The NRAs response to Wellington City’s draft Local alcohol policy was discussed at the July monthly meeting.  It was noted that the proposed policy included three key points relevant to Newtown.  These were:

• the earlier closing for off licence liquor sales;
• the lower trigger for hearings on licence applications, and
• the midnight closing for local bars.

The first two were consistent with the NRAs earlier submission, and there was support for these.  There was some debate on the third.  Two concerns were raised.  The first was that earlier closing of the local bars might lead to a “midnight migration” downtown of people who had already been drinking when they might have been better left where they were.  The second was a concern at the possible impact on the merging performance and entertainment scene in Newtown.  The NRA Submission reflects this.

The second monthly Keep Newtown Clean day took place this Saturday  3 August.   It was another great effort with a diverse range of people from around town turning up to held clean up tagging around Newtown.  After the blitz on Riddiford St last month, this time the “citizen army” cleaned up most of the side streets off Riddiford and Constable St all the way to the top.  Big thanks to David Wilcock for organising this, and to the council satff and contractors who helped out on the day.  Remember this is now a regular event on the first saturday of every month.   Just turn up outside Newtown New World in your painting gears from 9:00am onwards.

Wellington South Community Patrol is based in Newtown and relies on motivated volunteers to help keep the suburbs safe. After receiving safety training from the NZ Police, we patrol our patch – acting as eyes and ears for the Police. We have recently purchased our own vehicle which is painted to be highly visible. Two patrollers are the minimum for any patrol, and we are in regular phone and radio contact. We normally patrol once a month, for up to four hours. Residents, motorists and the business community have strongly supported this initiative, which has recorded dozens of instances of helping people who may be at risk and calming potentially troublesome situations with our mere presence, or the ability to call on higher help. If you want to help keep your suburb safe – from Mt Cook and Brooklyn south through Newtown, Kingston and Berhampore to Island Bay and Owhiro Bay, come for a trial ride. You may just find it as satisfying as we do.
Get in touch, or check out our website, or Facebook Page.

We’ve had a storm, we’ve had an earthquake or two, by now we should be getting the message about being prepared for emergencies.  Anyone still not sure what to do about being prepared should have a quick check of the Get Ready Get Thru website.

Nominations for candidates wishing to stand for election to either the City Council or Regional Council remain open until noon on Friday 16 August.
If people want to check the preliminary electoral roll of electors, it is available for inspection
on the ground floor of the Council offices at 101 Wakefield Street – ask at the main reception desk – and is also available at all city libraries. The roll will remain open until 5pm, Friday 16 August.
If you’re not enrolled, you have to do so by 5pm on 16 August to receive a postal vote. If you enrol after this date you will have to contact the Electoral Officer to obtain a special vote. Voting will take place by post between 20 September and 12 October.
Newtown Residents’ Association is planning to hold a local meeting of candidates for the Council elections on Wednesday 4 September in St Anne’s Parish Hall, at the end of Emmett St.   St Anne’s Parish will be putting on supper at the end of the meeting. In addition don’t forget that the NRA is planning to ask all the local candidates to answer a questionnaire for us and to pre circulate their answers.  So we want you to tell us what issues you want to hear about.  Drop us a line to newtownwellington@gmail.com with ELECTION QUESTIONS in the title line and we will start building up the collection

NRA June 2013 Minutes_Draft

Despite the not very friendly weather the first Keep Newtown Clean Day on Saturday was a big hit.  Somewhere close to 40 volunteers from all quarters of the community turned out and cleaned pretty much all the tagging in Riddiford St South of the hospital.   This is going to be a regular event on the first Saturday of each month – just turn up outside Newtown New World at 8:00am (or soon after) in your painting gears and join the crew. The next Keep Newtwon Clean day is on 3 August.  You can check out the full display of photos of “cleaners” at work in Newtown Mall

There is still time, but not a lot, to be part of Landcare Research and Forest and Bird’s annual Garden Bird Survey. This survey gives our wonderful scientists data to monitor the distribution and population trends of common garden birds in New Zealand. All you need to do is:
•    Watch birds in your garden for 1 hour (1 hour only please) sometime between the survey dates.
•    For each species you see or hear, record the largest number detected at any one time (that is, at the same time) within the hour.
•    Complete a survey form, either online (preferred) or on paper
If you would like to participate you can get more info here

Wellington City has opened formal consultations on its draft alcohol management strategy and local alcohol policy.  You can access the documents and make submissions on the WCC website. Submissions close at 5pm on 2 August 2013.

The headlines
Off-licence maximum trading hours 7am–9pm.
On-licence maximum trading hours for

• Entertainment Precinct (aka Courtenay and Cuba): 7am–3am generally and 7am–5am for best-practice premises

• Central city (as far South as Buckle and Webb): 7am–2am generally and 7am–3am for best-practice premises

• Suburban (the rest of the city): 7am-midnight.

Proximity to sensitive facilities such as schools, parks, health centres. Create automatic triggers for public hearings for:

• high to medium-risk applications in the Southern Zone within close proximity (100m) of another licensed premises or a sensitive facility, such as a school, park or health centre

• any application next to a sensitive facility high to medium-risk, or late-trading applications in the Entertainment Precinct

• any application that attracts public opposition.

Density of licensed premises.  Create automatic triggers for public hearings for:

• all new or renewal applications for high-risk applications in the Entertainment Precinct and the Southern Zone

• all applications where density or proximity is raised by submitters as an issue.

Wellington City Council is on the hunt for a couple of experienced artists to work on two mural projects in the Capital’s southern suburbs, which will involve work with young people from two local primary schools.
The artists will each team up with 20 children aged 9–10 from Berhampore School and Newtown School respectively. Working with the students, a local youth organisation and the Council’s City Arts team, the artists will guide the development of a mural from design to painting.
The mural will be developed through a series of workshops facilitated by a local youth organisation with the students. The design must be an original concept that reflects the spirit of the neighbourhood and helps to deter tagging.
The Council’s Arts and Culture Portfolio Leader, Councillor Ray Ahipene-Mercer, says the projects are part of a new pilot programme being trialled in Wellington called Paint Up.
“This is a great initiative that will help young people develop painting and design skills while learning about their neighbourhood’s heritage and participating in a project that adds vibrancy to their local streetscape.”
Katie Taylor-Duke, from the Council’s City Arts team, says the Paint Up project will also give children an insight into the social and economic impacts of tagging.
“As well as teaching the children new skills, we want to encourage them to take ownership of their neighbourhoods. Murals are a big part of our graffiti management strategy – as well as being nice to look at, they’re a great way to reduce tagging while promoting a sense of safety in our communities.”

Artists who are keen to get involved should submit their CV – along with a portfolio of up to five previous works, and a 250-word summary of why they’d be suitable for the project – by email to katie.duke@wcc.govt.nz by 12 noon on Wednesday 17 July.