Lower Hutt on track for future growth

Future growth of Hutt City is assured through a new Urban Growth Strategy adopted by the Community Development Committee.

The strategy which provides new residential development in greenfield areas and infill housing  will go to full council next month (August)

Work will then begin on changing the district plan to include provisions for the changes suggested within the strategy.

The changes will set our city on a growth path into the future.

We estimate our population will grow to around 110,000 in the next 20 years and the new provisions in the urban strategy will accommodate the 6000 new houses expected to be built during that period.

The Urban Growth Strategy drew more than 400 submissions during an intensive round of consultation and council listened carefully to views of people affected by the initial proposals.

Officers have done a good job in developing the strategy which took many months to prepare and engage with the communities affected by the proposals.

A draft planning change will go out to the community for comment and will include owners and occupiers of land and property affected by the proposed change.

This matter is likely to be a priority for the new council in the next triennium,” he says.

Mayor Wallace says no council can give a binding commitment beyond 10 years but the decision has put Lower Hutt on track to accommodate growth into the future.

Secret Cafe gives top training to young people

 

Secret Level has successfully completed barista training  for six young students who have been training on the job in the Secret Café in Queen’s Arcade. Pictured here hard at work, from left, are Journey Kahukuranui and Shyron Blake. This has been an amazing pilot programme with the students all becoming proficient in a skill which has already led to one graduate being offered a job. Congratulations to Ginz Sinclair and Matt Gell from Secret Level for making this possible together with sponsors among them Ripe Coffee and Gellisimo Gelato, Taita College, Naenae College, Hutt Valley High School and Te Kura Correspondence, About Space and the Youthwise Trust.  

Boost in business confidence within Lower Hutt

Lower Hutt is a city we all love.

There is so much to enjoy – great education opportunities, sporting codes for every interest, and a robust business base that is showing Lower Hutt’s economy is on the rise.

During the past six months $250 million in new developments have been slotted into the pipeline – this is more than we have seen in the past five years.

This is a clear sign that economic activity is on the move.

The new developments will provide a boost to our local economy bringing much needed jobs.

We have one of the lowest rates rises in the country at an average of less than one per cent and our new Urban Growth Strategy is targeting an increase in our population to 110,000 over the next 20 years.

Large national developers are interested in doing business here with plans for two new rest homes. A third, being built by the Masonic Trust, is already under way.

AF Logistics re located from Porirua to Port Road and Owens Transport has re occupied their premises at Seaview. Masterpet is also planning a new development in that area.

Further signs of business confidence in Lower Hutt include the decision by the Japanese-owned Cable Price group to consolidate its headquarters here in Lower Hutt which opened earlier this year. This decision represented a significant investment of $10 million.

New developments coming into the city have been helped by our council business stimulus package which was intrdouced for the first time last year. We have been very pleased with the response and the package will be offered again in the current financial year.

 Development of Lower Hutt as a Technology Valley is also rapidly becoming a reality.

Callaghan Innovation has a significant presence in Lower Hutt and has announced it will create an innovative centre as a hub for science and business interests to create new products and services for the benefit of New Zealand business. There are already 800 companies in Lower Hutt linked to science and with this announcement we would expect this number to increase.

Lower Hutt is a great place to live with parks and a sea foreshore surrounded by hills and bush, and it is a city with a sound economic heart.

This growth in business confidence has happened in just three short years setting up our city for growth and prosperity as we move with a positive step into the future.

Petone Winter Carnival a must do event

The annual Petone Winter Carnival set down for Saturday, 3 August, is fast approaching.

This has been a major attraction on the Petone foreshore drawing thousands of people to the beachfront over many years.

It will be action-packed day with a whole range of activities including the ever-popular Polar Plunge at noon , market stalls, performances, food fair, public art and the finale of the Pelorus Trust Fireshow display at 7.30pm.

The Rotary Club of Hutt City Fire Sculptures will again light up the foreshore in spectacular fashion leading in to the fireshow. 

Beautiful, giant pieces of art are created on the foreshore from 9am, erected, and then burnt one by one with an amazing fireworks finale. Six groups are scheduled to participate this year.

Hutt city Council organises the event with support from the Pelorus Trust which has done a fantastic job in helping to make the winter festival a truly spectacular evening.

Facts about the night can be found at a new Petone Winter Carnival www.petonecarnival.co.nz

Make sure you come along and make it a great family event.

Cheaper parking positive move

Shoppers and business people will be pleased to see parking rates have been reduced.

There is still a cost, but it is very minimal.

The big advantage of this move is the amount of time shoppers now have – they get double the time for the same price.

Prior to this latest move, shoppers would pay $2 for the first hour and $3 for the second hour. Now they are getting a full hour for a $1.50 and if they go over the river bank car park, the price is only 70c.

There have been questions about free parking.

My argument is that there is still a need for time limited parking to ensure everyone has the opportunity to park alongside their favourite shops.

Our research showed that people come to town because of what is on offer at the shops, or because they have special errands or a wish to pick up specific items.  There is little evidence that free parking encourages people to come to town just for the sake of it.

I believe the parking fee reduction is a good move and will encourage shoppers to spend more time in the Central Business District.

Further information is available on the City council website

http://www.huttcity.govt.nz/en/Your-Council/News-and-notices/Latest-News/Shop-more-with-cheaper-parking/

Senior net doing a good job

Getting smart on the internet is as simple as signing on for Senior Net and successful Lower Hutt organisations with 450 members and 40 tutors teaching all there is to know about computers. Learning how to do emails and surf the internet is the main focus of attention for people who are new to computers.

The emphasis is on seniors teaching seniors and I thoroughly commend it to anyone wishing to gain computer knowledge.

During the annual meeting I was presented two certificates for Meritorious Service to the Senior Net organisation of Hutt City. One was to Ken Haywood  who, over 15 years held the positions of secretary, treasurer and chairman. The other was to Geoff Honey who has served as technical director of the organisation over 14 years. They were very worthy recipients of the awards.

You can find out more at learn@seniornet-huttcity.org.nz

Petone town clock chimes in 100 years

A celebration to mark 100 years since the Petone Town Clock first chimed out over a youthful Petone Town was a great occasion to dress up and even bake a cake for more than 300 people, mainly families, who turned out for the event.

The Jackson Street Programme committee under chair Leonie Dobbs is to be congratulated for staging the event. They have been operating in JacksonStreet for more than 20 years, encouraging enterprise and creating new ideas to promote the town

They have done a good job.

 At the core of this enterprise is the Petone community represented by the Community Board.
The Board has done a good job supporting local initiatives among them reconstruction of the McKenzie Pool complex which is proceeding at a rapid pace to be ready for summer.  They were also involved in submissions on the recent District Plan changes.
Local representation is important and ensures the voice of Petone is heard at the full council table.
Local government history in Petone has had its share of controversy whether it was voting for a gasworks or discussing how to raise loans for new roading, or even straightening Jackson Street – the debates were all vigorous and well discussed.
At the turn of the century Petone was the hub of a bustling community and in 1913 the new Town Clock was installed on the back of this prosperity.
During its 100 years, the Town Clock has “watched” the town from both sides of the street, sometimes with chimes, and sometimes without. It has seen a passing parade of our history – our young marching off to two world wars, the hungry and the jobless of the Great Depression, and the workers hurrying off to the Gear meatworks or car assembly plants.
Sports clubs flourished off the back of industry as young talented players came to Petone looking for work.  Among them were a fair share of New Zealand representatives many of whom are part of the Walk of Champions down Jackson Street.
And then came a slow decline as the core of established business including picture theatres and other enterprises quietly closed. 
Throughout these last decades the families, the community, and the organisations that provide care and support, endured.
Volunteers are the core of any community and more so in Petone. This was brought home to me during the recent and destructive storm when winds gusted up to 180 kilometres an hour and the Esplanade was closed for short periods because of high seas. With no power, thousands of people were left cold and with no way of cooking their own food. But virtually no one required support from aid agencies within this community.
It was friends and neighbours who went to their assistance came, making sure everyone was safe, helping to remove trees from driveways, and just being available.
That is the spirit of Petone – it was here 100 years ago and endures still.
Many of the building owners also attended the centennial celebration. They also have endured through good times and bad and helped maintain the heritage character of this wonderful street.
It was a great day for Petone.