Future@Picton 2006 newsletter Throughout 2006 Future@Picton has focused on three key areas that were highlighted in the Talking Walls held in 2004 – representation for Picton on Marlborough District Council, a community pool complex and environmental projects.  We have in addition continued to work with the Council on the London Quay development. This newsletter is designed to give a brief update on these activities – please contact us for further information. Just as a reminder Future@Picton was formed after the 2004 Talking Walls project with the intention of helping to progress some of the issues raised during that project.  People self-identified at a public meeting.  Unlike other local groups, Future@Picton is not a membership or representative group – it is designed to bring together people of like minds who want to see things done for the benefit of the whole of our area.  During the year a there have been a couple of changes to the group and we welcome others to join us. We have acted largely as facilitators – encouraging people to work together and to actively engage with the issues.  We are also advocates for a community board for Picton and a public community pool complex.  We encourage everyone to participate in environmental issues.  Our role in the London Quay development is to encourage as many people as possible to have their say – although we are not arguing for one particular approach we do support community ownership and public access to the waterfront. Picton is growing and changing – we have had a huge amount of publicity this year and we must acknowledge the support of the Seaport News and Marlborough Express.  There has been some robust debate and many people are expressing their views.  Picton seems to be getting busier and visitor comments on the area and all that it offers are fantastic.  We hope that this process of community involvement will continue and more people will not just express their concerns or criticisms but will get actively involved with us to help bring about positive and long-lasting changes.    Future@Picton contacts: Carey White – Seaport News Simon Chaffey, Chris Elphick, Eric Jorgensen, Alison Fletcher, Juliet Wiseman, Monyeen Wedge, Peter Schoni, Alan Izard.   Picton Aquatic Centre Progress has been made in 2006 towards an indoor pool for Picton. The council has funded a feasibility study which investigated possible sites and indicated how much a pool would cost, what would be ideal for this community (based on feedback from the community) and how much running costs might be. Currently the council has employed Paul Treddinick (from Stadium 2000 in Blenheim) to peer review this report. He will look particularly at predicted running costs for a pool in Picton. We have had huge support from people in Picton and general agreement that this is something that Picton needs. A pool will improve the safety and fitness of children, provide a social space and activity for teenagers and allow families and retired people to keep fit in warmth throughout the winter. If the pool is to suit all ages and stages it must be: WARM, have space for swimmers and learners, have a physiotherapy and spa pool and should have other space attached - eg. For meetings, yoga, dance and related health activities. All of there features have been included in all of the plans produced. NOW we need more help from Picton to people to move forward from here. Type of Pool - community and or tourist attraction? Most people seem to feel that Picton should have a pool with a difference - to attract tourists and to attract business from wider Marlborough. For example, we could have a pool near the sea front (not on the sea front necessarily!) with water slides, outdoor pools to be open in summer only, pleasant picnic area and so on. This would make the pool slightly more expensive but would not increase running costs as more use would be predicted. Site We need a suitable site. The two sites which would be suitable for this type of pool are on Port land near ferry terminal and the London Quay site - where the library development is planned. Alternatively we could follow up a site further from the sea front - eg.Endeavour Park or Queen Charlotte College - but this would be more suitable for a standard community facility (like Blenheim pools) rather than a tourist attraction. As mentioned, most feedback we have had supports a tourist attraction combined with community facility.   How to pay for a Pool? A pool would cost between 5 and 6 million dollars. We have been led to believe that the initial building costs of the pool are not a major problem ie. That Council funding would be considered for this. A pool is predicted to make a loss of around 200,000 per year. A big issue for Picton is how these costs would be met. These are some options: 1. Rates increase for Picton only 2. Rates increase for whole of Marlborough 3. Business sponsorship for a period of years to allow for costs to be minimised before they are met by rate payers. 4. Costs could be reduced by eg. making swim costs higher for tourists, running swimming lessons and including a gym and charging for hiring or rooms and other facilities. There may be other options we haven't considered and we would be glad to hear about them. We are concerned that the Council will come back to the Picton community with only one of these options  - that the entire cost should fall on Picton rate-payers. We appreciate that this is not acceptable for some Picton people (some have told us that it is - given that the pool is worth paying for). As Blenheim pool is funded from rates from all over Marlborough a pool in Picton should be dealt with equally. We are pleased to have had the support we have had so far from Marlborough District Council  - but now we want to get on with it! The council have indicated recently that this is a 5 - 8 year project and we have already been working on it for over 2 years. We are concerned that this timeline may get longer with building costs increasing. We need Picton people to keep this project alive with the council by writing to the councillors, papers and council in support of it. Any other support and ideas most welcome. We can be contacted through Future@Picton or talk to Caroline Harvey, Wendy Vining or Juliet Wiseman.     Environmental projects The Weedbusters group which was set up as a result of the 'Talking Walls" in cooperation with Council and DoC staff  had some good weedbusting efforts at Victoria Domain.  Weedbusters also had a stall at Garden Marlborough's Sunday Gala Day to help raise awareness of pest plants in the sounds.  As a result of these activities and submissions to the Long Term Community Plan and the Pest Management Strategy there has been a meeting called  to create a planning group which includes Council and DoC staff.  This is a great initiative and Willi Borst from Council has been assigned weedbuster coordinator role. Hopefully this will mean a more planned approach to the distribution of information and advice on the control and identification of pest plants and of community efforts. A book is being prepared by DoC called "Plant Me Instead"  It  has photos of the pests and suggestions of other plants which will do the job instead.  It should be out in the New Year. Look up the Weedbusters website www.weedbusters.co.nz as it also has a comprehensive list of pest plants and animals with photos and suggestions for control. Waste management is still an issue.  Glass is not being recycled which is a disappointment but this is a national problem.  It is collected but at this stage it is ending up in the landfill. The transfer facility at the Picton transfer station is working well and it would be good to see more people using it. You can drop off all your No1&2 plastic, corrugated cardboard, aluminium cans.  Please ensure that they are rinsed and flattened.  The Blue Door , George St, Blenheim also takes tin cans, washed and flattened. Council is still negotiating for the land in Blenheim to be able to build the facilities to cope with greater recycling.  Once this facility is up and running the recycling facilities in Picton may increase.  In the meantime if anyone has any great ideas about reusing glass do get in touch with Willi Borst at MDC.  Remember the 3 R's.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  The first one, Reduce,  is the one to remember especially for the festive season.   Picton Waterfront Development   The last twelve months have seen considerable activity.   Following wide advertising and final selection in May of four architectural firms to take part in a competition to produce plans and ideas for the Picton waterfront, the Architects dKO from Melbourne were selected as being the best suited to interpret the needs and wishes of the Picton Community. A major part of the brief for the competition was the “Word Picture” which was produced by Boffa Miskell in July, 2005.   The four sketch plans and ideas produced for the architectural competition were presented to the public in an open meeting prior to being exhibited in an empty High Street shop with comments sought.   In October consultation was arranged with dKO and interested parties over a period of three days. Included were all waterfront operators, two hotels, adjoining commercial and residential property owners, fishing interests, Sounds residents, Guardians of the Sounds, Picton Sounds Paradise, CBD, swimming pool interests, library group, Destination Marlborough, Port Marlborough, B and B operators and Maori/Iwi interests.   DKO returned in November to again consult over a period of two days with the same groups and presented a revised set of draft plans for discussion. This revision had been done as a result of the previous months consultations. There was continuing concern relating to the placing of a library on the site and the inclusion of residential buildings on the waterfront.   In December, following wide advertising and distribution of flyers, a public presentation of the latest plans, perspective drawings and site model was made. This, in general, was well received but there was still considerable concern relating to a library and residential activity on the waterfront. About 200 people attended the presentation.   The current draft plans etc. will be exhibited in the Mariners Mall over the December/January period and a “Talking Walls” run in conjunction to obtain further comment.   Future@Picton’s part in the Development is still very much one of facilitating communication between the Planners and the Community, endeavouring to obtain as much Community involvement as possible and passing on concerns and comment in the right direction.      Better representation for Picton on Marlborough Distirct Council   The Community Board proposal is progressing through a number of stages, the next being public hearings held by the Council on 16 February. What happens after that depends entirely on the decision made by the Council.  If they turn down our request for a Community Board then our next step will be to appeal that decision to the Local Government Commissioner. Much has been said and written about the community Board idea recently and we don’t need to repeat that here.  Future@Picton supports the Community Board proposal for three main reasons: 1. Picton is changing  and will continue to do so.  At the moment there is no strong Picton-based organisation that can provide guidance to developers and oversee the creation of a long-term plan for the future of our area.  2. Our Councillors need support from a strong local body – a Community Board will help them be much more effective. 3. There are many issues that require urgent action including our parking strategy, the development of the upper part of the High Street, pedestrianisation of London Quay from the High St round-about to Wellington St, signage, community pool, etc.  At the moment many of these issues are being pursued by PSP, a voluntary organisation that is doing a fantastic job.  We cannot, however, rely on voluntary help to adequately tackle these issues – voluntary effort needs to be backed up by a strong organisation which has resources and is backed by legislative powers. We share the concerns about another layer of bureaucracy and we have to make sure that the Board and our Councillors work together in a seamless way for the benefit of Picton.    Future@Picton and 2007   We will continue to work towards the creation of a comprehensive development plan for the Picton area while pursuing the projects outlined here.  There are still other projects from the Talking Walls that need attention and people to move them forward.  If you want to join us and support our efforts please get in touch.