Mapua Playground To Be Renovated — 

The Tasman District Council has funding in this year’s budget to redevelop the playground at Mapua Recreation Reserve next to the tennis courts. This funding was approved through the Annual Plan process. The current play structure is due for replacement and the TDC sought feedback in December and January via community survey as to a new design and equipment.

Glenn Thorn, the TDC’s Reserves and Assets Project Officer who is leading the redevelopment, presented his preliminary thoughts at the December 10 meeting of the Mapua & Districts Community Association. Glenn stated he has a $153,000 budget which includes costs for removal of existing play equipment (expected to be subsequently sold rather than donated). By comparison, about $120 000 was spent on the new Takaka playground.

The thought is for the new playground to have a similar footprint as the current play area, perhaps with a bit of extension to make maintenance easier and provide more seating under shade. The TDC design team is not a big fan of fencing, rather they prefer to strategically place furniture to form a natural barrier and create safe zones. And through zones, strategically place equipment to cater for all ages. There is value in cross playing (big kids with smaller kids) but there’s a skill to how that is integrated.

Glenn has found that consultation with children has been important, with the best ideas coming from those kids using the playground and not necessarily parents or caregivers. He stated that it’s more cost effective for the TDC to import already designed and safety approved equipment saving the council fees as it won’t require building permits, etc.

Glenn has been collating the recent collected surveys and will return to the community once he has 2-3 concepts to further discuss and get approval. He expects to require 12 weeks to source equipment and hopes to have a new playground in place in mid-winter.

Roads and Pathways

In a December 1 letter, MDCA Exec. Comm. member Wayne Chisnall asked Jamie McPhersion, TDC Transportation Manager, several questions regarding outstanding footpath and roading issues including an inadequate surface to the newly constructed Seaton Valley pathway.  Jamie replied via letter at length touching on many of the current Mapua projects:

Seaton Valley Road Pathway

The finished surface of this path is acknowledged as being less than ideal for cyclists. This is an outcome of the low cost nature of the project, which was necessary to get it built in the first place. However, after it has settled we propose to redress the top surface with a material which will provide a better running surface. We expect this work to be carried out in the first half of 2019. In the meantime the path fulfils its initial function as a safe pedestrian path.

Mapua Drive Berm Landscaping [in need of further landscaping]

I am following up with our consents and compliance team regarding whether the developer of the sections fronting Mapua Drive (numbers 75-95) has complied with the consent conditions regarding landscaping. I understand there was a requirement for flowering pear trees to be planted with an ongoing requirement for property owners to landscape their frontages. We will let you know the outcome.

Mapua Drive Footpath Across #125 Frontage [40m missing footpath north from Higgs Roundabout to the Clark Driveway]

This proposed new footpath is included in the Council’s list of proposed new footpaths to construct. This list is extensive and the projects on it are prioritised to provide maximum benefit from limited available funds. At this stage, unless additional funding is made available to us, this site will not have funding available for it for a couple of years.

Mapua Drive to Mamaku Drive Pathway [walkway down Mapua Drive to bypass]

We are investigating lower-cost options to enable a safe separated path to be created. We hope to have more detail on this shortly.

 Aranui Road Refuge Crossing at the Village [in front of library]

We are aware of the communities’ desire for a refuge. The current subdivision [opposite the Village Mall] will not impact the proposal to any degree, although they are forming a footpath along their Aranui Road frontage which will leave a relatively short length on the southern side of Aranui Road for the Council to form to complete the link along to the existing crossing point.

Constructing a central refuge would result in the loss of the existing on-street mobility park outside the health centre. We have not consulted the community or mobility park users about this yet, but would be interested to know from yourself and MDCA how the community would feel about the loss of this park. There is an alternative option of constructing a kerb buildout on the northern side of Aranui Road without a central refuge island, which would shorten the crossing length from 10m to 7.5m, and retain the carpark. We would welcome feedback from MDCA on these two options.

 Speed Limits [inquiry regarding reducing Aranui Road speed limit]

We are currently preparing a shortlist of sites for consideration of speed limit reviews. Investigation of these sites is happening now and we will include investigation of Aranui Road. … A bigger question I would ask through MDCA is how the community would feel about a wider speed limit change? There are only two ways into Mapua village, Aranui Road and Higgs Road, and it would arguably make sense for a 40km/h ‘gateway’ to be established somewhere on these roads and for 40km/h to then apply to all residential streets within the main village area. Otherwise, just considering Aranui Road could mean that ‘50’ signs would need to be erected on side roads (Toru St, Higgs Rd, Langford Drive, Tahi St and Iwa St).

 In Other Business – Rabbit Island toilet

Concern was expressed regarding the lack of a toilet at the Rabbit Island waiting area for the Mapua Ferry. Councillor Tim King mentioned toilet facilities had been suggested on various occasions with the challenge being there are 100km of the Great Taste trail and where do you begin? Tim suggested that businesses approach or apply for funding from TDC. Further concerns were mentioned about building toilets on a dune and the huge challenges it would face with iwi since the cultural significance of the area being a historical fishing village site.  It was resolved to do further research then write the cycle trail trust to inquire about their plans.

Mapua Projected Household Growth from Statistics New Zealand

 It was noted in a recent household growth report that Mapua has and will continue to have one of the largest growth rates in the Tasman District. Below is the “high” version of the estimates. All statistical data are subject to error.

Year                                            2013    2018    2023    2028    2033    2038

Projected Households            860      960      1050    1130    1210    1270

 

Be sure to attend our next monthly meeting:  Monday, 11 February at 7 PM, Mapua Hall.

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.

Trevor James, the TDC’s Senior Resource Scientist, a specialist in aquatic ecology and water quality, presented his latest research to the MDCA’s October meeting.

The Health of Streams in the Moutere

Streams draining the Moutere Hill geology (including Mapua-Moutere-Tasman areas) have a particular character with distinct water quality and aquatic ecology issues. The hydrology is distinct in the region with very low low-flows in summer and high peak flows. This is due to low permeability ground conditions, a dominance of pasture land use and low prevalence of wetlands. As a consequence, streams in summer are particularly vulnerable to overheating, low dissolved oxygen and high cover of slime (filamentous algae) in unshaded sections of stream in summer. These issues are serious enough to affect invertebrate and fish life in many Moutere streams.

The other big issue in the Moutere is fine sediment discharges from forestry and land development. A recent report by NIWA (see link below) attributed the source of much of that sediment to forestry land use as well as “bank erosion” which also includes erosion of subsoil from land developments such as what occurred when the Carter Holt forests were redeveloped for rural-residential land use. Examples of erosion risk activities in this area were shown, e.g. root raking of stream banks after forest harvest, hill country cultivation and winter cropping and grazing without grass filter strips. On the positive side there are generally low levels of nutrients and disease-causing organisms and reasonable water clarity in base flows in these streams. For more information on fine sediment in our waterways, see the December 2016 report at: http://www.tasman.govt.nz/environment/water/rivers/river-water-quality/fine-sediment-in-our-waterways-and-coast

Where the habitat is poor there are typically 3-4 species of native fish in Moutere streams (inanga, shortfin and longfin eels, and common bully). Where the habitat is good you typically get these plus: banded kokopu, smelt, giant bully and in rare occasions you can find koaro, torrentfish and redfin bully. No longer do you find giant kokopu as too many wetlands have been drained and streams straightened. Dominion Stream has had giant kokopu, but it hasn’t been found in the last couple of surveys. Redfin bully is also rare in Dominion Stream, but no smelt, koaro or torrent fish.

Around NZ these rare fish are getting rarer. The main reasons for this include: fine sediment discharges, water temperature, increasing aquatic weed growth and decreased flows. Most of these issues are associated with agricultural intensification and urban development. In Tasman we have found in-stream structures creating a barrier to fish passage to be a major effect on native fish. For example, you find fewer fish species upstream of the rock riprap weir on the Moutere River 500m downstream of Old House Road. Attempts to address this have failed due to the unstable nature of this structure.

There are many opportunities for restoration, particularly by “joining the dots” of existing remnants of native forest and riparian restoration. Council would like to work with the Tasman Environment Trust and the wider community to develop catchment improvement plans. The TDC now has a fund available to organised landowners and community groups, principally to provide plants for riparian restoration.  Plus, the latest Land Development Manual that directs developments will hopefully deliver some better environmental outcomes for our streams.

 

Audience questions:

Q- What do you see as the biggest opportunity for improving stream health within this region?

Trevor: To improve ecological health, we should start with small streams close to the coast draining into estuaries – e.g. the Moutere catchment area. Then involve young researchers to map out critical areas.

Q- If streams flowing into rivers/estuaries were to be fenced, how much of a difference will it make?

Trevor: If the catchment has a source of sediment coming from uphill, it will impact lower down. Best intervention to improve water quality is to plant trees next to streams as it cools down streams, feeds with natural seeds etc.

Q – Are you optimistic about water health in our district?

Trevor: With funds becoming available, it does increase optimism. Fortunately, we don’t have such a big a job to do as in more intensive farming areas elsewhere in New Zealand.

In Other News

 Active Transport Survey

Drew Bryant, TDC Activity Planning Advisor, spoke of an online Active Transport Survey on walking/cycling transportation. The questions are to discover how you undertake everyday travel and what is stopping you from walking or cycling as a mode of transport. The TDC looks to support more of this type of healthy transportation and is interested in hearing the thoughts of those that would not normally walk or cycle, not just those that are enthusiasts.  A greater representation from the Moutere/Waimea ward is desired, as they represent only a small percentage of the responses so far. Take the survey at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YQCDQ65

Community Social Seating

David Mitchell spoke about the importance of cultivating a social community and highlighted the campaign for greater mental awareness. Spaces that people commonly occupy in their daily life are: 1^st space – home, 2^nd space – work, 3^rd space – public space. David felt that greater attention should be given to seating and configuration of seating in our community public spaces. Social seating around our community encourage more people to get out of their homes, especially the elderly. Should any one like to get involved, please email David at: mapuamitchell@gmail.com.

Mapua Community Care Project

The Trustees of the Mapua Community Care Project (formerly Dale Vercoe Community Care Charitable Trust) are establishing a community consultation group to advise on the project. The Project’s Ron Oliver asked the MDCA to provide a representative to the group. The membership discussed and passed a motion to have Chairperson Marion Satherly as the MDCA rep.

Dominion Flats Reserve

Helen Bibby reported that $2000 was received from Greenwood Trust for tree planting. And that the MDCA has applied to Pub Charities for $13,750 for further planting at Dominion Flats Reserve.

It was agreed that the Association would sign a Memorandum of Understanding with NZTA taking responsibility for maintenance (typically clean and repaint as required) of the Mapua School mural to be painted in the Coastal Highway underpass.

MDCA Social Media Report

In September, the MDCA posted 7 different news items on our Facebook page. Topics ranged from an invitation for nominations for Chairperson of the Waterfront Area Working Group to a notice of the McKee Reserve re-opening on Labour Day weekend. Our most viewed posts were the announcement of a new start for the Dale Vercoe Community Care Charitable trust (as the Mapua Community Care Project) with 1,103 views. And, of course, anything to do with pets:  a post that “Sala, the lost pup, was found” had 2,273 views, 5 comments and 16 shares. In total, our posts in September attracted 6,677 views – about the same as our average views in July and August.

Be sure to attend our next monthly meeting:  Monday, 12 November at 7 PM, Mapua Hall.