• About
  • Elections team and questions 2019

Waikanae Watch

~ issues of relevance to Waikanae people

Waikanae Watch

Monthly Archives: March 2015

Waikanae Beach is endangered by crass commercialism

31 Tuesday Mar 2015

Posted by Waikanae watcher in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Ranford Billboard

You won’t see billboards like the one above in Santa Barbara…

SantaBarbara

…but you will in seedier parts of Los Angeles…

Lady-Justice-Law

The group which reacted following the purchase of the property near the beach by the Waikanae Medical Centre (see earlier) see it as the thin end of the wedge for more commercialisation of the until-now quiet beach area.

The Kapiti Law billboards which appeared on Te Moana Road about 3 years ago are unsubtle advertisements aimed at visitors heading to the beach from State Highway 1. You’ll see plenty of billboards like them in America, to the point that 30 years ago the city of Santa Barbara in California decided to ban them, and signs identifying businesses at their premises have to be kept within certain quite restricted dimensions.

Can we expect more billboards like the Ranford ones? It’s clear that the Olde Waikanae Beach Preservation Society are very concerned about this sort of thing.

Here follows the group’s submission to the Waikanae Community Board on 24 March (reproduced verbatim)

*******************

Submission to the Waikanae Community Board

24 March 2015

Background
1. On 1 March 2015 a public meeting was held at the Waikanae Beach Community Hall. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss proposed/future commercial development at the beach area. 110 people attended this meeting
2. On 21 March 2015 there was a followup meeting to continue discussions and to establish a Community Association. 53 people attended this meeting.
3. The Olde Waikanae Beach Preservation Society (OWBPS) was resurrected at the above meeting. Initial membership: 130 people
4. An OWBPS Committee has been formed of the following people: Charles Norwood (Chair), Brent Cherry, Elisabeth Roll, Quentin Poole, Lorraine Edwards, Gerald Rys and Petra Arreger.

OWBPS submission to the Community Board

In June 2013 The Kapiti District Council commissioned an independent report, titled “Waikanae Beach Character Assessment”; the purpose being to determine whether and to what extent Waikanae Beach could be determined as an area of special character. (Part of the Sec 42 reports into the submissions on the PDP) The finding of this report was that Waikanae Beach has a “coastal location, ‘beachy’ character and a pronounced sense of place.”

It further went on to recommend that Waikanae Beach be regarded as a Character Area.

The Expressway will have a profound effect on Waikanae as a whole and in particular, Waikanae Beach. The interchange at Te Moana Rd will be the entry and exit point for Waikanae and Peka Peka traffic. Whenever there is a significant motorway interchange, businesses will seek to take advantage of the increased traffic flow. They will seek to open businesses in the area.

We cannot allow unplanned and ad-hoc development to ruin our community!

We need to have a full understanding of the implications and social consequences of the expressway going though our area.

We therefore request that the WCB recommends that:
1. KCDC formally recognises that Waikanae Beach be treated as a Special Character Area at the next available meeting.
2. KCDC urgently commissions a report into the implications and social consequences that the expressway and Te Moana Rd interchange will have on the future growth of Waikanae Beach
3. KCDC, after full and immediate consultation with the Waikanae Community, draws up a plan on future commercial development for Waikanae Beach, with the purpose being to prevent ad-hoc commercial development in residential sites
4. KCDC publically informs the community at large that it wishes to consult with the Waikanae Community about future commercial development at Waikanae Beach before accepting any zoning designation changes for Waikanae Beach.
5. KCDC puts a hold on all resource consents for change in zoning designations in Waikanae Beach until the plan is complete

OWBPS Committee

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

I am standing for the Waikanae Community Board vacancy

30 Monday Mar 2015

Posted by Waikanae watcher in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

After due consideration, I have decided to stand for this vacancy, as it provides the opportunity to promote the issues on which I stood for the Council vacancy to a wider audience — for some strange reason the Waikanae Community Board boundaries extend into some of what is the Otaki Ward for the Council.

The voting papers don’t get sent out until about the beginning of May and the deadline for them to be returned is 27 May.

Geoffrey Churchman

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

from the KCDC open day in Waikanae last Saturday

30 Monday Mar 2015

Posted by Waikanae watcher in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

002

This was held in a ‘pop-up shop’ in Mahara Place and basically dealt with matters covered in the Long Term Plan. During the time we were there, there was a small but regular trickle of visitors who could write their comments on the large sheets of paper shown.

There was also the video being shown on the monitor in the pic above.  And that raised a question in itself: how much did the Council spend on the animated cartoons of the Mayor, Councillors and Council Officers speaking with real scenes in the background?  Cute maybe, but would it not have been just as effective and cheaper to have filmed them for real?  This willingness to waste thousands of dollars at a time characterises a spendthrift mentality on the part of the Council.

Anyway, even if you didn’t go to this open day, you can still make submissions in the next 4 weeks on the Long Term Plan; we will be.  Details will be posted on here.003

001004

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

another view of the Waikanae Motor Camp, near the beach, early 1950s

27 Friday Mar 2015

Posted by Waikanae watcher in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Waikanae Motor Camp 1949ish

This one is from the Kapiti Museum Website, and shows Tutere Street running across the foreground. The popularity of pitching tents as holiday accommodation has waned over the years!

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Neighbourly looks a good website to join to combat petty local criminals

27 Friday Mar 2015

Posted by Waikanae watcher in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Neighbourly

In an earlier post we mentioned that being alert as to dubious types and suspicious behaviour — and then sharing the details with others — is a fundamental step people can take to combat crime.  This recent website — neighbourly.co.nz — enables people who join up (it’s free) to do this.

It isn’t only about crime, though, but also the various things people can do to be part of a caring, sharing and involving community.  To date it has about 100,000 members throughout NZ.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

When will a water reservoir on the Waikanae River be built?

27 Friday Mar 2015

Posted by Waikanae watcher in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

untitled

Maungakotukutuku-Dam-location-map

As can be seen from these two KCDC documents, the issue has been looked at — but that’s about it.

All of Waikanae’s normal water supply comes from the Waikanae River, apart from that for some properties which have their own bore water.  And how much of it is stored in a reservoir?  Zilch, nix, none.

Is that a sensible situation when every summer the river runs low?  Obviously not; well, it’s obvious to most people, but clearly it hasn’t been for the majority of those who have been sat on the council for the past several years. Instead they decided to waste tens of millions of dollars of ratepayers money on water meters, which have added nothing to catchment.

We have done our bit to add to catchment by installing 1,600-litre capacity water tanks to supplement the tap supply (see earlier), which based on a generous usage estimate of 100 litres a day should last a couple of weeks at a time.  One of our neighbours has also done this.  But not everyone can afford the initial $2,500 or so cost.

Then there are the new housing developments underway which if they are realised as proposed will add major new consumption needs that will vastly exceed the existing supply capacity.

The land for a water dam apparently is already owned by the council, thanks to the current Mayor Ross Church, so why doesn’t the council get on and start building it?

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

a few heritage trees in Waikanae

26 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by Waikanae watcher in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

At last count there were over 125 trees and clusters of heritage trees on the KCDC register.  Here follow six examples, more will be posted later.

Mitchell1Waikanae Pohutukawa

Mitchell2waiky tree

WalnutMaple Lane

Elizabeth St descriptions

Elizabeth St 1

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Waikanae lagoon views

26 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by Waikanae watcher in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Waikanae1

Waikanae2

Taken from the footbridge near Tutere Street in the beach area. In the second view, there’s something clearly wrong about the large conifer on the left.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Paraparaumu lizard seat between the library and the KCDC offices

23 Monday Mar 2015

Posted by Waikanae watcher in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Paraparaumu lizard

Cool – why not have one in Waikanae too?

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

What do you think of a 4.2% rates hike in the Kapiti Coast District?

20 Friday Mar 2015

Posted by Waikanae watcher in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

ratesincrease

That happens to be about 4 times the present rate of inflation – so it’s not hard to guess what people think about it — nevertheless the KCDC is inviting your views so don’t hesitate to give them!

Share this:

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...
← Older posts

contact e-mail

waikanaewatch@gmail.com

Archives

  • December 2019 (38)
  • November 2019 (102)
  • October 2019 (113)
  • September 2019 (127)
  • August 2019 (139)
  • July 2019 (121)
  • June 2019 (110)
  • May 2019 (127)
  • April 2019 (116)
  • March 2019 (91)
  • February 2019 (92)
  • January 2019 (87)
  • December 2018 (93)
  • November 2018 (86)
  • October 2018 (82)
  • September 2018 (86)
  • August 2018 (78)
  • July 2018 (72)
  • June 2018 (74)
  • May 2018 (82)
  • April 2018 (76)
  • March 2018 (78)
  • February 2018 (71)
  • January 2018 (84)
  • December 2017 (75)
  • November 2017 (75)
  • October 2017 (79)
  • September 2017 (76)
  • August 2017 (62)
  • July 2017 (63)
  • June 2017 (62)
  • May 2017 (81)
  • April 2017 (65)
  • March 2017 (70)
  • February 2017 (69)
  • January 2017 (61)
  • December 2016 (53)
  • November 2016 (55)
  • October 2016 (62)
  • September 2016 (70)
  • August 2016 (43)
  • July 2016 (41)
  • June 2016 (21)
  • May 2016 (26)
  • April 2016 (41)
  • March 2016 (36)
  • February 2016 (31)
  • January 2016 (44)
  • December 2015 (45)
  • November 2015 (37)
  • October 2015 (38)
  • September 2015 (30)
  • August 2015 (20)
  • July 2015 (18)
  • June 2015 (31)
  • May 2015 (27)
  • April 2015 (24)
  • March 2015 (28)
  • February 2015 (28)
  • January 2015 (19)

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

  • poll finds most people would rather be annihilated by a giant tidal wave than continue to be lectured by climate change activists, from The Babylon Bee December 14, 2019
  • Britain votes to be carbon-neutral by 2050 and Corbyn-neutral by Christmas December 14, 2019
  • faux Tudor and a Norfolk pine by the river December 14, 2019
  • White Island was an accident waiting to happen December 14, 2019
  • more happenings this Sunday December 13, 2019
  • Waikanae Estuary scene December 13, 2019
  • movie review: ‘Ford v. Ferrari’ December 12, 2019
  • from the Free Speech Coalition: amid the gloom, some glimmers of hope December 12, 2019
  • Cancer processes — 6. Exercise encourages positivity December 12, 2019
  • the first meeting held of the new Paraparaumu-Raumati Community Board December 12, 2019
  • the perils of a land of hazards December 11, 2019
  • Ngarara Road roses December 11, 2019
  • a certain politician gets quite noticeable Photoshop treatment December 11, 2019
  • nine lessons and carols at Waikanae Beach Anglican church this Sunday evening December 10, 2019
  • birds in the pond off Weggery Drive December 10, 2019
  • Probe into eight 1080 Waikato cattle deaths in 2018 points to DOC breach December 9, 2019
  • Waikanae river summer look December 9, 2019
  • Until Police can Stop this Behaviour, LFOs should resist a register December 8, 2019
  • Black-fronted dotterel, Peka Peka beach December 8, 2019
  • the river just east of the railway bridge December 8, 2019
  • homicide rates per 100K inhabitants of every country, latest list (alphabetical) December 7, 2019
  • Kapiti Historical Society — December 2019 Newsletter December 7, 2019
  • areas of council work being undertaken in Waikanae over the coming weeks December 7, 2019
  • Waikanae Estuary Care Group gets a DoC grant towards growing some 3500 native plants in the Care Group’s nursery in the estuary December 6, 2019
  • whale sounds December 6, 2019
  • Stuff media’s latest annual report shows its revenue continues to fall December 6, 2019
  • Mahara Gallery new exhibition opening on 15 December December 5, 2019
  • Horowhenua’s former Mayor speaks on pollution in the region & why little is being done about it December 5, 2019
  • 360° view from Hemi Matenga December 5, 2019
  • for the January calendar — the Waikanae Garden Trail December 4, 2019

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
%d bloggers like this: