December 2019

Hello <<First Name>>!

Thank goodness Christmas and summer holidays are just around the corner - we are involved in five events/activities over the next two weeks which is stretching our already thin resources. Two of these, submissions to the next Orakei Local Board meeting on the Waiatarua Reserve and Gowing Drive, if successful will bring significant additional benefits to our area in the future. And while we're on the subject of support, for people we won't get to see either at the St Chads Christmas event or our December meeting, many thanks for all your support over what has been a very busy and eventful year. Have a happy, safe and enjoyable Christmas and we look forward to seeing or hearing from you in 2020.

December Meeting - End of Year Meet and Greet

In place of our normal December meeting we are hosting a less formal "meet and greet" evening to give our members the opportunity to speak to their local body representatives and vice versa. We have invited both of our Ward Councillors and all members of the Orakei Local Board (OLB). We will have short addresses from both of our Ward Councillors and the OLB Chair followed by a light supper. We will also draw our membership prize from Meadowbank Eatery. Details of the event are:

Date: Tuesday 10 December
Time: 7.30pm - 8.30pm
Venue: St Chads 38 St Johns Rd

Christmas in Meadowbank

St Chads Church is hosting a Community Christmas Celebration on Saturday 7th December from 4-6pm. Come along to see live performances, jump on the bouncy castle (sponsored by MBSJRA), face painting, photo booth, toddlers area, outdoor games, coffee and drink cart, sausage sizzle, raffle and more! All proceeds donated to the Glen Innes Food Bank, and there will also be a donation/food drop off point for foodbank donations on the day. We will also have a table with some rat traps available too, so come along and say hi. 

Date: Saturday 7 December
Time: 4pm - 6pm
Venue: St Chads 38 St Johns Rd

Real Estate in Retirement Seminar - 4 December

As a further Community Wellbeing initiative that follows on from the successful Retirement Villages seminar from Troy Churton from the Commission for Financial Capability, we are pleased to host a seminar from Barfoot & Thompson Meadowbank. This seminar will address common mistakes that can arise if/when you are considering the move from your long-time family home and some of the options that arise following this. The seminar is free, pre-registrations which are advisable, can be made by email to either MBSJRA or direct to Charles Benedict at c.benedict@barfoot.co.nz.

Venue - St Chads Church & Community Centre 38 St Johns Rd Meadowbank
Date - Wednesday 4 December
Time - 7.00pm - Doors open 6.30pm.

Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive December Update

Our monthly update from the newly elected Orakei Local Board (OLB) noted they are seeking briefings from New Zealand Transport Agency and Auckland Transport on what is actually happening with the GI to Tamaki Drive shared path so we can get a clearer picture on where plans for this very important project currently are at. We appreciate our Orakei Ward Councillor Desley Simpson continuing to work at getting/keeping things moving too. MBSJRA is also liaising closely with Bike Auckland to work from that angle too - in fact we are working every single angle we possibly can! The upshot is, we are moving forward – albeit inexorably slowly.

The other good news is, at this stage, the Mayor will be visiting Orakei Ward on 29 January with a view to the OLB showing him, among other things, the shared pathway. He understands the environmental, social and transport merits of the project and is keen to see it progress.

Gowing Drive Safety Improvement Consultation - Closes Today!

Who wants a safer way to cross Gowing Drive? Do your kids catch the bus to school? Do you cross the road to get to the shops at Dorchester St? Do you see people in your community trying to cross Gowing Drive and worry for their safety? Auckland Transport is consulting on a proposal to improve road safety on Gowing Drive, but we think the plan is great but it is missing a pedestrian crossing. Please fill out the feedback form on Auckland Transport's website before Friday 29 November (today) and tell them that Gowing Dr needs a crossing.

Enter Our Membership Competition

We have a $50 voucher from M.E Meadowbank Eatery located at 139 Meadowbank Rd to give away. The good news for those who have already paid this year's membership subs is that you are in the draw, congratulations! For those yet to join us, you can pay your membership sub of $10 for the 2019/20 financial year (starting 1 April) before our December meeting and you too will be in the draw. Click here to join and support us to advocate for the improvements our suburbs need to thrive and make sure our residents have the information to provide feedback on plans and proposals that affect you, your family, your neighbours and your friends.

Rat Trap Handout at Meadowbank Mall Saturday 30 November

We will be at Meadowbank Mall this Saturday with a rat trap just for you. If you are interested in finding out more about our Songbird Project or getting yourself a rat trap, then come along between 2 - 4pm and have a chat to us. You can take one home and get trapping that very night - according to DOC this spring it's "crunch time to stop munch time". Also we would love to talk to everyone who has thoughts on what would help to make Meadowbank and St Johns Auckland's most liveable suburbs. If you can't make it to Meadowbank Mall this weekend email us to arrange a time to collect your trap. Traps are free to members who have paid their annual $10 membership subs, otherwise they cost $10 which includes your subs for the year. 

Date: Saturday 30 November
Time: 2pm - 4pm
Venue: Meadowbank Mall

Orakei Local Board Priorities from November Meeting

We were fortunate to have the newly elected Chair of the Orakei Local Board Scott Milne speak at our November 2019 monthly meeting, as well as board members Troy Churton, Troy Elliot and Margaret Voyce also in attendance. We were keen to hear their thoughts on priorities for Orakei over the three year team ahead. Read more here on a summary of the discussion. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Orakei Local Board. 

St Johns Summerset Retirement Village Gets Consent

After Auckland council last year rejected Summerset's application to build a 344-unit retirement village on the green field on St Johns Rd citing height concerns, the project was approved by the Environment Court in November after amendments to the buildings heights. You can read more about the decision here. Summerset are now updating images and information and will send them to MBSJRA once they are ready. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more updates.

The media release notes that the village will offer the full continuum of care, from independent living and serviced apartments, to a care centre with rest home and hospital care, as well as Summerset’s purpose-built Memory Care Centre for people living with dementia. Construction is due to start in 2020. More information on Summerset's website.

Can You Spare a Few Hours? We Need Helpers

As 2019 draws to a close, please consider giving something back to your community in the year ahead. With changing circumstances for some current committee members, we need a few more helpers so we can continue the momentum:
- people for our Songbird Project committee (running rat trap handouts and project administration)
- newsletter editor (we use Mailchimp and can provide full training)
- website administrator (we use wordpress and have developers who help with the technical stuff) 
While you are on holiday think about whether you could spare a few hours per month helping our community. If you'd like to know more please contact us.

 

Dates for your diary

Friday 29 November - submissions close for Gowing Drive safety plan consultation (hint, we think it needs a crossing).
Saturday 30 November - Rat trap handout at Meadowbank Mall 2 - 4pm.
Wednesday 4 December - Real Estate in Retirement Seminar, St Chads Church, 7pm.
Saturday 7 December - St Chads Community Christmas Celebration 4 - 6pm. 
Tuesday 10 December - December monthly meeting, end of year mix and mingle. 7:30pm at St Chads Church. Membership prize draw for $50 Meadowbank Eatery voucher. 

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