These notes on the Raglan Naturally Celebration prepared by Whaingaroa Environmental Defence Incorporated Soc., from Secretary: John Lawson, 51 Cliff St, Raglan 07 825 7866 email johnrag@vodafone.co.nz
You may have noticed the Chronicle advert, the Facebook page, or heard on the radio about a Raglan Naturally celebration on Sunday – 2pm Supper Room, Town Hall.
Raglan Naturally was originally published in 2001 and a reduced version in 2008.
The Facebook page lists 11 projects to celebrate, though there are more. There’s also much still to do and Sunday’s meeting gives an opportunity to plan how to continue –
2001 plans still to be implemented
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How will this Community Plan Work? The Plan will be used to secure support from within, and outside the community for funding for specific projects, and will be reported on regularly to the Community Board and the public. An annual review will enable success to be measured (and celebrated), and information to be checked and updated. There’s plenty of opportunity for your involvement at every stage of the process. Individuals, groups and others will be able to pick up leads and develop new activities that provide goods and services, and which may lead to employment creation. The Community Board will take an active role in promoting the Plan to the community and, where appropriate, facilitating project development.
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How will progress and success be measured? A central record of activity will be kept at the Council’s office in Bow Street, and, through the Raglan Community Board, progress will be reported to the community on at least a quarterly basis. Maintenance of the Plan will keep it up to date and ‘alive’.
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roadside planting – Council policy to ensure a minimum standard of beautification works for the environment where project work is undertaken
At the top of the deviation not only put ‘Welcome’ signage, but also a viewing guide and picnic table.
Signage should be minimised
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Prepare development/beautification plans for:
– Cliff Street – preservation of pohutukawas/boardwalk plans
– Area by heli-pad behind Police Station
– All major routes into and out of the central area/town edge/Whaanga Coast
– The area from Helen Place to the Opoturu Bridge on Wainui Road – this should include the planting of the retaining walls.
– Whaanga Coast – to combat erosion – retaining walls built and planted
– roads and roadsides to be cleared of pampas grass and replanted with natives
– laybys/picnic areas – Whale Bay lookout.
Establish a “pride in Raglan’ campaign with incentives to maintain individual properties and offer incentives to restore key buildings and sites
Abandoned Vehicles · Offer free dumping at the refuse transfer station? Promote the removal of abandoned vehicles as a business opportunity
Consistent signage whereby walkways and attractions are signposted and in good condition. Signage to reinforce the Raglan Naturally philosophy
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What We Aspire To · Commercial buildings in the CBD that have the ‘Raglan look’
· Design guidelines which support the seaside village character of Raglan.
· A coastal area that is free of buildings [they forgot about this for the museum]
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The retention of access to, and views of, the harbour, coast and mountain
– Control appearance on properties where the houses form part of the local vista.
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Street beautification work – more (covered) seating, green areas.
· A ‘village square’ concept.
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Ensure a complete range of goods and services is available.
· Providing service lanes.
Pge 18
A local Victim Support group.
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A Co-ordinator who works for an elected community body seeking to obtain additional funds from elsewhere for Raglan.
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Support the development of new facilities, . . a satellite university campus, and ongoing community education programmes.
· Encourage more night classes
· Expand the community’s use of school facilities.
· Encourage local groups and organisations to educate the public about their activities.
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Encourage cottage industry, with information and assistance from Council.
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Local co-ordination of business and employment: – utilise local contractors/businesses where possible, eg for town maintenance.
· Provide information and assistance to small businesses through Local and Government Agencies, local mentors.
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investigate the establishment of an independent Raglan-based agent or agency, whose role could include seeking funding and assisting with applications for grants.
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Ensure that the planting of the coastal and riparian areas by Harbour Care is promoted as a valued community initiative.
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Investigate the development of a stormwater retention/desedimentation ponding area on the Aro Aro Reserve.
· Promote improved riparian management and planting to reduce pollutant levels in the harbour.
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Co-ordinate a home-based ventures trail/exploration route.
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Industry · Opportunities for developing the southern end of Te Kopua (the land opposite Te Kopua Road).
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Industrial areas should be back from main roads, but with good access for transportation.
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Improve standard of gravel path on Wainui Road between Marae and Rira Kereopa Memorial Drive.
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Ensure no particularly nasty industrial effluents are allowed to enter the harbour (eg from boat hull cleaning).
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Consider extending town water supplies to the coastal developments, including, in particular, provision of fire fighting water.
· Alternatively, provide storage tanks at strategic points for fire fighting.
Investigate use of compost toilets in the urban area
· Encourage the use of bicycles around the town
· Additional toilets to be provided at eastern entrance to town, eg by Town Hall. Design and technology to reflect ecological principles.
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Explore ways of advertising to show what makes Raglan special.
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Promote marae-based initiatives/Maori culture venture.
· Develop and promote local tours of all kinds, eg fishing trips, garden tours, heritage trails, harbour cruises, Te Toto Gorge (in consultation with tangata whenua).
· Work co-operatively with neighbours and other agencies to promote the West Coast Scenic Highway linking the Port Waikato, Whaingaroa, Aotea and Kawhia Harbours.
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Use manual cleaning of road drains and other public areas so as to remove toxic sprays from the environment.
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Ensure all drains are safe. Some will need to be covered, while others may be planted or shaped as necessary. Investigate eco-drains option.
· Ensure that Civil Defence/Emergency Management systems and requirements are wellknown, to cover a variety of situations.
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Enhanced esplanade reserves
· Multi-purpose clubhouse facilities at one, possibly two sites (rugby grounds and Te Kopua), fully used by a range of groups.
· All esplanade reserves accessible to the public.
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Enhanced opportunities for water-based activities: swimming, model yachts
· Establish and upgrade walking tracks ‘bike paths’ and coastal walkways.
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Encourage public transport. In particular, investigate how to provide a free shuttle service between the central business area and the beaches in summer
· Also investigate how to improve public transport to and from Hamilton in the evenings.
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Pedestrian Services · A central business district mall – in whole or part.
Also a few items in Tuesday’s Strategy & Finance agenda –
- Raglan Water Treatment Plant failed to meet Drinking Water Standards Part 5 for April due to UVT measurements under threshold. Bubbles forming in the UVT instrument are the root cause of this non-compliance.
- 25.4% of real water loss from Councils networked reticulation system in Raglan
- Concept drawings are complete for the Wi Neera reserve project. Feedback has been received from the Project Group and Iwi have advised that they will withdraw from the process until such time as they and council have resolved an earlier consenting issue within that space.
- 49% in Raglan say there is a Council action/decision/management they disapprove of, well above the 30% average.
- Karioi track (3.4km walking/biking track from Wainui Road) Discussions with Raglan Community Board on the best way forward due to commence in September/October
Hope to see you on Sunday
Thanks
John.