“Our Māpua; our Ethos…what do our younger residents really want here? “

 A panel from the Māpua School  Whānau of :

• 2 Year 8 students – Polly Hyde & Bethany Tate ( who included comments from Year 5-8 students)
• a teacher – Bridget Chalmers and
• 3 parents – Taryn & Shaun McFadden

addressed this kaupapa at the  monthly meeting – informing , entertaining and challenging those attending ( see photo)

The theme of what we want from future development and growth was continued with a presentation on “Future growth in the community” by Jan Heijs – an engineer/ infrastructure planner /consultant for local and regional councils

 Recordings of both full presentations & the following open forum are accessible on MDCA’s Facebook Page which also includes links to Jan’s  supporting power-point slides .

1. Māpua School Panel members commented on :

What’s good about living here?

• A safe welcoming community  where you meet neighbours and know everyone; everything is close and there is “ freedom to be children”
• Lots on offer and to do for children and families – the Māpua Youth club
• Wharf Jumping –a strong culture and “the place to be” in the warmer weather

What would we like to see more of / developed?

• A playground and activities with “ older kids’ things” eg confidence course; maze; big swings ; school pool becoming a community pool
• skate park updated to include different areas/activities for novices/ learners and experienced riders
• More interactive activities for children at the wharf –“more could happen down there” including family festivals such as “New Year’s Eve..”; children’s art around the area
• More preschool activities on at the Hall and safer fencing around the playground ( note that MDCA agreed later in the meeting to support the school in any application for such fencing)
• A big asphalt area for young children learning to ride bikes [ noted that Four Square was considering supporting such a project after feedback from the police]
• A safe off-lead area for dogs and their owners
• More events for children and more markets/ food-trucks with affordable kai
• Keeping college students years 9 &10 age –group involved in local community once attending schools “outside the village” so they keep the connections

How to keep in touch ?

• Everyone present noted their appreciation of this opportunity to hear from and work with our younger residents and their families/ educators
• It was noted that the most appropriate media for this age is Instagram ; the school agreed would transmit confirmed

2.  Jan Heijs

• noted that “a lot of future growth” is planned with 100s of houses and new residents
• feared that council “not looking after local community housing needs” and that the current focus on “big houses on big lots” was not reflective of our community and character”
• concerned that with “business as usual”; if residents want to downsize they have to leave the community and that lots of families cannot afford housing in Māpua”

 

Suggesting that TDC

• has a choice on where / how to grow and could have a maximum rather than minimum size
• encourages community involvement in future development strategy
• reviews its development strategy to also support small affordable social housing ; rent-to-own houses

The presentation closed with a series of photographs of examples of social housing/smaller affordable communities; shared parking and green spaces

Jan was thanked for his humanity and courage to present alternative viewpoints

 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

“Māpua Liveability Working Group  “ – . Paul McIntosh

• expressed agreement that there should be a choice of land/living styles in the district
• aims to seek common themes and purposes as “ we want to come to TDC with suggestions and solutions “

• plan to share views with other community organizations so can ensure that “ we are all pulling in the same direction”

Reserve  re-classification 

Marion ( as Chair) thanked the councillors for the re-classification of Dominion Flats and Aranui Park as reserves

Cr MacKenzie noted the importance of providing “good background information” and that this was       “ a good lesson on how to produce good submissions- quality not quantity”

COMMUNITY WELLBEING

1. Māpua Willing Wheels –(MWW) – increased numbers of passengers over last month – working on establishing route for planned Motueka Community Bus including stops in Māpua
2. Community Hub– local community directory now  entered on the MDCA Website page with instructions for access on the Facebook page and a request for all organizations to visit and  either check  the accuracy of their entry or make contact to be included ( see separate article in this edition)

SOCIAL COMMUNICATION

• MDCA Facebook engagements – 250 on “Good Sorts” nomination for Kai Collective ; 78 on “Deferred Residential Zone” presentation by TDC at May 21 MDCA meeting
• Coastal News nominated as community “Good Sorts” for this month

FUTURE HOT TOPICS:

For the July 21  meeting – Forum on Alcohol and Drugs ( from medical/police perspectives)

 

Submitted by:  Elena Meredith

 

“We want communities [to be ] involved and informed” [Ward Cr Christeen MacKenzie at MDCA May meeting]

This headline quote is a succinct summary of both MDCA’s primary kaupapa and the focus of May’s monthly meeting . The theme of future development plans was continued with the particular focus being on Residential Zoning. Once again this “hot topic” attracted over 80 residents and the discussion was led by TDC staff members Barry Johnson (Planning) & Dwayne Fletcher (Engineering)

A recording of this full presentation & the following open forum is accessible on MDCA’s Facebook Page which includes a link to the supporting power-point slides .

Issues raised for discussion and response by those attending included:
Zoning land
• is “a front-load process with collaborative community consultation …to minimize the legal  process” and takes 6-9months
• “When classification of land changes to residential ,rates rise…the purpose of rezoning  land is eventually getting it to be developed[providing housing”]
• Deferred zones –deferral lifted when services are available Rate changes recognize the potential of the land’s capital value- the “uplift occurs when buildings and development happens”
• Local community associations are contacted & informed “but there is no scope for change”
• “not much scope for rezoning in Māpua – the potential for increased density “ needs detailed scrutiny”
• Key messages for future development is “out and up” (60%) which is a change from past patterns of “big –lots and big houses “- “you can apply for resource consent for anything-
• Consider “who does rezoning benefit- developers or the existing community ?”
• Confirmed that FDS (Future Development Strategy) definition of intensification “would not include rezoning any ‘green field’ developments….could include high density if rules change…”
• “village area not included for intensification…will reconsider this in July – can submit suggesting for example “granny flats”….small/tiny houses”
Water & waste-water
• Storm water plan is in place but not formally adopted –from August 1st the moratorium re servicing further development will be removed –
• Agreed on need to consult landowners as potential stakeholders
• Not planning on increasing road capacity “ this is NZTA/ Waka Kotahi responsibility”
• “more interested in exploring safety rather than capacity”
Marion ( Chairperson) reminded meeting that “all processes are public…TDC consults with & informs Community Associations – MDCA’s “ Māpua Liveability Sub-Committee” focuses on these issues so all present encouraged to join the Association and strengthen its voice

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS
Dominion Flats
Public planting held -29/30 May with 2,000 plants bedded in . For more information contact Helen Bibby. Cr MacKenzie noted, from a recent walk-through, “it’s amazing what volunteers have achieved”

“Māpua Liveability Working Group “ – . Paul McIntosh
• noted that “all topics presented at this meeting are concerns for this sub-committee”
• Theme is “keeping live consultation with TDC about what we want to happen.. past simply making submissions”
• Focus not “anti-development” ; more on “making it more sustainable” and “resident friendly”
• Important to ensure that new acts replacing the RMA enable this focus- “create more access ways rather than roads”….been asked to identify “active transport options” that will work best including linking up green-space areas
• Anna McKenzie noted that a “Landscape & Coastal Environments “Category planned – meeting 3 June at Bowling Club 10am-3pm to discuss what this practically means – MDCA encouraged to “be proactive in preparing for this; ”do a mini presentation next meeting

Roads & Cycle-Ways
• Response from NZTA to concerns raised re potential issues for vehicles turning from Coastal High-way across traffic into Māpua Drive –acknowledging the increased congestion and indicating that area identified as requiring safety work .
• Planned for 2024 and will undertake extensive community consultation

COMMUNITY WELLBEING
1. Māpua Willing Wheels –(MWW) – working on formalizing operational documents such as a Risk Management and Business . Exploring access to funding for a dedicated vehicle for the planned Motueka Community Coastal Bus service
2. Community Hub- Information from local community survey now collated and is in the process of being formatted as a local community directory and entered on the MDCA Website page with instructions for access on the Facebook page

SOCIAL COMMUNICATION
• MDCA Facebook engagements – 400+ on Ngaio Reserve development & 100+ on Long Term Plan
• Kai with Love Collective nominated as community “Good Sorts” for this month

FUTURE HOT TOPICS:

For the June meeting – “Living in Māpua as a young person /with young people”
1. How do they see Māpua ?
2. What would they like to see happen ?
Presented by a panel including people with young families and students

Submitted by: Elena Meredith

“Developing & supporting a thriving community where we can support our children/grandchildren “

  [ quote from Cr Christeen MacKenzie at MDCA April 21 meeting ]

 

      May  2021 issue

 

Being informed and having an input into our district’s future were once again the main foci  of the Māpua & Districts Community Association’s May 2021 meeting. This attracted nearly 100 residents and the discussion was led by Mayor Tim King supported by a team of TDC Councillors and staff . The primary focus was on the TDC Long-Term Plan (2021-2031  (noting that submissions for this  closed on April 21)

A recording of this full presentation & the following open forum is accessible on MDCA’s Facebook Page which includes a link to the supporting power-point slides .

 

Councillor Christeen McKenzie’s headline quote related to this process and she also noted that the LTP is the result of 18 months’ work with more than  3,000 supporting documents

 

Issues raised for discussion and response by those attending included:

• Zoning { to be the “Hot Topic” for the May MDCA Meeting }- all maps relating to “top of the South” will be posted on MDCA Website under “community planning”
• Development charges on individual property owners
• “3 Waters” scheme
• the Waimea Dam & its increasing costs – “robust discussions” ensued
• Public transport serving the needs of the range of ages of residents in our community
• Status of community housing
• Māpua Boat Ramp- its status & future development
• Riparian planting

 

“Hot Topic” for the May 21  meeting  is to be  “Deferred Residential Zoning in and around Māpua”

1. What prompts the lifting of the “deferment?” ?
2. What will Māpua and Districts look like after the lifting of such a zone ?

To be presented by Dwayne Fletcher & Barry Johnson TDC

Those present at the April meeting encouraged to also attend this meeting as it will cover a number of community queries & concerns

 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

Dominion Flats

Noted that “ the tracks are finished (“Yahoo”!) and the surprise that after only 10years planting some growth was already needing to be trimmed back.

Public planting –29/30 May – “ bring your own tools” ; morning tea supplied. For more information  contact Helen Bibby

 

“Māpua Liveability Working Group  “

• TDC Strategic Planning Meeting . Paul McIntosh & Marion Satherley re- presented the power-point presentation ( from the April MDCA meeting ) “to enable engagement with senior staff”- requested & arranged by Cr Christeen MacKenzie
• Plan Change 73 – noted that submission not accepted .Paul noted “ I’m not disappointed….we just need to keep flogging away to keep the issues on TDC Radar”

Lifting Deferred Residential Zonings  – Hot Topic for MDCA May meeting “ so come along to our next meeting…”

 

Parks & Reserves–

Review will include Dominion Flats & Aranui Parks so Marion & Wayne to attend on behalf of MDCA

 

District Community Association Chairs ‘Meeting – Marion attended for MDCA & noted how many of the same concerns Associations were dealing with such as housing

 

Roads & Cycle-Ways

• The issues /problems related to cyclists accessing the cycleway from the roundabout at Higgs Road have been followed up  with Jamie  McPherson ( TDC) who has indicated that shared pathway signage is planned for Māpua Drive/Higgs Road
• Potential issues for vehicles turning from Coastal Highway across traffic into Māpua Drive –the meeting agreed to a motion that both TDC Regional Transport Committee &  Waka Kotahi would be emailed foreshadowing concerns relating to this potential problem
• Māpua Waterfront Working Group – will follow up with Jamie McPherson to ensure that (with the agreed changes to the Rimu Bar outside area,) there is clearly defined pedestrian access to the Wharf & that  pedestrian access to the whole waterfront area is managed

 

COMMUNITY WELLBEING

1. Māpua Willing Wheels –(MWW) noted that there has been an increase in passengers with the security of the service continuing . Work is ongoing to ensure that costs and resources can be shared with the planned Motueka Coastal Community Bus service.. Local businesses /organizations encouraged to offer sponsorship to support the scheme’s administrative costs – any amount will be appreciated
2. Community Hub– see separate newsletter article elsewhere in this issue with details of projects and progress. The data collection project is now completed and the information will be used as part of the required supporting data for the planned feasibility study for a potential Community Hub. There is also the possibility of this being used as the basis of an online community directory, Working group members visited Victory Community Centre; Habitat for Humanity Hub in Tahunanui and the Motueka Community House to gather some more ideas for our potential resource and also to extend/ create links for a  potential establishment of a Community and Whānau Group in this district for sharing information and identifying potential shared  community concerns/projects

 

FUTURE HOT TOPICS:

May – Deferred residential zoning in and around Māpua – Dwayne Fletcher & Barry Johnson TDC

 

2021 months – a list of possible Hot topics  for the rest of 2021 is posted on  MDCA’s Facebook  Page – if you have any other suggestions of topics please send them to info@ourmapua.org  as soon as possible so they can be considered for the calendar.

 

Submitted by:  Elena Meredith