1                                                  23 June 2020

HUTT CITY COUNCIL

Eastbourne Community Board

 

Minutes of a meeting held in the East Harbour Women's Clubrooms, 145 Muritai Road, Eastbourne on

 Tuesday 23 June 2020 commencing at 7.15pm

 

                                          

PRESENT:

Ms V Horrocks (Chair)

Mr B Spedding

 

Mr M Gibbons (Deputy Chair)

Ms B Moss

 

Deputy Mayor T Lewis

 

 

Mr F Vickers

 

                                          

IN ATTENDANCE:        Mayor C Barry (part meeting)

                                           Ms J Miller, Chief Executive (part meeting)

       Ms A Welanyk, Director Transformation Resources (part meeting)

                                           Mr D Simmons, Traffic Asset Manager (part meeting)

                                           Ms K Stannard, Head Democratic Services

                                           Ms H Clegg, Minute Taker

 

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS

 

1.       APOLOGIES 

There were no apologies.

2.       PUBLIC COMMENT

Comments are recorded under the item to which they relate.

3.

Mayor's Statement (20/589)

Mayor Barry expressed appreciation in being able to attend community events and meeting constituents in person now that the country was at COVID-19 alert level 1.  He advised that the Annual Plan was approved by Council last week and that the final sign off would occur on 30 June 2020.  He reported that the Eastern Bays Shared Path had been put forward as one of Government’s recently announced shovel-ready projects.  He informed members that the Community Resilience Fund of $100,000 was to be used to support community initiatives and projects post COVID-19.  He noted that approximately $22,000 had already been allocated.  

Ginny Anderson, MP advised she was lobbying central government, on behalf of the Eastbourne community, regarding the Eastern Bays Shared Path and that she hoped it would be fast tracked as the Petone-Ngauranga section had been. 

4.       Presentation

Presentation by Local Councillor from Greater Wellington Regional Council (20/56)

Cr Lamason gave a verbal update on the proposed Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) rates increase of 3%.

In response to a question from a member, Cr Lamason advised the Airport Flyer Bus was operated by an independent commercial bus operator and that GWRC had no jurisdiction on the service.  She suggested the Board approach NZ Buses and Wellington Airport regarding the matter. Members suggested GWRC should operate the Flyer bus as many residents used the service.

Presentation by GWRC’S East Harbour Regional Park Ranger

Ms Jo Greenman advised the East Harbour Regional Park was divided into three distinct areas: Northern Forest, the Lakes and Baring Head and that each area had distinctive features.  She added there were many users of the park of various ages, including walkers (with or without dogs), trampers, conservationists, mountain bikers, hunters, divers, fishers and swimmers.  She urged members to contribute to the public consultation process with the review of the 10 year Park Network Plan.

With regard to the Northern Forest area, Ms Greeman outlined some of the current undertakings:

·           Predator control;

·           Pest control;

·           Deer control;

·           Small mammal monitoring including baiting, trapping and acoustic recordings (working closely with the MIRO volunteers);

·           Improvement of the steps at the base of McKenzie Track (challenging due to the terrain);

·           On-going inspections of every track (undertaken on a three-year cycle); and

·           Cyclical maintenance (including trimming, weed spraying, replacing metal surfacing).

Ms Greeman advised that 2021 works would include topping up the metal surfaces on the Fern Gully, Cheviot, McKenzie and Butterfly Creek Tracks.  She added a small steep section on the Cheviot Track may be re-routed and that assessment would be carried out on the Puriri Track especially the mountain bike/walker interfaces.  She further added the lookout and seating areas of the Lowry Lookout track may be improved and that she hoped formal agreements could be made with the many community groups who helped to maintain tracks.

Ms Greeman encouraged members of the public to email her with any suggestions and she would correspond directly with them.  She did agree the lookout areas required attention to maintain the views and provide seating areas and that metal would generally be helicoptered into tracks for safety reasons.  She explained leaf blowers were active on tracks to help prevent the accumulation of rotting vegetation on the tracks, and that the operators were also surveying and assessing the tracks as they walked them, including noting of potential drainage issues, assessment of bridges and overall track condition.

Mr Gibbons advised many users of the Park appreciated the gravelling of the tracks as it greatly assisted those with mobility issues.

The Chair agreed to invite Ms Greeman to the November 2020 Board meeting to provide an overview for the Lakes and Baring Head sections of the Park.

5.       CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS  

          There were no conflict of interest declarations.

6.       Minutes

Resolved:  (Ms Horrocks/Ms Moss)                                          Minute No. ECB 20401

“That the minutes of the meeting of the Eastbourne Community Board held on Tuesday, 18 February 2020, be confirmed as a true and correct record.”

    

7.

Committee Advisor's Report (20/516)

Report No. ECB2020/4/47 by the Committee Advisor

 

Resolved: (Ms Horrocks/Mr Vickers)                                          Minute No. ECB 20402

“That the Board notes and receives the report.”

 

 

Resolved:  (Ms Horrocks/Deputy Mayor Lewis)               Minute No. ECB 20403

“That precedence of business be given to item 12.”

 

The item is recorded in the order in which it was listed on the Order Paper.

 

8.

Community Engagement Fund 2019-2020 - Round 2 (20/510)

Memorandum dated 3 June 2020 by the Acting Committee Advisor.

The Chair advised that round 2 of the Community Engagement Fund had been interrupted by COVID-19.

 

Resolved: (Ms Horrocks/Deputy Mayor Lewis)                         Minute No. ECB 20404

“That the Board:

 

(i)      notes that this is the second round of funding;

 

(ii)     notes the Community Engagement Fund closed on 16 June 2020 and four applications had been received;

(iii)    determines the funding to be granted to the applications outlined below:

 

(a)     Point Howard Association Inc: $221 towards the Community Garden;

(b)     Point Howard Playcentre: $700 towards First Aid Training;

(c)      Eastbourne Scout Group: $257 towards the purchase of a Kathmandu Retreat Compass Hub tent; and

           (d)    Muritai Yacht Club:  No funding for this round;

 

(iv)    agrees that the applications were considered according to the merits of the application criteria and priorities of the fund; and

(v)     agrees that the organisations granted funding will be required to attend a meeting of the Board once the project has been completed. “

 

9.

Adoption of Standing Orders (20/544)

Report No. ECB2020/4/9 by the Head of Democratic Services.

The Head of Democratic Services elaborated on the report.  She added the Eastbourne Community Board retained certain Standing Orders that were unique to the Board.

 

Resolved: (Ms Horrocks/Ms Moss)                                     Minute No. ECB 20405

“That the Board:

(i)    receives the information contained in the report;

(ii)   notes the requirement to achieve the agreement of at least 75% of members present at a meeting to adopt (and amend) the Standing Orders; and

(iii)  adopts Hutt City Council’s Standing Orders, attached as Appendix 1, for use throughout the 2019-2022 triennium.”

 

10.

Community Board Functions and Delegations (20/542)

Report No. ECB2020/4/10 by the Head of Democratic Services.

The Head of Democratic Services elaborated on the report. 

The Chair expressed the Board’s pleasure with the increased delegations as they enabled Boards to have more voice and to be more involved in decision-making at Council level.

The motion was taken in parts. 

 

Resolved: (Ms Horrocks/Mr Spedding)                             Minute No. ECB 20406

“That the Board:

(i)    notes the delegations to Community Boards approved by Council (attached as Appendix 4 to the report);

(ii)   notes the requirements for certification under the Making Good Decisions Training, Assessment and Certification Programme for RMA Decision-Makers, as outlined in the report;

(iii)  determines whether it wishes to have one suitably trained member available for selection to sit on the Hearings Subcommittee for notified resource consent applications; and if so

(iv)  nominates a member of the Board to fulfil this role.”

 

Resolved:  (Ms Horrocks/Deputy Mayor Lewis)               Minute No. ECB 20407

“That the Board nominates Ms Moss for the Making Good Decisions Training Assessment and Certification Programme.”

 

11.

Chair's Report (20/594)

Report No. ECB2020/4/54 by the Committee Advisor

The motion was taken in parts.

 

Resolved: (Ms Horrocks/Ms Moss)                                     Minute No. ECB 20408

“That the report be noted and received.”

 

 

Resolved:  (Ms Horrocks/Mr Spedding)                            Minute No. ECB 20409

“That the Board requests that Council develops options for a safe shared walking and cycling route with appropriate facilities and development along the foreshore between Windy Point and Burdans Gate.”

 

12.

Days Bay Pedestrian Crossing Delay (20/332)

Report No. ECB2020/4/125 by the Traffic Asset Manager.

 

The Traffic Asset Manager elaborated on the report and provided a brief history.  He concluded that a trial of a controlled crossing would occur over two to three weekends in the summer.  He noted that data collected would be used to inform any further action.

The Chair advised members that the information contained in the report had been circulated to residents.

The Traffic Asset Manager agreed to assess the incidences of vehicles waiting to access the Days Bay Pavilion carpark which also impeded flowing traffic on Marine Drive.  He acknowledged Days Bay had two pedestrian crossings.  He further acknowledged the introduction of the electric ferry from Wellington Central Business District (CBD) may increase the number of people accessing the Bay.

 

Resolved: (Ms Horrocks/Deputy Mayor Lewis)                Minute No. ECB 20410

“That the Board notes and receives the report.”

13.     Information Item

Maire Street Trial Mini Shared Path (20/546)

Memorandum dated 8 June 2020 by the Traffic Asset Manager

Speaking under public comment, Ms Felicity Maxwell expressed concern with the proposal.  She believed parking issues could develop to the north of the area, that vehicle manoeuvrability would be negatively impacted and congestion would occur to the south of the area.  She added the proposal would increase noise associated with vehicles, that residents would lose the ability to park outside their homes and that the cyclist/pedestrian/vehicle safety interfaces would be compromised. 

 

Speaking under public comment, Mr Peter Fleming agreed with the comments of the previous speaker.  He believed it would channel dual users of the area into a small area creating congestion.  He advised trucks and buses used the area for turning and that pushing cars 4.0m closer to the carriageway would result in rubbish trucks not being able to turn.  He also objected to too many signs and road paintings as they were not keeping in with the amenity of the area.

 

Speaking under public comment, Ms Anne Ribolow expressed concern with the public consultation adding that not all residents had access to Facebook.  She agreed with the previous speakers adding that visual pollution would occur with the additional signage required.  She sought clarification on how the trial would be monitored and assessed.

 

Speaking under public comment, Ms Ruth Hooke reiterated that in the 30 years she had accessed the beach from this area, there had been no reported accidents.  She added that many elderly residents drove to the area as it was a place they could sit in their cars and be close to the beach.   She believed directing parked cars 4.0m back would be a shame.

 

Speaking under public comment, Ms Pippa DeCourt agreed with the comments of the previous speakers.  She added that the area required more seating.  She explained elderly residents often accessed the area in large mobility vans, and that if these were forced to park 4.0m back, they would have to unload wheelchairs into the road carriageway.  She believed people with kayaks would also be forced to do the same.  She requested more consultation with the wider community occur, suggesting an article in the Eastbourne Herald would reach more people than a Facebook post.  She requested clarification of the use of the information gained from the trial and how it would be acted on.

 

Speaking under public comment, Mr Michael Williams expressed concern for outside visitors to the area and requested money be left in the budget to pay for the removal of the painted lines at the end of the trial.

 

Ms Maxwell read out a statement from Mr Simon Shaw.  Mr Shaw believed consultation for the proposal had been rushed, that a programme and budget for the whole project needed to be published, and that with the two power poles in the vicinity, the proposal would constrain turning traffic.

 

The Chair advised that the Board was acting on a number of requests to improve the safety aspects of the area.  She also advised that the Board did not believe consultation with the wider Eastbourne community was warranted for the year long trial proposed.

 

The Traffic Asset Manager elaborated on the memorandum.  He added he was surprised by the local opposition to the proposed trial.  He acknowledged the community support the Board had received for the proposal.

 

In response to a question from a member, the Traffic Asset Manager confirmed the subject area was larger than the area immediately in front of the Petone Wharf.

The motion was taken in parts.

Resolved:  (Ms Horrocks/Mr Vickers)                             Minute No. ECB 20411

“That the Board:

(i)            notes and receives the memorandum; and

(ii)          notes that the Mayor and the Chief Executive have agreed that Community Boards’ training budgets can be used for small moral boosting ideas/projects on the proviso that this is on a one-off basis due to COVID-19.”

Resolved:  (Ms Horrocks/Mr Spedding)                         Minute No. ECB 20412

“That the Board agrees to allocate its training budget to the installation of a trial mini shared path of Maire Street, Eastbourne.”

14.     Reports from representatives on local organisations

a)

Okiwi Trust (20/547)

The Chair explained that during COVID-19 lockdown, the Okiwi Trust (the Trust) organised a successful Buddy system with clients.  She added the Trust was back to operating in its normal capacity now.

b)

Educating Residents Around Trapping Steering Group (20/548)

Mr Vickers advised the group was now named ‘MIRO’.  He highlighted that to support the dotterel population, MIRO was proposing to submit to Council on the Control of Animals Bylaw.

 

Resolved:  (Ms Horrocks/Ms Moss)                                Minute No. ECB 20413

“That the Board:

(i)       supports the following MIRO position on cats:

 

(a)      the Council bylaw needs to be changed so that cats are no longer an exception, so are treated like other animals (eg dogs. It needs to be recognised this will benefit cats);

 

(b)      cats should be micro-chipped and neutered, with a maximum of three per household (acknowledging that people can request that exceptions be made); and

 

(c)       MIRO supports the introduction of a voluntary night curfew for a restricted area and time to protect the Dotterel nests and chicks.  They are assisting Council with a pamphlet to this effect, to be delivered to Eastbourne residents in the affected area; and

 

(ii)     agrees that Mr Frank Vickers represents the Eastbourne Community Board at the relevant Council meeting.”

c)

Days Bay Wharf Steering Group (20/549)

The Chair advised that as the total cost of the project had exceeded the budget and any “nice-to-haves” would have to wait.  She added that the diving platform was being moved further along the wharf.

The Chief Executive advised that the project had been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and had experienced significant overspend.

d)

Eastbourne Youth Workers Trust (20/550)

Mr Spedding advised that post COVID-19 he was unsure who was managing the Eastbourne Youth Workers Trust.  He agreed to investigate and report back.

e)

Community Emergency Response Group (20/551)

The Chair advised that there were many community groups throughout the Eastbourne area.  However, some suburbs were better served than others. 

Mr Spedding advised that each Residents Association had a radio (there being approximately 10 radios throughout the area).  He highlighted that the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) was requesting the whole area be served by only three due to WREMO’s rationalising plans for the network resulting in only hubs being served.  He added WREMO was not engaging well with communities at present and that he would persist with communications.

15.     QUESTIONS   

Mr Spedding advised he had many ideas for leveraging a digital network for Council.  He also advised that he had sent an email to Council’s Chief Digital Officer.  The Chief Executive advised recently appointed Ms Welanyk, Council’s Director Transformation and Resources was the appropriate officer to contact in the first instance. 

 

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.58 pm.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                              V Horrocks

CHAIR

 

CONFIRMED as a true and correct record

Dated this 25th day of August 2020