MINUTES
of the
SUBMISSIONS HEARING MEETING
held
1.00 pm
,Wednesday, 13 November 2013
at
Council Chambers, Tasman District Council, 189 Queen Street, Richmond
Contents
Present: Councillors T E Norriss (Chair), P F Sangster, S G Bryant
In Attendance: Transportation Manager (G Clark), Activity Planning Adviser (S Downs), Executive Assistant (V M Gribble)
1 OPENING, WELCOME
2 APOLOGIES AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Apologies
Nil
4 HEARING OF SUBMISSIONS
4.1 Mr Grahame Walker
Mr Walker supports walking on Mapua Wharf, and doesn’t want to see parking removed from the area. He also believes the round-a-bout is an obstruction, rather than a help.
4.2 Mr Colin Walker
Mr Walker agrees that there should be enhanced pedestrian access at Mapua Wharf, but he believes there is a better scheme to that proposed and tabled a map showing his suggestion. He believes residents’ views should have priority over the commercial sector. He would like to see more disabled car parking and more short term parking.
Mr Walker believes Council could provide a better boat ramp at Grossi Point which could be paid for by a user-pay system. He is concerned that the presence of a pub at the wharf has a negative effect on potential family users of the pedestrian area. He summarised his desires as follows:
before the wharf precinct is made vehicle-free build a new boat ramp at Grossi Point
one-way road around cool store block (private land proposed for parking)
Tasman District Council Minutes of Submissions Hearing – 13 November 2013
Minutes Page 2
angled parking on old Aquarium site, short term and disabled and a loading bay. This area to be fenced off from the wharf area
no drinking allowed outside on the wharf area
pedestrian area be permanently traffic-free
4.3 Mr Peter Coeland
Mr Coeland supports the current vehicle closure. He believes any development of the green park area, should be done with boat users and cars in mind. He suggests people be allowed to park on a wet day as it is usually sunny days when the wharf is busy. He is in favour of a time parking, eg 7.00 am to 7.00 pm.
In answer to a question about people needing to load goods into a vehicle, eg pieces of furniture bought from a shop, Mr Clark said that can be dealt with by the way the policy is enforced and he didn’t see any problems with that.
In answer to a question about why Saturdays are not included in the policy, Mr Coeland advised that the busy days are Sundays. Saturdays are not generally busy, especially in the morning. He did not support a vehicle ban on Saturdays.
Mr Coeland had suggested that on “bleak” Sundays when there are not a lot of people around, parking be allowed on the wharf. He said having an empty car park is not a good look.
Mr Clark advised there will be a sign that drops down that says “no parking”. There is an operational plan in place to allow business owners to operate it.
4.4 Ms Sal Randall
Ms Randall supports the proposed amendment to the traffic control bylaw and is in favour of pedestrianisation on the wharf. The wharf area is a hot spot and is visited by hundreds of people on weekends, arriving by car, on foot or via the cycle tracks. She is concerned about the potential for accidents, especially involving children.
4.5 Ms Nicky McBride
Ms McBride supports the proposal to amend the traffic control bylaw for Mapua Wharf. She
believes it is a much more pleasant space when parking is not allowed. She believes the trial was a positive experience. Ms McBride noted a couple of reservations, what happens at night,
especially for employess who have to park some way away and have to go to their car in the dark.
The other issue that became apparent was what happened after the trial finished, when the space was filled with random, high density parking as there are no parking spaces marked.
In answer to a question about bike gangs hanging out around the wharf area, Ms McBride was not sure if they were gangs, but there are groups of bikers who come in, regardless of whether the sign is up or down.
It was noted that the policy will apply to bikers, and it will allow enforcement and issue of tickets.
Ms McBride considered if the space is landscaped and kept tidy, she would support no parking almost any time as the best way forward.
Tasman District Council Minutes of Submissions Hearing – 13 November 2013
Minutes Page 3
4.6 Mr Hugh Gordon
Mr Gordon is in favour of the amendment to the Bylaw as it pertains to the Mapua Wharf. This proposal is a community-driven proposal supported by wide public approval. He supports it for safety reasons. Past closures of the wharf, without enforcement, were a complete failure and it is only a matter of good luck that no fatalities or injuries have occurred. The proposal to close on Sundays etc is a good beginning. He believes adoption of the proposed Bylaw will bring to an end the unsafe, unregulated, and at times, chaotic environment presently faced by the users of the Mapua Wharf.
3 REPORTS
3. 1. R evi ew of Dr aft Traf fic C ontrol Bylaw 2005 - Submis sions H eari ng
3.1 Review of Draft Traffic Control Bylaw 2005 - Submissions Hearing
Activity Planning Advisor, Sarah Downs, spoke to the report noting it is not just the amendment that is being considered, but it is also the review of the traffic control bylaw, making sure it is current and all restrictions around the district can be enforced.
Ms Downs advised that 38 submissions were received with almost all being in favour of the proposed changes. Feedback from 70 people after the trial, showed all but two people supported the proposed changes. She recommended that the amendment and the full bylaw be approved and it be recommended to Council on 5 December 2013 that it be adopted.
A full review of the Traffic Control Bylaw 2005 will be undertaken during 2014.
Mr Clark noted that the scope of the proposal is parking. He advised that the land where the one- way road is shown on Mr Walker’s suggested plan is not Council’s and Council does not have authority to put a road in there. Council will be looking at erecting another building on the aquarium site.
Mr Clark advised that the Mapua Advisory Group is looking at extending the green space and putting picnic tables around that have been donated. They may be put into the pedestrian area but can be picked up and moved back.
Mr Clark advised that Council is currently working with Golden Bear in regard to their public spaces to ensure they are better managed. There is another licensed area separate to that immediately outside their building, with a walkway through it. Golden Bear allows people to drink outside the licensed area, but there are also two other businesses that have licenses. Drinking is managed in a sensible way and there have been no issues. There was an event recently where bikies were known to be turning up and that was managed by the Police. There is an issue with motor cyclists coming in and parking where there is a ban and this amendment to the bylaw will allow enforcement.
Cr Sangster advised that motor bikes are valuable and their owners want to be able to watch them.
In answer to a question about why Saturdays where not considered, Ms Downs advised that it was mainly through work with the Advisory Group as they said Saturdays were not busy, but Sundays they have a lot of visitors. It seemed a reasonable compromise in sorting something out for weekends during the winter time.
In answer to a question about whether the “no parking” sign is illegal, as stated by one of the submitters, Mr Clark advised that the sign is not illegal, but it can not be enforced. The key thing around this space is it has changed and it is now part of the national cycle trail. In time the
restrictions may extend. The period between 20 December and 7 February worked well last year
Tasman District Council Minutes of Submissions Hearing – 13 November 2013
Minutes Page 4
and this is an extension of that. As this place gets busier we may see the restriction go to Saturdays.
It was noticed through other submissions there has been comment about parking for disabled people and part of this proposal is to put some of those disabled parks closer to the precinct.
Ms Downs confirmed the two closest parks are for disabled parking and they are in place now.
There is also a turn-around area where people can be dropped off.
Moved Cr Norriss/Cr Bryant SH13-11-1
That the Submissions Hearing Panel:
1) receives the Review of Draft Traffic Control Bylaw 2005 - Submissions Hearing Report; and
2) notes to Full Council that the Traffic Control Bylaw Review Hearing Panel received the submissions and heard submitters on the Traffic Control Bylaw Review.
CARRIED
The hearing adjourned at 2.27 pm.
The hearing reconvened at 2.44 pm.
Cr Norriss advised the accessway around the wharf proposed by Mr Walker is not owned by Council and is outside the scope of the submission process. His suggestions for a boat ramp at Grossi Point will possibly be looked at for the future, but that also is not part of this submission process, but could be put forward as a submission to the Long Term Plan.
Ms Downs advised that each submitter will receive a letter addressing issues raised in their submission.
Mr Clark noted that next year when the full review of the structure of the bylaw is undertaken, Saturdays may be added. The fundamental reason why Saturdays were not included, was that Saturdays are not busy.
Moved Cr Sangster/Cr Bryant SH13-11-2
That the Submissions Hearing Panel:
1) advises Full Council that the Traffic Control Bylaw Review Hearing Panel has deliberated on the submissions received; and
2) recommends to Full Council that it approves and adopts the Tasman District Council Consolidated Bylaw – Chapter 5 – Traffic Control; and
3) recommends to Full Council that it approves the Bylaw to come into effect on Monday 16 December 2013.
CARRIED
The meeting concluded at 2.51 pm.
Date Confirmed: Chair:
