Plimmerton Village Planning
This page describes the ongoing Village Planning Programme work in Plimmerton. The programme is a partnership between Porirua City Council and the community of Plimmerton to develop and improve their village.
To learn more about the Village Planning Programme, visit the home page.
On this page you will find:
Plimmerton Village Planning - Latest news
Petanque Court formally opened
The sun shone and locals wore their berets for the french themed opening of the Tuohy Homes Petanque Court in Karehana Park in January 2013.
Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett was on hand to bowl the first boule, as pictured below.
Plenty of local residents turned up to help celebrate the opening. They were also able to read a display of information about the ongoing upgrade of Karehana Park (see information below).
The petanque court is a community initiative, supported by Porirua City Council's Village Planning Programme. It has been built using timbers salvaged from the old Airlie Rd bridge, which has now been replaced
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Karehana Park footpath takes shape
Footpath grows through community fundraising and hard work
A $30,000 concrete path is taking shape through Karehana Park, thanks to a community fundraising scheme and working bees.
Residents have also worked at the park on landscaping around the new path; laying new soil and grass seed.
The project to upgrade the park is being co-ordinated by a working group of Plimmerton residents who have developed a plan in consultation with the community.
They are also co-ordinating a fundraising scheme being embraced by local residents and businesses. For a $150 donation to sponsor 1m of concrete, supporters have their name engraved on a paver that is being placed along the footpath.
See Footpath Donation Form for more information and a plan of the park upgrade and footpath.
The programme for 2013 has been boosted with a $15,000 grant from the Mana Community Trust, which will be used for signage, planting, seating and tables - as well as stage three developmen of the footpath.
Karehana Park project moves to third stage
Following community consultation, stream enhancement planning is under way. The stream should be completed (with PCC and GWRC assistance) by January 2014 with a picnic in the park to celebrate.
The project will make Karehana Park safer, more attractive and ecologically viable.
School children muck in
In June 2012, Plimmerton School Children were joined by Mayor Nick Leggett to plant natives at the park.
The school children planted native trees and shurbs that had either a history in Plimmerton or a use, such as medicinal or culinary.
This photographs shows Plimmerton school children (from left) Alex Hall, Maggie Booker and Goldie Crawford at the community planting day.
Community integral part of park upgrade
The Plimmerton community has been closely involved in the development of Karehana Park, with many attending an open day in November 2011 - as pictured below
The photograph above shows Plimmerton residents at the Karehana Park open day. On the right is Bruce Cannell with his daughter Piper (11) and her friend Ruby Smith (11) and looking at the map are (left) Shirley O'Loughlin and Rae Collins.
Then during December 2011 residents got stuck in at a working bee to replace the fence and narrow entrance way into the park at Cluny Rd with a row of bollards that will provide easier access - as pictured below.
Resident's plans for the park include more seating, better shade, a small orchard and area of native planting, friendly pathways and retaining plenty of green open space.
The park sits between Cluny and Airlie Roads, with a number of properties backing straight on to it.
Take a look at the masterplan for the park.
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Community planting secures sand dunes
About 25 volunteers planted 2000 spinifex grasses to secure the sand dunes by the Plimmerton Fire Station on Saturday, August 4, 2012.
Ten trucks of sand, dredged from Porirua Harbour, was dumped on site and shaped for planting, before volunteers and the council gardening team arrived to start work at 9.30am.
Workers were treated to morning tea and then a sausage sizzle afterwards to celebrate.
The photographs below show Plimmerton residents hard at work and the planted sandbank behind the fire station.
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Plimmerton dresses for the Queen
Stepping back in time
Plimmerton took a step back in time over Queens Birthday Weekend 2012 to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and raise money for the Plimmerton Volunteer Fire Brigade and the local community.
"Plimmerton promenades in Style" saw the streets filled with classic and veteran cars, a steam train at the station and guests dressed in period fashion to view a stunning display of vintage pre-1950s wedding dresses in St Andrew’s Church on Steyne Avenue. To accompany this display the Parish Centre next door hosted visitors to elegant morning and afternoon teas.
A second display of wedding dresses from the 1950s-1970s, along with an audiovisual presentation on early Plimmerton, was held at the Plimmerton Pavillion.
Hundreds of people visited Plimmerton for the day which started with a grand parade of classic vehicles. As well there were demonstrations by the Volunteer Fire Brigade, a best dressed dog and owner competition, a chance to get up close to a steam train at Mainline Steam, and art works on display and for sale at Mana Arts Society.
See below for a selection of photographs from the day.
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Acoustic fence for Steyne Ave
A 2m high acoustic fence is to be built alongside the railway line at the southern end of Steyne Ave in Plimmerton.
The fence will block noise and tidy-up the view for residents and visitors to the area.
KiwiRail has granted Porirua City Council a deed of grant to occupy a section of land to allow the fence to be built, and is contributing to its cost.
The photograph belows shows the site on Steyne Ave where the acoustic fence is to be built.
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Up-dating the Plimmerton Village Plan
Plimmerton is working to update its Village Plan, which was first produced in 2004.
Plimmerton Residents Association Chairman Colin Bleasdale says 110 residents responded to a survey asking for ideas on what else could be done to improve the neighbourhood.
Suggestions were hugely diverse and included installing a raft off Plimmerton beach during summer, developing a regular community event, ideas for new business opportunities, marine protection, and improving the entranceway into the village.
The many ideas are being prioritised and work has begun on rewriting part of the village plan.
"This process of updating the village plan has thrown up some wonderful, new ideas for Plimmerton. We've had a great response," says Mr Bleasdale.
To take a look at the ideas go to the Plimmerton community website www.plimmerton.org.nz
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How Plimmerton developed a Village Plan
This picture shows a view of Plimmerton's rocky shoreline looking towards the Plimmerton Boating Club, with a couple relaxing, reading the paper and enjoying the view.
The community of Plimmerton can take much of the credit for the development of the Village Planning Programme.
Local residents, lead by the Plimmerton Residents Association, demanded a say on the development of their neighbourhood long before the process was developed.
By the time the Village Planning Programme was launched, Plimmerton had already undertaken an extensive community consultation process; running 23 street meetings and involving more than 300 residents. Out of that came a comprehensive Plimmerton Village Strategy.
The Plimmerton Village Plan had a particular focus on "maintaining and enhancing the special character of Plimmerton and the coastal area to create a welcoming impression for residents and visitors, a place for all to enjoy".
The main priorities identified were reducing traffic speed and making Plimmerton Village more pedestrian friendly.
In 2011 the Plimmerton Residents Association has begun work to review the 2004 Village Plan.
Residents have been surveyed, with 110 responding. Early indications are that improved parking and traffic safety measures; streamlining and upgrading the entrance to Plimmerton; completion of the railway fencing for visual and acoustic reasons; erosion protection; toilet upgrades and improved disability access; more sealed parking for rail commuters; support for anti tagging programmes; strengthening the seawall and a revamp of Karehana Park are all on people’s minds.
Lots of fun ideas like rafts at the beaches in summer and water sports equipment hire have been suggested too.
The responses are being processed and discussed with the appropriate agencies, such as PCC, Greater Wellington Regional Council and Kiwi Rail.
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Plimmerton Village Planning contacts
Community:
PCC:
- Plimmerton lead councillor Tim Sheppard: email tmsheppard@gmail.com or phone (04) 233 6373,
- Plimmerton Village Project Manager Ian Barlow: phone (04) 237-1418, mobile 0275 303 317 and email ibarlow@pcc.govt.nz
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Plimmerton Village newsletter
Download and view the Plimmerton Residents Association newsletter (in pdf format):
2013
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