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Mahurangi Matters
September 17, 2014
localmatters.co.nz
Infrastructure investment underpins submissions The need for greater investment in infrastructure to cope with population growth was a running theme in submissions to the draft Rodney Local Board Plan 2014. The Board received 395 submissions and sat through a day-and-a-half of hearings on this month. Board chair Brenda Steele says transport issues were highlighted repeatedly. “Road sealing, public transport and footpaths were running themes,” Mrs Steele says. Pleas for more funding for road sealing were heard loud and clear. “There will absolutely be changes to the plan based
on what we’ve heard from the submissions.” Mrs Steele says submissions voicing frustration with the fractured nature of decision-making in the Supercity showed that the Board needed to communicate its role more effectively. “Our job is to ensure that people are aware that we understand the issues they face and we will be vocally reminding Council that greater investment in Rodney is needed.” The development of walkways also featured heavily in submissions. Various groups were taking the initiative to build tracks throughout the region, but needed a little assistance to deliver on the projects.
A swimming pool and multis port complex in Warkworth, developing a green space at Matakana Diamond Jubilee Park, and the future of the old Wellsford Library also received a lot of submissions. Mrs Steele does not believe the Board will have to make cuts to projects, but says if cuts do eventuate, it shouldn’t discourage people from making submissions. “What ever happens to the budgets, the priorities which are informed by the public will remain.” The Board will incorporate the submissions into the final plan which will be made public next month and will set-out the projects that the Board will fund over the next three years.
Residents have their say … On day one of the draft Rodney Local Board Plan hearings, David Haynes said unsealed roads were a serious safety hazard which required greater funding. “If there was a school bus accident on one of our unsealed roads, would you feel like you’ve done all you could to prevent that tragedy? The state of our roads is a disgrace,” David said. “To have a funding regime which will take centuries to seal roads should render Council criminally liable for any accidents that result.” David received a round of applause from member James Colville, and member John McLean asked David to speak at another meeting on the issue. Brian Moorhead said the Supercity structure had undermined the ability for Rodney residents to have a meaningful impact on decision-making. “We need a change to empower the Board. We need to get deeper into the actual doing of things. Right now you do the talking, but don’t get to do anything. It’s not Cr Penny Webster’s fault. She’s
run off her feet trying to represent the whole area. It’s an impossible job.” Helene Carpenter spoke on the need for a facility to make the most of the artistic talents of Warkworth. “There are many people wanting to take art classes, but no facility to hold them in,” Helen said. Snells Beach Residents and Ratepayers chair Bryan Jackson presented on the lack of investment in infrastructure to cope with rapid population growth and the poor quality of road maintenance in Mahurangi. Roger and Patie Williams spoke on the need for a plan to guide Warkworth’s development to prevent dividing the town into separate business districts and advocated for more walkways and cycleways. Several speakers, who had intended to speak on their submissions in Orewa, had had to cancel because the Rodney Board hearings clashed with the hearings on the draft Unitary Plan in Auckland.
The need to invest in infrastructure, like road sealing, was highlighted in submissions to the Board draft Plan.