Oct 28: Raglan Community Board meeting

This summary of the Raglan Community Board agenda was prepared by John Lawson, Secretary of Whāingaroa Environmental Defence Incorporated. Contact: John Lawson, 51 Cliff St, Raglan 07 825 7866 email johnragla@gmail.com

The next Board meeting is Wed 28 Oct at 1.30pm in the Supper Room. The public forum will be part of the formal meeting, giving the usual opportunity to discuss issues. You can also contact the Community Board members:- Bob MacLeod, Chris Rayner, Dennis Amoore, Gabrielle Parson, Lisa Thomson, Satnam Bains and Tony Oosten.

Wednesday’s agenda has an unusually large number of verbal updates – Coastal Reserves Committee, Raglan Naturally, Stormwater, Wastewater, Places for People and Wharf and an Alcohol Control Bylaw submission put in by RCB, also without public input. Reserves Management Planning with Stacey Solomon, Duncan MacDougall, Josh Crawshaw, Tony Oosten and Dennis Amoore

1. WDC met RCB on 21 Oct to discuss transport – “Understand what the transport and connectivity opportunities and challenges are; Understand our role as RCB in this planning work; Identify short term solutions (Summer 20/21); Think about longer term planning/solutions; I aim to report further on this in our next board meeting in Dec”.
2. Pedestrian safety at Raglan Area school – “an unfortunate reflection of today’s modern living and parking is not considered in school growth planning”. No mention of school walking buses, or safe routes to school. 40kph limit will start no later than Dec throughout town.
3. Rose St parking “Community Board to advise how they would like the consultation to be undertaken – residents only?, wider community?”
4. Freedom camping recommendations – Adequate signage directing freedom campers to – rugby car park, Stewart and Wallis St, monitoring, information, confirm with Raglan Medical that we are able to use their car park on weekends.
5. Gilmour St – “With designers.”
6. Footpaths – Greenslade Rd planned for Feb, Cliff St for March. Papahua Camp paths and Wainui Rd footbridge depend on funding.
7. Cliff Street Jetty – repair this week.
8. Destination Management Organisation AGM minutes – to look at running info centre – support targeted rate.
9. Manu Bay Breakwater – rock removal completed. “In autumn WDC expect to have completed an analysis of the effect”
10. Discretionary fund has $15,903.
11. Dec meeting – Service requests – to report back on the Council’s service request process and its efficacy; RCB Engagement Plan and 90 Day Plan.
12. Te Uku Recycling onsite meeting, but no detail of this on-going problem.

The RCB agenda misses out items in these agendas –

Infrastructure Committee Mon 7 Sep

• Minor works at wharf due to commence week beginning 24 August to replace fenders and undertake pile repair investigations
• Sports field utilisation study complete which shows that there are adequate sports field available in Raglan. Upgrade of existing assets may be beneficial to allow for maximum use.
• Reserve Car Park Renewals – In planning stage

– Raglan Recreation Reserve car park

– Marine Parade, Raglan – reseal

Strategy & Finance

Satisfaction survey low response rate

6 August LTP workshop on Population Projections and Capacity led by Mark Davey – Support was sought and received on the Population & Household numbers and assumptions that are being used for LTP, 30 Year Infrastructure Strategy and the Activity Management Plans.

Waters Governance Board – Tuesday, 25 August 2020 (video)

Raglan best of WDC towns, with only 17% of water leaked from mains. For sewage will need to retain harbour diffuser for winter flows and need to go 20km away for suitable soils (see 21.30min & 24min into video).

Other issues missing from the agenda are sewerage repairs, Whāingaroa Catchment Management Plan, dog & horse issues, Affordable Housing, consultation with WDC on extra buses for Whatawhata, James St and Museum bus stops and shelters (the shelter on Main Rd is still missing), Rangitahi, Hills Rd water tower, glyphosate, volunteer worker safety, coastguard lease, Puriri Park, weedbusters, etc. Should WED be taking up these or other issues?

What should WED say about Waka Kotahi’s SH23 speed review?There was a meeting of the stormwater group last week, which was told Raglan has a relatively high compliance percentage when compared to other WDC towns. There was discussion of using Aroaro Wetland to improve stormwater quality.