ANNUAL PLAN APPROVED

The FutureKāpiti Annual plan 2016/17, which sets out our programme or work for the coming year, has been approved by the Council.

The Annual plan 2016/17 takes year two of the Long term plan 2015-35 as its starting point and builds on the agreement around projects and priorities reached through that process.

It includes minor changes to the timing of some projects and incorporates key decisions made by council following consultation with the community.

The plan set out for the coming year results in an average increase in rates of 4.58% across the district.

ŌTAKI EARTHQUAKE-PRONE BUILDINGS
Council completed an assessment of seven council-owned buildings in Kāpiti earlier this year that identified two in Ōtaki that were potentially earthquake-prone – the Ōtaki Civic Theatre and Ōtaki Museum.

More detailed engineering investigations on both buildings was commissioned and an update has been released on the Ōtaki Museum – we are still awaiting the outcome for the Ōtaki Civic Theatre, which is expected before the end of July.

Findings from the engineering report for the Ōtaki Museum shows it does not meet the 34 per cent required under the New Building Standard (NBS) and therefore will be has been assessed as an earthquake-prone building.

Community Services Acting General Manager Crispin Mylne says Council, as the building owner, has an obligation to inform stakeholders and the public as soon as there is information that could potentially relate to safety.

“Public safety is important to us and we are doing this right now. Existing notices on the building are being updated and we’re in discussions with the trust that manages the museum,” he says.

“Being assessed as earthquake-prone does not prevent the use of the building and does not mean the building shouldn’t be occupied. It does means a structural engineer has identified a risk and people have a right to know the building they are entering, or are in close proximity to, may be at risk.”
Council is helping the trustees with their options and ensuring they are aware of the risks of an earthquake-prone building, Mr Mylne says.

“Whether they decide to stay in the building or not is ultimately up to them.”

Contractually Council cannot end the lease prematurely, however it does expire in June 2017.
Mr Mylne says as Council has just embarked on a project to develop the Communities Facilities Strategy – which will provide a framework to guide the Council's decisions around involvement and investment in the district’s community facilities over the next 20 years or so – there is no position on the future of the museum at this stage.

The other five buildings assessed otherwise achieved an NBS score in excess of 67 per cent.

COUNCIL CONFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO MAHARA GALLERY UPGRADE

Plans to build a new purpose-built integrated Public Gallery and Library in Waikanae are still firmly in the Council’s sights following the renewal of an agreement for the Mahara Gallery Upgrade.

The new agreement between the Council, the Mahara Gallery Trust and the Field Collection Trust recognises opportunities created by the Council’s planned refurbishment of the Waikanae Library and work to transform and improve the Waikanae town centre.

Group Manager Corporate Services Wayne Maxwell says the Council has been working with the Mahara Gallery Trust and Field Collection Trust to achieve the upgrade of the Gallery since 2009.

“At the same time we’ve been planning for the refurbishment and upgrade of the Waikanae Library,” he says.

“The close proximity of the two buildings presents us with a unique opportunity to create a shared gallery and library facility. This will significantly improve the built environment at Mahara Place and will enable the Mahara Gallery to provide a high-quality venue and visitor experience.”

Council has made provision for funding its one-third of the estimated $5,205 million project cost in its Long term plan.

The Mahara Gallery Trust has fundraising efforts underway to raise the remaining two-thirds of the total project cost.

PARKING ON RIMU ROAD BERMS

Council is concerned about the worsening problem of drivers parking on the grass areas (berms) either side of Rimu Road as the practice risks public safety.

Parking on berms means motorists have to drive over footpaths and broken yellow ‘no stopping’ lines.
This can be dangerous to pedestrians, mobility scooter and wheelchair users on the footpaths by the berms and to road users going past. Parking in these areas also damages the berms and footpaths.

We ask that people parking on the berms find alternative parks to keep everyone safe.

NO8 WIRE WEEK - PICTURES AVAILABLE
Kāpiti residents of all ages can learn practical skills, get out and enjoy our environment, and have fun together during Council’s upcoming No.8 Wire Week.
Events are being run throughout the district in partnership with community groups and local DIY experts between 16 July to 24 July.

Sustainable Communities Co-ordinator Vanessa Crowe says there’s a range of activities on from workshops on keeping bees and chickens, making compost, crafts and weaving, building for the garden, cooking skills, trapping pests and more.

“Winter is a great time of year for learning and sharing and No.8 Wire Week will have something for everyone,” she says.
“There are so many ways we can be more resilient and resourceful, help the environment and connect with other people. This event is a celebration of that, and we hope Kāpiti residents make the most of it.”

There will also be nature walks and tree planting, community celebrations for Matariki and a free film screening.
Many events are also suitable for children and young adults and most are free to attend, with a small charge to cover materials on a couple events.

The programme is at www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/no8wireweek and hard copies are available from Council libraries and service centres.
You can book through the website - we encourage people to book now as spaces for many of the workshops will be limited. Call 0800 486 486 for further information.

CROSS COUNTRY - PICTURES AVAILABLE

A hundred Kāpiti school children have qualified for next month’s regional cross-country championship.

More than 800 children from 15 schools throughout Kāpiti took part in the annual inter-school cross country competition at Waikanae Park on Tuesday 21 June.

The top 10 in each year group have claimed a spot in the regional cross country competition, which is also being hosted at Waikanae Park in two weeks.

Council’s Recreation Services Manager Brent Harvey says despite looming rain clouds on the day the event was a success with some good results across the board.
“The kids had a great time. It was a tough course but they all pushed through and gave it 100 per cent,” he says.

“Next step for us is now running the regional competition in a couple weeks. We’re really looking forward to hosting our neighbouring sporting associations in Waikanae, but also seeing some of our talented cross country runners from here in Kāpiti take on athletes from outside the district.”

Inter-school cross country is part of the Kāpiti Schools Sports Programme, which is a series of sports competitions and activities the Council delivers on behalf of the Ōtaki-Kāpiti (OK) Principals’ Association.

For more information please visit www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/school-sports

© Scoop Media