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Eastbourne Community Board
Chair’s Report October 2024
The Eastbourne Community Board’s (ECB) next public meeting is at 7.15pm on Tuesday 22 October. The agenda is posted on the Hutt City Council website and our eastbourne.nz website about a week before each meeting. ECB public meetings are now held in the Eastbourne library. Residents are always welcome at Board meetings.
At the start of the meeting, anyone may speak (for up to three minutes) under public comment on any community topic. Please note that our standing orders don’t allow for general discussion and questions from the floor. If you have a question about any of the presentations on the agenda, please let a member of the ECB know before the meeting and we can ask it for you before or during the meeting. If we can ask questions ahead of the meeting, presenters are more likely to be able to prepare an answer.
The presentations at the meeting on 22 October (at the time of writing) are:
- Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024: A verbal presentation by the Head of Transport.
- Tupua Horo Nuku and bird protection areas update: A verbal presentation by Council’s Project Delivery Manager - Transport
- Z Energy - replacement fuel pipeline, Seaview: A verbal presentation by Brent Cooper, Project Engineer, Z Energy
- Presentation by Local Councillor from Greater Wellington Regional Council: A verbal update by Cr Quentin Duthie
Five “Eastbournes” Awards will be presented at the October meeting to individuals who have contributed to Eastbourne and the Eastern Bays. Activity
Here is a list of issues and activities addressed by members of the Eastbourne Community Board (ECB) since the previous meeting and Chair’s Report in August:
The ECB supported our written submission with a verbal submission at the hearing on Council’s representation review on 26 August. Along with many submitters from Eastbourne and the Eastern Bays, we spoke in support of retaining community boards. The representation review report prepared by an independent panel recommended disestablishing all three community boards in Hutt City. 56% of all submissions were from Eastbourne and the Eastern Bays and nearly all of these supported retaining community boards.
The ECB also addressed Council on 10 September, when Councillors voted to disestablish community boards.
We have lodged an appeal and objection to the Council's decision. The basis of our appeal is that we believe the panel made several errors in its review. We are unlikely to know the outcome for several months. We appreciate the encouragement and support from many Eastbourne residents.
The representation review also examined Ward boundaries. The ECB and several other submitters recommended that Pencarrow Road be moved from Wainuiomata Ward to Harbour Ward. We are pleased that the Council voted to make this change (pending any objections).
Most ECB members attended the Local Government New Zealand conference in Wellington, where we networked with community board members from around the motu.
The ECB received a Highly Commended Award in the Community Board Enhancing Communities category for our mahi on the Tupua Horo Nuku project at the conference.
Attended the inaugural Lower Hutt City Summit in September.
We have sought volunteers who Council’s pool team will train as assistant lifeguards to work at the Eastbourne Summer Pool and enable its season to be extended by two weeks. We appreciate all the interest in this initiative and are grateful to Council for offering the opportunity.
Continued to liaise with the Eastbourne Bowls Club and Council about the proposed relocation to ESSC. Watch out for community consultation about this.
We have responded to calls and emails from residents and news media about the new fence at Bishop Park, which is part of the new bird protection area's conditions, and about the signage about dog access.
Members of the ECB met with Drowning Prevention Aotearoa to discuss signage and equipment to improve safety on beaches in Eastbourne and the Eastern Bays, and especially Rona Wharf, where people jump into dangerously shallow water.
Saved more tetra paks and batteries from landfill via the collection bins in the Eastbourne Library foyer, thanks to Bruce Spedding’s efforts.
Other things to note
The Community Engagement Fund has been replaced by a Community Climate Action Fund. The ECB has chosen to run one round of funding per year rather than two. The first round for Eastbourne will be in April/May 2025.
We are delighted to see how many young cyclists use the informal bike skills track at Burdan’s Gate. If you would like to be involved in developing the track further and in maintenance, please contact Frank Vickers.
Communication
One of the Board’s roles is communicating relevant matters, proposals, consultations, and issues with residents. We do this through our Facebook page (nearly 800 followers), the eastbourne.nz website, our email list (220+ subscribers), our regular column in the Eastbourne Herald, and the digital display board at the library.
Residents can also contact Board members directly:
- Belinda Moss (Chair) belinda.moss@huttcity.govt.nz 029 494 1615
- Emily Keddell (Deputy Chair) emily.keddell@huttcity.govt.nz 021 188 5106
- Bruce Spedding bruce.spedding@huttcity.govt.nz 021 029 74741
- Frank Vickers frank.vickers@huttcity.govt.nz 027 406 1419
- Murray Gibbons murray.gibbons@huttcity.govt.nz 04 562 8567
- Tui Lewis (Ward Councillor) tui.lewis@huttcity.govt.nz 021 271 6249
Belinda Moss 12 October 2024 |
