Resource Consent for development on corner of Tinakori Rd / Park St - Declined

The Hearings Commissioner has DECLINED the application by CapitalSkinz Limited to Wellington City Council to construct a three storey commercial building at 92 Tinakori Road Thorndon. This was to  comprise medical facilities, retail and café activities including associated earthworks and signage.

Click here to view the Commissioner's report.

App enables people to find one another to share rides

‘Rides’ is social enterprise created to provide conscious, cheaper, and more convenient transportation for people. It will work with a mobile application that enables matching people for sharing rides, which means instantly finding a ride or people to share your ride. You will be able to get a ride anytime, anywhere, without the commitment of carpooling.  By using ‘Rides’ you will help improve traffic, reduce carbon emission and save money!

Visit their site and sign up at ridesnz.com to support this idea, so they can let you know when it is up and running for you to use. ‘Rides” is under development and will be available soon.

ridesnz.com

Resource Consent Application for non-residential land use cnr Tinakori Rd & Park St

WCC have publicly notified an application for resource consent to build a commercial building on the corner of Tinakori Road (92,& 96-98) and Park Street (3-5).

The proposal is to construct a three-story commercial building (up to 11.95m high) comprising office, retail and cafe activities (i.e. all non-residential), and includes associated earthworks, signage and parking.

Notification documents are accessible from these links: 

1. Public Notice and instructions to submitters

2. Section 95A-95F notification decision report

3. WCC Advisors Assessments:

    a. Earthworks

    b. Contaminatamination

    c. Transportation

    d. Noise

    e. Vehicle access

    f. Urban Design

4. Cardno’s response to Section 92 Letter (further information provided)

5. Further Information

6. Application document

7. Application drawings/plans

WCC Revists Earlier Assessment Not to Provide RECYCLING WHEELIE BINS to Hobson St

Recycling wheelie bins were introduced across the city in 2011; but not to the properties in Hobson St, situated on the Thorndon Flat.

Residents from Hobson St recently re-approached the Council regarding the earlier assessment of their street as being not suited to Council supplied recycling wheelie bins. The early assessment had indicated that Hobson St had a high volume traffic flow (similar to Tinakori Rd), and that due to the road width there was potential to block access to emergency services. 

Recently CitiOperations revisited Hobson St. The results of the re-assessment are that:

• sidewalks are of sufficient width for wheelie bins - allowing for easy pedestrian flow,
• road width - with vehicles parked either side - had between 5 and 5.5m clear for two large vehicles to pass,
• other than during the school drop-off period, the vehicles per hour was as low as 60.

Part of this re-assessment included following both Refuse and Recycling trucks during collections in Hobson St to confirm they posed no risk or significant vehicle delays. 

With new data to hand, the Council confirmed that for a number of properties that were located near breaks between residents' parking bays, recycling wheelie bins would be suitable. 

The archive call-log for Hobson St was revisited to re-assess previous requests for recycling wheelie bins that had earlier been declined. Those residents will be receiving a letter in the week commencing 5 November to offer them the option of a recycling wheelie bin and need not re-request an assessment.

Properties that are still considered as not suited include: 
- multi-unit dwellings,
- shared drives of more than 5 properties, and 
- properties that are not used as residential.

Hobson St residents who feel that they would benefit from a Council supplied recycling wheelie bin and have not already called-in, are now invited to log a request for re-assessment by telephoning the Council on 499 4444.

Zac Jordan, Manager CitiOperations
M. 021 227 8356 or E. zac.jordan@wcc.govt.nz

Older TRA posts about mobile recycling bins:
- who-binned-our-recycle-bins (May 2011)
- private-roads-and-recycling (June 2011)

WCC Strategy Committee to consider residential heritage in Thorndon

WCC's Strategy and Policy Committee is about to consider the approach to Heritage Management in the Residential Areas of Thorndon.

WCC's Strategy and Policy Committee have the reports/recommendations from Officers. The Committee is meeting on Thursday 23rd June, 2011.

These reports have only just become available for TRA representatives leaving little time digest the content or to consult with members.

Five (5) reports have been tabled for this agenda item. Link from WCC webpages:

http://www.wellington.govt.nz/haveyoursay/meetings/committee/Strategy_and_Policy/2011/23Jun0915/agenda.html

Alert to log removal operation by Helicopter

A helicopter will be used because it isn’t practical to remove it from the location marked X in any other way. The log will be lifted and processed on the ridgeline of Te Ahumairangi Hill. Work will be carried out by contractors, Treescape. This is scheduled to start on Wednesday 22 and expected to take two days, weather permitting. Work hours will be 8am to 5pm. The log will be prepped for lifting on the Wednesday and lifted out on the Thursday.

Roads will remain open with traffic management in place but there may be delays at times. For safety reasons, the walking tracks around this site will be closed for the duration of the project. The work will be noisy at times

If you have any questions please direct them to

Julian Emeny, Arboriculture Manager, Wellington City Council

P 389 2060, M 021 227 8210, or julian.emeny@wcc.govt.nz

Who binned our wheelie bins!

As avid recyclers my household has been anticipating the convenience of new suburban recycling scheme. It commences tomorrow, Monday 16 May 2011.

Anticipating the convenience of wheelie bins captured our attention last year. Been keeping an eye on progress of this project all that time. Noted the rollout delays, and kept-up with Council's extended 'warm-up' campaign.

But we didn't anticpate this ...

We were bemused to have plastic bags delivered to our address last week. Then annoyed to learn that, for some reason, which cannot yet be explained (Helpline has told us to wait a month for a response!) many residential addresses on the Thorndon flat have been deemed as unsuitable for wheelie bins. Yet most (all?) of these residential properties have readily accessible curbsides and ample space for bins. In fact private bin collecting has been going on in these streets for years.

Apparently some kind of WCC 'visual assessment' took account of all manner of things, like flights of steps, steep streets, etc. None of which apply to many of the residential properties on the Thorndon flat, within residential Thorndon (note: Thorndon CBD properties are excluded from scheme).

Is this another example of the City's inability to effectively connect with it's residents? Not only on operational initiatives like this project. Thorndon has been under scrutiny of the urban planners for three or more years now. We're underwhelmed by progress toward improved 'public engagement'. The TRA's blog is littered with contributions which illustrate some of the Council's communication short-comings. Particularly with respect to our territorial authority's apparent inability to more openly engage with residents adequately; well illustrated by the underwhelming approach to the prolonged heritage conversation.

Here we go again!

Now, who has binned our bins !

It's all rubbish http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/rubbrecyc/recycling/suburbanchanges.html

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/

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

Place-based planning - WCC Gears-up for Community Walks

WCC is proceeding with a proposal to hold two organised walks around Thorndon that will be especially designed to better engage residents in the place-based study which is currently underway.

It is also planned to book a stall at the Hill Street Farmers Market to help advertise what is going on.

The objective of both the stall and walks is to publicise background information which has been gathered (including through past community consultation) and which is now being used in a place-based study. Both officers and TRA sub-commmittee members intend to be available to answer questions and/or provide information about the processes to date. There will be opportunities for anyone to provide feedback.

WCC's urban planners are keen to move on this consultation proposal. They would also like to know who might be available to help prepare for (and guide) the walks and to provide local background information (in particular streets) and commentary. If you would like to participate in this way please let us know.

The timing so far would suggest that the stall would be set up on one or two Saturday mornings in April (not Easter); and the walks could then take place on the same weekends on either or both the Saturday afternoon, or Sunday morning or afternoon.

The suggested dates for these events are 9 and 16 April 2011. TRA members - please let the committee know whether you would like to help on either or both of these two weekends.

Email: thorndonresidents@gmail.com or contact a committee member

Once the dates are confirmed the two opportunities for the community to engage, will be notified by way of a letter sent to all residents and ratepayers in Thorndon and also through the 'Our Wellington Page' in the Dominion-Post.

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)

Thorndon Village Shops Tipped for Heritage Status

The Council's Strategy and Policy Committee has decided to publicly notify District Plan Change 75, which proposes to add the Thorndon shops to the heritage list.

Heritage listing would mean that the buildings are recognised and protected for their heritage value and any major changes to the outside of listed buildings, or demolition of them, would require resource consent.

Click here to more information on WCC's website.

Questions arising ...

An inquiry into managing heritage values and character of residential Thorndon, raises a number of questions. The TRA's sub-committee's collation, gathered during the past 6 months, is online. The potential 'impact areas' concern:

• energy
• financial
• cultural & social
• rules & guides
• architecture
• legal.

Community meetings underway

During the past two weeks, two well attended public meetings have been convened in Thorndon. Two further opportunities remain for you; your invitation and details are here. The meetings follow the cafe style. They are opportunities for the community to reveal and confirm what's valued, priorities, and aspirations for the future of residential Thorndon. These engaging meetings enable everyone to contribute conversationally in a hospitable environment designed for purposeful participation. The Mayor and councillors are participating and listening for the voice of Thorndon concerning its future. This is a powerful opportunity to add your insights.

The two remaining opportunities are next Tuesday 2nd, and again on Tuesday 9th March.

Resource Consent Process a Pig?

Ready to learn more? Want to share a view? Take-up an opportunity to participate in discussion? Ready to share or test an idea, or share a concern about options for the management of heritage in residential Thorndon? Or perhaps you just wish to listen to the conversation and mood of others in the neighbourhood. Any of these (and more) are excellent reasons to attend one or all of the local meetings/workshops that have been organised especially for you. The initiative has been undertaken to improve consultation on heritage zoning proposals and options.

The Association is encouraging ways to improve community engagement. Add your influence; roll-up to any of these convenient opportunities.image credit: Geange Consulting

Residential property rights - don't miss these meetings

No other suburb in Wellington contains such a range and quality of residential heritage as Thorndon.

The WCC propose to modify the District Plan in a way that has the potential to seriously impact residential property rights. The Thorndon Residents' Association is seeking better engagement by residents on the proposals and encouraging an active conversation between the community and the WCC to find a better way forward.

Our Vision
The TRA vision for Thorndon has always been to work alongside the council and all interested parties. We believe no plan can be sustained without the engagement and agreement of the people it is meant to serve, and it must take into genuine consideration those who are affected by the plan and minimise adverse impacts on residents' property rights. There is a very real need to create a future for the Thorndon community that is distinct and not predicted by its past.

Current state and Community involvement
Feedback from a public meeting held 11 March 2009 indicated that the council process was flawed from a community perspective; feedback from the formal written submission process is limited.

The process was stalled and it was agreed with council “that the revised provisions will be further consulted on with the Thorndon community prior to any heritage related proposed district plan change for the area being reported to the Council for its consideration”.

The Thorndon Residents’ Association has agreed to work in partnership with the Council and hold a series of local meetings and workshops to gather feedback from Thorndon and the wider Wellington community.

Community Meetings
The following are dates and venues for meetings to be held in February and March 2010. Your future and your property rights are affected, so we recommend you update your diaries, and strongly urge you attend one or more of the meetings:

Future state (where we want to be)
We are seeking a solution that the community can sustain over the long haul that balances a range of competing needs, economic, environmental, social, and historical. We recognise that this will only occur when public conversations are held, with council commitment to outcomes based on accountability to the community. We also recognise this will be especially difficult in a community like Thorndon, where history and the past seem to be overriding restraints. We have partnered with a number of interested parties and in particular the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA).

The TRA agrees with the NZIA Manifesto for New Zealand’s Built Environment, in particular:
• the decisions we make on the form of our built environment can influence how we define ourselves as families, communities, and ultimately as a nation
• we need to be mindful of these qualities—spiritual, spatial, sustainable.

TRA agree with NZIA that the future of Thorndon’s built environment must be based on a combination of five key concepts:
1. community—quality community spaces, essential for a well-functioning modern society
2. sustainability—in both economic and moral terms
3. affordability—long term affordability through good design is the ultimate goal
4. heritage—preservation of the past and creation of the future must become a matter of deliberate design, not chance
5. urban design—the places we create should reflect our nation’s heritage, culture and aspirations

The TRA does not accept or agree with Council’s concept that Thorndon’s future be controlled solely by heritage zone ring fencing.

Building energy efficiency into homes is now an important consideration; whereas only decades ago this consideration didn't prevail at all. Freedom to exercise environmental conservation on a case by case basis must now be part of Thorndon's evolving residential character. For reasons like this there is a concern that WCC's current proposal to heritage ringfence any part of Thorndon is an inappropriate and 'blunt' regulatory intervention that will hinder necessary innovation, adaptability and flexibility and have the potential to seriously impinge on fundamental residential property rights.

Therefore the TRA is seeking more sound and appropriate responses from the WCC to meet the contemporary needs of residents, families, and the use of their residential properties, whilst sustaining the overall character of Thorndon.

It is our expectation that we will partner with WCC, interested parties and residents to build and achieve a sustainable, community endorsed outcome.

Your participation is essential. Please note the meeting dates and venues above.
Meantime, if you would like more information or earlier involvement please contact the TRA.