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MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING OF
WELLINGTON CIVIC TRUST
HELD ON MONDAY 3 OCTOBER 2016
AT THE THISTLE INN, WELLINGTON
PRESENT: Jim McMahon (Chair); Clive Anstey, Sylvia Allan, Maurice Clark, Sohn Yon Yi, Bill Robertson and Kay Paget
APOLOGIES:
Amanda Dobson, Eve McMahon, Jonathon Suggate, Sonia Waters
MINUTES: Minutes of the previous meeting on 3 October were confirmed as a true and correct record, with two amendments.
CIVIC TRUST CONSTITUTION:
We are registered as an incorporated society thanks to Eve. The Constitution will be put on the website. Now we must apply to IRD for charitable status.
PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION:
We do not think this worth our own submission at present however we will keep a watch on what is happening. This will probably split the Resource Management Act into two options: (1) RMA and urban planning area; and (2) environmental issues. Or it may combine both issues. The Commission means well but the government sees this as a supply problem. We need to be wary whether this is a big issue or if it will quietly go away. We will keep a watching brief with environmental audits.
FRANK KITTS PARK:
A hearing is being set up and Clive, Yon Yi and Sylvia will attend. We may lease a bit of space and we will have a Chinese Garden but it will be constrained as we will have less space. We have not put in any written submission but will present verbally. Frank Boffa will appear at the meeting, against the proposal. This could also be put on the website. Yon Yi showed photographs she has taken of the various aspects of the area. Waterfront Watch are totally opposed to the Chinese Garden now being planned.
SEMINAR 2017:
Jim and Clive will think about the seminar – “Healthy Cities”.
CIVIC SQUARE:
Maurice spoke re the Town Hall, Ministry of Defence, MFC and Illott Green. MFC area car park will probably become a big car park. The Town Hall, School of Music, NZSO, and WCC have done a deal. We are still short of a good Concert Hall. Illott Green seems to have gone quiet. Having VUW involved has helped the costings for the Town Hall.
REGIONAL COUNCIL RESOURCE PLAN:
Nothing to report.
GHQ BUILDING:
This has scaffolding to protect against falling brickwork.
OTHER WATCHING BRIEF ITEMS:
(1) Nothing received re letter sent last month or acknowledgement from Maggie Barry. Nick Leggett indicated to the Eastern Suburbs his views on a revision when he becomes Mayor and this would become a regional park.
(2) Several groups wrote to Maggie Barry re Shelley Bay wharf; if they do not fix the Shelly Bay wharf it will be unusable. A lot of it has just fallen into the tide. They would never get consent to rebuild the wharf.
(3) Greater Wellington has the seawall on its list of heritage items but the Council are trying to get it taken off the list.
BUS RAPID TRANSPORT:
Yon Yi reported on Regional Council candidates’ opinions picturing a railway to the airport.
ST GERARDS:
Nothing to report; land has been rezoned quietly.
ST JAMES THEATRE:
Heritage building ranking - If everyone has to meet the high new standards no one will be able to afford to make changes and Council don’t want to buy into it. Government policy is to rank and put money towards a limited number of projects.
Part of this exercise was to come up with a framework so a valuation process could be made. In the event of an earthquake, what would you want to bring back? This is a good project for the Trust to take action on. What would it cost to have this commercial project?
RAILWAY STATION BUILDING:
There was a meeting of local Maori who don’t want to buy it. VUW do not want to stay there.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT:
NEWSLETTER:
CORRESPONDENCE:
Inwards:
§ Change of venue for Frank Kitts Park public meeting
§ Notification of the amendment to the Constitution and registration as an Incorporated Society.
FINANCIAL REPORT:
The auditor’s report has been received. They carried out a review of the bank statements and accounts, and reconciled a sample audit. The Trust’s finances need to be reviewed and included in the Annual Report sent the Charities Commission. We are not GST registered.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT:
We have 57 paid up members and one corporate sponsor. We will put a notice about subscriptions in the next newsletter.
TRANSPORT:
Nothing to report.
SEISMIC AND RESILIENCE:
Bill reported on WCC who have come up with a report. We want to be the catalyst in this. With all the seismic strengthening, Bill will follow up to see if the Council have done anything. Council has funding for this. They are setting the scene but there is nothing much to get one’s teeth into!
HERITAGE AND CONSERVATION:
Nothing new to add.
NEWSLETTER:
WEBSITE:
GENERAL:
Meeting venue: we are paying $50 to hire the meeting room.
NEXT MEETING:
Monday, 7 November 2016.