Local developments-December 2008

2 major resource consents are in progress for Whitby

1. The 18 house development on Flotilla Place, off Resolution Drive is being heard by a Resource Hearing Commissioner at present. WRA and several local residents presented their submissions verbally this week.

2. The Silverwood rural subdivision application for 19 houses, mainly on the hills behind James Cook Drive area but visible from much of Whitby. Submissions have to be with PCC on their forms by 13th January 2009.

Chairing local futures....

Thanks for the confidence a number of locals showed by electing me as the Chair of the Whitby Residents Association last week. I hope to be able to fill Jim Dearsly's shoes adequately !

There will of course be some differences in style and areas of focus. The WRA needs to concentrate on its Village Planning for the next 6-8 months and will need many people to respond to the survey that is published in Whitby Newsbrief this next week. We will also carry a much wider brief to engage with all those authorities who govern aspects of our life.

In the gun this week is.....the Wellington Harbourmaster ! Apparently he controls the activities of those highly noisy and polluting jet skiers on the Inlet ( I presume he has his own jet ski to catch them !). If we see a tug make an appearance we know he's not quite up with the state of play.

Village Plan survey out this week !

Watch out in the next edition of Whitby Newsbrief for the long awaited household survey- we hope all of you will fill it in and let us know your views on a large number of key topics

We can't plan unless we have plenty of data !

We will let you know via the Newsbrief what the findings are and how this may shape our futures.

It's time to cast those votes for people who will support Whitby

Over the next month you need to cast your votes for

1. Porirua City Council - Mayor and 5 Northern Ward councillors to be elected
We suggest Jenny Brash for Mayor, with John Green, Euon Murrell, Tim Sheppard and Keryn Martin as councillors

2. Greater Wellington Council 2 candidates from a choice of 3
Looks like Barbara Donaldson and Tracey Waters could have the knowledge and skills for this demanding job

3. Hutt Mana Charitable Trust 1 Trustee from 3 standing
WRA are supporting Robin Gunston for this (yes that's me) on basis of experience knowledge and a mandate for change

4. Porirua Community Trust
Tim Sheppard and Keryn Martin seemed switched on to the changes needed here, so let's give them a go

5. District Health Board- an important body, lots of choice here so room for old hand Margaret Faulkner and Coltyn Shaw on this group, well versed in Whitby's needs and those of children/Maori.


SO PLEASE VOTE BEFORE OCTOBER 13TH !!!!

Will Whitby be a desert by 2030 ?

If you want to see what happens when developers are left uncontrolled by Councils to do what they like with our environment you only need to look up to what used to be Silverwood Forest, now a parched wasteland soon to be covered with more gargantuan castles, raising yet more rates income for PCC ! Closer to home down on the once green pastures of the Golf Course the slash and burn, tree loppers employed by developer David Bradford have been demolishing our own carbon sink- watch this space for pictures.

IS THIS THE KIND OF ENVIRONMENT YOU WANT TO LIVE IN- DO YOU CARE ?
This is why we want a Village Plan that influences and controls such developments.

12 Street Meetings to be held on Village Plan

Between now and end September there will be at least 12 street meetings held around Whitby where you can air your views about the future of our great village. Watch this space for details.

What Residents are interested in

From the WRA meeting in May came the following suggestions for the issues and topics we should concentrate on in the Whitby Village Plan:

* Youth
* Educational facilities
* Recreation, eg Pool and facilities for older people
* Public transport
* Shops/shopping
* Walkways
* Limits on further housing and look at more varied housing types esp high density cheaper types
* Different types of business
* Effects of global warming especially on Inlet
* Self sufficiency in energy- generating our own ?
* Traffic esp SH58 and connections to Transmission Gully
* Traffic management systems in Whitby
* Reserves and play facilities

Have you got other ideas- post them here before July 15th please