Joint consultation will seek community views

Hutt Valley’s two city councils will be asking for your views on the future of regional governance in a combined consultation beginning on Tuesday, 28 May.

Mayor Wayne Guppy from Upper Hutt  and I believe our community within the Valley need accurate information about possible future options.

Our councils have always worked closely together and we both believe our residents should be givent the opportunity to air their views about any future local governement reform.

Both our councils were told in polls last year that the majority of residents wanted the status quo to remain with more shared services and, if forced into an amalgamation, a united Hutt Valley was the next preferred choice.

We are putting out the options of an enhanced status quo model, a United Hutt Valley Council, or a single council for the Wellington region. We are seeking a clear direction on the preferences of our communities within the Hutt Valley.

We will listen to the voice of the communities we serve and then make decisions about whether or not submissions will be made to the Local Government Commission.

This is a time for our communities to stand together with a shared voice to ensure we have a say in our own future.

Both councils will also use the results of the Colmar Brunton telephone survey conducted last year and run a second survey alongside this current consultation.

A website www.yourvoiceyourchoice.org.nz will remain open through to Friday 14 June.

Violence in community not tolerated

Boy racers came into the headlines this month following an altercation in Seaview and I joined Police Area Commander, Inspector Mike Hill, in telling our community that violence will not be tolerated nor condoned.

Police and Hutt City Council have helped to reduce crime through a partnership between the community and policing.

Inspector Hill says local boy racers and car enthusiasts are a highly visible group but the large majority are law abiding, driving on correct licences, with legitimate cars and driving sober. They are not a major cause of crashes and on road harm, to our community

Our shared concern is where there are incidents of intimidation or anti social behaviour and “occasions” where there are burnouts on public land.

It is now up to the boy racers – if they wish to continue this sort of behaviour the community will call for stronger rules and laws to control them.

Police have advised that anyone who witnesses an incident should

·         advise police of gathering locations

·         provide the police with video footage of offending, if possible

·         phone 111 to report to police if criminal offences are being committed

·         car enthusiasts themselves should ensure they moderate their own behaviour and the image they portray.

Bring your heart home winners found a special place

Time spent exploring the hidden sites and places of beauty that abound in Lower Hutt can make for a perfect day, I wrote in my latest column in Vibrant Hutt.

We are lucky people here in the Hutt.

This was brought home to me recently when ‘Bring Your Heart Home’ winners, Malaysian couple Wallace and Krs Ty Wai Hoe Yap, were hosted to a weekend in the city, courtesy of the Hutt News

Their enthusiasm and awe at the scenes and sights of Lower Hutt renewed my belief that we live in a special city.

They were overwhelmed by the warmth of the hospitality shown them by our people and were totally impressed by their adventures both within the urban setting and the southern coast.

A traditional powhiri at Waiwhetu Marae and an impassioned performance by teenagers from Alicetown-based kura, Te Ara Whanui, set the couple on their journey.

They toured the Stansborough looms where Gandalf’s cloak for Lord of the Rings was woven. Following a sumptuous two hour lunch at La Bella they strolled down Jackson Street popping into the Dutch shop, The Chocolate Story, Sweet Pea, On Trays, and Wanda Harland.

Our early European settlers were on show too as they visited the Petone Settlers Museum and then stopped for a refreshing drink of artesian water at Te Puni Wai Ora. A night at BK’s Motel, dinner at Jackson Street Bistro and a movie at Lighthouse Cinema finished the first day for them.

The forecast rain did not arrive and their second day was one of the most beautiful autumn days in many years – a perfect day for quad biking over Southern Wainuiomata’s Orongorongo station. The exhilarating ride was only exceeded by the breath-taking mountain, river valley and sea views.  An extremely happy but somewhat tired out couple finished the afternoon with a four wheel drive trip along the rugged Pencarrow Coast Road to Pencarrow Lodge and a visit inside New Zealand’s first lighthouse.

Whew! And that was one weekend.

The experience of Wallace and Krs Ty is a reminder that Lower Hutt has much to offer in the way of adventure tourism. We have bush, streams, rivers, mountains, and seashore, all perfect for a multitude of adventures from the extreme-physical to gentle recreational activities. You can swim, mountain bike, golf on some of New Zealand’s best courses, shop, enjoy our cafes and restaurants, visit the Dowse, take a stroll along the beach at Day’s Bay or visit the beautiful gardens in Wainuiomata – and that’s just to start with!

This is our place and, on occasions, you have to see it through the eyes of first-time visitors to be reminded just how amazing and beautiful it is.

There are many, an estimated 600,000 per annum are making Lower Hutt part of their visitor experience.

Visitors make a significant contribution to our economy and with the growth in the number of people visiting friends and family there is an opportunity for everyone living in the Hutt Valley to become a champion and ambassador and promote our city to friends and family.

In just one short weekend, Wallace and Krs Ty from Kuala Lumpur  had an amazing visitor experience where the people, our people here in the Lower Hutt, made them feel special. They will be coming back – that’s for certain.

Young people turn out for ANZAC Day

             My Mayoral Report to the May meeting of the Hutt City Council covered a wide range of topics including the large turnout of young people at this year's ANZAC Day commemorations on Thursday 25 April which was very pleasing to me.Other topics included:

·         Hutt City Council’s “Bring Your Heart Home” competition winner Wallace Wai Hoe Yap and his wife Krs Ty from Malaysia were hosted to a wonderful weekend of memories in Lower Hutt earlier this month. Local businesses and Waiwhetu Marae supported the event showcasing Hutt City at its best. The couple experienced shopping, restaurants and outdoor adventure in the Orongorongo ranges on quad bikes and a four-wheel drive visit to Pencarrow Lighthouse. The competition received around 30,000 votes off Facebook and was an opportunity to raise international awareness of Lower Hutt.

·         Hutt Valley Rose of Tralee winner Elizabeth Whelan is congratulated for her success and she will compete in the national finals in New Plymouth later this week.

·         Congratulations to Cr Gwen McDonald and members of the Pomare community for working hard to gain approval from Kiwirail to paint new murals on the Pomare rail bridge.

·         The Black Stacks, featuring two Hutt youngsters, Ahlani Fubnaki and Kaleb Rongokea, have become New Zealand’s most successful stackers after coming third at the World Sports Stacking championships in Florida last month.

·         Hutt welder Jaric Savill will head to Germany in July as a member of the 2013 Tool Blacks team competing in the WorldSkills International competition. He has previously come third in a WorldSkills New Zealand event.

·         Eastbourne historian Shelley Seay completed an oral history of 11 local survivors of the Wahine disaster through funding from a Hutt City Council heritage grant. This will provide an invaluable resource for the future.

·         Congratulations to Councillors and Elected members who staffed the Annual plan consultation display at the Westfield Shopping Mall.  This was very successful and raised awareness of the plan and the opportunity to make a submission.

·         The Centenary of the Manor Park Golf Club was staged during the period. My congratulations are extended to the club for a successful weekend of celebrations.

·         The Riddiford Lions Club in Wainuiomata celebrated 40 years of service to the community.

Education

·         Drama groups from Chilton Saint James, Hutt Valley High School and Hutt Independent Boys School took top placings in the Wellington regional Winn Shakespearean Festival. They will now take part in the national finals at the end of this month

Sport

·         The Hutt City Sports Awards were bigger than ever since their revival three years ago and the organising committee chaired by Cr Ken Laban provided a night of entertainment and celebration of sporting success at the Avalon television studios. Supreme Sportsperson was New Zealand softballer Rhys Casley, a local residentwho was also named Sportsman of the Year. The evening also honoured the contribution of women in sport with softball great Naomi Shaw being inducted as a Hutt City Sporting Legend.  The Sportswoman of the Year was shared between Victoria Taylor and Aniwaka Roberts. Other winners were: Administrator of the Year Mark Heisenbuttel; Official of the Year, Kathy Cross; Young Sportsman of the Year, Tim Robertson; Young Sportswoman of the year, Danica Ferrison; Coach of the Year, Darryl Marina; Athlete with a Disability of the Year, Nicholas Fyfe; Team of the Year Hutt Valley Dodgers.

·         A Hutt City Council programme Connex which links young people to sports and sports club is proving very popular and is an excellent initiative being run in the community by the council.

Birthday

·         I wish to acknowledge the 100^th birthday  of Ces Bank who has a long association with Lower Hutt and contributed much to our community.

Bereavement

·         It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of The Hon Parekura Horomia, New Zealand Labour Politician and Minister of MaoriAffairs, 2000-2008.  He was a man of great integrity and a popular figure who was very supportive of the Hutt Valley.

New Seaview Marina walkway is popular

The first section of a path that will eventually form a link between the Eastbourne Bays Walkway and the Hutt River walkway has been completed by the Seaview Marina and is proving very popular.

Already, even with this short piece of completed work, a large number of visitors are making good use of the area. The seating and plantings combine to create an attractive and pleasant environment. The designer and contractors have done a good job..

This is truly a jewel in the middle of the harsh edges of industrial buildings and will form an oasis of calm and peace

So congratulations to the Seaview Marina for a project that will enhance the area and provide a restful recreational area for local residents, boaties and visitors to the area into the future.

The plan now is to extend the pathway around the water's edge over the next three years forming a continuous path that will link with the Easterb Bays Walkway and the Hutt River walkway.

Lower Hutt to launch redevelopment plans for Fraser Park

Lower Hutt sports clubs based at Fraser Park will be able to share in the benefits of a new Sportsville centre which will include all-weather playing surfaces and a combined multi-sport club house.

This is an amazing development that will lead the way for other sportsville centres acorss Lower Hutt.

Fraser Park Sportsville has consulted with the founding members on the redevelopment over the past three years and we, as the Hutt City Council, have committed $6 million to the project over the next three years.

The development was showcased at a special media event at Fraser Park on Sunday, 26 May.

Background information about Sportsville included the following:

 

Who are the key partners and what is the role of the key partners?

Hutt City Council (HCC)

• Setting the City’s Vision for Community Infrastructure inclusive of Sport and Rec Facilities
• Stakeholders and project investors 
• Has established a CCO; the CFT, to deliver vision

Community Facilities Trust (CFT)

• Project Fundraisers
• Role is facility development
• Owners of new facilities developed

Fraser Park Sportsville (FPS)

• Representing the interests of founding members
• Role is facility Management
• Responsible to the HCC and CFT

Who are the Founding Members?

Hutt Valley Softball Assn, National Hockey Stadium Trust, Naenae Hockey, Fraser Park Squash, Avalon Rugby, Dodgers Softball, Taita Cricket and Lower Hutt City AFC.

Who is the redevelopment for?

To date the consultation has largely involved the clubs and organisations that are currently based on Fraser Park, however as we enter into the next phase the criteria and application process will be set for new clubs and community groups to become affiliate members.
The new clubhouse at Fraser Park will have sufficient social and meeting spaces available for non sporting community groups to utilise. 

What type of events will be held at Fraser Park in the future?

The redevelopment will provide the quality of playing and clubhouse facilities that will enable codes to host more regional and national events at Fraser Park.  International softball & squash events could also be held in the future.

What are the key components of the proposed redevelopment?  

• Removal of existing clubhouses on Fraser Park
• New clubhouse located on the stop bank between the enclosure and open space
• Redevelopment of the grounds inclusive of 1 new hockey turf (1 existing), 2 new rugby/football turfs and a sand based grass pitch.

 When will it be built?

The redevelopment will have 3 stages, below is the estimated timeline for completion of each stage.

Stage 1: Kick Start Stage

An artificial turf to be completed in the next 18-24 months.

Stage 2:  Clubhouse

Clubhouse completed between 2015-2017

Stage 3:  Redevelopment of grounds and additional turfs

Grounds completed between 2017-2020

We aim to have the stages completed within the timeframe above at this stage however once the fundraising plan has been completed there will be more clarity around the process and timelines for the redevelopment.

What is the total cost of the project?

The project hasn’t been costed yet. Hutt City Council, however,  is contributing $6m to the project, the remainder of the project costs will need to be fundraised. 

Funding for the Project

The development can be phased and staged pending funding; however significant funding would need to be secured in order to go ahead with stage 2 - the clubhouse.

The launch is about celebrating the coming together of clubs.  Lots of hard work has been undertaken to date, however much more work is required to make this project happen. 

Hutt City Council is committed to this project and has established the Community Facilities Trust which will work in partnership with Fraser Park Sportsville to formalise and implement the capital funding plan.

Are site plans available?

Yes at www.fpsportsville.org.nz