June 18: Raglan Community Board meeting

The next Raglan Community Board meeting is on Wed 18 June at 1.30pm in the Te Uku Hall Town Hall Supper Room. The public forum will be near the start of the formal meeting, giving an opportunity to discuss issues. You might prefer to email/phone the Board.

This summary of the agenda for the June 18th Raglan Community Board agenda prepared by John Lawson, Secretary of Whāingaroa Environmental Defence Inc., 51 Cliff St, Raglan 07 825 7866 email johnragla@gmail.com

John has summarised the agenda:

Wednesday’s agenda omits some information, but includes –

1. Raglan Transport Assessment an 88 page study by Gray Matter (author of 30kph in Bow St) of where to put roads for 12,500 people in 2070 (“more aspirational than realistic”!) Although dated 4 June, it must have been the source of many of the $44.2m of roundabouts, traffic signals and bridge, now mostly deleted from the Long Term Plan. It supports a structure plan to “build consensus, and foster a sense of ownership and inclusion in the planning process”, active modes, public transport and says, “western growth cells will be within biking distance to both the Raglan town centre to the east, and the beaches to the west.” However, it makes no proposals for cycling, walking, or buses. Weekend afternoon delays on the bridge are worse “than would typically be deemed acceptable”, but Raglan is said to have a “higher tolerance for lower levels of service” and “the bridge as a constraint to restrict traffic to the southwest is desirable for some people”. Traffic calming for Bow St.
2. Managing our Neighbourhood Parks and Sports Parks consultation is open to 20 July, including Bay View Reserve, Oram Park, Puriri St Park, Rangitahi Reserves, Warihi Park and Whale Bay Reserve.
3. Wainui Reserve 30 year plan “Next steps to be undertaken include engaging consultant and understanding limitation of waters proposal.”
4. Spatial Planning LTP “includes continued funding for spatial planning . . . Council is awaiting guidance through central government’s planning reform . . . Staff from the Spatial Planning team will be in attendance”.
5. Stormwater “Annual Inspection for Flap Gates has been completed. . . testing scheduled for all 3 Flood pumps  . . . All 6 Enviropods Grits replacement work is currently underway. . . High E. coli levels have been detected in two sampling locations in Raglan in the stormwater network. . . Cross connections have been identified as the source of the contamination. Those affected properties have been asked to correct.”
6. Sewage “MBR Upgrade has commenced key equipment testing. . . Performance testing will follow, starting in June.” In last night’s video hui it was hoped the resource consent for discharge on Wainui Reserve might be done by the end of the year.
7. CCTV “communities will be advised when the installation works will be commencing”.
8. Greenslade Rd Reserve playground “working on amending the procurement plan”.
9. Wi Neera South End walkway as last month.
10. Soundsplash “No update”.
11. Discretionary fund has $4,906.04.
12. RCB members reports verbal.

    These items are not on RCB’s agenda –

WRC Transport 9/5

Raglan bus passengers down 2.2% on year, punctuality up to 51.2%

new contracts will run from 1 July 2028 –30 June 2037

Raglan has the most passengers per bus and lowest subsidy per passenger –

Waters Governance 10/6

• The consultant has commenced AEE, this is the final study required prior to lodgement of consent.
• In April, results from the Raglan WWTP show a small increase in cBOD5 and Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and a significant decrease in Fecal Coliforms. The frequency of final pond cleaning has been increased to address the high solids load in the oxidation ponds and sludge breakthrough into the final effluent pond. The final effluent pond was cleaned in late April, and the next cleaning is scheduled for late May. The increased cleaning frequency is showing potential improvements in final discharge quality. Sampling of Resource Consent parameters has been increased at the Raglan WWTP Post-UV from monthly to fortnightly. This allows for improved proactive and reactive changes to the treatment process to address emerging trends. Raglan WWTP Upgrade: The treatment plant upgrade is well underway. The new plant is expected to be running by the end of June which will significantly improve effluent quality. WWTP Opening scheduled 5 Aug

Infrastructure 11/6

Land Transport Management (Time of Use Charging) Amendment Bill submission – WDC recommends that the Bill does not preclude local authorities to propose smaller-scale or seasonal charging schemes, such as communities with high seasonal traffic congestion due to increased traffic volumes from domestic and international tourism. The third recommendation regarding smaller-scale or seasonable charging schemes is unlikely to be considered, but it is a potential opportunity to raise awareness about Raglan and Wainui Bridge. It is included as an advocacy point to raise awareness with the select committee. . . WDC faces transport congestion in other areas in addition to the northern interconnected communities along the Auckland boundary, but this is typically limited to seasonal variations. In the summer months, domestic and international tourism results in congestion in Raglan with the single lane Wainui Bridge being unable to cope at peak times. WDC is unsure if this Bill can contribute towards potential schemes that support the reduction of congestion at peak times for smaller communities such as Raglan, a community where the peak traffic volumes are from non-residents and ratepayers. Council is supportive of any initiatives that ease the local ratepayer burden for future infrastructure upgrades, especially when the congestion is largely driven by domestic and international tourists.

LTP submissions

• Sewage “will provide treatment for up to 10500 PE (people equivalent) or flows of up to 6000m³/d.”
• “Council has undertaken a transportation assessment of Raglan township which identified the current 1-lane bridge will need to be upgraded to a 2-lane bridge post 2035.”
• “All community hall committee meetings are able to be attended by members of the public, and staff encourage engagement with the governance process by all members of the community.”

Other issues missing from the RCB agenda – Civil Defence, Recreation Study, speed limits, alcohol ban, Wainui parking, Manu Bay boat ramp, Bushpark cycle access, WRC LTP, Papahua erosion, bus publicity, Cliff St pohutukawas, development next to 4 Square, freedom camping, footpath obstruction by cafes, old Harbour Care site, Manu Bay planting, Raglan Naturally, overflow car parking, fluoride, Community Energy Whāingaroa, Blueprints, organic waste, rubbish on SH23, Area School road safety, 3 Bow St, Greenslade Rd SH23 junction, Connectivity Strategy, Surf2surf walkway, speeding on Main Rd, Harbour Strategy, Animal Control late responses, cycle counts, Bayview Rd safety, Canada geese, Cliff St, Park Dr/Long St crossing, town square, Town Hall Committee, WRAP, Calvert Rd parking, volunteer worker safety.

Should WED be taking up these or other issues?