Community Outcome - Porirua is Sustainably Designed and Built
This page describes the Community Outcome: Porirua is Sustainably Designed and Built.
Porirua is sustainably designed and built - "The built environment fits our harbour and hills, meets current and future community requirements and housing needs."
We plan our city well, we are aware of our city's housing needs and we design our built environment in a sustainable way. Residents are proud of the city's 'look and feel', we manage water, waste and energy efficiently and have plans in place to meet the future housing needs of the community.
Council takes a lead role in ensuring Porirua is sustainably designed and built and this is reflected in our city planning and strategy documents including the District Plan, Annual and Long Term Plans and the Porirua Development Framework (PDF). Collectively this work considers the most appropriate ways Porirua should grow, how to efficiently provide for the infrastructural needs of the population, how to revitalise the city centre and uses the village planning programme to enable residents to create local plans about how to enhance the unique characteristics of their communities.
(1) City Centre Revitalisation
A vibrant city centre contributes to both a prosperous Porirua (Outcome 5) and a sustainably designed and built Porirua (Outcome 7). The economic, environmental, social and cultural implications of development are an important part of the city centre revitalisation planning process. The development of the City Centre needs to accommodate the future growth needs of the city whilst maintaining and improving its connections to the natural environment, particularly the Porirua harbour and stream. Future generations will reap the rewards such as improved air quality, better water quality in streams and the harbour and more plantings of native trees in suitable locations. The development of attractive public open spaces, supported by good retail experiences, events and activities brings people together from all parts of the city creating strong social benefits.
It will also be designed to ensure the built environment is safe, clean and accessible. The promotion of central city residential housing will provide more housing options for residents, which in turn contributes to a more vibrant city centre.
(2) Village Planning
Every community is different and has its own ideas about future developments. Porirua City Council has recognised this and developed our own Village Planning Programme to capture resident's ideas and enthusiasm. Village Planning involves Porirua City Council working with local residents so they can develop their vision and aspirations for their community. To date ten communities in Porirua are involved in this unique planning process and the process has been internationally recognised at the 2010 International Liveable Communities Awards and more recently by the International Association of Public Participation (for the Waitangirua Park project).
(3) Living better With Less - Sustainability Trust, Trash Palace and Mana Recovery
Living Better With Less is a philosophy that underpins a number of initiatives in Porirua. LIving Better With Less at home is the focus of Warm Fuzzies, a programme of the Sustainability Trust. Warm Fuzzies Wellington is a team of experts who work with low income tenants and homeowners to make their homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to run. They are also expert at working with landlords to make improvements.
If you have housing related health issues, your Primary Health Organisation (PHO) can help you join the Warm Fuzzies programme. In addition, all Porirua residents can get free home insulation and sustainability advice anytime by calling an Eco Advisor on 0508 78 78 24.
Porirua's Trash Palace, our own resource recovery and education centre is a good example of this philosophy in action. Residents can drop off and buy second hand recycled goods, learn about recycling through education tours and use the e-waste metal recycling facility. Trash Palace is run by a community based organisation called Mana Recovery which provides rehabilitation and vocational training services for people with mental health needs.
Porirua City Council has a sustainability officer whose role is to promote Council's understanding of sustainability and develop the tools to enable Council to assess the sustainability implications of projects. Sustainability tips are shared with staff and a cross-council sustainability group established.
Many organisations, sectors, groups, forums and people contribute to this outcome, some of which include:
Many strategies, policies, programmes, charters and agreements contribute to this outcome, and are directly relevant to Porirua, while others are more of regional or national significance. Some that play a part in this outcome are:
Click to return to the Community Outcomes home page, or go forward to Community Outcome - a Valued Natural Environment.