Raglan Community Board Chair Dennis Amoore joined Aaron in the studio to discuss local updates ahead of the next Community Board Meeting in Te Uku this Wednesday.
Papahua Stormwater Upgrade Work is set to begin soon on the long-awaited stormwater upgrades at Papahua, aimed at addressing the persistent flooding issues that have historically affected the local campground and soccer fields.
The project will involve the installation of new drainage pipes through the camp and a pumping station between the soccer fields and the campground. The upgrades are expected to be completed in December, with the goal of reducing flood risks during winter.
Flooding has particularly impacted the junior soccer club, with water often pooling on the fields. This project is hoped to alleviate the recurring problem, especially during the wetter months.
Places and Spaces Consultation and Sports Fields The Places and Spaces consultation for local parks and libraries has now closed.
Dennis says conversations have begun around long-term planning for sports fields in Raglan. A study is underway to assess future demand over the next 30 to 40 years. One major concern is coastal inundation, which could flood existing fields like the rugby grounds.
Raglan is already under-resourced for indoor and outdoor facilities and relocating fields to places such as Wainui Reserve is being considered. However, finding flat, accessible land remains a challenge, with areas like Te Uku deemed too far from town.
Manu Bay Break Wall. After five potential solutions were presented to stakeholders regarding the Manu Bay Break Wall issue, Dennis reports that the Council has opted not to take action on the upgrades due to stakeholder disagreement.
The issue centres around conflicting needs between the local fishing club and the surf club, with each group advocating for different solutions. This conflict has complicated efforts to find a mutually acceptable resolution.
Dennis expresses concern that the Council's decision to do nothing is based on stakeholders' inability to reach consensus rather than a thorough risk assessment of potential safety issues. This decision echoes a similar situation with the proposed bike path connection through Wainui Reserve. Opposition from a Wainui Reserve community group led to the Council halting progress, suggesting a trend of avoiding difficult decisions when stakeholders cannot agree.
Civil Defence and Communication Challenges Raglan’s civil defence plans are set to be ratified at the upcoming community board meeting. Dennis hopes that in the first or second week of October, a team will be assembled to define roles and responsibilities for emergency response.
Recent power outages revealed the limitations of cell phone networks, reminiscent of the issues during Cyclone Gabrielle when the government lost contact with an entire region. Cell phone towers generally have backup batteries lasting only four to eight hours and there have been no significant upgrades to extend this.
During emergencies, cell phones may not be reliable. Dennis says there are options like satellite phones councils could look at.
Wharf Ramp Upgrades Raglan Wharf boat ramp is currently undergoing a concrete upgrade. The first half has been completed, and after a curing period of 14-21 days this half will be open to boaties and work on the second half will begin. Once finished, it will need another 2-3 weeks to cure before the second half can be used..
Greenslade Road Playground Dennis confirmed that designs are underway for the new playground.
Parking Solutions Dennis mentioned plans to ensure the overflow car park at Wainui Reserve is available to alleviate parking issues during busy periods. Overflow parking should be available Thursday to Sunday leading up to summer and then will be available every day from Christmas to after Waitangi weekend,and then back to Thursday - Sunday except for two weeks during Soundsplash pack-in and pack-down, where additional overflow will be available in another paddock.
Don’t miss the next Raglan Community Board meeting this Wednesday, 11th September at Te Uku Hall Memorial Hall, with the public forum kicking off at 1.30pm.