Executive Summary
In 2014 the Eastbourne Community Board conducted a survey of Eastbourne and the Bays to gauge the wellbeing and satisfaction of the residents and to identify issues of importance to the community. The information gathered in the survey could then be used to guide the Board in representations to Hutt City Council and to provide data that could be referred to in the event of any regional amalgamation. The data from the survey could be used by individuals, community groups and businesses to make Eastbourne’s voice heard in a larger government structure.
Questions in the survey were designed to find out the priority residents placed on long standing projects such as the Eastern Bays shared walk/cycle way; to discover residents’ dreams and concerns about the future of Eastbourne; to gather opinion on the current plans for developments in the East Harbour Regional Park; and to investigate feelings on safety in the community.
A total of 624 people responded to the survey, i.e. 17 percent of the adult population (15year+) of Eastbourne and the Bays. Results have been reported on for each question and broken down according to gender, age, location and how long people had lived in the area, where relevant.
Download the full report (421KB) Eastbourne Community Survey 2014
Most Important Issues
Respondents were asked to rank their three top issues and also to identify the single most important issue for them. The completion of the Eastern Bays shared walk/cycle way was clearly the most important issue (number one for 33 percent of respondents) with concern about climate change and extreme weather events next (16 percent of respondents). Safety in the community, clean seas for swimming and quality public transport were also highly ranked. A number of other local issues were also identified.
Eastern Bays Walk/Cycle Way
The Eastern Bays walk/cycle way was rated as “unsafe” or “very unsafe” by 60 percent of respondents and in a later question on safety in the community the walk/cycle way was rated as the most unsafe place in the area. While 70 percent (436) of respondents reported using the walk/cycle way, 54 percent said the current standard of the walk/cycle way deterred them from using it. The anxiety about their safety on the walk/cycle way was shared by walkers, cyclists and drivers.
Hopes and Dreams
Respondents were asked to name one thing they would love to see in Eastbourne and the Bays that is not currently present. After a safe walk/cycle way (81 people) the next most important thing they would like to see is a vibrant, busy and attractive village (64 people). The third wish was for protection from the effects of climate change, followed by a boutique cinema and reliable and affordable public transport. Many other suggestions were made, including a covered swimming pool, better management of storm water, a skateboard park and pedestrian control at Days Bay.
Worries and Concerns
The greatest worry for Eastbourne residents (63 people) is that inappropriate development on the hills is damaging the bush, creating hazards and spoiling the beauty of the landscape. While respondents generally accept buildings about four storeys high against the hillside, they do not want to see high rise development on the water front (32 people). Residents welcome some new development as long as it is high quality and well planned (27 people). Other concerns such as the amount of traffic on the Pencarrow road and trees shading homes are recurring issues in the community. Increased rates were identified in Question 1 by 5 percent of respondents as the most important issue, and 18 percent of respondents ranked it in their top three issues of concern.
Earthquake Preparedness
Eighty-eight percent of respondents said they have an emergency kit ready and 93 percent said that they have neighbours they can rely on in an emergency.
Safety in our Community
The 624 respondents, 527 (84 percent) said there was nowhere in the community that they felt unsafe. Thirty respondents said they have felt unsafe around Burdan’s Gate and the Pencarrow road. Several other places, such as the bush tracks, Days Bay beach and areas with dim lighting and/or uneven foot paths, were each mentioned by fewer than 20 people.
The walk/cycle way was not included in the analysis of this question as it was covered in depth in other parts of this discussion.
One-hundred-and-nine respondents (17.5 percent) reported being victims of crimes which ranged from intruders entering their home and stealing to harassment by teenagers on the beach. The great majority of crimes were thefts from cars or garages: some were unlocked, but in other cases a car window was broken and wallets, cell-phones and other items taken.
Bush Walking Tracks
A majority (315) of respondents said they do not want a second walking track near the current Muritai Track; 175 did not know and 114 would like a second track.
The top priority for any additional spending in the Regional Park should be predator control (431 respondents), followed by weed control (239 respondents) improving current walking tracks (202 respondents) and building new, easier tracks (66 respondents).
Acknowledgements
The Eastbourne Herald helped circulate the questionnaires, publicised the survey, set up the online option and reported the results. Hutt City Council officers provided comment on the final content, helped with the printing of the questionnaire and paid for the freepost returns. The 624 respondents commented thoughtfully, in depth and with often colourful language.
Dr Mike Reid, Principal Policy Advisor Local Government New Zealand, commented on and approved the final draft of the questionnaire. Professor John Raeburn, Emeritus Professor at Auckland University of Technology, formerly in the Department of Community Health at Auckland University, discussed the aims and process of community surveys with members of the Community Board at the inception of the project.