7:30 to 9:30, at Newtown Hall, using a model based on Wellington Conversations.
Circus Performers – Steve informed the meeting that on Wednesday evening (18th Mcaarch) in Carrara Park circus performers will be performing with LED Hula hoops.
Meeting ended at 8:58
Minutes of the February 2020 meeting
Newtown Residents’ Association Meeting
17th February 2020 at Newtown Hall, 71 Daniell St
Present: Rhona Carson (Chair), Carol Comber, Sam Somers, Effie Rankin, Stephen Pritchard, Don McDonald, Jude Bleach, Joyce Gibson, Kevin Lethbridge, Peter Frater, Cr Fleur Fitzsimons, Warwick Taylor, Graeme Carroll, Jan gould, Alison Borbely, Jane Patterson, Cr Laurie Foon.
Apologies: Steve Cosgrove, Mark Johnston, Jared Corston, Martin Hanley, Anna Kemble Welch
In Memoriam: Nick Jennings. Warwick reported news that Nick died in Palmerston North in December. He spoke to Nick’s contribution to Newtown and to the Association as long term member and past President. The meeting honoured Nick’s passing with a minute’s silence.
Subscriptions – the Association rules require subscriptions to be set in February to come into force when the new financial year starts in July.
Motion – This meeting agrees that the Newtown Residents’ Association subscription for 2020 / 2021 will remain at a gold coin. Supporters are encouraged to make a donation in addition to this if they wish.
Proposed Rhona Carson, seconded Sam Somers. Carried.
Newtown Festival
Rhona outlined plans for the Newtown Festival on March 8th.
Request for volunteers – outlined roles for Festival Marshals and other helpers.
Great Newtown Garage Sale – 2 weeks after the Festival, on Saturday 21st March.
Parking Policy Consultation.
The next round of consultation will open in March. Fleur commented that the big issue will be Residents’ parking – how much, where, conditions -eg how many permits per household, possible restrictions on permits when properties have off-street parking available, etc.
Comment from the floor that parking is affected in streets where EV Charging Stations have been established – some debate about the pros and cons of having these stations on the street and whether it is appropriate for WCC to spend money on this trial.
Planning for Growth
Again, consultation on the draft spatial plan will start in March. The Planning for Growth team plans to have a stand at Newtown Festival.
Current and Planned works around Newtown
- The remodelling of the toilets by Newtown Library and the conversion of part of the building into a new Tool Library is underway.
- Mein St from Riddiford St to Daniell St is to be resurfaced. The work will be done at night from Sunday 22nd March and is expected to take 3 nights. Neighbours are being notified.
- The planned upgrade of the Newtown Community Centre has been delayed and is now expected to start in August. Budget constraints mean that the plans for upgrading Newtown Hall have had to be cancelled.
Neighbours’ Day Grant
WCC has granted the Association $400 to put towards a Neighbours’ Day event. However we haven’t yet made plans for this. By the time plans can be made it will be a bit late in the year for an evening outdoor event such as the ones we had at Newtown Park in past years. Brainstorming suggestions – contributing to further community dinners, such as the two at Newtown School in 2019; perhaps a Matariki event; etc. We need to collaborate with the Newtown Collective of community organisations again to progress these thoughts.
Future Consultations
Fleur and Laurie reported that the WCC Annual Plan discussions have begun in Council and public consultation will be coming up.
Greater Wellington Regional Council will be working on a 30 year plan. Suggestion to ask Daran Ponter to a future meeting to discuss this.
Other Business
Graeme asked Fleur about any update on the Earthquake Insurance taskforce. Looking for creative ideas for funding upgrades.
Warwick protested about WCC selling the Eco House, after leaving it empty for a long period while housing is urgently needed. A discussion about the history of this property.
Seeds for Feeds – local dinner at the old caltex station (Festival of Praise) on March 22nd, Bookings by Koha.
Effie talked about the need to recognise that Samuel Parnell (of 8 hr day fame) was part of Newtown’s history. Fleur was very interested in this and proposed following up with Effie.
The Meeting concluded at 9.00pm.
Minutes of the August meeting
Notes from the Newtown Residents’ Association Meeting – 19th August 2019
See here for the full minutes.
Ian McKinnon, current GWRC Councillor, spoke to the meeting as he is not standing again and this might be his last Newtown Residents’ Association meeting. He spoke about the bus service difficulties and encouraged people to go to the Metlink sessions to have their say. He also reminisced about his long conection with our Association, and said how valuable Residents’ Associations are.
Fleur Fitzsimons added a tribute to Ian’s long and productive career in the Wellington City and Regional Councils, and thanked him for his service. This was applauded by the meeting.
Smarter ways to manage city parking https://letstalk.wellington.govt.nz/managecityparking
Kate Hodgetts, WCC Senior Policy Advisor spoke to this, supported by Baz Kaufman, WCC Manager Strategy and Research. See here for the text of the presentation.
People were asked to complete the online survey, under WCC – Have your Say – Smarter Parking. Scroll down to the Have Your Say Here tab. Responses are due by 5pm, Friday August 30th.
Upcoming Film Festival
Mark Wiliams, Director of Circuit (http://circuit.org.nz) (an arts agency which supports New Zealand artists working in the moving image) spoke about a promotion next month which will highlight Newtown’s diversity and needs. Mark can be contacted through Jared Corston at Kia Ora Newtown or director@circuit.org.nz. A local artist is going to interview people to create a documentary highlighting local people.
5 October – there will be a seminar at Newtown Community and Cultural Centre regarding video production.
Meet the Candidates Meetings –meetings organised by the Residents’ Association were outlined. (See here for a schedule of meetings in Wellington.)
The meeting closed at 9pm. The next meeting will be the Residents’ Association AGM on Monday September 16th.
Upgrading the Carrara Park Playground
UPDATE! 5th August 2019 – the submissions to WCC closed today. The Newtown Residents’ Association made a submission recommending that the Playground be moved as little as possible, and the open play space should be retained. See below!
A message from Wellington City Council:
“We’re upgrading the play area at Carrara Park and we’d like your feedback!
The upgrade will focus on relocating the playground area and upgrading the play equipment. We need to move the playground away from the existing location because the play equipment is being damaged by the roots of the Norfolk Island pine tree.
Construction is due to start in February/March 2020.
Before we get started, we’re gathering feedback and suggestions from existing and potential users of the park. This will help to ensure the new facilities meet the needs of the local community.
For more information on the proposed upgrade go to www.wellington.govt.nz/carrara-park
(Please note that the map is indicative. It is intended as a starting point for discussion, and does not necessarily represent the final design).
How you can get involved
• Have your say by completing our feedback survey by 5pm Monday 5 August 2019
• Come to our drop-in session at Newtown Market (St Anne’s Hall ) on Saturday 27 July, 9am-12pm”
Some Newtown Residents’ Association members, and other local residents. have had preliminary meetings with Sam Malaulau, the WCC Playground Designer, and Jared Corston, the WCC Newtown Liaison Officer. We have clarified that no decisions have been made at this stage, and the map that you will see if you do the survey is just a conversation starter. What we do know is that some of the existing playground equipment doesn’t meet current safety standards, and the playground does need to be moved enough to get away from the Norfolk pine roots. Apart from this, all possibilities can be considered.
There is a long history to the Park and its design. See here for an outline of the history, and a discussion of the present and future. The Newtown Residents’ Association was closely involved with the establishment of the Park, and we are very interested in its future. We are looking forward to many more planning meetings as the future design is decided.
Minutes of the July Meeting
The July meeting talked about a number of local issues, including the future of Carrara Park and plans for Mental health Awareness Week in September.
We also talked at some length about planning for Meet the Candidates Meetings for the local body election. Voting starts from September 20th, so we would like to have meetings before then.
Minutes of the April Meeting
The Newtown Residents’ Association Meeting on Monday 15th April 2019 discussed a number of current consultations, including
- The Wellington City Council 2019-2020 Annual Plan, submissions due May 8th)
- The Alcohol Control Bylaw – Kilbirnie and Kelburn (submissions due May 1st)
- Planning for Growth– with scenarios for how and where to house an expected population increase of up to 80,000. (Submissions due May 10th).
- The Wellington Region Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Proposed Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan for the Wellington Region, (Submissions due April 29th).
Newtown Connections
For the past month Wellington City Council has been asking for community input on proposals for cycleway routes through Berhampore, Newtown and Mt Cook as part of the urban cycleways project. Submissions were due on December 11th.
Our Association members have a wide range of opinions on cycleways, and so rather than making a submission advocating for any particular way forward we focused on the importance of recognising and acknowledging the needs and wishes of all members of our community.
Minutes of the Newtown Residents Association meeting 17th September 2018
This meeting was an update on local issues. Top of the agenda was a discussion of the Newtown Community Facilities Upgrade – there are options available for comment on the three spaces owned by WCC and operated by the Newtown Community and Cultural Centre Trust – Newtown Community and Cultural Centre in Rintoul St, Newtown Hall in Daniell St and Network Newtown in Constable St. Sketch plans are available at Kia Ora Newtown, NCCC and other local public spaces, & on the Community Centre Website. http://www.newtowncommunity.org.nz/our-town-newtown.html
We also talked about the new apartments being developed on the former Salvation Army site in Constable St, the Association submission on the WCC review of the Alcohol Control Bylaw, and other issues.
Newtown Residents’ Association Submission on the WCC 10-Year Plan
Prince of Wales/Omāroro Reservoir – next steps.
Following the closing of submissions on the resource consent application, and following discussions with Mt Cook Mobilised, Wellington Water has put together a discussion paper on some of the specific issues raised. In particular the hours of operation for the trucks on Rolleston Street (with / without Saturdays). And, regarding permanently raising the Prince of Wales fields, the discussion paper looks at the three possibilities (i.e. raise both fields, raise neither field, or raise only the Upper Prince of Wales Park), and the impact on the number of truck movements. Follow this link for a copy of the paper.
Wellington Water have also put copies of the geotechnical investigations, interpretive report and costings for the lower playing field up on our website – they can be downloaded from https://wellingtonwater.co.nz/work-in-your-area/pow-reservoir/
Wellington Water have scheduled a meeting on
Wednesday 17 January, 6-8pm at Massey Executive Suite Gate A, Wallace Street. (the same venue as used for the Open Days).
If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like questions raised, feel free to send them to Dan.Ormond@wellingtonwater.co.nz or Carol Comber from Mt Cook Mobilised.
