RA

Muri Reserve consultation

• • Announcements, Consultation, RA, Recreation

Muri Reserve Development Plan with map of Muri Reserve

The Pukerua Bay Residents’ Association is after your ideas for how Muri Reserve can be developed so more of us can use this wonderful space in the heart of Pukerua Bay.

You can complete a survey online.

Map of Muri Reserve.
Map of Muri Reserve.

Muri Reserve is a peaceful spot about two hectares in area, which sits between Muri Road, Sea Vista Drive and the old Muri railway station.

It is in two distinct zones. To the west is a large, flat, grassed, “amenity” zone that is surrounded with planting and has views of the hills and sea. The eastern side is an undeveloped, sloping, “natural” zone that includes a wetland, which feeds into Haunui Stream.

The PCC web site has information about the reserve and the restrictions on its use. These two zones are managed differently by PCC and it has different objectives for them. It wants to encourage casual recreation and natural play opportunities in the amenity zone, raise awareness of heritage values, and protect ecological values in the natural zone.

Muri Reserve is part of a popular walking circuit around Pukerua Bay, but access from Sea Vista Drive is down a steep slope. Access directly off Muri Road is very difficult as the ground is very steep in one area. There is good access onto the two zones from the Muri Station platform.

The community identified Muri Reserve in the 2011 Pukerua Bay Village Plan as an area that could be used more for recreation. Suggestions from the community for the reserve included:

  • Further planting with native plants
  • Continued use of the amenity zone as a dog exercise area (dogs can be exercised there at any time)
  • Recreational activities, such as sport areas, picnic area, barbecue, playground, BMX track for young children
  • A board-walk across the wetland to connect the two halves of the natural zone
  • Community garden/heritage orchard
  • Memorial garden
  • Event venue (e.g. cushion concerts)

Community garden/food forest

There is strong support for a community garden or orchard on Muri Reserve. There is a keen group of local people wanting to develop one on the flat area at the eastern side of the reserve, behind the houses at the end of Muri Road. Access to this would be via the old railway station platform.

The group is currently studying whether the site is suitable for a “food forest”. See more information on Pukerua Bay Community Garden here.

Survey

We’ve created an online survey regarding Muri Reserve you can use to give us your suggestions.

Please give us your suggestions by the end of October.

We’ll let you know what ideas people had and what the next steps will be after that.

Thank you for your suggestions.

For more information, contact Iain MacLean at iain@maclean.name, 239 9237 or 027 420 3056.

2008 Residents’ Association AGM minutes

• • AGM Minutes, RA

Annual General Meeting

Thursday, 20 November 2008, 7.30 pm
Pukerua Bay School Hall

Approximately 40 people attended the Residents’ Association AGM. It was particularly pleasing to see a significant number of new residents in attendance.

The AGM was also attended by Councillors Leggett, Murrell and Sheppard as well as Ian Barlow of the PCC staff. The Residents’ Association expressed its appreciation for the interest shown by the councillors who regularly attend our meeting throughout the year. The excellent work undertaken in support of our community by Ian Barlow was also noted. …

2008 Residents’ Association AGM minutesRead More »

October 2008 Residents’ Association meeting minutes

• • Minutes, RA

Tuesday, 14 October 2008, 7.30 pm

Present: Graham McLaughlin, Jack Fry, Pat Hanley, Tim Sheppard, Dagmar Pesendorfer, Gill England, Euon Murrell, Nick Leggett, Robyn Moore, Dene Wade, Stu Farrant, Kate Dreaver
Residents: Karen Apperley, Anne Johnston
Porirua City Council: Clive Amsty, Linda Kerkmeester, Peter Mattich
Apologies: Graham McLaughlin …

October 2008 Residents’ Association meeting minutesRead More »

Report from the Chair, September 2008

• • Minutes, RA

Report from the Chair of the Pukerua Bay Residents’ Association, Jack Fry.

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 Gill.

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.