KARRA UPDATE - MAY 08
KAUKAPAKAPA Structure Plan
Rodney District Council (RDC) has now engaged RMS consultants and has approved completion of the 1st 4 stages of the proposal in the current financial year. Jason Evans, senior Policy Planner would be the key RDC contact involved.
RMS (Resource Management Services) has already begun work on the process which includes the Structure Plan "Open Day", Saturday 14 June, 11am - 3.30pm, Kaukapakapa Hall. KARRA are assisting with the research into the history of Kaukapakapa, so contact us if you have any information to add.
The Open Day is your opportunity to tell RDC what you want for Kaukapakapa. Come along and talk with the RDC & RMS people, then have a sausage at KARRA's sizzle.
River Clearance
KARRA has sent a submission to ARC actively supporting RDC's application for resource consent to clear the river. RDC have appointed Morphum Environmental Ltd to inspect 'stormwater assets' in the area. These inspectors have contacted some landowners to obtain access for the recording of information on streams, open drains and overland flowpaths within Kaukapakapa, during May.
Issues covered are to be erosion, water quality, ecology, vegetation and logging of stormwater assets & structures. Another step towards getting our river cleaned up!!
KARRA Membership, Committees & Website
We are pleased to report that more & more of you have joined KARRA recently, with 10 new members joining since the AGM. The more support we have the bigger the voice when talking with those who make decisions on our village.
KARRA now has 7 sub-committee groups to handle the workload, with committee members sharing in more than one. The committees are - Structure Plan, River Clearance, Rodney Power Station, Local Body Affairs, Communications, Finance and Research. Our Website now has a "Contact Us' tab giving contact details of the Chairman, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer & Sub Committee heads - for easier access to people at KARRA.
Genesis - Rodney Power Station Workshop
A fantastic turnout to the submission writing workshop on 10th May, directly resulted in KARRA delivering 109 submissions to RDC & ARC on 16th May. Representatives from other groups including Greenpeace were there on the day to help and lend support. If you missed the deadline, there will be another chance in June/July to have your say on Genesis Energy's application for rezoning. Watch the Kourier & KARRA's website for updates.
Recently KARRA & other groups met with an environmental lawyer & hope to engage him to both assist with submissions & represent KARRA at the consent hearings in Sept/Oct. Estimated costs for the lawyer & 2 technical experts range from $20,000 - $30,000. So, concerned groups will be looking to raise a 'legal fund' via fundraising or direct contributions from the local community.
KARRA & Submissions
You may have noticed an influx of topics requiring submissions from the community lately. Here is a summary of submissions KARRA's committee have made over the last few weeks:
- River clearance - to ARC in support of RDC to have river cleared.
- Auckland Governance - to the Royal Commission, to retain rural nature of KAUKAPAKAPA within RDC, accountability of expenditure & local issues within our region, not Auckland.
- Waitoki Landfill - to RDC to reject the proposed landfill due to many adverse affects for locals.
- Rodney District Annual Plan - to RDC to object to aspects in the plan, particularly the inequity in expenditure & services to the Western Wards.
- Genesis - see above. Detailed information available on KARRA's website www.kaukapakapa.org.nz
KARRA Open Forum
The KARRA Committee is now holding quarterly 'open forum' meetings whereby members & locals can attend committee meetings to discuss specific items of interest to themselves with the committee on a regular basis. The first of these is set down for July 14th, at Kaukapakapa Hall. Please contact Neville Miller (Chairman) to arrange a time on 420 4199 or email patchworkbarn@xtra.co.nz
Genesis Power Project
For information on the proposed power station click here
Have your say on the Genesis power project. Fill in the survey here
October Draft Structure Plan Presentation
The presentation of the October 25th public meeting is now available. View the presentation here
Minutes of Public
Meeting
25th Oct
2007, Kaukapakapa Hall
Opening of Meeting:
Chairman Neville Miller
welcomed guests and opened the
meeting at 7:30 pm
Present:
54 Local residents,
Western Ward Councillor Grev Walker
Warren McLennan and Andrew Trevallyn - RDC
Matt Feary - Resource Management Services (RMS)
Apologies:
Mayor Penny Webster, Cr Pat Delich, Cr Suzanne Weld
Welcome
KARRA Chairman Neville Miller outlined the topics for the evening :
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Structure
Plan presentation
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Slaughterhouse restoration
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Genesis
Power Station
Structure
Plan presentation (Hugh McLennan / Matt Feary / Warren McLennan) :
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Hugh worked
through a powerpoint presentation that outlined timeline and high level
detail of all activity to date including consultation processes undertaken
etc
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Matt Feary
(RMS) outlined that Structure Plan processes needs to follow RDC determined
template; put the work doe to date into context against said template; and
confirmed that whatever outcomes were ultimately recommended they will need
to fit well with overall regional plan
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Matt
highlighted that although good levels of background research and public
consultation have been completed more is required and that issues will
continue to be identified and bought to the table. There is a large body of
research work to be done to better understand 'Constraints and
Opportunities' especially Cultural, Ecological, Agricultural, Hazard Areas
etc which all need to be mapped and documented as part of the overall
templated process
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Matt also
outlined that within the RDC devised template there are still a number of
process steps that have yet to be completed including a visioning exercise;
the development of options which are then refined based on further feedback
prior to the preparation of a Draft Structure Plan.
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Acknowledged that whilst any area under consideration can be adjusted/moved,
outcomes should be both logical and defendable. Any Draft Structure Plan
should be well supported by the local community but must reflect sound
resource use (not necessarily be a popularity contest)
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Warren
McLennan outlined RDC requirements re mapping and consultation, and
confirmed that whatever is proposed represents the best use of ideas and
local inputs to devise the best possible resource use plan
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RDC are
becoming increasingly involved in the Kaukapakapaka Structre Plan process to
ensure high levels of their awareness and no suprises.
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Recent
meetings between KARRA and RDC have been held expressly to update RDC on
progress
Questions
and Comments
Two
submissions in relation to the Structure Plan process were articulated (but
not tabled) - 1 by Roger Prout and 1 by Vaughn Philips. It was noted that
one of the submissions comprised a list of signatures but with no other
references or definition. It is understood that the submission will be more
formally made at a future opportunity
Comments
from the floor emphasised the need for transparency and good communication
KARRA
members were invited to attend the next committee meeting.
Slaughterhouse Restoration (Joe Henley) :
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Thanks
extended to Mr Ashby (as landowner) in allowing KARRA access to site to
inspect with a view to restoration
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The belief
is that Slaughterhouse is restorable on current site (and/or is able to be
dismantled), but much foundational work will need to be done. Must work in
closely with landowner, and ensure we don't create more of a safety issue
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Strong
vocal support from the audience to progress with restoration planning etc
(will look to use contact details as captuured on tonights questionnaire)
Genesis
Energy (Neville Miller) :
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Genesis
still proceeding with Resource Consent process
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KARRA's
position is that we need to gather more local feedback/info, and to then act
based on that feedback (as canvassed via email, web site, questionnaire etc)
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Strong
vocal support from the audience indicates local opposition to Genesis
resource consent process
Next Steps
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Audience
encouraged to complete questionnaire (questionnaire offering opportunity for
comments on Structure Plan process etc, willingness to assist with
Slaughterhouse Restoration and indications of support or not for Genesis
Power station
Saving the Slaughterhouse
Following the recent
storm damage to the Kaukapakapa slaughterhouse, KARRA members have received
several queries from local residents as to what can be done. KARRA proposes the establishment of a separate local sub-committee to undertake any restoration work (under the auspices of KARRA).
KARRA & RDC meet re
Kaukapakapa proposed Structure Plan
Early in August,
some of the KARRA Structure Plan Committee met with RDC councillors,
Policy & Strategy staff, and Mayor John Law to update them with
progress KARRA has made with the Structure Plan process. The KARRA
presentation of work to date was well received and KARRA were
congratulated on the professional manner and comprehensive content of
the proposed Structure Plan.
A number of
objectives still need to be achieved as part of the process including
dealing with river clearance & the flood plain, transport and roading,
cultural heritage and infrastructural requirements.
As a result of this
very positive initial meeting, RDC staff and KARRA Structure Plan
Committee members have arranged 2 further meetings to take place by
mid September, to formulate plans and move forward to achieve the
desired outcome. KARRA indicated to the RDC that they would wish for
ratification of the proposed Structure Plan by October 2007 with a
desired acceptance by RDC through a variation to the District Plan by
mid 2008.
Following these
meetings with RDC, KARRA plans to hold another public meeting to
consult with residents within the next few months.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
NEEDED ON KKK RIVER
KARRA member Dennis
McAulay has been working with RDC staff to further achieve action on
clearing the Kaukapakapa River and help alleviate the problems associated with
the flooding we experience every year. To this end KARRA needs anyone
who has knowledge re the river and in particular any tributaries or
drains leading to the river, to contact him as soon as possible. The
RDC are in the process of putting together a 'model' of the river and
this information is vital to achieve a correct result. This will lead
to the application for 'Global' approval via the Proposed Auckland
Regional Plan : Air, Land & Water (PARP:ALW) resource consent avenue
allowing vegetation and sediment clearance of the Kaukapakapa River. Once this
is achieved residents are less likely to experience disruption caused
by flooding and usage of the river including a Jetty will be more
viable. Please contact Dennis McAulay on 420 5681 or via email
dennis@mcaulay.co.nz.
KAUKAPAKAPA PROPOSED STRUCTURE PLAN
ZONING WORKSHOP
46 people attended the Zoning proposal workshop.
Hugh MacLennan of the KARRA Structure Plan Committee re-presented the
zoning proposals and stressed once again these are only proposals and
encouraged all present to include their ideas and
acceptance/non-acceptance of presentation based on previous surveys.
This was followed by some very brisk discussion and then those present
broke into 6 groups to discuss the prosposed changes to zoning in
residential, retail & countryside areas. Followed by consideration of
a business park zone, expansion of Kaukapakapa School area, service roads to
expanded retail area along with future park & ride and rail
facilities.
Each group appointed a spokesperson who then presented the
written conclusions of their group to the workshop attendees.
The Chairman of KARRA, Neville Miller collected the results thanked
everyone for their participation and advised that the Structure Plan
Committee would study the results in details and report back on the
findings. He encouraged all that wished to submit further comments to
do so via post to KARRA or our website. He then advised that a further
questionnaire would be immenient and asked for all present to complete
and return, as we are just getting towards the detail of the plan.
When asked how KARRA would get the questionaire out he stated that
KARRA was investigating as many means as possible in addition to media
releases, flyers, advertising, signage and our website as some
residents commented they were not informed of KARRA meetings.
RDC councillor Greville Walker when asked how long realistically we
were looking at the process coming to fruition commented that he felt
with the ground work done, possibly up to 2 years. A member of the
workshop then stood and thanked the current and past KARRA committees
for all the work done to date. The meeting ended at 3.45pm
Kaukapakapa Ratepayers Get a Stronger Voice
Following the AGM &
public meeting held by KARRA (Kaukapakapa Area Residents & Ratepayers
Assoc.) in March, the newly elected committee met for the first time mid
May to welcolme 4 new members onto the committee and to listen to the
analysis of the recent survey covering the KKK Structure Plan proposals.
KARRA committee members have now grown to 13 with the addition of new
members Myles Goodwin, Colin Harrison, Pat McMahon and Kerry Thomas-Anttila
who were welcomed by the group on Monday 14th May. With this boost to
KARRA, they now have an excellant group to strive even harder to work
out the needs and wants of residents of Kaukapakapa Village. In addition
the membership of KARRA has grown from 45 to 61 paid up members. Dr
Neville Miller, the newly elected Chairman, confirmed the nominations of
Rodney Pomfrett as Secretary, Hugh MacLennan as Treasurer, Bruce Cowan
as Vice-Chairman and they were voted on by the new committee. This was
followed by election of members to the sub committees now in place -
Structure Plan, Walkways, Publicity and River Control. Dennis McAulay of
the Structure Plan group was very pleased to present the results of the
recent survey which once again showed KARRA has been given a strong
mandate by residents of Kaukapakapa to continue with the proposals of the
structure plan, with 89% of respondents agreeing to the continuation of
the process. Specific results for main areas of interest - zonings,
linkways/walkways, road & rail have been analysed and are detailed
separately. It was also agreed by the committee to set up formal
meetings with Western Ward Councillors and the Mayor on a regular basis
to discuss Kaukapakapa's Structure Plan and progress with specific
requests for action, advice and allocation of council funds within the
Kaukapakapa area.
Results of Questionnaires
Kaukapakapa Working on What it Wants
At the recent KARRA meeting, the Structure Plan Committe were please
to report results from analysis of the survey covering the presentation
made at the public meeting in March. 103 people attended and the
majority completed the survey along with others who downloaded from the
website or via the post.
>From 98 handouts, 76 completed & returned the questionnaire with 89%
agreement from respondants for KARRA to continue the Structure Plan
process - once again a clear mandate from residants. Specific items
covered revealed the following:
North/South Village Linkway proposal 75% agreement
23% disagreement 2% no comment
Shows a very strong majority for the linkway to proceed, with 32% of
respondants willing to assist KARRA Walkways group.
Kaukapakapa Zoning proposal 48% agreement
49% disagreement 3% no comment
A split result, however 86% of those who disagree still wish KARRA to
continue with Structure Plan process and 51% are willing to attend
workshops. The majority of those who disagree are residents close to the
proposed business zone. 74% of all respondants indicated a willingnes to
attend zoning workshops. Obviously, this is an area where KARRA and
residents will need much more consultation via surveys and workshops.
Road & Rail proposal 67% agreement
21% disagreement 12% no comment
Once again a high percentage of acceptance for this proposal, those
who disagree willing to participate in workshops. The bulk of
disagreement coming from those situated near the proposed business park
and 18% of the 16 who disagree, from KKK North felt the roundabout/link
road was an integral part of the buisiness park.
General Summary
Overall the Structure Plan proposal has received majority support for
all aspects, with the exception of the split acceptance of the proposed
business zoning. The rail/road and walkway concepts all receive strong
overall support. Sufficient respondents show a willingness to assist
with ongoing planning aspects.These findings now enable the KARRA
Structure Plan Committee to move on to the next step of organising
workshops and further surveys to involve a wider community input to
specific areas. Details of these will be published through media and on
KARRA website
Kaukapakapa is taking control of it's future NOW....
The residents and ratepayers of Kaukapakapa have been quietly, but busily
working away at planning to keep control of the way the village and surrounding
areas develop. Over the last 2 years KARRA (Kaukapakapa Area Residents and
Ratepayers Association) have been focusing on making sure the beauty and appeal
of the Kaukapakapa area is retained by consulting with the locals, council and
developers to ensure the people GET what the people WANT. To this end KARRA have
been diligently working through the process required to put together an Area
Structure Plan for Kaukapakapa. In the main, this has been driven by the outcome
of questionnaires completed by residents, along with their mandate to begin
putting together a Structure Plan at previous public meetings called by KARRA .
KARRA has set up a specific sub-committee which over the last 12 months has been
dedicated to investigating and following through with requirements to complete
the Structure Plan as efficiently as possible. This has involved substantial
consultation with Rodney Council and their planning people, which has resulted
in 2 Rodney Council planning staff and $10,000 being allocated to help with the
Structure Plan. In addition, an action group is now set up to drive the
development of the "walkway" or "linkway" between North & South Kaukapakapa to
allow our residents safe and pleasant passage between the two growing parts of
the village and better access to our fabulous Sinclair Park. We want this SOONER
rather than LATER as was shown by the results from completed questionnaire
KARRA is pleased to announce that another public meeting is to be held at the
Kaukapakapa Hall on Thursday 22nd March 2007 at 7.30pm. Following the swift AGM
and Community Service Award a presentation will be made showing progress to date
with the Structure Plan and will include another questionnaire to enable
residents to give the feedback so keenly required to allow planning to move
along the guidelines people have given KARRA. Consultation, consultation,
consultation - that is our mantra. Following the public meeting, KARRA has
planned that workshops will be held, a month or so later, to enable residents to
partake in the planning of specific areas of interest - details to be advised on
the night. In addition nominations for KARRA committee members will be welcome
and those wishing to join KARRA can do so at an annual fee of $10 per person.
KARRA looks forward to another 'standing room only' meeting - so be there, to
play a part in the development of this perfect place - Kaukapakapa.
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