Thorndon / Pipitea Community-driven Response Planning

Community-driven planning, using the world cafe meeting style, held on Tuesday 9th September 2014, at the Pipitea Marae and Function Centre.

Another engaging Thorndon community meeting coordinated by the Thorndon Residents' Association.

Notes harvested from the table discussions are here.

A list of matters arising for immediate attention are listed here.

Community-driven response planning  (click here to view more photos)

Link to the draft community response plan.

Special Community Meeting - resilience against natural events & community development

A community-led emergency response plan in Thorndon/Pipitea is this year’s major project for the Thorndon Residents’ Association. As residents we need an approach that works for our community, driven by our community, in partnership with the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO), WCC, local businesses and other stakeholders.

Many Thorndon/Pipitea residents attended a community briefing in September 2012. Scientists and Council officials cautioned against complacency. The message was clear: to get through a major natural event such as a major earthquake, our community needs to not only be adequately familiar with our surroundings but especially about one another, so that we can better look after ourselves. In a major event we could need to do this for many days, in trying conditions, before any official emergency response could fold into action to assist us. The 2012 meeting made it clear that we needed to step up to the challenge. 

As an inner city suburb Thorndon has some interesting characteristics, which make our scenarios unique –  astride the major fault line, an inner-city gateway suburb, through which all the region’s lifeline services pass –  water, sewerage, electricity,  road, rail and sea transport. Thorndon is also uniquely fortunate in hosting many especially valuable organisations within our community. All our special neighbours have their insights to share too, and strengths and skills to help in developing an approach to growing community resilience.

It is time for the community to meet and talk about how we'll grow our resilience against natural events. It's really about the community coming together, getting to know more about ourselves, and knowing how to act, before anything happens.

Please spread the word as we not only need to meet you and hear your views also views but from as many others as we can from across Thorndon / Pipitea. Your contributions on how to enhance our community's vibrancy and preparedness are a necessary and valued part of growing community resilience.

This specially facilitated meeting has been designed to be both informative and enjoyable.
You are invited to the

Pipitea Marae and Function Centre 

on Tuesday 9 September 2014, 

arrive from 6:30pm for a 7 - 9pm meeting. 

Please RSVP for this public meeting to assist catering (entry is free). Just click on the button above to RSVP online.

Share this information with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours and invite them to also consider participating in this special meeting.
If you know someone unable to RSVP online please advise them to call 934 6888.

Acknowledgements
The TRA is collaborating with the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) on this project. The community meeting and related initiatives are actively supported by WCC, Thorndon New World, Pipitea Marae and Conference Centre, and numerous other local entities and stakeholders.

Report: TRA Annual General Meeting

This evening the Annual General Meeting of the TRA was hosted by the  Kingsgate Hotel. Members, neighbours, friends and Councillors (City and Regional) enjoyed the opportunity to mix and mingle during a networking hour prior to the AGM. Everyone appreciated both the hospitality of the Kingsgate team and their support of the Association. The meeting venue was perfect and this considerably assisted a smooth navigation through the agenda prepared by Sadie Laurenson (Secretary), and led by William Neal (Chair). The meeting relaxed into productive discussion, focused on reports from Committee Portfolio leads. Matters arising were considered and helped identify priority issues for the Association to focus on during  2013-14.

Here are some of the resources from this evenings' meeting:

• Agenda and outline of the meeting
• Minutes from the AGM 2012  (adopted)
• Report from the Community Safety Portfolio
• Report from the Planning & Environment Portfolio
• Submission on Regional governance
• Officers and Committee of the TRA (confirmed)
• Draft Minutes of AGM 2013

Still confused by Thorndon New World's Layout ?

After 14 years of operation the supermarket recently installed new shelving. Are you one of the Thorndonites still unsettled by the change to a decade-old shopping habit? Brian Drake, Owner/Operator, says the new product layout reflects customer requests and feedback over the years concerning how most of us want to shop. 

The new shelving is also much stronger, providing the latest in safety and improvements in product accessibility. Product sidestacks that were located at the ends of each aisle have been removed to create more space for customers. 

Store Maps remain available at the entrance and around the store, and of course staff are available to assist. Click this link to view a copy of the Store Map. 

Earthquake Resilience Briefing for Thorndon Residents - 5 September

The Thorndon Residents' Association has been collaborating with the Wellington City Council (WCC).
You are invited to register for the Thorndon earthquake briefing, 7PM, Wednesday 5th September at the Kingsgate Hotel (24 Hawkstone Street).

The briefing is for residents living in Thorndon / Pipitea and surrounding areas. The details of the meeting are now on WCC's website where you can register. 
Click here for free registration.

WCC has coordinated with GNS Science to provide this community briefing about earthquakes.  The briefing is designed to give you a better understanding of the earthquake risk.

Wellington has already experienced four significant earthquakes since 1840. Our city survived those quakes with minimal casualties. The presenters will talk about what has been learned from these events, what the learnings are from the Canterbury earthquake sequence and what has been revealed by recent research by GNS Science.

The briefings will give you an overview of what has already been achieved to make our city safer and the work that is planned to improve infrastructure resilience. 

You will also find out more about what you can do to make sure you and your family are ready for an earthquake and you will have the opportunity to talk to experts about earthquake issues over a cup of tea afterwards. 

Actions 

1.  Decide
This is your invitation to the Thorndon Earthquake Briefing, hosted by the Kingsgate Hotel, 24 Hawkestone Street, at 7.00pm on Wednesday 5 September 2012. 

2.  Register
Please Register for the briefing session. Entry is free. Open the form.
If you are unable to register online you can also phone (04) 801 4219 to register.  

3.  Share
Please share this information with your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours and invite them to either register for the Thorndon meeting, or another across the city (see below).

WCC and the Thorndon Residents' Association wish to encourage all Thorndon residents to get a better understanding of the earthquake risk to our community. TRA Members are aware of some of the seismic issues revealed over recent years. Here is an aggregation of related posts on the Association's blog: http://thorndon-residents.blogspot.co.nz/search/label/earthquake 
Perhaps these may help frame-up further questions and exploration of the issues that are particularly pertinent to Thorndon residents. What are the questions you would like answered? Post them in the comment box for this blog. These will help the presenters prepare. 


There are also other opportunities across the city. Other earthquake briefings will be held on these dates and locations:

·        Newtown – 7.30pm, Thursday 30 August (St Anne’s Parish Hall, 22 Emmett Street)

·        Thorndon - 7.00pm, Wednesday 5 September (General Public) Kingsgate Hotel, 24 Hawkestone Street

·        City –  7.00pm, Tuesday 11 September for Body Corporate members (Ilott Theatre, Wellington Town Hall, Wakefield Street)

·        Vogeltown – 7.45pm, Wednesday 12 September (Vogelmorn Hall, 11 Vennell Street)

·        Island Bay – 7.30pm, Tuesday 18 September (Island Bay School, Clyde Street)

·        Kelburn - 7.30pm, Wednesday 19 September (General Public) Kelburn Normal School Hall, 16 Kowhai Road

·        Mount Victoria – 7.30pm, Thursday 27th September (The New Crossways Community Centre, 6 Roxburgh St)

·        Karori - 3.00pm, Sunday 30 September (General Public) Victoria University of Wellington Campus, Donald Street

·        Tawa - 7.30pm, Wednesday 3 October (General Public) Tawa Community Centre, 5 Cambridge Street

·        Kilbirnie -  3.00pm, Sunday 14 October (General Public) Matairangi Room, ASB Sports Centre, 72 Kemp Street

·        City - 7.30pm, Thursday 18 October (General Public) Ilott Theatre, Wellington Town Hall, 109 Wakefield Street

·        Oriental Bay - 7.30pm, Thursday 25 October (General Public) Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, 103 Oriental Parade

·        Miramar -  7.30pm, Tuesday 30 October (General Public) Miramar Community Centre, 27 Chelsea Street

·        Seatoun - 7.30pm, Wednesday 31 October (General Public) Seatoun School, 59 Burnham Street

·        Aro Valley - 7.30pm, Thursday 1 November (General Public) Aro Valley Community Centre, 48 Aro Street

Issues for Residents raised at TRA 2012 AGM

A range of important issues for residents emerged at the Thorndon Residents' Association Annual General Meeting. If you have an interest in:
- earthquake prone buildings
- traffic and parking 
- when someone (or something) damages your connecting sewer pipe (lateral) beyond your boundary, buried under the street, who is responsible?
- regional governance

then, take a moment to read the draft minutes from the TRA AGM

Chimney removal ... France does it

Recently observed; removal of a chimney at the French Ambassador's Residence, situated in Hobson St/Hobson Crescent. 
The context for the Association's interest are the fundamental rights of residential property owners. The right to improve our homes, and increase the safety of our homes, without the need to navigate heavy-handed regulations or associated compliance costs. 
An example of the  issues the TRA is monitoring with WCC. 

Earthquakes and the Wellington region

The Wellington region is tectonically active and criss-crossed by many faultlines. While we often feel small earthquakes that don't cause much damage, many of the active faults in the region are capable of producing large earthquakes.

Earthquake-triggered landslides can damage or destroy buildings in their paths. The extent of landslides depends on the strength and duration of ground shaking, how steep the hillslopes are, and the strength of the underlying soil or rocks.

Liquefaction can occur along flat coastal areas or reclaimed land where the ground is poorly compacted. The ground behaves like a liquid and buildings can sink, tilt or topple over.

An undersea earthquake, or seabed landslide, can cause a tsunami that can wash over low-lying areas.

For more information visit

http://www.gw.govt.nz/Earthquakes-in-the-Wellington-region/

Community - lessons from Canterbury

Nine lessons ...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/4737587/Future-shocks-nine-lessons-to-learn-from-Canterbury

Seismic lessons

Residential Thorndon has been under WCC's scrutiny for years; the examination has been driven by heritage values. Residents have offered grounded advice, noting the many other significant characteristics of the suburb that deserve focus for management i.e. critical issues like traffic, parking, community facilities, and safety concerns. (acknowledging that characteristics of our built environment are already quite well regulated.)

It's about balance. Keeping 'grounded'; in touch with reality and facts. Can the latest round of analysis of Thorndon, WCC's place-based study, reveal and integrate, once and for all, the other significant facts about residential Thorndon that need to be accounted for; adequate to enable the community to understand and agree a desirable, sustainable, resilient residential future.

Top of mind are the lessons from Lyttelton's blind fault. Will this calamity impact the profiles and options for residential Thorndon? In the bigger scheme of things, what are the appropriate weightings for heritage values and residential preservation for residents in old homes nestled beside an active fault line?

The National Business Review recently offered a view. See "Heritage be damned, safety the priority" (25 February 2011).

For the science about our fault visit

http://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/News-and-Events/Media-Releases/Lower-threat-from-Wellington-fault

Map

Mayor calls review of earthquake-strengthening policies

Mayor Prendergast is calling for a review of the Council's earthquake-strengthening policies. Council staff will be asked to canvas a number of issues including whether the Council should:

• revisit the review of the quake-prone buildings policy with a view to tightening the deadlines again
• seek relaxation, where appropriate, of heritage rules to allow more latitude and flexibility in strengthening work. This could include the replacement of heavy masonry features like parapets or chimneys with replicas built from light materials like glass-fibre, timber or carbon-fibre.
• consider changes to District Plan rules to allow the demolition of some older buildings with less heritage value
• look at rule changes to force some building owners, if they can't afford to strengthen, to remove heavy and dangerous features like parapets and chimneys from the roofs and facades of some buildings
• increase grant funding to help more building owners complete strengthening work.

Further information

Our Quake-risk Buildings: Mayor Seeks Review

Map of the fault rupture hazard area in Thorndon

GNSscience video about the Wellington Fault Line

Mayor's view after visiting Christchurch (15/9/10)

Council wishes to protect the Streetscape of Thorndon

To protect anything, you have to understand what it is you are protecting.





According to the Council this is suitable and requires protection from the ordinary person who might create a desirable home.









On the other hand this is unsuitable to be built because it uses aluminium joinery to provide an insulated and minimise risk of a leaky home. In addition the use of aluminium is more durable during an earthquake –0 what does the Civil Defence Building use?










The type of window is from First and of course is designed for modern people even allowing the window to pivot for easy cleaning. Do our Urban designers understand modern living?











These windows have been installed in a home in Karori (fortunately not under the influence of Urban planners).








This is a window from the Civil Defence building showing a building in sympathy with its surroundings using aluminium joinery.








Finally if we wish to improve our streetscape then the Council needs to give consideration to its pollution of the streetscape with overhead cables and a multitude of signage every 20 yards or so.





Thorndon needs to provide a vibrant living environment for its modern residents in the 21st century.

Tony Hood
126 Tinakori Road

Council Meeting on Earthquake Prone Buildings

Do you own or manage an earthquake-prone building? The Building Act promotes making our city safer by requiring buildings that are earthquake prone to be either strengthened or demolished. For dwellings, only those that are two or more storeys high and have three or more household units are affected. Owners of other dwellings may still make their own arrangements, independent of Council policy, to strengthen against earthquakes.

Wellington City Council has started a special-interest group for people to find out more about the new policy for earthquake-prone buildings. The first meeting takes place on Tuesday 3 November at 6pm at the Adam Auditorium in Wellington City Gallery, Civic Square.

The new policy came into effect on 1 July this year after a review. One of the suggestions to come out of the review was the need to bring together professionals and property owners involved in strengthening earthquake-prone buildings.

Please call Suzie Fitchett-O’Reilly on 801 3522 or email suzie.fitchett-oreilly@wcc.govt.nz to RSVP for this meeting by 28 October. RSVP is a must as there are limited spaces available. If you can’t make the meeting, you can also request to be notified about future similar meetings.

It’s Our Fault : naturally disastrous Thorndon

The Wellington Fault is about 50 per cent less likely to rupture in the next 100 years than previously thought. Scientists have been working on a research project called It's Our Fault. They have found that the fault, regarded until recently as primed and capable of producing a big earthquake fairly soon, has longer quiet spells between big ruptures than was generally accepted.

But earthquakes will still occur and the need to be prepared remains the same.

Media release from GNS.
Residents Association's interactive map of the location of the rupture zone through Thorndon.