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Have your say on Plimmerton Farm development

Submissions close 5pm, Thursday 2 July

Porirua City Council (PCC) is changing its District Plan to use a fast-track process for the Plimmerton Farm development, and is asking for the public to give their views on it.

This is our only chance to influence the outcome of this development by persuading the Minister for the Environment (who makes the final decision on the plan change) to protect the unique values of the Taupō Swamp and wetlands in the area. We will have to live with the decisions made now in perpetuity.

The Residents Association is working with the Friends of Taupō Swamp and Catchment (FOTSC) to help protect this environment.

You can help, too.

Everything you need to know is now up on the FOTSC website https://www.tauposwamp.org/plimmerton-farm-development.

Have a look at the “Have some more questions…?” document on the website. This is the culmination of input from many sources, and you can use it to help make a submission with the environment a priority, not a casualty, of planned development. There’s a lot there because there’s a lot to say.

You are free to use the words on it, but make them personal and write about the things you value the most.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UoA6uXzutlMBvunaFwkHdTSuz__TrG1s/view?usp=sharing

FOTSC has prepared an example of the submissions you can make. This will help simplify the process.

All the development information from PCC is on their website, along with links to the online submission page.

Remember: submissions are due 5pm Thursday, 2 July

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He Ara Pukerua T-shirts and tote bags for sale

T-shirts and tote bags are back on sale again. We are taking orders now for personal delivery. You can pick your desired size and colour as described in the product descriptions (although we have run out of the pink T-shirts). Please allow a short delay for printing.

Funds go to support He Ara Pukerua, the Pukerua Bay heritage project.

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Taupo Swamp volunteer planting and weeding day

Friends of Taupo Swamp & Catchment need your help – even an hour will make a difference! They are ready to go to get another 1800 wetland plants into the ground this season, having raised the money and ordered the plants from local nurseries. Stage two of the Taupo Swamp Wetland Restoration starts this Saturday, June 6.

When: 9am, Saturday, 6 June 2020 (ics, Facebook)
Where: Taupo Swamp, via Ulric Street, Plimmerton (map)

Work this weekend will be continuing to weed last year’s planting (some trees are now over 2 metres tall) and preparing the ground for the upcoming planting season. Gloves, gear and a morning snack can be provided thanks to Roger at Plimmerton Deli. Want to get in touch? Contact the organisers at tauposwamp@gmail.com or +64 21 263 9844 (💬).

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New water fountain and bottle filling station

The Residents’ Association have engaged Porirua City Council to install a new water fountain and water bottle filler by the playground and skate park, just up from the railway station east car park. Installation will begin on Thursday 18 June and involve driving a water supply pipe under the concrete path from a new water connection on Sea Vista Drive. This means the footpath link to the station will be closed for two days. There will be a temporary sign put up a week before works start, to let commuters know of the slightly longer walk to the station.

The model of water fountain and bottle filler to be installed is similar to the one pictured in Plimmerton. It will be registered on the RefillNZ national database, which lets visitors know where fountains and bottle refill stations are all around New Zealand; a good thing for escarpment track walkers.

The RA thanks Porirua City Council and its Village Planning and Waste Minimization teams for their support and for funding the installation.

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Plimmerton Farm development submissions

As you will know plans have been in the wind for some time for the redevelopment of Plimmerton Farm to housing. This needs a change to the designation of the land from rural to residential. Porirua City Council has successfully had the approvals process moved to a fast tracked approach, and is now consulting on the proposed change and the development in whole. Information on the process being followed, and documents outlining the proposal, can be viewed on the council website: Proposed Plan Change 18 Plimmerton Farm.

This development will be ongoing for about 30 years, with the first parts of the development taking place close to Mo Street and the James Street roundabout. Taupō Swamp will be affected by developments as they progress.

Proposed precinct plan (Fig. 13), from Attachment 14: Urban Design Report.

The Pukerua Bay Residents’ Association (the RA) will be lodging a submission on the proposal. It would help us in writing the submission to have an understanding of any concerns or support that residents have on the proposal. While you may intend to lodge a submission to the Council on your own behalf, please feel free to share your thoughts with the RA.

Submissions close 5pm, Thursday 2 July 2020.

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Shops–overbridge pathway widening commenced

On Tuesday Mills & Albert were on site to trim vegetation and clear around the areas to be excavated. They will be working 9 am – 5 pm Monday to Friday. Materials will be stock piled near the overbridge to avoid disturbance to the car park and recently reopened businesses.

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Road surface repairs

Capital Journeys will be sending out the paving team to three separate road repair jobs this Sunday night, after 8pm:

  • Two short patches in northern Pukerua Bay, near Onepu Road, Toenga Road and Te Pari Pari Road,
  • One longer patch (45 metres) north of Wairaka Road.

Nearby residents should be receiving notifications in their letterboxes today.

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SH1 shops footpath repair and widening finally underway

Contractors Mills & Albert have confirmed with PCC that they will be starting the widening and resurfacing of the shared SH1 footpath from the Pukerua Bay shops north to the overbridge next Tuesday, 19th of May. This was originally scheduled for 23rd of March, but was put on hold due to the COVID-19 lock-down.

The red line indicates the extent of the works, from the shops north to the overbridge. The blue line indicates the footpath diversion while the work takes place.

This $45,000 Porirua City Council village planning project has been in the pipe for at least ten years to improve the safety of pedestrian and cyclists along SH1. It is now going ahead with matched funding from NZTA to bring the total project funding to $90,000. This funding will allow bringing the pathway up to the required NZTA standard for shared pathways, in particular that it be a minimum of two metres wide.

The existing footpath path will be widened up to 400 mm in some places with wooden edging and retaining walls where necessary. In the three locations where the path is failing and slipping down the adjacent slope, a full width path reinstatement with be undertaken. At the end of the widening works, the widened areas will be full-width resurfaced.

The minimum NZTA standard width for a shared pathway is two metres.

Footpath diversion will be in place

Mills & Albert estimate the works will take 20 working days. During this time unfortunately a footpath diversion will be in place, similar to when the retaining wall was constructed last year, but for only 4 weeks. In addition, the shortcut to the shops across the school field will be cordoned off and unavailable while this work is being done.

You will also be able to go between the overbridge and the shops via Te Motu Road and the SH1 pedestrian refuge at the shops.

These signs from the retaining wall works will be reused.

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Waikākāriki Wetland Weed Whackers Working Bee

Now we’re in Level 2, if you’d like to help Ngā Ururoa Kāpiti Project with their first working bee clearing weeds in the Waikākāriki Wetland, please let Andy McKay know by text or email. Do not just show up on the day, please read the details below around Level 2 restrictions.

Sunday 17 May 2020 at 9am – 11 am (ical)
South end of Escarpment access track (not the Escarpment Track itself), Paekākāriki

Walk along the Southern end of the access track to the Paekākāriki Escarpment Track to the meeting spot (not the actual Escarpment Track!) The exact area is shown in the map:

Meeting place, on the Escarpment Access Track, Paekākāriki (map)

During Alert Level 2 things will have to work differently. There is a limit of 10 people, so do not just show up, please RSVP to Andy McKay by text or email first. Other things to be aware of:

  • Minimise the spread through personal hand hygiene, gloves and other personal protection equipment
  • No sharing of equipment or tools
  • Physical distancing of 1m will be maintained
  • No sharing of food, drinks or cutlery
  • It is important anyone feeling unwell stays home
  • Shorter time frame 9am-11am to fit to 2 hour limit on gatherings

If you can only make it for a short time that’s totally fine, drop by at any time, just text before hand!

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Keep in touch and stay safe in Level 2

With the move to Level 2 in the Covid-19 response, we have also reduced our community response to keeping a eye on events. However, we still have a group of volunteers willing to help.

If you need some assistance with collecting essential goods, such as grocery shopping or collecting medicine, please get in touch with us by phoning Helen on 0211466421 or emailing Kelly at pukeruabayhub@gmail.com.

Don’t forget to look after your mental wellbeing (we have some advice here), and the City Council has some welfare information here.