MDCA Future/s of Māpua & Districts?
Information, Consultations & Submissions: Being informed and having our say !!
Māpua & Districts Community Association’s February 2021 meeting focused on both:
- Being informed : about progress on water issues; playground developments ; what the various categories of “Land Use” relate to
- Having input :into current issues & potential future developments – with an emphasis on intensification of housing and future transport options & becoming involved early on in planning processes
Current state of upgrade of water distribution and storage facilities
Rob O’Grady (TDC) MDCA
Updated on the various aspects of this process . This was done on a ZOOM platform and the set of slides he spoke to plus his notes as text, are available on MDCA Facebook Page
- The main aspects he commented on were:
Māpua Water Treatment Plant- upgrade by Oct 21 to meet higher drinking water standards & seismic requirements - Pomona Road Reservoir- temporary tank to be demolished & replaced by concrete tank
- Stormwater discharge from Broadsea Ave- 2 Flood gates are to be bigger ; land at Chaytor Reserve to be regraded to allow water to flow out
- Resurfacing Aranui Road “ next summer”
- Channel from Apple Shed to Rabbit Island -2037!!
Vaughan Cerfontaine (Project Manager Luke Donaldson’s) reported on progress on pipe and pump upgrades:
- Mains- live from wharf to tennis courts
- Waste water- live from Higgs Rd to Wharf
- Warren Place to Pinehill Road – live on left hand side; right hand side – putting in pipe lines
- Waste Water – Ruby Bay Tait St to Pomona Road
- Now working on Aranui Road back to the school (new lines by April 21)
- New Reservoir Tank being built near top of Pomona Road because of problems with existing Reservoir namely low capacity and leakage
- Pipe to Pump Station not yet replaced
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS
Intensification in Māpua – noted that MDCA has set up a new working group to address these issues – chaired by Bruce Gilkinson – met near the end of February Noted that MDCA had “been a bit late” in relation to input on developments of local subdivisions and that we want good connections so that we can be involved and engaged earlier [“ahead of the ball”] in the decisions and processes rather than “always playing catch-up” behind the developers.
Issues relating to approval for new subdivisions
- Problems were identified relating to lack of response to requests made to TDC for earlier notification before new subdivisions approved as well as community consultation being sought in December/January
- Members identified “a hole in the system” in terms of “ how this is being managed” with not enough time allowed for residents to gain understanding of the issues ( including why the changes are being made before engaging in the process of making a submission ( see Aranui as Case Study) and asked for Ward Councillors’ assistance . Cr Christeen Mackenzie suggested a meeting with TDC’s CEO and described this as “ another example in different communities of how current regulations are being interpreted by planners and others……….”
- Cr Anne Turley suggested asking the CEO to halt the process until the contradictions in classifications/re-zoning are clarified ,noting their impact on future processes in terms of zoning and land –usage
Access to Cycle-Ways
Issues /problems related to cyclists accessing the cycleway from the roundabout at Higgs Road were raised – Wayne Chisnall will follow this up with the Project Manager checking if the project is actually completed
COMMUNITY WELLBEING
- Māpua Willing Wheels –(MWW) noted that we are still waiting for confirmation of ongoing funding for this project for the rest of 2021. Many of the team of volunteer drivers indicated their ongoing availability as “ Willing Wheels” for the coming year . Local businesses /organizations encouraged to offer sponsorship to support the scheme’s administrative costs – any amount will be appreciated
- Motueka Coastal Corridor Community Bus Route (Motueka through Tasman/Māpua to Richmond) Rachel Mason has been contracted to set up a 6 month trial of this new extended service. This service will pass through Tasman and Māpua and is seen as complementary to MWW (which Rachel also co-ordinates)
- Community Hub– see separate newsletter article elsewhere in this issue with details of projects and progress. The data collection project came to a close at the end of February with interest shown by many organizations; groups and businesses in accessing the future resource. A fruitful meeting was held with the Māpua Community Hall Committee Members to discuss how the two facilities can complement each others’ service and work in co-operation/ not competition
FUTURE HOT TOPICS:
March “Hot Topic”: Nelson –Tasman Public Transport Plan (Draft) 2021-2031. Presentation by TDC staff with chance for question
2021 months – a list of possible Hot topics for the rest of 2021 was presented to the meeting and is posted on MDCA’s Facebook Page – if you have any other suggestions of topics that you believe will be of particular interest to the community, please send them to info@ourmapua.org as soon as possible so they can be considered for the calendar.
Submitted by: Elena Meredith