* 9 March, Monday 5pm-7pm - Public Workshop on Christchurch City Council
Representation Review, in the Boardroom, Beckenham Service Centre, 66
Colombo Street, Cashmere - see poster attached, and more info:
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/thecouncil/haveyoursay/representativereview.aspx
- What council ward area should include Cashmere, and how many city
councillors should there be for Christchurch? These are the main questions
to be answered, this year, through the 6-yearly Representation Review done
as a central government requirement.
- Put simply, the merging of Banks Peninsula into the City under Sir Bob
Parker, now has to be properly completed - with the same representation
ratio for citizens all over the area, at variance +/- 10% maximum.
- The Electoral Commission requires that Banks Peninsula cannot retain its
current disproportionate representation of one councillor for 8,241
residents, when one councillor for around 24,000-33,000 residents is the
norm in every other Christchurch City ward area, which is also now too
wide a range. The ward boundaries have to be redrawn so that an average
representation number is arrived at and each new ward maintains it, plus
or minus 10% at most. With earthquake red-zones shifting large chunks of
population since the last Representation Review was done, clearly much in
the City's political map now has to change too. So the question is, in
what way?
- Some draft map options can be seen on 9 March and commented on. For
example, if the two Akaroa and Lyttelton community board areas are
separated and added to existing wards to the east and the west of
Christchurch, then Banks Peninsula could go from one councillor to four
councillors with responsibilities to more managably-sized mixed
urban/rural areas. Akaroa could then gain more of the independent
representation it is seeking, attached to the fast-growing south-west
Christchurch. This change would increase or decrease the total councillor
number from 13 to 14 or 12 (depending on creation or not of the proposed
new central city ward), plus the City Mayor - a modest and cost-effective
amendment that retains ward boundaries and community associations most
closely to those which we currently have. Our current 'Spreydon/Heathcote'
ward, e.g, could be kept mostly intact this way.
- But an option of more radical change will also be offered, through an
increase of councillor numbers to up to 20. This would require division of
current ward boundaries, to create smaller ward areas from which these 20
would then be elected. In this scenario Cashmere gets divided from our
neighbours in Lower Cashmere, Hoon Hay. Somerfield, Spreydon and
Beckenham, along the Opawaho/Heathcote river line. (Initially half of
Addington and half of Sydenham were to be absorbed into a new, expansive
central city ward, as part of this proposal, but that idea seems likely to
have been dropped.)
- Our question must be, is the second option good or not? - for hillside
residents to be cut off from traditional associates on flat land and be
drawn into a new, wide 'Port Hills ward' to the sea, with the whole of
Banks Peninsula added in with us? Spreydon itself would be cut into three
new wards in this transforming scenario, though united amidst a community
board grown to 6 members. The increased cost to rate-payers, of paying 20
councillors and 20% added community board members, must also be
considered. Greater representation, at a finer level of local election, is
the significant gain being aimed at here.
- This meeting on 9 March is to help finalise the draft maps that will go
out for consultation later this year. Your feedback is very important.
These are the current ward/community board areas, that will change to a
greater or lesser extent:
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/thecouncil/communityboards/ ~ Come and have your
say!
* 18 March, Wednesday 7.30pm - Cashmere Residents' Association committee
meeting, deadline for April Newsletter content, all input welcome -
contact CRA Chair.
* 24 March, Tuesday 7.30pm - Barrington Issues Group, Whareora Community
House, 8 Athelstan Street, Spreydon - looks at urban density, public
transport, crime prevention, safety, etc. matters around our local mall /
Key Activity Centre shops. All welcome.
http://www.facebook.com/BarringtonIssues
* 25 March, Wednesday 1.30pm - CREST - Cashmere Residents' Emergency
Support Team - our local preparedness group meets at Cashmere Presbyterian
Centre, 2 Macmillan Ave - last Wednesday of each month except Dec-Jan.
Local volunteer skills and resources inter-network. Writing the draft
Cashmere Community Response Plan. Input invited. Ref.
http://www.cashmere.org.nz/news/Cashmere-Emergency-News-20Jun2013.html
* 27 March, Friday 10.30am-12pm - Friends of Sydenham Heritage Trust,
meets at Sydenham Community Centre, 25 Hutcheson Street, to rebuild a
community heritage memorial space at old Wesleyan church site. All
welcome. http://www.facebook.com/SydenhamNZ
* 28-29 March, Piece of Cake weekend / Neighbours Day Aotearoa
<http://neighboursday.org.nz/> - Knowing Your Neighbour is a Piece of Cake
2015 - "This year we can offer you:
* Connecter postcards (left over from last year) that wed like to
make available to communities. These have 5 spaces to add your
neighbours' contact details to keep in touch (a sample of the design is
attached in this email)
* Posters for your shop front, office and any public spaces
* A refreshed video to share via your online channels - as a reminder,
last years video is available for viewing here
<http://raranga.org.nz/pieceofcake/>
* The knowledge that more and more community organisations are sharing
the message that knowing your neighbour is a piece of cake!
What we would love from you:
* Your ideas on simple and accessible ways to get communities and
neighbourhoods together - what tricks can you share that we can pass on?
* Your enthusiasm to get the ball rolling in your work place or
community space over Piece of Cake weekend
* Your stories of how good neighbours make great neighbourhoods
The Neighbourhood Project
<http://www.facebook.com/theneighbourhoodproject> is a collaborative
expression for the churches across Christchurch to engage in community
activities, with a focus on building stronger neighbourhoods. Partners
include All Right? Civil Defence, New Zealand Red Cross, Christchurch
Baking Army, CERA and Christchurch City Council. The Neighbourhood Project
fits within the kaupapa of Te Raranga <http://raranga.org.nz>, an
expression of church unity in Christchurch."
* April Cashmere Newsletter, and Cashmere Community Meeting at Cashmere
Presbyterian Centre re Council draft Long-Term Plan etc, date to be
confirmed but provisionally 21 April from 7pm. Ref.
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/thecouncil/policiesreportsstrategies/ltccp/
Notices
* Premises to Rent
Church House at Cashmere Presbyterian Church in Christchurch is currently
undergoing EQC repairs, and will then be available for rental from
approximately 1st April.. Prior to upgrading the church facilities a few
years ago this was used as the church offices and additional spaces for
congregational activities. Whilst it has more recently been rented out as
a residential property, with three good bedrooms, a two-roomed study, and
a large separate Lounge, this property also lends itself to use as offices
or consulting rooms.
Expressions of interest are invited for the use of this property for
either professional or residential use, and we would especially be
interested to hear from non-profit, charitable, or church related groups.
Please contact the Cashmere Presbyterian Church office on (03) 3327129 or
<email obscured> for more details.
* Build Back Smarter <http://www.buildbacksmarter.co.nz> free advice on
making their homes warmer, drier, healthier and cheaper to run.
Homeowners simply need to contact a Build Back Smarter provider, who will
arrange to visit and prepare a Healthy Home Improvement Plan tailored to
the homeowner's needs and budget. This will include advice about
insulation, heating, ventilation and lighting. The providers can also
provide advice on eligibility for any grants that may be available such as
EECA's Warm Up NZ: Healthy Homes insulation programme. Build Back Smarter
is available to all homeowners and landlords in the Greater Christchurch
area. We especially encourage people to get a Healthy Home Improvement
Plan in advance of any outstanding earthquake repairs. Build Back Smarter
flyer can be found here:
http://resources.ccc.govt.nz/files/Homeliving/sustainableliving/sustainabilitychristchurch/EEC3239BuildBackBookletV2.pdf
* Garden City 2.0 - company provides a not-for-profit service in
Christchurch, delivering fresh, locally grown organic produce. Recently
set up a pickup point on Cashmere Hill at the Emperor's New Clothes Cafe.
http://www.gardencity.org.nz + www.facebook.com/GardenCity2.0
* Graffiti clean ups from http://www.tagstoppers.co.nz and join a
volunteer team here:
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/homeliving/makeaqueryorreportaproblem/graffititagging/removalvolunteerprogramme.aspx
* A very big thank you to all Cashmere Residents and CREST community
partners: Cashmere Primary School, Cashmere Presbyterian Church,
Christchurch City Council CDEM, Canterbury Neighbourhood Support,
Kidsfirst Cashmere Kindergarten, Kaizuka Eatery and Garden Bar, Cup Cafe,
Elevate Bar and Function Centre, Emporers New Clothes Cafe, Cashmere Super
Dairy, Swanlake Lotus at Siam Healthcare Spa emergency spring water
source, Cracroft-Chase Vineyard, Quick Stop Liquor, Out in the Wild
cordials of Hanmer, and to all our local volunteers and supporters - Thank
you very much!
* Past CRA email news is indexed near page-top here, FYI:
http://www.cashmere.org.nz
* CRA Subscriptions 2014/15 - Association membership and renewals, at the
household rate of $10 per year, can be made via our Kiwibank a/c
389005.0688810.02 - Donations help increase service and are very much
appreciated. Please notify deposit by email, for confirmation by our
Treasurer, and a receipt will be issued if requested:
<email obscured>.
Best wishes for the autumn season.
Kind regards
Rik Tindall
CRA Chair, 332-1069