Newtown Residents’ Association Meeting: Monday 18th April 7.30pm
All Welcome – Newtown Community Hall, 71 Daniell St (near the Constable St corner)
The agenda will include discussion about the Wellington City Council Annual Plan. Submissions on the plan are due by April 29th.
Do come, and take part in a discussion about what is important for you in this suburb and in this city. If you want to contact us with your thoughts and ideas, email newtownwellington@gmail.com
The meeting was held on the 21st March 2016. See the full minutes here.
“Newtown Isn’t Rubbish But Its Streets Are”
Jeanie McCafferty circulated the first draft of a report about our dissatisfaction and questions about the way WCC is dealing with rubbish, street maintenance, etc, as discussed at February meeting.
There was wide ranging discussion – see the minutes for details. The meeting decided that the next step is to ask the WCC Chief Executive Kevin Lavery to come to a meeting so we can discuss our questions and concerns with him.
Newtown Festival
Martin Hanley reported on a very successful Festival, and thanked all who were involved in helping on Fair Day and in organising other events.
This year it was possible to make searchable lists of all the stalls and of the Festival programme for use on smart phones and other devices, and these are still available on the Festival Website.
The next step for the Festival Committee is an application to WCC for the next 3 year contract funding.
There is work being done towards setting up a Trust for the Festival in the future.
A vote of thanks to those organising the Fair was passed by acclamation.
Newtown Residents’ Association Budget
Jane Patterson, the Association Treasurer, outlined expected income and expenditure.
Proposed additional expenses include the design and purchase of a teardrop flag to use when the Association has a public presence.
The meeting agreed that honoraria could be paid for preparation of the Newsletter, and for a future co-ordinator of Keep Newtown Clean. It was also agreed that a ‘Meet the Candidates’ meeting for the local body elections would be a good use of funds.
Keep Newtown Clean
We are expecting this to continue on a quarterly basis, the next one being on the first Saturday in June. We are going to think about a new name, perhaps a new focus – the original need for cleaning graffiti is not so urgent, the contractors are doing a good job. Perhaps a broader ‘Action Day’ would be of benefit to the community.
Neighbours’ Day on 19th March
Rhona Carson, Association President, thanked those who contributed to the Saturday Tea Party at St Thomas’s for Neighbours Day. An enjoyable event, thanks and congratulations to the team from St Thomas’s who hosted it.
Newtown Free WiFi
David Wilcock reported that there is now free WiFi outside his shop, Amadeus Hair Saloon David is encouraging more retailers to move their Internet to Netstar, who will add free WiFi to their shops too.
There is also a web site that David is developing, listing Newtown businesses. A beta release will be soon after Easter.
Meeting ended at 9:15
Next meeting Monday April 18th, 7.30pm, at the Newtown Hall, 71 Daniell St.
Please join us for afternoon tea at St Thomas’s, to celebrate the revival of the Courtyard Garden – a peaceful space on Riddiford St for all to enjoy.
The Newtown Residents’ Association and St Thomas’s Newtown have been working together on the St Thomas’s Courtyard project to bring this garden to life – there’s still some work to do but its making progress!
Newtown Residents’ Association met on 15th February 2016
These topics were discussed:
Subscription Rates – decided in February, to come into effect for the new financial year starting in July. Decided to keep it at the current rate of a gold coin.
Association Expenses – Jane Patterson (Treasurer) and Rhona Carson (President) will bring a draft budget to the next meeting. Rhona suggested we buy a teardrop flag to use outside meetings, and at events – approved in principle.
Newtown Festival / Celebrate Newtown – Discussion of coming events
Keep Newtown Clean – 21 February
Neighbours’ Day afternoon tea, 3-4.30 19th March – St Thomas’s Courtyard project. A St Thomas’s group will host the tea, with help from our Association.
Environment Scan
You can see the full minutes here:
You can find out more about the Annual Plan process at www.wellington.govt.nz/annualplan2016-17
Are you at home with chidren, and looking for something to do? Join Push Play in your local park with friends and family! The team will be out there with fun equipment and exciting games to keep everyone active and entertained – even the adults. There are activities for all ages including T-ball, parachute games, volleyball, cricket and loads of other play equipment. Push Play is brought to you by WCC – see the website.
Tuesday 12th Jan 11am -1pm, Carrara Park
Wednesday 13th Jan 2pm – 4pm, Martin Luckie Park
Tuesday 19th Jan 11am -1pm, Carrara Park
Wednesday 20th Jan 2pm – 4pm, Martin Luckie Park
Wednesday 27th Jan 2pm – 4pm, Martin Luckie Park
This Saturday, 5th December. Meet outside Newtown New World, between 9.00 and noon. The Monthly Meeting on Monday 16th November focussed on two topics.
1. The Fair, Intelligent Transport (FIT) proposal for light rail
The link to their paper is here.
The speakers were John Rankin and Kerry Wood,
Introduction and Macro view by John: Overview of suggestions for Wellington (as in paper), and notes about existing trams overseas. Outlining positive benefits for communities when trams are introduced.
Micro view by Kerry: Suggestions of how Newtown could be serviced by a tram network between Wellington City and the Airport, either along Constable St or through a new tunnel past the zoo. Emphasising that no one option is preferred at this stage.
Their presentation was followed by vigorous discussion.
2. Keep Newtown Clean
Hine Moana-Sullivan and Lola Liava’a Tonga from the Wellington City Council Graffiti Removal Team were the speakers.
Hine – gave an overview of what has been happening, and reported an audit showing success in responding to requests for graffiti removal.
The next Keep Newtown Clean event is on Saturday 5th December. This is the second since moving to a 4x year system. The September event had a successful new activity with KNC volunteers working on the garden area outside St Thomas’s.
Lola – Volunteer Coordinator for the graffiti team, spoke about a new programme for volunteers to work in their own time, which has its own webpage. They are planning an official launch at Keep Newtown Clean on 5th December at 9:00am and were asking for Association approval to announce this – agreed. They are planning for a BBQ, balloons, and general celebration in St Thomas’s courtyard.
The full meeting minutes, with notes of further discussion, are here.
newtown.org.nz 