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MDCA December 17; January 18 Update

Art in the Park — AED’s in the Village

Much has been taking place during the “silly season” of summer in Mapua.  The Mapua Community Association’s long-standing effort to commemorate the Touch the Sea aquarium (destroyed by fire in September 2011) was celebrated December 19 with the unveiling in Waterfront Park of two beautiful landscape frames adorned with wood and ceramic works of art by Mapua School students.

One frame depicts the well-known boat long featured at the aquarium entrance and Phoenix the turtle that survived the blaze along with loads of fish in all shapes and species. That frame is erected facing the site where the Aquarium once stood. The second frame faces over the water the inlet and depicts life on Mapua wharf.

Both frames are beautiful additions to this our special Waterfront Park space and a complete community project. Funds were raised from the community and community volunteers helped bring the idea to fruition through Mapua School pupils, staff and parents. Be sure to come down to the Park soon to enjoy these wonderful creations. Though some of the art pieces have unfortunately broken off due to rambunctious sign climbers, repairs are underway.

Roading and Pathways Update

Also in December, Steve Elkington, TDC Sr. Road Engineer, informed the MDCA that “Asphalt & Construction have made a start on the new footpath in Higgs Road and once completed will move to the Aranui/Mapua Drive intersection upgrade.

We [the TDC] had planned to undertake the work at the intersection of Aranui/Mapua Drive, during January while the school is closed. Unfortunately, this work is now programmed for late February around the 21st. However, the good news is there will be less disruption to the intersection due to the traffic island in front of the school, only being slightly modified.

The reason for this change to the traffic island, is due to bringing forward a project to upgrade water and sewer for Mapua in this area. The confirmed alignment of the new pipes will mostly affect the landscape planting of the traffic island so the island won’t be fully reconstructed until after the new pipes are laid. In the meantime, the unaffected section of the traffic island including the access path are to be constructed enabling pedestrians to use the revised center-island and new path on the Country Store side, planned for completion in March 18. The confirmed alignment of the pipes will also allow the intersection be resurfaced sooner, which is over-due and surfaced with Asphalt.

The laying of the new sewer and water mains are planned to occur later 2018 and hopefully able to be coordinated with one of the school term holidays.”

Two new AED’s in Mapua Village

And just in time for the Holidays, two new AED’s (automated external defibrillator) were installed for emergency public use in Mapua Village – outside Mapua Community Hall and Mapua Four Square. Thanks to Reinhard Gebhard and his AED committee, Mapua Community Hall, NBS and TDC (who contributed $1600 and $1000 respectively for the purchase of the hall defibrillator) and our local Four Square for sponsoring and installing these life saving devices. Pass the word!

 Boat Ramp Redux

 Chairperson Elena Meredith opened the December MDCA Monthly meeting with the statement that “the boat ramp is not just a boat club issue – it is a community issue.” There was lively discussion concerning the TDC community consultation process, the decision to not proceed with the boat ramp in the Mapua Waterfront and how the whole community could be more informed about the level of boat use and the need for a ramp. It was suggested that the TDC groups and harbour master also be involved in finding a solution. The MDCA membership passed a motion that the “MDCA is in support of and recognises the need for the establishment of a boat ramp in the community.” The issue will be revisited at the February 12 meeting.

Mapua Drive Sculpture Install Date

Marion Satherly reported the Mapua Drive Sculpture would be installed in February. This is the 2nd of 3 Gateway Sculptures (the first being in Tasman). The third is to be erected on Mamaku Drive at the top of Seaton Valley Road.  Marion discussed the possibility of a fourth sculpture at the Higgs Road/Mapua Drive roundabout. It’s possible some NMIT students might become involved in the design process. It was noted that the final design should not be so large as to obstruct vision at the roundabout. The MDCA membership agreed the Secretary would write a letter to the Ruby Coast Initiative Trust supporting the conceptual and explorative ideas for a sculpture at the Higgs Road roundabout .

 2017 By the Numbers

 At our December 11, MDCA meeting, Chairperson Elena Meredith reminded us all of the many challenging and exciting issues members were treated to in 2017 in her annual year end summary, this year titled: “By the Numbers.”

  1. New Lifetime Member of MDCA – Pat Perry
  2. Overriding issues – Waterfront Park development and the Waimea Dam development
  3. Our committed TDC Ward Councillors who regularly attend our monthly meetings, wear the frustration and undertake to follow up on complicated issues
  4. AEDs in the community and rising!!
  5. The number of decades the Bibbys and Chisnalls have each been married – yeeah!!
  6. Years advocating for the Higgs Road footpath – it has begun!!
  7. Starting times for our monthly meetings – but as for endings?!
  8. What we did a lot of this year – during our submissions session; after significant meetings (AGM & end of year) & at most Exec meetings
  9. And more – the wonderful Tuesday volunteers who weed, clear tracks and plant the magnificent regenerating Dominion Flats
  10. Our dedicated and hard-working Executive members

 

Council Turns Down Waterfront Park Boat Ramp

Tasman District Council on Thursday Nov 16 unanimously supported a master-plan for the Mapua Waterfront area for the next 20 years, including a rejection of the Mapua Boat Club’s boat-ramp proposal. This follows a year of vigorous advocacy by the club for a new ramp, turnaround area and vehicle access along the southern side of Waterfront Park. The new ramp was intended to replace a small boat ramp on the north side of the wharf that was closed by the council last year.

The new Mapua Waterfront Master Plan was adopted quickly at the council’s November meeting, with no substantive discussion by councillors. This was because councillors had earlier been involved in wide-ranging discussions during a hearing committee stage and considered reports and submissions on an earlier draft of the plan. The committee, including one iwi representative, had before them reports arising from five weeks of public consultation and a total of 386 submissions from residents on various issues.

Shortly before the hearing committee’s report was tabled, Tasman Deputy Mayor Tim King told the council that the Mapua boat ramp issue was one of two on the agenda that had resulted in deeply divided opinions in the communities affected, the other issue being a proposal to demolish the historic grandstand at the old Golden Bay showgrounds. Mr King said that in both cases, whatever the resulting decisions, councillors were likely to leave half the community unhappy over the result.

Tabling the Mapua waterfront report, TDC strategic manager Sharon Flood said councillors were sympathetic to the needs of the Mapua boating community for a ramp. However, their “over-riding reasons for rejection of the club proposal included:
 The location of the council’s high pressure sewer main near the proposed ramp site;
 Marine health and safety issues;
 High estimated project costs;
 Parking issues and traffic congestion and
 The fact that nearly half the public submissions were strongly against the ramp plan.

The report said the hearing committee had delayed its hearing to allow the Mapua Boat Club more time to present revised drawings and costs for its proposal. However, it noted that the club did not support an option of a regional study to determine the best site for a new regional boat-ramp. The club’s “strong view was that proposed ramp (at Waterfront Park) was not a regional solution, but a Mapua solution only”, the report said.

Councillors were concerned about additional information about the proposed ramp site from the TDC harbour master, Mr Dan Cairney. He had raised issues over “the strong tidal currents in the area, the known build-up of logs and flood debris in the eddy there and the proximity of the proposed boat-ramp to Mapua Wharf”. The report noted that the wharf was “well-known as a popular location for wharf jumpers and swimmers”. The committee also noted that the boat-ramp would need to be wider than the planned 11 metres.

Councillors were particularly concerned about the proximity of the proposed ramp to the wastewater pumping station and main sewer from Mapua to the Bells’ Island treatment plant. Also in the same area was the council’s gravity sewer located along the existing rock sea wall.
“Both of these pipes are strategic council assets and, if broken, would create significant environmental contamination issues with raw sewage being directly discharged into a highly populated area and into an estuary of significance,” the report said.

The hearing committee said it felt Boat Club estimates of the cost of the proposed boat-ramp and associated works were “best case scenario costs,” “Its quote and the two quotes provided in support….did not take into consideration the location of the waste-water mains pipe or any associated mitigation measures and costs,” it said. A quote from the firm Opus of approximately $918,000 for the boat ramp was seen by the council as “more realistic, with the report noting that some of the works may be able to be carried out for less, depending on the contractor, but that other costs would need to be factored in with regard to the waste-water main”.

Another issue raised was the expected increase in boat and trailer traffic to the area, bringing with it potential congestion. The proposal was for boat owners to park vehicles and trailers in the carpark at Waterfront Park as well as additional parking on the council-owned remediated land on the western side of Tahi St.
“This would potentially create parking difficulties and conflicts during peak periods with other visitors to the Mapua Wharf,” the hearing report said.

Submitters to the draft plan were concerned over the loss of community space for families, added noise, traffic congestion, parking conflicts and pedestrian safety issues that a boat ramp would bring to the Waterfront Park site. “Many were also concerned about the contaminated nature of the site and the potential for toxic chemicals contained under the ground to leach into the estuary as a result of any soil disturbance.”

“A large number of children submitters from Mapua School did not support the boat ramp option and preferred to see the area used for a playground and other recreational facilities”, the report said.

The committee considered other local boat ramp facilities in the area and noted that “a significant number of submitters strongly opposed any upgrade of Grossi Pont boat-ramp, as they wanted the reserve kept for swimmers, walkers, picnickers and small craft, with minimal vehicle use”. Councillors recommended that Grossi Point boat ramp be left as is and retained as a launching site for only smaller craft.

In presenting the report, Ms Flood said that the committee had set short and medium term goals for the main areas covered by the Waterfront Plan. Other key areas dealt with in the plan were:
1. The area between the Golden Bear Brewery and the estuary: The plan proposes to rezone the area from commercial to a reserve, to restore the grassed area, add additional seating and ensure ongoing protection of the ngaio tree there.
2. Mapua Wharf area: Preserve the vibrancy of the Mapua Wharf and surrounding area as a visitor destination. In the short term the council will maintain ownership of buildings and land and enhance delineation of the shared zone. It will continue to work with Tamaha Sea Scouts to find a solution for their boat and gear storage needs
3. Waterfront Park: Council will retain the open park space and explore improvements to enhance community facilities and park use. In the short term, improvements include picnic tables, seating, barbecues, rubbish bins, shelter and investigation of a low-key playground.

 Grossi Point: While the committee agreed to minimal change to the Grossi Point Reserve, the council would undertake clearer identification of the areas for different activities and prevent car and trailer parking in the reserve area of Grossi Point.
 Another change was to work with iwi to develop an archaeological plan to “preserve and protect the cultural heritage of the reserve”.
 The plan proposes that boat owners using Grossi Point for launching boats will need to park their cars and boat trailers on council-owned remediated land further north on Tahi St

Main changes the council made to the earlier draft Mapua Waterfront Master Plan were decisions:
 Not to sell council-owned land or buildings at Mapua Wharf in the short term.
 Not to sell remediated council-owned land on the western side of Tahi St in the short term but to retain the land for parking in the short-term and as a future strategic asset
 Not to put a boat storage shed at Grossi Point for the Tamaha Sea Scout Group and to retain a boat storage area and facilities for the Scouts at the wharf. The Scout Group did not favour moving to Grossi Point.

Report written and submitted by David Mitchell

What Happened at the October Meeting?

At MDCA’s October meeting, the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) subcommittee reported they had their first meeting and discussed the pros and cons of the MDCA taking “ownership” of the AED’s at the Wharf and outside Cushla’s, with more research about the costs, obligations and liabilities needed before deciding. It was suggested that a fund be set up to help cover projected costs estimated at $400 for a replacement battery every 4 years and $75 for pads every 5 years, or after every use. The committee is currently investigating the expiry date on the defibs in the village to determine how quickly this fund is needed. The subcommittee will appoint two people to monitor each AED use, easily determined because they are behind glass. Thanks goes to the Mapua Four Square who recently announced they will place an additional AED outside their store.

The Waterfront Upgrade subcommittee reported that all materials have been received for the 4 picnic tables and construction would be completed soon. The tables and the children’s playground equipment, including a grass covered pipe tunnel and timber zig zag pathway, balance rail and jump steps, should be installed in November. In addition, the Mapua School will be completing two interactive sculptures, their personally designed and built tribute to the Mapua aquarium “Touch the Sea,” destroyed by fire in 2011. (See attached drawings.)

In additional news: The wet spring has been fantastic for plant growth in Dominion Flats and residents are encouraged to go for a bike ride or walk through the grounds as it is something we should all be proud of. And the TDC has completed significant work on Higgs Reserve, on its way toward planting nearly 4000 trees in this location.

The TDC’s announcement of its Wharf and Waterfront Park decisions, resulting from the many months of meetings and consultations including a recent visit to the area with the harbourmaster, is expected “before Christmas” per Councillor Tim King.

Discussions took place about the growing importance of a local public transport system – perhaps a community bus for local residents who don’t drive to get access to the wharf, especially on weekends and could be used mid-week for other transport tasks. Chairperson Elena Meredith said the time has come to explore in more detail the transport needs of our community.

Naomi Aporo, a recent addition to the MDCA Executive Committee and responsible for the portfolio of Relationships/Archiving, will be working with Shona Mclean to digitize MDCA archives and going out into the community to discover what Mapua historical stories and information other people might have. If you know someone who has a box of treasured information, please contact Naomi and share it so we can start to tell the stories of our community.

With discussion about the proposed Waimea Dam heating up and the TDC opening consultation on the divisive issue in late October, Council will be in Mapua on Monday, 13 November to hear local residents’ opinions.  First at 6 PM at Mapua Hall, Councillors and their advisors will hold a “drop in” session. Then at 7 PM, the discussion will formally move to the Mapua and Districts Community Association’s regular November meeting in the Hall’s Bill Marris room. With an estimated $82.5 million total cost, proposed to be funded by a mix of ratepayer, irrigator and Crown funding, and Nelson City just recently asked to pitch in $5 million, the dam has been mired in controversy. The likely model going to consultation has the TDC in a joint venture with Waimea Irrigators Ltd., with the TDC responsible for $26.8 million, underwriting a further $29 million and covering the cost of any overruns above $3 million.

And congratulations to Mapua native and activist volunteer Pat Perry, who was unanimously affirmed as this year’s recipient of the MDCA Lifetime Member award and will be honoured at the December meeting.