KĀPITI I-SITE TO MOVE TO MORE VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE LOCATION

Council has announced that the Mediterranean Food Warehouse will be the new home for the Kāpiti i-SITE and visitor information centre.

The i-SITE will transition from its current location in Rimu Road to the Mediterranean Food Warehouse in Coastlands from late August.

Council’s Group Manager Strategy and Planning Stephen McArthur says the new site will be more visible and accessible to people visiting our district.

“The Mediterranean Food Warehouse site was chosen for its close proximity to transport hubs and its ability to be seen by people travelling through the Paraparaumu town centre.

“The site also offers a bigger building footprint which means it will lend itself to educational events for locals and visitors and events for tourism operators.”
The i-SITE will be located in what is currently the deli section of the Mediterranean Food Warehouse under a sub-lease arrangement. The Mediterranean Food Warehouse plans to re-locate its deli to its pizzeria and cafe on the same site.
Council has engaged a designer to work on the fit-out of the new location. Fittings will be re-used from the Rimu Road i-SITE.

“We want to create an iconic space that attracts visitors to our district and showcases our rich natural environment,” Mr McArthur says.

The i-SITE will continue to provide ticketing for national bus, train and ferry services and local events.

COMMUNITY BOARD VACANCY LEFT UNFILLED

The Paraparaumu-Raumati Community Board has resolved not to fill the vacancy left by the recent resignation of Deborah Morris-Travers.

Ms Morris-Travers resigned from the Board following her appointment as Chief of Staff of the Parliamentary Office of the Green Party. She had been a member of the Board since 2013.

Because the vacancy occurred less than 12 months before the date of the next triennial election (8 October 2016) a by-election is not required to fill the vacancy.
Instead the Board was required to resolve to either leave the vacancy unfilled, or appoint a suitably qualified person from the community to fill the vacancy until the October 2016 election.

PARKING ON RIMU ROAD BERMS

We are continuing to encourage people parking on Paraparaumu’s Rimu Road grass berms to find alternative parks for safety reasons.

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

MACLEAN PARK UPDATE

Council is starting to think about a development plan for Maclean Park, including future possibilities for the pond.

As part of the process the pond will be refilled and monitored for the next month to help get a clearer understanding of the cost and logistics that may be required if it’s decided to keep the pond functional long term.

Parks and Recreation Manager Alison Law says information from the monitoring will then feed into the development plan.

“As part the FutureKāpiti Annual plan 2016/17 process we’re committed to working with the community to come up with a development plan for Maclean Park, including future possibilities for the pond,” she says.

“It’s important we carry out this piece of work first so we have all the information available to us to help inform our community of the current situation and future options.”

Work will be underway this week to clean and refill the pond.

CALLING FOR FEEDBACK ON TASMAN ROAD RESERVE

Council is calling for feedback on a portion of land in Ōtaki.

Byron’s Resort is using part of Tasman Road Reserve to help with overflow camping and Council is considering entering a formal exclusive lease for this.

Parks and Recreation Manager Alison Law says we’re wanting to get feedback from the community first on whether the land be should public or should the lease go ahead.
“Any person or organisation has the right to object or make comment on this proposal under section 120 of the Reserves Act – we want to hear from you,” she says.

Submissions should be lodged in writing before 4pm on 23 July 2016 and addressed to Parks and Recreation Manager Alison Law, Kāpiti Coast District Council, Private Bag 60601 Paraparaumu or alison.law@kapiticoast.govt.nz.

All submissions will be considered at the Council meeting on 18 August 2016.

Submitters are able to speak to their submission during public speaking at this meeting.

PARAPARAUMU ESCARPMENT UPDATE
Council is continuing to keep an eye on the Paraparaumu Escarpment following heavy rains

Parks and Recreation Manager Alison Law says Council has done a number of things to improve the slope’s stability over the past six months as part of on-going efforts to manage the active area.
“Following the heavy rain we had during May this year, the recently stabilised areas were inspected by a geotechnical specialist, who confirmed minimal new slippage was evident and the work was performing as expected,” she says.

“Although slips can’t be stopped from occurring, our top priorities are protecting public safety and ensuring the availability of the rail corridor so we’ll continue to check the escarpment to ensure everything continues to work as it is and should.”
To date work has included extensive earthworks, clearing tracks, installing debris fences to catch slip material and plantings.

The track between Panorama Drive and Epiha Street remains closed due to a recent small slip at the southernmost end of the track that’s created a potential fall hazard beside the track. The track between Epiha Street and Riwai Street is open, but may be uneven in places.

Ms Law is reminding residents to continue to take care when using the walkways in the district, particularly in poor weather.

“If you do spot something that needs our attention, please contact our customer services team call centre on 0800 486 486 or 04 296 4700 and let us know.”

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