Mar 13: Raglan Community Board meeting

The next Board meeting is Tuesday 13 March at 2pm in the Town Hall Supper Room. The public forum starts at 1.30pm, giving an opportunity to discuss issues, but you can also contact the Community Board members who are:- Alan Vink, Bob MacLeod, Gabrielle Parson, Lisa Thomson, PJ, Rangi Kereopa, Tony Oosten.

The agenda includes –

1. Long Term Plan – 24 page summary – deadline for submissions 9am Mon 16 April. 2020 $161,000 to restore pillboxes, 2023 $15.6m for sewage, 2023 Wainui bridge $7.6m, regional fuel tax possible, Waters Governance Board to run water, sewage, stormwater with Auckland’s Watercare.

2. Bus route changes – as wires on Government Rd too low propose to change bus route to Main Rd, Bow St and Wainui Rd when double decker starts about May. Jan 2018 passengers 26% up on Jan 2017. Hamilton-Whatawhata bus may be withdrawn.

3. Ngaati Maahanga/Hourua interests in Whaingaroa, especially Papahua (Te Kopua Holiday Park), to be discussed. Scheme to link Wainui Rd to footbridge “put on hold due to local Iwi withdrawing support for the project at this time. Further discussions are to be undertaken between the Iwi , Mayor and CE.”

4. Sport Waikato Sport Plan – in 4 to 6 years “Aquatics facilities – North, Huntly, South, Raglan – Utilise Waikato District Aquatics Plan”. Only 13 Raglan clubs were on Sport Waikato’s website, so recommend “building capability focus . . . Raglan Sport Fishing Club”.

5. Raglan Coastal Reserves 12 Feb minutes – vehicles accessing Domain beach, SoundSplashreview and concept plans for planting Domain beach to be at 12 Mar meeting (5.30pm Supper Room), alcohol ban not policed, freedom camping.

6. Boat Ramps – Priority for boat ramps: 2022 Coastguard ramp, 2023 Wallis St, 2026 Puriri St. “If the Community Board want to start charging users a special consultative process would need to be put in place. A business case would also make sense.”

7. Xtreme Waste update to be given.

8. Consultation – a ) Karioi 3.4km walking/biking track from Wainui Rd “Discussions with Raglan Community Board on the best way forward due to commence in September/October.” b) “Staff are building momentum for the Place making concept across the district.”

9. Youth Engagement – report on February training.

10. Sewage spills – 1 overflow in Jan, 35 during year.

11. Raglan Naturally “A way forward including support has been agreed.”

12. Raglan Hall Committee minutes of 1 March. $84,513 in bank.

13. Whale Bay Access Way still no schedule attached.

14. Lighting – LED lights being installed. Larger wattage lights for Bow St in April.

15. Wainui Road Gorse and Pampas Grass – “comment needed.”

16. Wi Neera St drain – “comment needed.” [the drain has been filled with gravel].

17. Discretionary fund has $8,205. Deadline for next fund applications Mon 2/4. Point Boardriders want $8,538 for 6 surfing safety signs (‘1^st class’, rather than ‘super cheap’ option).

As usual, other Council committees have had more information –

WDC Infrastructure

• 131 found to be sharing a single water meter connection – may charge $1,416 to split supplies
• The Ministry of Tourism has approved funding of up to $868,000 for car parking, toilets, and rubbish facilities in Raglan. Design and scoping works have commenced, with Construction expected to be complete later this financial year [ie by July].
• Exeloo in Raglan registered 20,000 occupancies compared to 10,000 – 11,000 for the past 2 years. [though this may be 20,836 for only 40 days, including Jan 2018. However, that would average every 3 mins in each toilet 7am – 9pm every day, yet 17 a day were shown on page 15 of WDC’s public toilet strategy!]
• Raglan Stormwater Reticulation Extensions “Currently reviewing daylighting options. For Stewart Street and Wainui Road, an alternative solution utilising existing pipework, extending and upsizing is underway with modelling complete and detailed design in progress. Then tender documents will go to the open market early in February.”

With all these issues, particularly those in the LTP, WED is planning a public meeting to allow for discussion – if you’re interested please say when you could come on this Doodle poll.

We can also discuss other issues missing from the agenda, such as Tourism Infrastructure Fund toilets and parking, cutting trees on reserves, glyphosate, Trails Strategy ($278,280 to be spent in 2018), volunteer worker safety, social housing, parking infringement money, harbour lease, coastguard lease, Puriri Park, buses ($1m extra funding for Pokeno empty buses, but not for Raglan’s crowded ones – see page 228), cycleways, or land disposal of sewage?