Pukerua Bay Residents' Association
Tuesday, 14 July 2009, 7.30 pm
Present:
Pukerua Bay Residents' Association committee members: Dagmar Pesendorfer, June Penhey, Iain MacLean, Kate Dreaver, Graham McLaughlin, Robyn Moore, Pat Hanley (Chair), Jack Fry
PCC Councillors: Euon Murrell, Tim Sheppard
PCC: Ian Barlow
GWRC: Peter Glensor, John Burke, Angus Gabara (Procurement Manager), Wayne Hastie (Divisional Manager Public Transport), and others
ONTRACK: David Gordon (Regional Rail Programme Director), Peter (Project Manager), and others
Victoria University: Jonathon Gardener, Danelle Kara Lekan (PhD student)
Apologies: Dene Wade
Address by members of the GWRC and various ONTRACK executives regarding the possible closure of Muri Station
No decision has been made at the present time. GWRC agreed to put off early decision that had been scheduled for end of July - inappropriate to proceed with closure process due to lack of consultation with community and incomplete technical reports. $11M available to upgrade all stations in the Greater Wellington area - from Upper Hutt to Wellington, Johnsonville to Waikanae - with little chance of getting any extra funding.
Nothing is standard in the network and system - has to be able to cope with passenger trains and different rolling stock. Muri Station boarding and alighting not satisfactory, worst in network. The new trains will have different height steps, which will make the situation worse.
Design of new trains not yet finalised - designing trains with consideration to platforms and network.
Whenever changes are made to a station, a safety audit/assessment has to be carried out. If any work is required, then all the issues identified in the audit have to be addressed (by statute) - cannot just fix a part.
The safety assessment is proceeding and no decision will be made until the result of the survey is known. Note that technical reports will be sent to the Residents' Association by Peter Glensor (GWRC). GWRC/ONTRACK say it is not possible to deal with the length problem by having Muri passengers only use certain carriages, as the new trains will have all carriage doors operated by the passenger.
According to GWRC, Muri has the lowest patronage of any station on the network, apart from Kenepuru. Looked at providing a walkway between Muri Station and Pukerua Bay Station, but there is not enough space. Pukerua Bay Station will need an extensive upgrade - $1.25M. Pukerua Bay Station will be closed for three months during upgrade.Residents' Association members stressed the need for bus shuttle services to Plimmerton Station during this time. GWRC agreed to consider this, but if provided, it would only be at peak times. Residents' Association suggested that Muri must be kept open during this period - GWRC to consider this.
Problem with Muri - low patronage - GWRC survey shows 26-28 passengers at peak times - similar to Residents' Association survey. Pat pointed out that Pukerua Bay residents used public transport at double the national rate, and that there was no bus or taxi service available. Also, there are the issues of car park capacity at Pukerua Bay Station, additional stress on SH1 and intersections, as Muri Station users may be forced to drive to Pukerua Bay Station.
GWRC - main obstacle is the safety case (but also perceived low patronage at Muri Station).
John Burke - GWRC normally a good communicator but let themselves down in this case - now in a rear guard action. This information had not been reported to the Transport and Access committee - he will fight to keep Muri Station open.
Margaret Shields reminded us of the need to think of the broad context - big infrastructure decisions are still to come with regards to Transmission Gully and the Western Corridor.
Upgrade now costed at $750,000 but some things may need to be added. Suggested that if any money needs to be spent on Muri Station, then it will be canned. Even if no money is needed to be spent immediately, if the need arises in the future (and $750,000 needs to be spent), Muri Station may well be closed then.
- Reason for reduction from $900,000 to $750,000 is that trains won't hit the platform here
- The safety audit won't be done until after the trains have been designed and they will start with the Hutt line (Angus Gabara/David Gordon)
- There are technical reports on the GWRC web site (Robyn)
- Peter Glensor said that we are now in the loop for updated info, and that if we lost Muri Station, he will press NZTA for safety improvements in Pukerua Bay (see NAP)
Three potential problems with Muri:
- Too expensive to fix
- Not enough patronage
- Too close to Pukerua Bay Station
One positive: it already exists.
GWRC asked for papers used to justify decision. Peter Glensor will send papers to us by 30 July.
Neighbourhood Accessibility Plan
Ian Barlow: PCC not walking away from the safety improvement project. Looking at other funding sources. Possibly an (attractive, lightweight) aluminium bridge - much lower cost. Need to find other, clever ways of funding the package. Looking at speed indicator, CCTV, and making the 50 kph signs at northern end more visible.
Kate Dreaver suggested putting report on NAP and Muri Station closure in Community Newsletter.
Agreed the need for a public meeting in August/September on Muri Station and the NAP - publicise with a notice in the Community Newsletter and a flyer. Iain will put in an OIA request for relevant information.
Marine Protection
Introduced Jonathon Gardener, Marine Biologist from Victoria University, and Danelle Kara Lekan who is doing a PhD and who is going to carry out a survey on Pukerua Bay fishery during this marine protection period. Looking at depletion/recovery at different levels. Original survey looked at rock lobster, paua and kina. New survey will look at bigger picture, including all invertebrates. Survey will take 2.5 - 3 years. Looking at water quality, temperature, salinity, nutrients, and sediment runoff. Why are Pukerua Bay paua smaller than normal? Data useful to support whatever long-term conservation measures are adopted.
Village Planning
Ian Barlow: Cheque for $3,000 coming to Residents' Association as compensation for the work put into NAP by members of the RA. Proposed by members to use some of this to subsidise forthcoming community Red Cross (or St John's) first aid training - see Civil Defence.
Landscaping at beach nearly completed. Planting of 2,000 plants to take place. A community day upcoming - 25 July - flyers to be delivered week prior to all residents, inviting them to take part. Pat to organise distribution of flyers to Residents' Association members for delivery.
Dagmar and Robyn to represent Residents' Association at the upcoming daylong Village Planning event with other Porirua RAs. Each Residents' Association will present and discuss successful initiatives arising from their Village Planning process - in our case the skate park, Muri walkway, beach restoration project, goat track and NAP.
New Village Planning survey needed. Should be shorter than the last one. Sub-committee of Kate, Robyn, Dagmar and Iain to work out questions and report back.
Civil Defence
First-aid course: Jack has plenty of participants, but training coordinator has pulled out. New coordinator may not do it for same price ($500). If more, it may cost participants too much. Possible subsidy from Residents' Association from the $3,000 received. Jack to check costings and come back to committee.
Other Business
Ted Coates - resident addressed meeting regarding graffiti and vandalism. He suggested that a neighbourhood patrol of two people in a car patrolling between 9.30 pm and 11.30 pm be considered. Could be put in Village Plan. Pat - yes, consider it seriously. Regarding adding a question into the Village Planning survey - run this past Ted when Kate, Dagmar, Robyn and Iain have drafted questions.
Graham McLaughlin - need for secretary to take minutes. Agreement to job-share - Robyn and Graham to collaborate on recording and writing up minutes.
Meeting closed at 9.30 pm