Engage Brain Before Writing Reports

I’m amazed…actually saddened (frustrated, angered, flabbergasted) that while drafting the Spatial Plan, the planning staff (or whomever is responsible for this miscarriage) didn’t support the Rezone Gore Street petition ideals.

I can’t fathom why either?

Has someone whispered in their ear that council need to be towing the same line as the Bluff ‘elected’ members? And hence they too have chosen to fob it off also.

The Spatial Plan is non-statutory but it was lauded as the all encompassing vision and direction the council and community want their city and city surrounds to develop into.

The Resource Management Act (District Plan process) will factor in the environment.  How will that accommodate the vision of the people?  728 of them in this case.

It’s also important to remember that Cr Kruger tried to give direction the the Board on their responsibilities to their constituents.  The Board have shown where their loyalties lie, with their egos and Ravensdown.

Cr Kruger has also stated (in the Big Picture DVD) that the Spatial Plan will be included in the upcoming District Plan review.  Cr Boniface has some interesting statements too or was all the ‘consultation’ just council lip service?

The Draft Spatial Plan (page 124) states

Council has recognised the importance of progressing the Bluff Concept Plan and has identified a key project as the Bluff Foreshore Redevelopment.

We all know they mean a marina (and maybe Tim’s tidal pool).  We also know, courtesy of Environment Southland, that ICC want ownership.

Why would Southport ever give up that land?  As recently as last April/May they used the land for overflow from the wharf (logs).  It is already zoned as Seaport and suits them for future expansion.

What if they gave it up and needed more room, their only option would be to expand the Island Harbour, at great expense, no doubt.

What if Council did get ownership?  Building a marina is still not the role of Council.  It should be left to a port company or the private sector.

When the Bluff Oyster and Food Festival requested (already budgeted) funding, Cr Sycamore asked why ICC should support it when most ratepayers can’t afford to buy oysters (hello, Bluff Oyster AND FOOD Festival).

A lot of ratepayers could budget to afford some oysters for a treat.  How many ratepayers can afford a boat and berthing fees?

ICC are here to serve their community NOT yacht race competitors, who probably aren’t even going to utilise accommodation.  How much will they be contributing to the economy?

Even if it was council’s job, why build the penthouse when you haven’t got the foundation work done yet?
Without protecting the surrounding area I envisage ICC cutting the ribbon on their newly completed marina and foreshore development and turning around to look at Gore Street and going bugger!  Where did all those warehouses come from, gee, there’s a lot of trucks…how come we didn’t know about this?  Why aren’t these industrial buildings out Awarua?

The staff will all turn around and say “Enterprise is a very permissible zoning, they didn’t need permission therefore you didn’t need to know”.  With Mr King on public record saying ‘it will cost them big time’ (to move out to Awarua), I doubt sales will be skyrocketing.

Don’t worry though there’s still a little bit of land, maybe we can fit in an al fresco restaurant between the processing plant and the section with crayfish pots or we could sell boutique wines to the visiting yatchies between the scrap metal yard and fertiliser storage shed.

Yeah, that will work! (duh) And these people are supposed to be planning for the future of our city?

District Plan (or Spatial Plan) Consultation

I came across this ages ago and it now seems very relevant.  I had been considering letting ICC know but then they sprang the Spatial Plan on us all and nothings been the same since.  I think this is an awesome idea!  It would be a perfect way for people to express their vision.  This was done in the era of disposable cameras, imagine what could be done now with digital cameras, websites and cellphone cameras.  Here’s what the Waiheke Island Community Planning Forum did to formulate a community plan during the Hauraki Gulf District Plan Review.  The group also offered assistance in writing submissions to the plan from members who were familiar with the process.

(Click to enlarge)

Basically take images of what you do like in the world and what you don’t and put them on display (technology is a plus here) and you could even come up with a few promotional voting schemes to get people involved…etc…

I could be wrong but it sounds like a more enticing way to express yourself and your ideas!

Been Busy

Such upheaval in ‘The Bluff’ and I’ve been busy getting my ducks in a row.

I need to have a better look at both agendas for Monday and Tuesday’s meetings but did note that the Finance and Policy agenda contains ‘Comments on the Spatial Plan’ and it’s interesting to see comments from the Invercargill screenings about Bluff, here’s the ones that I found

• Bluff needs a marina for visiting yachtsmen.
• Dock for yachties in Bluff. Marina for smaller vessels.
• Bluff crying out to be a tourist mecca. Impact of tourism − great white shark tourism
  $20 million). So little residential development on waterfront. Why? Corporates to adopt
  a park.
• It is crucial Bluff South Side of Gore Street be rezoned. Bluffs current zoning of this area is
  out dated due to our new entry to the Port having the Island harbour and its bridge at the
  entry of Bluff. Bluffs Main Street now should not be left under the current zoning of Enterprise
  which means Industrial as without a change Bluff will further attract Industry to set up on
  cheap land whilst increasing huge heavy tandem trailer trucks, noise and pollution that will
  impinge on the health, safety, well being and lifestyles of the residents. Bluff as it stands will
  not attract business and new services to develop, this we will see a decline of services that
  Bluff already struggles to fund. Tourism and Beautification are called for as we are already
  well positioned on the map, but alas with the many visitors feeling let down. Use our main
  street to create charm, use our history, invite our visitors to stay. Currently to be greeted with
  Industrial buildings, heavy trucks and congestion, etc does not make a welcoming front door.
• I would like the South side of Gore Street to be rezoned:
  -Concept Plans are recognised in District Plan
  -Suburban Service (or similar) promotes ideals in Bluff Concept Plan 2002
  -Current Enterprise zoning is highly permissible of industrial type businesses which do  not fit well with tourism and beautification
  -Bluff’s demographic is changing and while industry is important, it is not all Bluff is about
  -There are sufficient areas for expansion of industry, seaport zones, Awarua, Ocean Beach
  -The industry currently using Gore Street (South) Enterprise zone are causing damage to footpaths and therefore   increasing maintenance costs
  -Further expansion and use will impose more costs on ICC to maintain, Tourism based and Suburban Service type business will not have this effect
  -Increase of industrial businesses will increase heavy traffic and congestion as heavy traffic are already using residential streets
  -Council have nothing in place to control heavy traffic issues and therefore it is irresponsible to attract more heavy traffic in to the township.  Inaction on this issue will impinge on the health, safety, well being and lifestyles of residents
  -Allowing expansion of heavy traffic which will be allowed to frequently pass over and stop on public footpaths and travel the residential back streets does not sit well with the Family Centred Policy
  -I would also like the petition presented to Council on July 19 to be acknowledged as individual comments

They say they are still accepting comments and the first meeting of the new year is when they will be considering comments made on the Spatial Plan.