Monday, December 21, 2009

COMMUNITY FIGHTS DEVELOPMENT

The Titirangi Ratepayers and Residents Association has unanimously decided to appeal the Commissioner’s decision to grant consent to the development proposal by ROT-COL Enterprises Ltd for the corner of Titirangi and South Titirangi Roads. The appeal has been filed with the Environment Court.

The 3 story urban style development, incorporating shops, offices and apartments exceeds the height limits for the site in the District Plan, is adjacent to iconic Lopdell House and is on a critical location in the heart of Titirangi Village, on public land.

The Association opposed the proposal due to its height and bulk and impact on heritage features, as well as the urban nature of the development, which they believe will change the character of Titirangi Village.

“Titirangi is the gateway to the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area and is a low-rise, pedestrian scale village framed by bush and views to the Manukau Harbour,” said Association spokesperson Mels Barton.

“The Council held a recent public meeting at which 200 local people clearly stated that these were the things they valued about the Village and wanted to retain in the future. This development will destroy all of that and turn the Village into an urban town centre like that of New Lynn. It’s the thin end of the wedge, with other development proposals lined up to take a lead from this building. We want to save our unique Village feel because that’s what makes Titirangi special, so we’re going to fight to get a better outcome more in keeping with the scale of the rest of the commercial buildings.”

The Association is fundraising to help with the appeal. If you’d like to make a donation or can offer your services please contact Mels on 816 8337 or email mels@wombatsenvironmental.co.nz


Wednesday, November 4, 2009

TITIRANGI TAKES OPPORTUNITY TO DETERMINE FUTURE

The Titirangi Ratepayers and Residents Association is delighted that the people of Titirangi came out in force to attend Tuesday night’s Waitakere City Council public meeting to discuss the Future for Titirangi Village.

Over 200 people packed into the War Memorial Hall to hear the Council ask for their views on how the Village should develop over the next 50 years to inform the District Plan Change currently being drafted.

The message they heard was loud, clear and consistent from the 18 groups at the meeting when reporting back the results of their discussions.

People wanted the village to remain compact and low-rise, dominated by the bush and the landscape, to be pedestrian and people friendly with commercial activities appropriate to serve the needs of the community first and foremost, while recognising Titirangi’s role as a destination secondly. They wanted to see better walking links between the commercial strip and the community areas and new walkways throughout the area, with more public space in the village. The idea of an “urban designed” town was rejected as everyone liked the ad hoc collection of small buildings that has evolved over time, as it is unique to Titirangi and marks the difference between here and other urban centres. Lopdell House was clearly the Village’s greatest treasure and needs to have its iconic status recognised and not be competed with by other buildings.

In 50 years time people wanted to see the Village no longer dominated by traffic and for it to remain at a human scale with any development fitting in with the overall character of the village. That it would continue to be the social and cultural focus for the area, the place where bush livers go to meet and connect with each other.

Titirangi Ratepayers and Residents Association spokesperson Mels Barton was overjoyed at the community’s response. “The great turnout shows how much people care about Titirangi Village and that they want to be involved in decision making about its future. The Council has asked for our views, we hope they listen carefully to the answers they received so we can keep our unique Heritage Area Village forever and not have its character spoilt by inappropriate development”.

The Association looks forward to seeing the draft District Plan Change that will be put to the Council’s Policy and Strategy Committee in December.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Village Makeover

Come and join the TRRA on Sunday 11 October at 10am to help clean up Titirangi Village.

We have a bin in the Supermarket carpark and plan to tackle rubbish, weeds and graffiti.

There is plenty to work on and many hands make light work.
Bring your gumboots, waterproofs, gloves and garden tools.

CU there!

Friday, October 9, 2009

A GOOD DAY FOR TITIRANGI

The Titirangi Ratepayers and Residents Association has been campaigning for some time to have a Local Area Plan for Titirangi Village. The point of the LAP (a new Council planning tool under the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act) is to enable locals to use the Council process to decide what they would like the Village to look like in 50 years time. They can define the heritage characteristics of the area they want to protect and identify what degree of development will be appropriate and where that should take place.

Titirangi’s planning rules are in urgent need of review, having been written to produce an “Alpine Village” look in the 1990s. They are outdated and unsuitable for the current village’s needs and have not delivered the architectural quality that was hoped for.

However the Council had decided they could deliver a new set of planning guidelines for Titirangi without consulting the locals in advance by initiating a District Plan Change and pushing it through before the Super City takes effect.

They didn’t count on the strength of feeling in Titirangi at being left out of the deliberations however and after a great deal of lobbying by members of the Ratepayers Association, local residents and the Titirangi business community, common sense has finally prevailed.

Its been a good day for Titirangi. Although we can't call it a LAP (this is the compromise that Council were prepared to accept), the District Plan Change being prepared for the Village will now include extensive consultation with the community, business & interest groups prior to its drafting.

The provisional date for the public meeting & open day consultation is Nov 3 at the Titirangi War Memorial Hall. Council staff will need to work fast so that the community's views can be incorporated into the policy & notify it by January 2010 if it is to be finalised and signed off by Council before Waitakere joins the Super City and loses its autonomy.

Yesterday's meeting was long and arduous, but in the end there was unanimous support for the following key resolution:
"Agree that in preparing the Economic Wellbeing in the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Plan Change that effect be given to sections 25 and 26 of the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act for Titirangi."

So thanks very much to the Waitakere City Councillors & staff for listening to the community & debating the issues so thoroughly to find a solution.

So the Titirangi Ratepayers and Residents Association invites you to put 3 Nov in you diary as the most important day for Titirangi's future & have a good think about what you would (and wouldn't) like to see our Village look like in 50 years time.


If any groups would like to have a more focused meeting with Council staff on this issue before 3 Nov then please let Mels Barton know asap on 816 8337 or 021 213 7779.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Why hurt the trees?

The RMA (Simplifying and Streamlining) Bill was recently reported back to Parliament.  The original bill was complex and contained a number of amendments to the RMA.  The intention of the part of the Government was to simplify processes and reduce the ability to oppose.
 
Some of the changes were welcome.  Others could have had a chilling effect on the ability of organisations such as the Resident’s association from making submissions on local development projects.
One of the most concerning provisions is the requirement that all District Plans remove blanket protection of trees in urban areas.  If enacted the Waitakere Council would have 2 years to change the local District Plan.  From that date the District Plan will no longer provide blanket protection of trees, instead the only trees that will be protected are those individual trees or groups of trees that are specifically identified in the relevant District Plan. 

This is unusual simplification and streamlining, instead of saying that (for instance) all Kauris over 2 metres high are protected, each individual Kauri will need to be referred to specifically to be protected.
It is important to understand what the current rules are.  In Titirangi up to 20% of a tree’s foliage can be removed in any one year.  Trees under 2 metres can be felled.  An application for a resource consent is otherwise required and an Arbourist’s report is needed.  There is an argument for the process of applying for the removal of a tree needs to be made cheaper and easier but removing all protection is an extreme step to take.

It is difficult to understand where this proposal came from.  Trees are very popular in most quarters.  They are extraordinarily good at sequestering carbon.  They provide habitat for local species.  They provide clean water and fresh air. They keep banks intact and prevent landslips.  They are especially prominent in Titirangi and make Titirangi the wonderful place that it is to live in.  We fell them at our peril.

Mels Barton and I presented submissions to the Environmental Select Committee.  The submissions were, briefly, that “urban environment” was not defined and it was arguable that Titirangi fell within the definition, that the implications of “fell at will” were disastrous, and that the time allowed (then two years) was far too short.

The Committee responded by providing a definition of “urban environment”.  This includes all sections no greater than 4,000 square metres that are connected to a reticulated water supply system and a reticulated sewerage system and on which is a building used for industrial, commercial or residential purposes.  This is an interesting definition as the District Plan can provide blanket protection of trees on a vacant section but not on a built on section.  To clear fell a section one would have to build and then chop.   

This definition means that Titirangi is to be included even though I had thought that they would acknowledge that this was a mistake.

My submission about the implications of the bill was ignored.  Presuming the Bill is enacted then either stability sensitive Titirangi will be in for a rough time or there will be an army of Council officials visiting sections with clipboards noting the location and description of every tree or group of trees.  I guess all the officers facing potential redundancy may have a new career creating lists of trees.

More time was sort of allowed.  The local Council now has until January 1, 2012 to complete the job, after which any tree protection rule is revoked.

The bill will have a devastating effect on the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008 as it affects Titirangi and Laingholm.  That Act is designed to preserve the quality of the natural area.  Giving landowners the ability to randomly fell trees will not be conducive to this.
The most perplexing aspect of this change is trying to identify the justification for it.  There has been no excessive uproar about current protection rules although the need to seek consents has caused some grumbles.  There was some tension while the District Plan was being worked out but I have not sensed an overwhelming urge amongst many citizens change the status quo. 

If you are concerned then I suggest you email your local Member of Parliament.  Labour and the Greens have said they will oppose this measure, ACT are fully in support.

I suggest that you consider emailing Tim Groser, who lives in Laingholm, and Paula Bennett, who represents part of the area under threat.  Their emails are

Please note that you only have until September 10 as it is likely the bill will be passed into law by then.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Welcome

This is the blog of the Titirangi Ratepayers and Residents Association. Our goal is to contribute to the quality of life in Titirangi. Following are some notes that we made at a recent meeting setting out some projects that we are going to work on in the next year. Comments are welcome.

Tidy Village project
• Print packs
• Launch September 1
Responsible: Mels, Eanna, 2 other volunteers
Welcome strategy
• Update and distribute packs
• Get people willing to visit newcomers
Responsible: Mike to find someone to assume responsibiliby
Communication strategy
• Newsletter to residents
• Seek volunteers for jobs
• Advertise website
• Form links with other organizations and residents groups
Responsible: Greg
Titirangi Birthday party
• Ascertain a relevant date
• Find out when Atkinson home built
• Find when Bishops moved into Huia Road
• Mosaic wall? – position to be ascertained
• Set date
• Close road?
• Entertainment – cojoint with Festival of Music?
Responsible: Mike, Robyn,
Lecture series
• Liaise with Lopdell
• List of topics
• Launch April 1, 2010
Responsible: Mels and Marguerite
Submissions on legislation and public plans
• Review current developments
• Prepare submissions
Responsible: Greg and Mels