mt victoria, wellington

Overnight, the chalk outlines of shadows cast by the plants and structures in Pirie Street have appeared on the footpaths, and have been softened and eroded by the day's rain, courtesy of an anonymous artist.

With thanks to Joni Mitchell

Image credit: Horrgakx via Flickr, cc licensed

It may not seem like the most exciting subject, but every year the Wellington City Council creates a Draft Annual Plan to prioritise the areas of focus for the Council. And every year there are changes (some positive, some negative) that impact on our neighbourhood. For this reason, the Mt Victoria Residents Association has a long history of engaging with the Council throughout the Draft Annual Plan (DAP) process to ensure they are aware of our needs and concerns. And it's that time again, so the Residents Association is seeking input from locals on what they think the Council should be doing in the coming year.

There's been some coverage in the media recently about a new round of consultation on the proposal to turn Manners Mall into a bus-only thoroughfare, with the aim of speeding up public transport transit times through the CBD. As compensation, Lower Cuba Street will become a pedestrian-friendly shared zone. There's been lots of debate on wellington.scoop and on The Eye of the Fish, including some pictures of what the proposed scheme will look like.

The Mt Victoria Residents Association will be holding its AGM on Tuesday 29 September at Crossways, starting at 7:30pm. It's been a busy year for the Association, and this is a chance for local residents to quiz the committee, get involved for the coming year and discuss community matters with like-minded neighbours. All welcome!

Green MP Sue Kedgley is launching a petition to help save the Basin Reserve from the depredations of the NZ Transport Agency on Monday at the Basin Reserve. As noted in her flyer, "The New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) has recently (August 2009) released its National Land Transport Programme for 2009/12. The Wellington section of this document sets out plans that could see a flyover constructed at the Basin Reserve at a cost of $47 million - a considerable hike on the initial price tag of $33 million. What's more, should the flyover be constructed, it will likely lead to duplication of the Mt Victoria Tunnel at a cost of more than $175 million.

"Funding to acquire the property to construct the flyover is expected to be secured in 2010 while money to design the flyover is expected from 2011/12. Construction would inevitably follow on after that.

"However, it is still only 2009 which means that we the people of Wellington still have the chance to prevent this ridiculous road from being built.

"So I strongly urge you to come join Sue Kedgley and the Green councillors at the Cambridge Tce entrance to the Basin Reserve next Monday (7th Sept) at 9.15am to launch the Green Party 'no flyover' petition.

Bring your banners, t-shirts and local community. We won't let this unnecessary road building project go ahead!!!"

This is a public event, and all are welcome.

Sally Paterson (at left) with husband Ian and daughter Kate

Through the Mt Victoria newsletter we learned that long-time Mt Victoria resident and real estate doyen Sally Paterson had recently died, after a short illness. Sally was very well known to a large number of people in the neighbourhood as they - like us - bought their house through Just Paterson, the agency run by Sally, her husband Ian and daughter Kate. Sally was a charming and highly professional principal of Just Paterson, and had an encyclopedic knowledge of the homes and people of Mt Victoria. She will be sadly missed by many people in the neighbourhood and our condolences go to Ian, Kate and the rest of her family.

Mature pohutakawa near the top of Majoribanks Street

The National government is currently making changes to the Resource Management Act aimed at "streamlining" its processes. And one of the changes is likely to be the removal of blanket protections for trees in the Wellington City Council's District Plan. This means that some of the large trees in our neighbourhood - such as the pohutakawa in the photo - may no longer be safe from the chainsaw.

Today's Dominion Post has breathlessly reported that the cost of residents parking is about to escalate, based on some comments from Mayor Kerry Prendergast, and as expected this has caused an outcry from residents.

The New Crossways Trust held a fundraising showing of the film The Age of Stupid on Thursday 20 August. Including raffles sales and donations, over $550 was raised towards the on-going costs of providing the New Crossways Community Centre.

The Trust wishes to thank everyone who supported us, and especially the businesses that generously donated the raffle prizes - Ambeli Restaurant, 18 Majoribanks Street, Mt Victoria, and CommonSense Organics, Wakefield Street.

The winners of the raffles were:

1. $100 meal voucher donated by The Ambeli restaurant, Majoribanks Street
Ticket No: 011. Shelley

2. Box of organic vegetables and $50 voucher donated by Commonsense Organics, Wakefield Street
Ticket No: 19 Finnie

3. Produce, scarf and books
Ticket No: 21 Ruby

Winners will be contacted in the next few days, or they can e-mail crossways@crossways.org.nz to claim their prize.

Last night's community meeting was a great opportunity for local residents to talk about the Basin Reserve, the second Mt Victoria tunnel and the inter-linked issues in the area. Around 30 people attended, and it was clear that there is deep community concern about the outcomes - a flyover across the front of the Basin - and the processes the various agencies have used to reach the decision to build these structures.

But what was most apparent from the meeting was the sense that there has been no concerted attempt to investigate the full range of options around the Basin Reserve. People from all walks of life were able to sit around and brainstorm transport solutions that seemed much more innovative and (in all likelihood) more effective than the flyover-plus-tunnel approach of the responsible agencies.

MVRA President Jessica Closson talking to local residents about the Basin Reserve at last night's meeting