Pukerua Bay Residents' Association
Tuesday, 9 September 2008, 7.30 pm
Present: Jack Fry (chair), Tim Bright, Graham McLaughlin, June Penhey, Gil England, Robyn Moore, Kate Dreaver, Stu Farrant, Tim Sheppard, Ian Barlow, Euon Murell, Trevor Farmer, manager of the Emergency Management Office
Apologies: Pat Hanley, Dagmar Pesendorfer
Minutes: no minutes (dinner meeting), but see "Report from the Chair" below
Matters Arising (including matters since last meeting):
- Skateboard bowl tenders and funding applications - progressing nicely to imminent selection of contractor.
- Meeting with Fisheries - strong progress and clear action identified. Sub-committee will confer with Graeme Hastilow of Ngati Toa and begin the process of applying for an extension to the Rahui as per intermediate action agreed with Fisheries' Randall Bess. Consideration must also be given to which of the options presented at the meeting delivers the best longer term outcome for all, so relevant action can be undertaken.
- Residents' Association application for funding from PCC - Councillors have agreed to take the matter up with PCC.
- NAP - Telephone discussion with Roy Hitchcock of Transit - Ian Barlow is continuing to manage this as best as he can. The Residents' Association will keep a close eye on progress and endeavour to present our NAP in person to the Transit board ASAP. Suggestion that the Chair write to PCC CEO Roger Blakeley asking him to write to CEO Jeff Dangerfield of Transit on our behalf. We need clarity due to the confusing and conflicting information we have received from a number of representatives of the previous and current incarnations of the Land Transit Agency. Note the Residents' Association has an audio record that appears to confirm our understandings.
Financial Report: as tabled
Correspondence: as tabled
Marine Protection
Next steps, see above and the Chair's report. Stu will talk to Tim Bright to agree other steps, such as carrying out a second marine survey that may show positive increases in marine life to support the proposed extension.
Village Planning
- Skateboard bowl: see above
- A motion was passed to apply for funding the skate park from philanthropic trusts. Moved by Graham McLauchlan, Kate Dreaver seconded.
- Planning for south area of Ocean Parade: Stu to meet with Tim and other sub-committee members regarding Ocean Parade and Marine Protection matters. No negative feedback on the Ocean Parade landscape plan as displayed. Te Ati Awa endorsed the plan to restore a more natural landscape and the idea of including historical contexts. Apparently the stream teamed with whitebait 40 years ago! Te Ati Awa offered to provide coordinates of (beach) pa sites at a future meeting (Robyn to follow up).
- Marine planning subcommittee so far: Kate, Gill, Tim, (Pat?) and Stu and Robyn.
- Suggestion from PCC for sub-committee to liaise with Keith Calder, Harbour Coordinator for Porirua.
- Sub-committee to confer with Ngati Toa and community as per Stu's proposal regarding worthwhile vegetation restoration projects for Nga Uruora in Pukerua Bay.
Civil Defence: Thanks to Trevor Farmer for introducing Readynet, the emergency preparedness network.
- National figures for preparedness in event of a natural disaster - 75% not ready.
- Readynet is proposed as a cost efficient way to improve this.
- Porirua City requires a good spread of survival supplies and ways to know where they are, what plans are in place, and who the points of contact are.
- Web-based Readynet is a system of contacting people and sharing information in emergencies.
- Readynet can provide an early warning system in the event of all sorts of emergencies - by text and email to users.
- Jack Fry has agreed to coordinate for Pukerua Bay.
- emergencymanagement@pcc.govt.nz to register.
Other Business
- Notice board: Jack has had some trouble in terms of where the notice board will go. The board has been constructed (thank you Jack!), but as yet it is not quite clear that it can go by the dairy.
- Website: Put up minutes and the NAP report if possible before next meeting.
- Telecom towers: Does the Rawhiti Road cell phone tower proposed require resource consent? - Ian to look into this and get back to us if yes.
Meeting ended 9.00 pm
Report from the Chair below...
Report from the Chair, September 2008
Skateboard bowl tenders and funding applications
A sub-committee reviewed the 6 tenders received and made recommendations in respect of two preferred tenders. The final decision on the selection of the company to carry out the work is now over to the Council.
Meeting with Fisheries
A meeting was held on 25 August at the Tennis Club to discuss long-term protection measures at Pukerua Bay Beach. The meeting was attended by Randall Bess, Spatial Allocations manager, Ministry of Fisheries, Graeme Hastilow of Ngati Toa, and Residents' Association members Tim, Pat, Stu, Robyn, June, Graham and Gil.
It was an excellent meeting with a great deal of very useful information provided.
There were no decisions taken as this was an opportunity to gain more information before further action is taken.
However, it appears that there is an immediate need to apply for another Rahui to cover the period 2009 - 2011. Further, Ngati Toa will progress work on establishing a Mataitai. However, as an added protection measure, consideration needs to be given to seeking to have a specific regulation put in place before 2011 so that if the Mataitai is not operative at that date the area will continue to be protected by way of regulation under Section 297 of the Fisheries.
It would appear that the next step would be to establish a strategic plan with Ngati Toa, setting out the work that needs to be done both immediately (the Rahui extension), interim (Regulation) and long-term (Mataitai).
Residents' Association application for funding from PCC
I made an application to PCC on behalf of the Residents' Association for funding for the regular work of the Residents' Association. This application was rejected on the grounds "under the terms of the policies now in force you are not eligible for the grants requested as the only evidence of any meetings held by Council since your last request are minutes of a meeting held on Tuesday, 14 August 2007" (letter from LJ Skinner, 11 August, 2008). I will be writing to LJ Skinner, informing this person that all monthly minutes are sent to Ian Barlow and to the Northern Ward Councillors. Further we have never to my mind been informed directly of "the policies now in force". I will also re-apply for funding.
NAP - Telephone discussion with Roy Hitchcock of Transit
I spoke to Roy Hitchcock at Transit last week. I asked when the NAP would go to the Board of Transit. I wanted to request the opportunity for the Residents' Association to attend and speak on the matter. Roy advised me that the matter was now with Porirua City Council and as Transit will not fully fund the work, it is up to PCC to advise as to which of the projects it will contribute to. No further action will be taken until PCC provides the required information. I told him this was not the process as I understood it and then outlined our expectations and his response was "Who told you that?".
I have concluded that we have a long way to go before any action is forthcoming and I think it is time we considered taking the matter up with our MP and others at the political level.