Who Are We?
The Pukerua Bay Residents' Association is a group of volunteers who act as a liaison between the community of Pukerua Bay and outside parties such as NZ Transport Agency (formerly Transit New Zealand), Porirua City Council and Ngati Toa.
The association is a non-profit incorporated society, with monthly meetings held every 2nd Tuesday of each month. Everyone is welcome to attend and we are always looking for enthusiastic new members - please email the chair of the association, Pat Hanley, if you are interested.
Recent achievements include the 2006 Pukerua Bay Village Plan Survey, followed by putting together and presenting the 2007 Pukerua Bay Village Plan to PCC.
Meeting Minutes
- Sep 2008
- Aug 2008 - no minutes (dinner meeting)
- Jul 2008
- Jun 2008
- May 2008
- Apr 2008
- Mar 2008
- Feb 2008
Neighbourhood Accessibility Plan (NAP)
Neighbourhood accessibility planning is an initiative designed to help councils improve walking and cycling access and safety. The Pukerua Bay NAP (791kB PDF) has been sponsored by the Porirua City Council to find out what the main issues are for pedestrians and cyclists. Below is a list of actions that are either already in progress or proposed.
What Is Already Being Done?
| Action / Type | Description | NAP Objectives Met | Comments |
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Village Plan
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In 2006 the Residents' Association initiated a survey to identify key values and issues for their community. The findings were wide ranging, identifying a number of values and issues relating to severance, safety and mobility and the environment. These were brought together through a series of recommendations known as the Village Plan, which was forwarded to PCC. This Plan has formed the basis for further discussions with and research by NZTA. |
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Many of the actions already being undertaken and being proposed emerged out of the Village Plan process and Report |
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Walking School Bus
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There are currently 3 routes. A group of volunteer parents and senior students have a designated route and at a set time they walk towards Pukerua Bay School, picking up students along the way. |
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Speed Feedback Sign (northward direction on downward hill section of SH1)
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Speeds often in excess of 50km/h due to high volume of through traffic, the 100km/h and 80km/h speed limits on either side of Pukerua Bay and relative closeness of the two main pedestrian crossing areas to nearby higher speed zones. |
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The speed feedback sign has had some impact, although cars are still travelling above the 50km/h limit. Further discussions need to be held with NZTA and the Residents' Association to review and explore other avenues of enforcement. |
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Increasing train frequency & improving rolling stock
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The 2006 census indicates that Pukerua Bay commuters are relatively high users of public transport. Improvements in both the rolling stock and frequency will be more of an incentive to use public transport. The April 2008 survey of households indicates that 33 percent of households expect their usage of trains to increase with the proposed increased frequency of train services. |
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Bike Shed - Pukerua Bay School
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The school staff, children and parent body were concerned at the number of parents driving children to school. For health as well as environmental sustainability reasons they have worked together under the umbrella of the Enviro School programme to address the issues and have an impact on their community. This work has been recorded in a DVD called Care Code and was undertaken by year 4/5 students at the school. |
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There has been a marked increase in the number of students biking to school. Results from the May 2008 survey suggests that there will be a further increase in biking should safer crossings of SH1 be established. |
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Walkways and reserves (various)
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The development and maintenance of a number of reserves and walkways in the village by residents and PCC contributes to environmental sustainability and provides options for residents to safely walk and cycle locally. This in turn promotes healthy living and is consistent with national strategies such as the National Health Strategy and National Walking and Cycling Strategy. |
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Neighbourhood accessibility plan proposals
| Proposal / Type | Problem | Mitigation | NAP Objectives | Responsibility | Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Improve intersections |
At all 3 intersections there are delays in turning right into SH1 and the right-turn bays are narrow with short acceleration lanes. |
NZTA assessed a number of options for Gray Street, Teihana and Pukerua Beach Roads. Main options for all 3 focus on standard or truncated seagull intersections. |
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NZTA |
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Teihana Road
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No taper for left turns into Teihana Road, which impedes flow of traffic. |
NZTA to discuss these options further with the community & PCC. |
Up to $706,000 |
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Pukerua Beach Road
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Due to skew of road, most traffic turning left from side road encroaches on right turn bay and sometimes southbound lane. Approach to Pukerua Beach Road is steep, impedes sight lines and makes it more difficult to stop and accelerate. |
Intersection improvements reduce risk of accidents as well as current delays. The intersection improvements will also address the perceived barriers of entering SH1 from side roads and improve safety along SH1. |
Not costed |
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Gray Street
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The proximity of the 100km/h zone with traffic still decelerating and proximity of the rail overbridge means right turning traffic from Gray Street having a very restricted acceleration path. |
Up to $234,000 |
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Wairaka Road
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Turning right into Wairaka Road from the north is difficult for those accessing pre-school services. There is no turning bay, the road is narrow, visibility limited and cars tend to drive above the speed limit. |
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NZTA |
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Trimming of Vegetation
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Native vegetation is valued in the community and also helps to mitigate the impact of pollution, noise and dust on, for example, the primary school which sits alongside SH1. However some of the vegetation along the highway does impact on visibility and sightlines. |
Judicious trimming of vegetation along SH1. |
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NZTA in collaboration with the Residents' Association |
Not costed |
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Lighting
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Lighting is inconsistent and poor at critical points such as intersections and at the existing overbridge. |
Installation of consistent lighting at critical points - intersections and overbridge. (not to Ausroad Standards which would be considered to be too bright) |
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NZTA |
Not costed |
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Reducing Speed to 50km/h along SH1 in Pukerua Bay
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On average, cars continue to exceed the 50km/h speed limit in Pukerua Bay despite signage and a speed board. The 70km/h zone at the northern end of the village encourages motorists to speed up in the 50km/h area which is encouraged by the road being on a downward gradient. Vehicles need to be slowed down. |
The following need to be considered:
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NZTA for first two objectives, third objective Residents' Association and PCC |
Not costed |
Safe Crossing of SH1 for PedestriansTeihana Road Muri Station
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Crossing SH1 presents a number of safety and mobility issues for residents and is the major contributing factor to community severance, posing both a real and perceived barrier. The existing overbridge is not best placed to address these issues and is in need of remedial work. Surveys results and NZTA's own research suggest that 2 safe crossings need to be put in place - one at Teihana Road and the other at Muri Station. |
Providing safe crossingsNZTA has undertaken a scheme assessment of options to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists crossing at Teihana Road and Muri Station. Teihana Road includes an at-grade, underpass or overbridge options. Muri Station options include an overbridge and at-grade option. Survey results have shown that safe crossings will encourage more walking and biking and less use of cars on short trips. |
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NZTA |
Teihana Road – expected estimated costs for options range from $0.653M – $2.6M Muri Station – estimated costs for options range from $0.54M3 – $2.072M |
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Current overbridge
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Upgrading existing overbridgePromoting the use of the safe crossings. The School, Residents' Association together with PCC will develop an educational campaign to promote residents', in particular young people's use of the new crossings. |
RA, Pukerua Bay School and PCC |
Upgrade of existing bridge - not costed |
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Extending the Ara Harakeke Walkway and Cycleway
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Currently the regional Ara Harakeke walkway and cycleway finishes at the southern end of Pukerua Bay, preventing safe transition through to the north. For Pukerua Bay residents the western footpath alongside SH1 is considered sub-standard (narrow) and hazardous in parts for both pedestrians and cyclists. |
Extend the Ara Harakeke walkway and cycleway through the village to meet up with the coastal road track. Plans including planting, signage, etc.; have already been drawn up on behalf of NZTA and approved by both the Residents' Association and PCC. |
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NZTA and PCC |
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Promoting safe cycling and walking
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The PCC strategy for walking and cycling strategies recommend projects to promote cycling and walking and the reduction of car use in the Porirua environs. The annual Family Wheels Day and Plimmerton Rotary Fun Day and other promotions and education programmes should involve the Pukerua Bay community. |
PCC and Residents' Association |
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Install pedestrian barrier at bottom of Haunui Road
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Haunui Road's zig-zag pathway is steep as it meets SH1. For young children running or cycling, or mothers with pushchairs there is a risk of running onto to SH1. |
Install a barrier at the SH1 end of the Haunui Road pathway. (Note: This situation will be solved if the Ara Harakeke walkway/cycleway is extended through Pukerua Bay). |
NZTA |
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Increase parking at Pukerua Bay Rail Station
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Commuter parking is not formally laid out on either side of Pukerua Bay Station, which means parking is not maximised. Currently there is parking for around 15 cars. For those who have a disability, are elderly, do shopping on the way home, or carry bags or other equipment, e.g. laptops, walking to the railway station may not be a viable option. |
Design parking layout to maximise the number of car parks at Pukerua Bay Station |
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GWRC |
Not costed |