A cake was produced with the icing on the top being the cover of the booklet — how was that done?
Last night’s WCB meeting in the Waikanae Boating Club was in a nicer venue than the usual, and it would be good if it was the regular choice.
The main item of the evening and reason for the change in venue on this occasion was a “celebration” of the printing of the 24-page Waikanae Beach Future Vision brochure, although it was described as a living document, meaning it’s not set in concrete. So you wonder why the “celebration” -– just feelgood gloss? That feeling was articulated by speakers Penny Eames and Gerald Rys who referred to the description in paragraph 16 of the Council report for adoption by the WCB that, “This matter has a low level of significance under council policy.” There was also confirmation by Sarah Stevenson of the Council that consultants were being engaged by it. What are they for?
However, Sarah Stevenson answered that “significance” related to council asset management and a low rating does not reduce the gravity of the document to the council. Our attempt to translate her comments about the need for consultants so that “it won’t fall over at the first hurdle” into plain English is that they are needed to ensure that expensive lawyers for property developers can’t mount a successful court challenge to what goes into the District Plan. That may not be an accurate translation, though.
The booklet (pdf) is on the council website here. The most important parts are the actions listed on pages 11, 13, 15 and 17.
The sign for the reserve at the south end of Tutere Street isn’t prominent
Other topics raised by public forum speakers included freedom campers sleeping in cars and converted buses at the beach reserve. With no on-board toilets the occupants pee on the grass during the night which doesn’t do it any good. Trash left lying around is also a problem.
The existing policy is that four self-contained camper vans may park for one night there. However, being only a policy and not a by-law it isn’t enforceable by the KCDC’s Main Security. These can simply inform the campers what is wanted, but a couple of speakers complained that they don’t even do that.
The sign at the Waimeha stream mouth on Field Way is specific: only two self-contained camper vans for 24 hours
Quentin Poole described similar problems further north near the Waimeha stream mouth. Later when he returned to talk on other subjects, he was told by WCB Chairer Jocelyn Prvanov, “Sit down Mr Poole, you’ve had your three minutes.”
“Jocelyn, you said that if I advised the topics I could speak on each.”
“Sit down Mr Poole.”
After a short glare he did.
Sue Lusk reported on Waikanae retailers’ desire for more signage for those approaching the Te Moana Road off-ramp on the ‘Ewy’ telling them that there are shops and accommodation 4 km east of the ‘Ewy’ exit. Nga Manu is already signposted on the Ewy and the NZTA may not be receptive to any more signs, however. She also made clear retailers’ opposition to splitting the old SH1 into seven separately named sections: “one name to rule them all”!
