2011/07/06
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A very informative 2011 AGM
The GRRACHA (Greenhithe Residents Ratepayers and Community Hall Association) AGM held on 5 July was well attended and very informative.
First up was a presentation from Noel Rugg who is Stakeholder and Liaison Manager for HEB Construction (who are building the motorway) and also Herald Island R&R Chairman. He told us about the huge scale and scope of development starting in the area, with the motorway and Hobsonville Point being just part of it. These included:
- An Albany-style light industrial development starting shortly between Hobsonville Rd and the motorway
- An exciting retail and bulk retail development currently underway opposite Westgate. This will have some great anchor tenants including NZ's first IKEA store
- Better public transport, including ferry services starting from Hobsonville shortly and improvements to bus transport
- Waterfront developments at Hobsonville, better than anything we have seen to-date in NZ (think Whangarei but better and bigger)
- Infrastructure and roading improvements to accommodate this growth
- The new motorway is due to open very shortly, maybe even in August...
Thanks Noel, that was very informative.
John Stewart from Neighbourhood Support encouraged us to be proactive in establishing NS groups among our neighbours. The signage is very effective in deterring miscreants and can only be displayed by registered groups.
Neighbourhood support has a very interesting website with lots of information about what is going on and prevention. The website is http://www.ns.org.nz/
The meeting was attended by Councillor Michael Goudie and Community Board members Margaret Miles and Lisa Whyte. All of them are active on Facebook, so that is a good way to engage with your representatives.
As an aside, the elected members passed on to me that Greenhithe has a reputation of having a bunch of whingers who object to positive change in the community, and this results in a reluctance by Council officials to do anything in our area, as it ends up being 'too hard' and the consultation and consenting process eats into the available budget. The skatepark/youth park initiative being an example of this (it should have been built already, but now the kids are missing out). Use this information as you will.
- Category(s)
- Ratepayers Assoc