MDCA : Looking back over 2020 & keeping on moving forward into 2021 February 2021 issue
Māpua & Districts Community Association’s December 2020 meeting focused on both:
- looking back: summarizing developments in projects and foci over the past year as well as honouring the contributions of individual members and also
- keeping on moving forward: with an emphasis on becoming involved in planning processes (particularly in relating to the development of sub-divisions ) at an earlier stage as well signaling planned changes; projects and developments on MDCA’s 2021 agenda
Life Membership of MDCA for Helen Bibby
Helen was honoured for her many years of involvement in and contributions to the community ( often in partnership with her husband Neville) – from 2006 to the present day. During this time Helen officially chaired the Association for 3 years and “ unofficially” ( as vice-chairperson) for another 2 years – is this a record we wondered?!
Her involvements and projects include
1 Dominion Flats regeneration and replanting project – first planting in 2013 and now thousands of hours and dollars and plants and hundreds of volunteers; school pupils; TDC Staff and DOC employees later, we have an ever-growing minor marvellous miracle – a beautiful gateway to our local community as well as a national template for how to “ save wetlands”
2 Waimea Inlet -kaitiakitanga/guardianship
3 Spring Fling- organizing this annually
4 NBS ATM on the Community Hall
5 Community seating project
6 Civil Defence System of local welfare centre & volunteers
7 Response to 2018 Fehi Cyclone Flooding – feeding volunteers; helping residents to clean up & sharing in organization of the Community BBQ
8 Māpua Community Choir & Māpua Art Society – actively involved as singer/artist and organizer
It was acknowledged that this was not just about how Helen contributed but also how she did so accompanying actions with food; flowers; kind encouraging words and her ever-present cheerful smile
All of this is encompassed in the whakatauki [Māoriproverb)
‘Nau te rourou, naku te rourou, ka ora te manuhiri.- With your basket ( contribution) and our basket (contribution); the people will be sustained and live well
Those present at the MDCA hui endorsed this presentation to Helen with the waiata Te Aroha
MDCA “ Good Sort “ for the month
January 2021: Pat Russell was nominated for this month as a modern-day “eco-warrior” who has recently secured QEII National Trust “life of the tree” preservation status for15 Native Trees on her boundary. This has been achieved as part of a 6 year long process of highlighting and challenging the damaging impact the development of the Māpua Rise subdivision has had on her own health and wellbeing as well as on the local environment. It takes a particular brand of courage to constantly challenge using your own personal experiences and MDCA honours & thanks Pat for her many years of persistence which have, at times, left her feeling unsupported, discouraged and exhausted.
Pat personifies the poster quote: All progress has resulted from those who took unpopular positions.
It was agreed to ask Pat to write up this process with QEII so that others could also access this for preserving “significant trees” in the future
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS
Noted that MDCA had “ been a bit late” in relation to input on developments of local subdivisions and that want good connections so that can be involved and engaged earlier [“ahead of the ball”] in the decisions and processes rather than “ always playing catch-up” behind the developers .
Suggestions for future approaches :
Cr David Oglivie- – suggesting ;
- keeping in constant touch with Dennis Bush-King & Phil Doole
- asking that MDCA be informed of planned consents ; keep pressure on TDC[ Environment Court]
- Writing to Rob Smith ( TDC) checking what is the position in relation to HAIL sites; ’is the owner doing what they are allowed to do on their own land when does HAIL apply?”
Paul McIntyre- clarify & emphasize that we “ don’t want to be treated as an urban area” in these processes
- effort equally needed to focus on the policy makers/TRMP; assessors and creators
Cr Dean McNamara-“ submit back what you want- over and over”
Reserves – discussion on what this classification entails/excludes ; Cr David Oglivie noted that the “ Tenths Promises” in relation to the original land purchases in the district by the NZ Company( Wakefield et al) were never honoured
David Mitchell thanked MDCA for all the work on Aranui Park & asked if TDC had been in touch re discussions about potential future development
Cr McKenzie noted that “if the community wants to influence creation of open-spaces/ walkways etc, then they need to engage directly and have a say with developers ; TRMP is still in place and the process is not occurring within a vacuum :
COMMUNITY WELLBEING
- Māpua Willing Wheels – noted that funding for this trial project finished at the end of December and that the service would take a break over January . Dropping the “ membership sub” did seem to increase interest in take-up of the service – through the 5month period 17 booked rides were actually completed by the volunteer drivers although many more were discussed and even booked. It is hoped that a submitted application for funding for the full 2021 year will enable the service to continue and become an embedded part of the district’s infrastructure. Special mention was made of the wonderful work the co-ordinator (Rachel Mason) had done in setting up; promoting and running the service with the dedicated team of willing voluntary drivers – noted how fortunate we are to have such passionate supporters of community projects in the district
- A Coastal Corridor Route ( Motueka through Tasman/Māpua to Richmond) funding has been accessed to support a co-ordinator for 6month trial of this new extended service. The position has been widely advertised and the contract will begin at the start of February.
- Community Hub– see separate newsletter article elsewhere in this issue with details of projects and progress . It was agreed that MDCA would support the data collection project for potential Hub users by holding the funding awarded by the Māpua and Ruby Bay Community Trust and paying this out in 3 monthly payments to Connie Sherlock as the contracted researcher
- Māpua Memories – those involved in the process of setting up the interviews for this project will meet together to advance the process ready for interviewing in early 2021
FUTURE HOT TOPICS:
February – “ Hot Topic” : Māpua and Ruby Bay water and wastewater upgrades : Rob Grady (TDC) on the latest with Jack Cerfontaine who is project manager for the upgrade of the water treatment plant upgrade at the end of Lower Queen St, which supplies Māpua and Ruby Bay.
2021 months – members were asked to submit suggested future “ Hot Topics “ for future meetings
Submitted by: Elena Meredith
MDCA works closely with TDC to ensure our community functions in a way that suits the majority of our residents. To have a vote that counts, become a financial member of MDCA by simply paying a $10 membership fee to our NBS account 03-1354-0356471-00 with your name & phone number as a reference.