Latest news with #PoriruaCityCouncil
Scoop
a day ago
- General
- Scoop
Bothamley Park Planting A Seasonal Job For Everyone
Press Release – Porirua City Council Now that the park has fully reopened to the public, locals and environmentally minded people have the chance to volunteer on an ongoing basis to help with planting the park with native trees and bushes. Porirua City is hoping a special Matariki planting event at Bothamley Park will encourage people to become kaitiaki of the area. Now that the park has fully reopened to the public, locals and environmentally minded people have the chance to volunteer on an ongoing basis to help with planting the park with native trees and bushes. A special planting event – Whakatō i te wairua o Matariki – is planned at Bothamley Park for Friday 20 June, 10.30am-1pm. Parks Manager Julian Emeny says while the main focus of the event is to plant trees, he hopes other positive outcomes will come from it. 'It's a chance for volunteers to meet other like-minded locals and learn about opportunities to populate the park with more native trees and keep it a popular destination for so many visitors.' He says this event aligns with the kaupapa of Matariki, as planting trees is a way to signify new beginnings and look towards the future. This year's event will cover two sites in Bothamley Park – one by the Champion St entrance and the second at the Bellona Pl entrance – where the Environmental Cadets will also be planting trees. On the day there will also be a litter pick-up, and pest plant removal opportunities, play activities for tamariki, and free kai for participants. Community groups Predator Free Porirua, Mountains to Sea Wellington and Ngahere Korowai will have stalls to showcase their mahi. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says a planting event aligned with the city's Matariki celebrations gives participants the opportunity to think about the future and plant something that can be enjoyed for years to come. 'Volunteers are such a valuable part of Porirua. This event will show people where the opportunities are to continue enhancing the city's natural environment.' Parking for the event is available along Champion St and Bellona Pl. The Champion St entrance is also walking distance from Porirua Station.
Scoop
6 days ago
- General
- Scoop
New Library For Cannons Creek Gets Go-Ahead
Press Release – Porirua City Council The new building, to be placed on Bedford Reserve, near Cannons Creek Pool, will cost $4 million. Funding comes from already existing budgets within Councils 2024-34 Long-term Plan. A new library to be built in Cannons Creek in Porirua in the next two years is being hailed by the Mayor and city councillors as a facility current and future generations will be proud to call their own. The new building, to be placed on Bedford Reserve, near Cannons Creek Pool, will cost $4 million. Funding comes from already existing budgets within Council's 2024-34 Long-term Plan. A report to Council's Te Puna Kōrero meeting on Thursday outlined safety concerns about the current library, which is located alongside other shops, including instances where staff have had to secure the building due to disorder happening outside. The Cannons Creek Library, established in 1985 after taking over a former draper's shop, is 'difficult to secure safely', the report says. Despite this, it is a vibrant community space that has school visits and has become a thriving after-school spot, has a public computer hub and is a drop-in place for people to connect and relax. It also has a NZ Post box. The report also notes the ageing 1960s building has a leaky roof, limited natural light and heating, inadequate staff areas and not enough seating or study space. The building next door is potentially earthquake-prone and a seismic assessment of the library building is due in September this year. Mayor Anita Baker said a new library was critical for the suburb and will create a better environment for library staff and visitors. 'We've had unsafe actions out on the street that have come into the library itself,' she said. 'This is overdue for our community and something our people have wanted for a long time.' Cr Geoff Hayward said this was not just about upgrading a building, but 'preparing a waka for the journey ahead'. 'This is a gift, a vessel of learning, open to all,' he said. 'This community that has been waiting patiently for a facility that reflects its wairua, its mana and future. A new library is saying 'Cannons Creek matters'.' The library will be built with modular technology, meaning it will constructed in a factory and transported to the site, and can be added to or enlarged in the future if required. It will also have new computers for the public to use. Originally, $20 million was set aside for a community hub in Cannons Creek in the 2018-38 Long-term Plan, but agreeing to the $4 million proposal and bringing the project forward was supported by Mayor Baker and councillors. The community will be consulted during the design stage of the project.
Scoop
6 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Porirua Backs Regional Approach To Water Services Delivery
Press Release – Porirua City Council They voted unanimously to recommend that Council should jointly establish and co-own a new water organisation with Upper Hutt City Council, Hutt City Council, Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council. Porirua City Council's Te Puna Kōrero committee has endorsed a joint regional approach for water services delivery. As part of the Local Water Done Well reform, the Government has mandated that councils must review how water services are delivered. Te Puna Kōrero met this morning to deliberate and made a recommendation to Council, after consulting on two options for a future water services delivery model – a new water services organisation, or a modified version of the status quo. They voted unanimously to recommend that Council should jointly establish and co-own a new water organisation with Upper Hutt City Council, Hutt City Council, Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council. Under this model, a multi-council-owned water organisation will take ownership of public water assets. The alternative was a modified version of the current Wellington Water model, where councils retain ownership while Wellington Water manages water services. That recommendation will need to be endorsed at the full Council meeting on 26 June. All five councils are independently making decisions by the end of June on how to proceed. Officers will then develop a joint Water Services Delivery Plan and foundation documents for the new organisation, which must be lodged with the Department of Internal Affairs by 3 September 2025. The intention is that Council will transfer its assets, debt, liabilities and services in relation to drinking water, wastewater and stormwater to the new organisation by1 July 2026. In making today's decision, the committee unanimously supported an amendment from Councillor Geoff Hayward, setting out the principles Porirua City wants reflected in the new organisation's foundation documents. These include recognising water as a public good, safeguarding households from disconnection, value for money, fair pricing, supporting local employment, and upholding Te Mana o te Wai. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker said like many parts of the country, Porirua's water networks faced significant challenges. 'We have old pipes that cause water leaks, contribute to water shortages and are a main contributor to pollution in the harbour. 'While we've poured all the money we can into funding water assets, we simply can't address these challenges on our own. Doing nothing is not an option, and we believe the new model is the best way forward for Porirua.'
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Porirua City Council Makes Budget Decisions
Press Release – Porirua City Council The Councils Te Puna Krero committee met this morning to deliberate on the Annual Plan, which sets the citys budget for the coming financial year. After listening to feedback from residents Porirua City Council has made changes to next year's budget, including not increasing paid parking charges in the city or Cannons Creek pool entry fees. The Council's Te Puna Kōrero committee met this morning to deliberate on the Annual Plan, which sets the city's budget for the coming financial year. When preparing the draft Annual Plan, the starting point for this year's rates increases had increased from the planned 10 per cent to 15 per cent, due to cost pressures. Council acknowledged this wasn't sustainable for households and businesses, so took a hard look at internal operations to find cost savings. This process brought the new starting point for the average rates increase down to 6.75 per cent. Council consulted on five options, which if adopted would decrease the rates increase even further. A total of 343 submissions were received, with a mix of opinions on the items on the table. Committee Chair Councillor Ross Leggett thanked everyone who made submissions and shared their thoughts. 'Your feedback is shown in this paper and we do read and appreciate all of it,' he said. Of the options consulted on, the committee voted to discontinue the Chamber of Commerce grant and increase Council's building consent hourly rate. They voted against increasing the paid parking hourly rate, putting up Cannons Creek Pool entry fees, and discontinuing the Event Investment Programme. With these changes, the average rates increase for residential properties for the 2025/26 year will be 6.39 per cent, subject to confirmation by the full Council on 26 June. Mayor Anita Baker said everything possible was done to keep rates increases as low as possible. 'Nobody wants the big increases we saw last year and we know the community is struggling. The organisation has done a deep dive internally and made significant cuts that got us to a lower starting point than planned. 'In terms of the further cuts we could have made, we asked for feedback and we've listened to our people. That's why we are not supporting some of the ideas that were on the table.' Councillors spoke about the community benefits of swimming pools, the life that events bring to the city, and the need to support local businesses through keeping parking charges as they are.
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Porirua City Council Makes Budget Decisions
After listening to feedback from residents Porirua City Council has made changes to next year's budget, including not increasing paid parking charges in the city or Cannons Creek pool entry fees. The Council's Te Puna Kōrero committee met this morning to deliberate on the Annual Plan, which sets the city's budget for the coming financial year. When preparing the draft Annual Plan, the starting point for this year's rates increases had increased from the planned 10 per cent to 15 per cent, due to cost pressures. Council acknowledged this wasn't sustainable for households and businesses, so took a hard look at internal operations to find cost savings. This process brought the new starting point for the average rates increase down to 6.75 per cent. Council consulted on five options, which if adopted would decrease the rates increase even further. A total of 343 submissions were received, with a mix of opinions on the items on the table. Committee Chair Councillor Ross Leggett thanked everyone who made submissions and shared their thoughts. "Your feedback is shown in this paper and we do read and appreciate all of it," he said. Of the options consulted on, the committee voted to discontinue the Chamber of Commerce grant and increase Council's building consent hourly rate. They voted against increasing the paid parking hourly rate, putting up Cannons Creek Pool entry fees, and discontinuing the Event Investment Programme. With these changes, the average rates increase for residential properties for the 2025/26 year will be 6.39 per cent, subject to confirmation by the full Council on 26 June. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading Mayor Anita Baker said everything possible was done to keep rates increases as low as possible. "Nobody wants the big increases we saw last year and we know the community is struggling. The organisation has done a deep dive internally and made significant cuts that got us to a lower starting point than planned. "In terms of the further cuts we could have made, we asked for feedback and we've listened to our people. That's why we are not supporting some of the ideas that were on the table." Councillors spoke about the community benefits of swimming pools, the life that events bring to the city, and the need to support local businesses through keeping parking charges as they are.
