Better Brighton

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).

Congratulations to the organisers of yesterday's rally .. yet again showing local resident's anger at the handling of the slow road issue.

It is a shame the councillors involved seem to view the issue as a shut case .. it seems just because they "consult" doesn't mean they have to actually listen or take any true community feelings from that consultation.

Today's PRESS article clearly shows this attitude. Carol Evans comment of "They have to accept that it is over and they have lost,"shows this councillors biase towards the pro-road group and the corporate notion of winners and losers.

I was under the empression community led development would result in win-win solutions.

Thankyou too Jan Kenny for your editorial in the Press outlining the issue to date .. worth a read.

Thank-you Peter Donnelly for your beautiful positive effort at bringing beauty and meaning to the Brighton environment.

Thanks for the invite jan .. we will come down with the family and look forward to meeting like minded locals with positive ideas for the enhancement of our community .. I have added some links to the main New Brighton Revitalisation plan, so anyone can read up on the plans and consultation that have taken place to date.

Thanks so much for your willingness to spread the word in support of better outcomes for New Brighton.

Seems we have all been expecting the development of a good urbandesign/community plan for Brighton, full of the many ideas which residents have put forward since 1998, and which perhaps can be summarised as:

a healthy, pedestrianised mall, central to a community focused on the seaside environment, a place of coastal arts and hospitality, accessible for all ages, perhaps even a centre for marine, fresh-water and general environmental research, and a showcase for all this and for new & eco-friendly solutions in water and coastal management, shelter, architecture and urban design.

However, the Council has pressed ahead only with the development of the unwanted road, and we understand they are due to start 1 August.

Residents want to develop a community blueprint for New Brighton, to prevent haphazard development, 9 storeys wall-to-wall on the foreshore, and so on. We all want development, change and progress, but against a healthy agreed community urban design plan, not as a result of a covert and unheathy alliance between Council, a few hardline businesses and hungry private developers.

But in the first instance, we need to show that it is not just 'a few hardliners' who are strongly against the unilateral reinstatement of this road, and want the Council to at least stick to its agreement to develop the beach and foreshore first:

– beach park, beach huts, sheltered foreshore picnic area, windbreaks, an arthouse cinema, new playground, new facilities centrally in the mall, and the provision of at least one ‘special amenity’ (eg. such as Hot Saltwater pools).

So, initially, we are organising a mass rally of the people of New Brighton (and of wider Chch) who are opposed to this road ( or at least this road at this time) and see other priorities for Brighton (as above) to be held in the Mall
this Sunday, 24 July, at 12.30 pm

and it would be obviously great if you could encourage the other mothers and mall users and any others you meet to be there and BE COUNTED. We have had a great response so far.

This is to be a positive event, FOR Urban Design, FOR Community Planning, FOR better outcomes for New Brighton.
This will take place rain, hail or shine, as it is very much a huge effort for many people.

I do hope you can be there, and can pass on the call to others.

Many thanks, Jan

A new open forum blog site for the discussion of upcoming development of the New Brighton Area.