We weren’t able to attend this, so here follows a condensed version of Sue Lusk’s report on the DW Facebook page.
We commented on the practical significance of what it all means for the District Plan last year and in other posts on what property developers are thinking.
It should be noted that this group’s stances may not necessarily represent the views of everyone, though. The apparent catalyst for it all — the Waikanae Medical Centre’s purchase of the property at the beach end of Te Moana Road for premises there — is controversial and the proposal has local supporters as well as opponents.
The Olde Waikanae Beach Preservation Society (OWBPS) was resurrected following one of the earlier public meetings and this group made a submission to the Waikanae Community Board on 24 March 2015 [see post].
At a meeting in January 2016 it was decided to continue the work of the OWBPS through a more formally incorporated body to be called the Waikanae Beach Residents’ Society Incorporated (WBRSI). This body would extend membership beyond the Olde Beach and include the wider Waikanae Beach area. WBRSI was registered as an Incorporated Society on 5 February 2016.
The aim is to preserve and protect the special character of our local Waikanae beach community.
You can now sign up as a WBRSI member to collectively keep up to date and contribute to local happenings, and ensure the special character of our area is not diluted or lost through badly planned, unnoticed or ad hoc commercial and other developments.
Background
The Waikanae Beach community enjoys the feel of an old-fashioned and peaceful seaside village with its unspoilt natural beauty and relaxed holiday atmosphere. Some of us live here permanently and many spend weekends and holidays here. We have chosen this area because it is a safe, family-friendly and a special residential area.
Waikanae Beach is now and will in the future be undergoing substantial change. Soon the new expressway will be operating. Inevitably, improved access and increased popularity, both as a residential area and holiday destination, will likely attract more commercial and other activity.
Although the local community understands changes will occur, there is a widespread interest that future commercial or other development should be carefully planned to preserve the special character of Waikanae Beach as much as possible. To do this we need to ensure that our collective views are heard at Kapiti Coast District Council annual, district and long term planning processes. Also there is a need to ensure input into the current Waikanae Beach Community Futures Project now being conducted by KCDC. We need to ensure that a sufficient amount of our rates are used for the betterment of Waikanae Beach.
What’s happening now?
Membership of WBRSI is open to residents and property owners in the wider Waikanae Beach area extending from the Waikanae river to the south, the motorway to the east and Pharazyn Reserve to the north.
You can become a member of WBRSI emailing — waikanaebeachresidents@gmail.com — for an application form.
Although WRBSI is a body made up of volunteers and has not been incorporated for profit, a small membership fee of $10 per family per annum will cover administrative and operating costs (such as hiring the community hall from time to time for meetings).