Better Brighton

For too long, Christchurch residents have been victim to ineffective representation. I am an independent candidate and I would like to restore the public’s faith in the Council by keeping other councillors honest. We all want A Better City, and for that we need a Council that listens to community concerns and acts on them.

I believe in:
Sympathetic and sustainable development, protection of our parks and waterways, better consultation, better vision and better representation.

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I have been involved in community events for a number of years, and it is this commitment that has driven me to seek election. Please vote for “A Better City”. Contact me on 382 6334 or mpuentener@gmail.com

From: Jan Kenny
To: kevin.mara@ccc.govt.nz
Cc: marcus@cpsa.org.nz ; garry.moore@ccc.govt.nz ; carole.evans@ccc.govt.nz ; gail.sheriff@ccc.govt.nz
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 1:03 PM
Subject: the Master Plan

I note your E-mail of Friday 29 July 2005, (in reply to "brighton boy's" letter of July 26), posted on the Better Brighton blogspot.

I contest the validity of your comments in this reply, though certainly not their audacity.

I admit my comments have been some time in coming, but I have been busy with the more long-term response to the saga of the road, which has necessarily taken priority.

As a result however, I feel I can respond with confidence now in stating the following:

• Acceptance by the community of the Master Plan was at best only ever contrived.
• The Master Plan was developed by a Taskforce which did not continue to represent the community, did not keep the community informed, and was not therefore able to be monitored and taken to task by the community when it developed nothing but the road. Taskforce minutes demonstrate this.
• The Council is definitely not implementing the Master Plan in accordance with the community wishes. The Master Plan plainly required development to start on the beach and foreshore, with the road a distant third. Your own comments to the Council subcommittee in early 2005 were to remind all that proceeding with the slow road first would not be what the community expected.

Now that the slow-road is under-way the next big topic is being discussed ... the press today announced that the height rules are on the council agenda ... this is an exciting and important topic that has huge implications on the urban make-up of the mall area .. I look forward to some discussions on this one ..

See the image gallery for new photo's of slow-road start.

Minutes from last weeks CCC meeting to try and stop slow-road works.

Yesterday's foggy morning was perfect cover for the chainsaw welding workers to methodically work their way down the mall, felling and delimbing many years of vegetative life. The diggers sat idling in wait.

Reply to "brighton boy's" letter of July 26, 2005.

To: marcus@cpsa.org.nz
Cc: Moore, Garry (Mayor); Evans, Carole; Sheriff, Gail
Subject: Re: New Brighton Mall Road

Marcus, I am writing this in response to your e-mail to the Mayor,
Carole Evans and Gail Sheriff.

The decision to put a road through the mall was made by the community
through accepting the Master Plan. The Master Plan is a document
developed by the community. The Council is implementing the Master Plan
in accordance with the community wishes.

You asked some questions in relation to the special rate (actually
called a targeted rate) and when plans were made public for the road.

There is no targeted rate in place for New Brighton. The targeted rate
was identified several years ago as a possible funding source for some
of the work covered by the Master Plan for the revitalisation of New
Brighton. This targeted rate was never taken up and does not form part
of the current Annual Plan or LTCCP.(Long Term Community Council Plan)

With regard to the plans for the road. The normal process that the
Council City Transport Unit follows with regard to construction works
has been followed.

The porposed work was discussed with business people in the mall who
would be affected by the construction. The scheme plan detailing the
work and seeking feedback from residents was issued on 7/6/2005.

The whole concept was also developed in conjunction with input from the
community by way of several public meetings and feedback via City Scene.

I trust this answers your questions.

Regards
Kevin Mara

Have been asking questions as to how the slow road decision became an environment court decision and not a notified Resource Consent (as stated in the current consultation document). Had the following response from a mole at the Environment court.

"Hi Jason The Brighton "slow road" was before the Court last year as the Council needed to revoke its earlier declaration that Seaview Road and Oram Avenue were a pedestrian mall, that revocation was appealable, but the appeal failed.

The case name was "Sue Trayling & others v Christchurch CC". Strictly it's a decision under the Local Government Act and not the RMA so the "notified v. non-notified" distinction probably doesn't apply (unless there are features of the slow road that require additional consents).

If you'd like, I can get a copy of the Court's decision for you. I don't have an electronic copy unfortunately, but can post, drop off or you could pick it up if you'd prefer? Let me know and I can arrange that at least.

As to whether the Environment Court advertises proceedings, the short answer is no. The parties in any matter and the press (amongst other persons who appear on a distribution list) get copies of notices of hearings etc. Otherwise I believe that the Environment Court roster is published from time to time (I think the NZ Law Society website is one place) but the detail is very limited and may change due to workload and priorities from time to time. As far as I'm aware thought there aren't any current matters before the Court in relation to the "slow road".

Sorry I can't be of any more assistance at the mo'. I'll keep an eye out though. Let me know if you have any other queries I might be able to help with... and a beer sometime sounds good, but I wouldn't be expecting you to shout!

Talk again soon. anon. "

amazing what the promise of beer will uncover!!

I am still perplexed as to how an environment court hearing that appeared to be dealing with the revocation of a CCC declaration, became the basis for approving the slowroad design as it stands.

Why has there not still been a Notifiaction or consultation on the bis design/planning issues around this road??

The current 'consultation' offers no more than suggestions on rubbish bin colours and plant species, and due to the fact the work is starting Monday, there is obviously very little scope for change.

When has the issues of .. Number of carparks, shape and location of road, location and relationship to other adjacent amenities and public spaces, etc. .. been notified and/or consulted??

The only mention of consultation on this is again between Retail Consulting Group (out of town consultants on retail malls NOT unique seaside environments .. check out their 80's style crayon sketches in the Revitilisation documents appendix) , a select group on the Community board and of course the unbiased opinion of the local Business Owners/Developers.

From the plans presented Brighton now faces a drab looking slow road with a few token 'surfboard' seats, attempting to give it some context within it's environment.

It will sit nicely with the 'noddy' town lighting/balustrades of the pier .. an unfortunate finish to a fantastic piece of civic amenity.

Can the council/consultants not take aesthetics from the award winning Andrew Barclay designed Library gracing the foreshore. Its features and materiality are fresh and contemporary .. as should be the thinking for modern development of this fantastic beachside community.

There is a section on the CCC website where you can HAVE YOUR SAY (let's hope somebody is listening) and make a submission on the mall upgrade .. it closes this Thursday so you need to be quick. Please feel free to post your submissions here also, so we can all be aware of others opinions.

Can someone please tell me how the 'slowroad' work can be planned let alone started when the CONSULTATION has not even finished??

please note: "The Council now have a plan that can be turned into a reality but we would appreciate hearing from you. Feedback on street furniture and landscaping is welcomed, and there is the potential to incorporate suggestions or make changes in line with the project scope and budget. The decision on implementing the slow road will not be revisited as part of this consultation." from consultation document.

Have received a PDF from the CCC showing the plan for the proposed Slow Road as is meant to start next week .. you'll find it at the bottom of the IMAGE GALLERY to the right hand side of the page. I have the full PDF version if anyone needs it drop me an email or comment.

found a brighton pier webcam .. pity it didn't face the ather side of the pier and picked up peter donnelly's sand art post-rally sunday .. good fun though, see if you can capture yourself on it ... . sparked me thinking ... 'if the tech's there already a webcam looking the otherway would pick up a vista down the mall' .. good for promotions, security?, catches peoples interest as well as wicked sunsets ... alternatively maybe a brighton full moon cam (this one taken last year from marine parade).