MAY 2017

Hello <<First Name>>!

We had an amazing turnout for last month's meeting - thanks to all who attended and presented. Minutes are available below.

June's meeting promises to be just as interesting: we've got an update from the developer of the retirement village development planned for St Johns Rd, and will hear more about Housing NZ's non-notified application for apartments opposite the train station.

We've got so much good news to share this month: our member Richard Roxburgh's bus petition has succeeded in convincing Auckland Transport to create a bus route from Meadowbank to the waterfront via Selwyn College and St Thomas's, and there are several other positive transport updates.

And please put Monday June 26 in your calendars for our AGM!

We love to hear from you - please contact us any time on mbsjra@gmail.com or by replying to this email. 

MONTHLY MEETING - TUESDAY 6 JUNE, 2017

Please see the minutes from our last meeting at mbsjra.co.nz/meeting-minutes.

Summerset Retirement Village
We've invited back Aaron Smaill from Summerset, who are building a retirement village with 237 apartment/115 care beds at 'Parsons Paddock' next to St Johns Theological College on St Johns Rd. Entrances to the village will be from St Johns Rd and Ripon Crescent. Aaron presented to us last year (please see mbsjra.co.nz/news/plans-for-retirement-village-at-parsons-paddock for details and pictures of the development). If you've got any questions about this development, please come along.

Special Housing Area development at 9-11 Purewa Rd
We've just learned that Housing NZ has changed their original plans for 12 dwellings on the four empty sections down by the Meadowbank Train Station. They have now lodged non-notified resource consent for 11 apartments on half of the space (we don't know what is planned for the other half). Read more in our article below and come along to our meeting to discuss.

AGM
We'll be finalising plans for our AGM on Monday June 26, at which Simon O'Connor, our local MP, is to be the guest speaker. We are always keen to get your input to help us plan a fantastic event.

All are welcome to our monthly meeting - we look forward to seeing you at 7.30pm, St Chads Church & Community Centre, 38 St Johns Rd, Meadowbank. 

BUS ROUTE WIN!

Thanks to the efforts of association member Richard Roxburgh, our Chair Tim Duguid and 258 locals who signed the petition, from 2018 we will have an after-hours bus service to Selwyn College (and beyond to Mission Bay!)

Hooray for people power, and for less congestion on our roads, better transport options to kids' after school activities, and a bus option home from Mission Bay after dinner and a movie perhaps?!

MEMBERSHIP DRAW WINNER

Congratulations to J M Prestige who won a $50 voucher kindly donated by Moloko Cafe on Meadowbank Rd. Thanks to all who paid subs early and entered the draw!

It's not too late to become a member and support what we do: join at mbsjra.co.nz/membership.

DOUBLE THE DENSITY
FOR MEADOWBANK HOUSING NZ SITE 

We have just learned that Housing NZ is planning to put 11 dwellings on half of the empty land opposite Meadowbank station.

The plans show will be three 3-storey buildings and one duplex. We are concerned that this development was non-notified and also think the urban design aspects should be addressed. Furthermore, we understand that despite the site being designated a Special Housing Area, the development does not provide affordable housing for people to buy. All occupants are to be tenants. Read more...

2017 AGM

Our 2017 AGM is coming up on Monday June 26. Simon O'Connor, our Local MP will be our guest speaker, as he has been involved in the planning of the Glen Innes - Tamaki Drive Shared Path. Mr O'Connor will speak to that as well as other local issues. We'll send a formal announcement soon with more meeting details.

We will also be proposing some changes to our association rules. View the changes here. Only paid-up members are eligible to vote, so if you are not already a member and want to have a say in how your residents association is run, please visit mbsjra.co.nz/membership to join.

WAIATARUA RESERVE

Silt traps have been cleaned at Waiatarua Reserve after many years. This will mean less pollution flowing into the Orakei Basin too. 

Carmel Claridge, Environment Lead from Orakei Local Board, led an investigation into the reserve and presented her findings at our May meeting. Read more...

MEADOWBANK RD SPEED TABLES AND CROSSING 

More good news! Auckland Transport has approved the traffic-calming "speed tables" and pedestrian crossing facility for Meadowbank Rd. Many locals submitted feedback during the consultation period, which is evident in the feedback summary letter response from AT which addresses 22 points such as "why is this not a pedestrian (zebra) crossing?" Read more...

WE ARE THE PRIORITY PROJECT FOR 2017-18

We're rather excited that Meadowbank and St Johns has the Orakei Local Board priority project for this financial year! Board members presented to the Auckland Council Governing Body meeting on Monday 8 May. They are advocating for co-funding for local links to the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path, specifically an underpass and property purchase to allow access to the Gowing Drive area.

The Orakei Local Board have committed up to $2m to the Gowing Drive connection as their top priority, reflecting the quantity of supportive feedback received from the community and the strategic benefits that the link will deliver in connecting our suburbs and providing safe, traffic-free walking and cycling options.

Our Councillor is supportive too, as you can see from her Facebook post!

UNITARY PLAN UNRAVELLED

Local real estate agent Judith Everitt and team are holding a free event next Wednesday 26 May at 6pm to clarify what you can and cannot do with your property under the new Unitary Plan rules. Meadowbank Village manager Sharon Bohane will also speak about retirement village options. 6pm at St Chads Church & Community Centre. RSVPs essential for catering purposes: email teamjuditheveritt@raywhite.com. 

MORE TRANSPORT UPDATES

Yellow 'No Parking' lines will be going in at Puroto Street near Meadowbank Station (see feedback summary from Auckland Transport), and we are excited to see the pedestrian refuge currently being installed on St Johns Rd outside the Theological College! Read more...

UPCOMING EVENTS

20 May: We'll be at Meadowbank Mall from 3-6pm on Saturday - raising awareness of the association and continuing our "Most Liveable Suburbs" dialogue with locals. From 3pm - 6pm at the southern entrance. Come down and say hi! 

22 May: Meeting about the Meadowbank Community Garden (behind Meadowbank Community Centre). If you're interested in helping get this garden ready for spring, meet here at 9.30am with tools and gloves.

24 May: Free 'Unitary Plan Unravelled' event about local property topics and retirement village options. 6pm at St Chads Church & Community Centre. RSVPs essential to teamjuditheveritt@raywhite.com. 

6 June: Next meeting of the Meadowbank & St Johns Residents Association. 7.30pm, St Chads Church & Community Centre, 38 St Johns Rd, Meadowbank. All welcome. See mbsjra.co.nz/meetings for details. 

26 June: Save the date for our 2017 AGM with guest speaker Simon O'Connor. More details to come. 

A word from our sponsors

© 2017 Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association

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