Swampy Marsh's December Newsletter

DECEMBER 2015

Hi Wellington

I hope you don’t mind me keeping in touch with some of the recent stuff from council:

• Great news for Kilbirnie businesses, they have voted to form a local Business Improvement District (BID). Council will collect $80,000 pa in business rates which the BID will use on their own projects to grow Kilbirnie business. You might have some ideas for Kilbirnie?

• I’m sure traffic along Ruahine St. is getting worse in the weekend. There are ten clubs that use Hataitai Park and when they try to leave via the Goa St intersection it’s so dangerous for pedestrians and cars. I’m asking NZTA to bring forward the installation of traffic lights at this intersection. Is this a good temporary solution?

• The explosion in the number of food trucks in Miramar is causing some tension with permanent operators of cafes and restaurants. Cafes say they have a long list of expensive regulatory issues they have to comply with while a food truck can rock up at lunchtime for two hours then move on. However food trucks are a colourful part of Wellington’s makeup. Is limiting the number of food trucks in an area an option?

• Funding to provide safer cycle ways in the eastern suburbs is available from Transport Agency and WCC. Invitations were sent to residents and business associations and some schools for an initial discussion, from their input ideas will be put to the wider community. The aim is to avoid the debacle that occurred in Island Bay.

• The airport extension plans and reports have been released for feedback onwww.connectwellington.co.nz my position is that I want to let this idea have every opportunity of succeeding but only if it turns out to be sound.

• If you own one of Wellingtons 10,000 dogs, council is keen to hear how it can provide better value for money. Are the current off lead beach access hours etc. sensible? What other potential areas are there? How should we encourage people to pick up their dog poo? It is also important to remember that beaches are often home to blue penguins too.

• Shelly Bay businesses recently appeared at council concerned by road closures around the peninsula. One event, Cyclovia, asked to close the road from the cutting, thus strangling the Choc Fish, Whirlwind, the galleries etc. from people in cars, fortunately common sense prevailed. Do you think road closure signage at the cutting is confusing?

• Lyall Bay was hit hard by storms over winter; surfer’s car park was smashed, repaired and smashed again. Council has been speaking with locals seeking local input. An early feedback report on the dynamics of the bay was recently presented at the Lyall Bay Rongotai Residents Assn. How important is the surfer’s carpark?
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Finally my colleague and mate Councillor Ray Ahipene Mercer announced he will not be seeking reelection, he will be sorely missed, and he really works hard for the community but quietly. He will be hard to replace, perhaps you know someone interested in standing?

ends

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