News | Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association - Part 19 - Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association

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Recent News

New subcommittee to deal with local transport issues

Posted: 4 February 2015

We are pleased to announce that our association now has a Transport Subcommittee.

The subcommittee will be led by Tim Duguid and Carmel Claridge, and will advocate for sensible local transport and parking options for Meadowbank and St Johns residents.

Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association chair Ruth Mackintosh says the subcommittee will be a welcome addition to the association. “Transport is such a big topic in our area and one that people feel very passionately about. We need to manage high demands for parking, traffic and public transport in Meadowbank and St Johns, while ensuring it remains a pleasant place to live.”

Some of the big topics the new subcommittee will be involved in include:

Tamaki Drive to Glen Innes Shared Walkway/Cycleway
Auckland Transport’s Parking Discussion Document
Parking outside the shops on St Johns Rd, including Meadow Restaurant
St Johns corridor management plan
Advocating for better management of busy local intersections, e.g. Norman Lesser Drive / St Johns Rd.

Local action group joins Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association

Posted: 28 January 2015

Our committee has voted in favour of including a local action group as a subcommittee of our association.

The Puroto, Purewa and Manapau Residents Group (PPMRG) wants better consultation with locals on the development of a Special Housing Area (SHA) planned for adjoining sites on Puroto and Purewa streets.

Housing New Zealand is proposing to build 14 new homes on the 2590 square metre SHA site where there are currently four state houses.

Under SHA legislation Housing New Zealand is not required to notify nearby residents of SHA resource consent applications made to the Auckland Council.

Only owners of adjoining properties have been invited by letter by Housing New Zealand to discuss their concerns and view plans.

PPMRG group leader Grant Dickson did not receive a letter despite living within 10 metres of the development. He says that while the PPRMG does not oppose redevelopment of the sites, he is worried that the intensity of the development is out of character for the neighbourhood and that locals won’t get to have their say.

The Puroto/Purewa SHA is the first of three SHAs in Meadowbank to be developed. The map below shows all three SHA sites.

Map showing all three Meadowbank SHA sites. First up for development is the site on Puroto/Purewa streets.

The group has been accepted as a subcommittee of MBSJRA because it satisfies requirements set out in our constitution. MBSJRA Chair Ruth Mackintosh says “Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association is keen to ensure locals are consulted and represented in all developments in our area, including SHAs, in line with our mission to create a thriving and vibrant community.”

Fun at St Chads Christmas Celebration

Posted: 10 December 2014

Judging by the smiles on the faces of performers, audience and bouncy castle-going kids alike, a great time was had by all at Saturday’s Christmas celebration held at St Chads. Check out the pictures below, and there are more on Facebook.

Thanks to the Orakei Local Board for giving us the funding to sponsor things like bouncy castles. The kids loved it!

St Chads organised multiple choirs, dancers and musicians for the appreciative crowd.

Patrick and Graham on the BBQ

Rutherford Reserve Playground Upgrade – Feedback Needed by December 22

Posted: 9 December 2014

Auckland Council is planning to revamp the playground at Rutherford Reserve, and they’re giving us a chance to let them know what we (and our kids) want!

Simply visit this page to fill in the survey: http://shapeauckland.co.nz/consultations/rutherford-reserve-playground/about/

Print, fill out and mail back (via Freepost) the below form to Auckland Council.

Rutherford Reserve Playground Upgrade (PDF, 709KB)

Feedback is due by December 22.

Then come along to the reserve at 12pm, Saturday 14 February to review and comment on the proposed design.

Calling all walkers and cyclists – your feedback needed by December 19!

Posted: 26 November 2014

Auckland Transport is seeking our feedback on the proposed Tamaki Drive to Glen Innes shared walk/cycle path which will pass through the Pourewa Valley in Meadowbank. Visit https://at.govt.nz/easternpath to see the designs and have your say.

We attended the Auckland Transport (AT) public meeting on Saturday 22 November about the shared path. They showed a video ‘flyover view’ of what the walkway will look like, and had large posters of each of the sections.

Of particular interest to Meadowbank and St Johns residents is ‘Section 2’ of the pathway, which passes through the Pourewa Valley (see image below).

From Meadowbank station towards Glen Innes, the path continues the existing walkway from Orakei Basin, i.e. along the southern side of the train tracks. There is a slight detour inland at Purewa Reserve. The path will then cross to the northern side of the train tracks at the eastern end of Purewa Reserve. It will remain on the northern side of the tracks and then cut across Meadowbank Pony Club land up to St Johns Rd. We note there is currently no provision for access to the pathway from Meadowbank between Purewa Reserve and St Johns Rd.

Tamaki Drive to Glen Innes shared walkway Section2 map

Here’s a picture of where the pathway will cross the railway tracks at the eastern end of Purewa Reserve:

Overbridge by Purewa Reserve

What do you think about our section of the pathway? Do you think this pathway serves our community well? Be sure to give your feedback via https://at.govt.nz/easternpath – open until 19 December 2014.

Thanks

…to AT for organising the meeting, which was well attended with plenty of people filling in forms, milling about the posters, and having discussions with AT staff.

Public meeting held at St Chads Church on November 22 about the Tamaki Drive – Glen Innes shared pathway

Tamaki Drive to Glen Innes Shared Path – Public Meeting

Posted: 16 November 2014

Auckland Transport and the NZ Transport Agency are holding a public meeting on 22 November from 8.30am – 12pm about the shared walkway and cycleway that will run from Tamaki Drive to Glen Innes town centre.

All are welcome to come and meet the project team, learn about the walkway and provide feedback.

Tamaki Drive to Glen Innes shared walkway map

For full details see this PDF flyer: Tamaki Drive to Glen Innes walkway

If you can’t come to the meeting but would still like to provide feedback, visit https://at.govt.nz/easternpath or phone (09) 355 3553

Rubbish collection after power outage

Posted: 9 October 2014

If you’ve got food to throw out from the fridge or freezer due to this week’s power outage, Auckland Council advises: “We are monitoring rubbish collection for all areas affected by the power outage. Normal collection days apply and any waste food should be wrapped in newspaper and placed in the bin as usual. Any excess waste should be placed in a plastic bag next to the bin on collection day and will be removed as part of the normal collection.”

Top tips from our ‘Safety at Home’ event

Posted: 15 August 2014

Did you know that your local fire station provides a FREE home safety check and will install (pre-purchased) smoke alarms for you? With most fire fatalities due to people inhaling toxic gases and smoke from fires while asleep, there is no excuse for not having a working fire alarm in your home.

Jason and Linda from NZ Fire Service were first up at our ‘Safety at Home’ evening on Tuesday 12 August, and enthralled us with stories and statistics from their fire investigation work. They said despite advertising, education and common-sense, of the 4000 NZ Fire Service callouts last year, 80% didn’t have working smoke alarms.

Further sobering news followed: a video which showed it takes just one minute for a fire at home to reach 250 degrees, and another minute to reach over 700 degrees! If you’re ever in a fire, you need to get out as quickly as you can. Forget about your stuff: “possessions can be replaced. People can’t”.

Further advice from NZ Fire Service:

Modern photoelectric smoke alarms are preferable and last longer (10 years) than ionisation smoke detectors. At around $40 they are also more cost-effective than replacing the 9V batteries on older alarms.
Get your electric blankets tested every year to ensure they’re not a fire risk.

For more information and to contact your local fire station, see the New Zealand Fire Service website.

Next up was St John Ambulance. With just half an hour upskill our audience in all things first aid, they gave us some excellent advice:

Before going to help someone, ensure your own safety first.
If someone is unconscious, always call an ambulance. Perform CPR at ratio of 30:2 breaths to chest compressions – “30:2, no matter who”.
If there is bleeding: elevate the area and get the patient to apply pressure if they can.

If you’d like to book a first aid course, see the St John website.

After the presentations, residents enjoyed a chat over a cuppa and homemade baking. Ruth’s oaty cookies and Lynda’s Weet-bix slice proved especially popular.

Thanks to all who attended, particularly NZ Fire Service and St John Ambulance for sharing your wisdom with us!

This event was kindly supported by

Orākei Local Board

Website launched

Posted: 12 August 2014

Welcome to our brand new site! We’re keen to hear your feedback and suggestions; please submit these using our contact form.

Your submission matters!

Posted: 30 July 2014

Our area is in danger of missing out on funding unless more people make submissions on the Orākei Local Board (OLB) draft plan. Numbers in favour of projects are just as important as numbers objecting. If the proposed projects don’t get enough support, funding will be allocated to other areas of Auckland.

OLB has made it extremely simple to have your say with a brochure outlining key points of the plan. Simply fill in the page at the back, tear it off and post it back for free. These brochures were delivered to mailboxes in July. If you missed out, visit the Orākei Local Board office in Meadowbank Mall to pick up a copy.

Otherwise, see the Auckland Council’s ‘Shape Auckland’ website to see the full draft plan and make an online submission.

The deadline is August 6, so move quickly!