Quick Headlines from April 2013 Newtown Residents Assn Meeting

Meetings

History Project – Jessie Annett-Wood explained the methods being used to recover the archival material and get it into editable form;

Local Alcohol Policy Submission – Key positions for the Assn’s submission to WCC were agreed (thanks to Peter Cooke, Tom Law and Bernard O’Shaughnessy);

Community Constable and Tagging– concerns were raised at the lack of visible presence in Newtown, and an outbreak of tagging (Paul Eagle, Peter Frater and Jeanie McCafferty to follow up);

Lessons from John St Draft Paper – the main points in the draft were endorsed.  Final to be signed off by the Executive

Local Elections Candidates’ Meeting – The Assn is organising a candidates meeting for 25 September.

Lessons from John St Works – draft paper for feedback

Consultation, News

By far the most important issue dealt with by the Association over the past year has been the impact of the major works around the John St / Riddiford St / Adelaide Road intersection on the Newtown business community, and in particular the retailers in the immediate area.

The Association’s draft paper draws some lessons from the John Street upgrade experience and makes recommendations to Wellington City Council that could help the council to more effectively manage the relationships with affected communities when undertaking similar large and ongoing public upgrade projects.

We accept the need for WCC to undertake such major works in the broader interest of the City.  However we believe that more attention could usefully be given to understanding, managing and mitigating the negative impacts that may arise for the neighbourhoods where these large scale works take place.

The main points in the paper were endorsed at the April members meeting.

A big thanks to the hard working volunteers who contributed to this, particularly Jeanie McCafferty.

Constructive and pro-actively attempting to make Wellington a better place: Newtown Works Draft Paper

Meeting 15 April 2013

Meetings

The April meeting will be on Monday 15 April at the Newtown Hall Daniell St (opposite the Mediteranean Food Warehouse) starting at 7:30pm.

Meetings are the third Monday of every month through until November.  Mark your calendar for: 20 May, 17 June, 15 July, 19 August, 16 September, 21 October, and 18 November.

Quick Headlines from the March NRA Meeting

News

Quick Headlines from the March NRA meeting last night.

Alcohol Policy – Do not miss your chance to hear what is going on and have your say.   Public meeting in St Annes Hall on Thursday 21 March starting 7:00pm

John Street Works – At last the work is complete.  The NRA has decided to put together a paper to WCC setting out what it sees as the “lessons to be learnt” from this.

Basin Options – WCC  vote on the Basin Flyover is to take place Thursday.  Do not be shy about contacting councillors and letting them know what you think about this.

Newtown Festival – the meeting passed a vote of thanks to the Festival Committee for what had been a great event.

Community Survey/Vision Exercise – a subgroup was set up to look at options for carrying out a community survey of visioning exercise.

Super City?  – WCC is about to open a round of consultations on options for changes to the structure of local government in the region.

Newtown Ave Liquor Licence Application – this application has been withdrawn.  The meeting passed a vote of thanks to Anna Costley of the NCCC for mobilising local public opinion on this and the earlier Riddiford St application.

The Basin Bridge project Public Information Days

News

Public Information days will be held on the following dates
22 November 24 and 25 November
4 – 8pm 1 – 5pm
at Mt Cook School at St Joseph’s Church, Brougham Street

This is your opportunity to learn more about the project and fi nd out what these improvements will mean
for you and your community.
Representatives from the NZTA’s project team will be on hand to answer your questions and to provide
information on the next steps in the project as the NZTA intends to lodge Resource Management Act
consents in early 2013.
The Basin Bridge project is part of the Tunnel to Tunnel (T2T) inner city transport improvements.
Further information on the project, and links to the T2T improvements, including details on the National
War Memorial Park and Buckle Street Underpass, can be found online at http://www.nzta.govt.nz/basin-bridge
or by calling 0508 9484 4636.

Draft Townbelt Management Policy – PUBLIC MEETING 13 NOVEMBER

News

Wellington City Council is reviewing management of the Town Belt.  Late last year it approved nine guiding principles for its management. It is now in the second stage of this work and is seeking public views on:

1.   Draft Town Belt Management Plan: This plan will direct our management of the Town Belt for the next 10 years.  Download the Draft Plan 2012-10-townbelt-plan (warning it is a whopper!), Download Summary of the Plan2012-10-townbelt-summary.

2.   Legislative changes: These set out our drafting instructions for a Parliamentary Bill that would strengthen the protection of the Town Belt.  Download Drafting instructions2012-10-townbelt-instructions.

Further information is available at see http://www.wellington.govt.nz/haveyoursay/publicinput/2012-10-townbelt.html and in Council libraries.

There will be a meeting with a presentation and opportunity for questions at Newtown Park Function Room, Roy Street, 7.30pm, Tuesday 13 November.

Comments are due by Monday 10 December 2012.  They can be submittedby completing the Town Belt Legislative and Policy Review submission form found online or by writing down your comments and sending them to WCC  by:

Going online: Wellington.govt.nz

  • Email: townbelt@wcc.govt.nz
  • Post: Freepost, Parks and Gardens(REPL01), Wellington City Council, PO Box 2199, Wellington 6140
  • Fax: 801 3155

You can also make an oral submission supporting your written submission to City Councillors. If you wish to do so please include this is written comments.

Sustainability Trust

News, Other

The Sustainability Trust has have moved from Newtown to Forresters Lane in the CBD off Tory Street opposite Bunnings. They are planning on using some of the space as an environment centre. There is an online survey for people to say what they would like in an environment centre and what issues and areas of sustainability they are interested in. Access the link to the Survey

Other services offered by the Trust are

e-Cycling Central Wellington drop-off point for electronic waste recycling, keep valuable resources and toxic material out of landfill (small charges apply to most items), open weekdays 9am – 4.30pm

Insulation The Trust has access to higher subsidies than most providers (due to 3rd party funding) and can offer up to 80% off insulation for Community Service Card holders

 Home Advice Free phone and email advice service. Expert and impartial advice on energy edibles, waste and water 0508 78 78 24 or advice@sustaintrust.org.nz