Kapiti Coast: development & photos

[kegan]

Development and photos from:

Paekakariki
Raumati
Paraparaumu
Waikanae

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2063/2253626891_2eab15240a_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12497592@N02/2253626891/)
The Kapiti Coast from the top of the Paekak Hill.

[kegan]

Concepts for the redevelopment of Paraparaumu Beach town centre (from KCDC's website (http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/DistrictDevelopment/TownCentres/)):

http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/7527D255-7075-4481-993D-E9EBC7912846/20994/PB6.jpg

http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/7527D255-7075-4481-993D-E9EBC7912846/20995/PB4.jpg

http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/7527D255-7075-4481-993D-E9EBC7912846/20996/PB9.jpg

Good to see reasonable amount of mixed use and medium density residential.

[kegan]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Airport_overhead.jpg

There are plans for a major redevelopment of Paraparaumu Airport including both aviation related and other businesses.

Paraparaumu Airport is mainly used for general aviation. Air2there.com (http://www.air2there.com/) provides commercial flights to Nelson and Blenheim. Air New Zealand plans to start commercial flights to Auckland in 2009, but this is dependent on the development plans going ahead (particularly new terminal and CAA certification).

The airport development requires a District Plan change. KCDC (http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/) held hearings late last year and a decision is due soon.

The Plan

From airport's website (http://paraparaumuairport.co.nz/index.php/index.php):
The key concept is to retain and enhance the airport core, whilst ensuring commercial viability of the airport and its related activities.

To that end, the plans bring all core aviation facilities into a new iconic terminal which will also serve the wider community. This new terminal building will provide the Kapiti region with the first-class domestic airport facility that it deserves, allowing for ongoing domestic flights, emergency support for Wellington Airport and flight training with room for future expansion.

PAHL has begun discussions with Civil Aviation Authority New Zealand (CAANZ) who are receptive towards PAHL’s objective to certify the airport and to accommodate increased aviation activity.

The upgrade and relocation of the airport runways and facilities will allow all airport users to operate out of a central building, greatly simplifying and improving the image of the aiport. The new terminal will show Kapiti Coast is a vibrant and sustainable region, with a professionally operated airport facility.

http://paraparaumuairport.co.nz/images/paraparaumu_airport_perspective.jpg

http://paraparaumuairport.co.nz/images/masterplan_big.jpg
[Click for larger image (http://paraparaumuairport.co.nz/uploads/CD_February_2007/Annex_1_Masterplan.jpg)]

[kegan]

The Western Link Road will be a local road providing a low speed connection between Poplar Avenue in Raumati to Peka Peka, linking into every road it crosses on its 16 kilometre route.

It will provide easy north-south road connection within the District, and an alternative to using State Highway 1.

From The Western Link Road [PDF] (http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/7EC530CE-EE80-411F-B15F-7AD829117BE9/43446/HandouttextmapsupdatedApril07.pdf):
The Western Link Road is planned to be built in three stages, each stage
constructed as the traffic demand requires it.


Stage 1 is the central section of the road from Raumati Road in the south
to Te Moana Road in the north, and will be started in 2007/9. Because of
the concentration of employment, amenity facilities and shopping in the
Kapiti Road/Rimu Road area the traffic demand is high enough to justify the
section from Raumati Road to Mazengarb Road to be four lanes. The
remainder of Stage 1 (Mazengarb Road to Te Moana Road, including a new
bridge over the Waikanae River) will be just 2 lanes initially.
Stage 2 runs north from Te Moana Road to meet with the State Highway at
Peka Peka. This is anticipated to be started in 2010/11 and will be justified
by the additional traffic demand which arises from the future urban
development of the rural land north of Waikanae. At this time it is
anticipated that the additional demand will require the two-lane section
from Te Moana Road to Mazengarb Road to be upgraded to 4 lanes.
Stage 3 is the final part of the Western Link Road. It runs south from
Raumati Road to Poplar Avenue, and uses a re-constructed Poplar Avenue to
link back to the State Highway. It is anticipated that this section will need
to be constructed in about 2008/9

This staging, particularly the timing of Stage 3, is under regular review.


Click here (http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/7EC530CE-EE80-411F-B15F-7AD829117BE9/43821/MapupdatedMay07.pdf) for a PDF map (I couldn't be bothered extracting as a JPEG and uploading it). Further info, detailed plans etc on KCDC's Western Link Road webpage (http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/GettingAbout/WesternLInkRoad.htm).

[kegan]

I thought this was of interest because this could have quite an impact on the design of new development (positive as far as I'm concerned). It's also the first time I'm aware of a council actively promoting greywater systems. The Kapiti Coast is waking up to the environmental reality of supply being limited - when will the rest of the region?
From February 1st 2008 all new dwellings constructed within the Kapiti Coast District are required to have either a 10000 litre rainwater collection tank for toilet flushing and outdoor uses or a 4500 litre water tank for toilet and outdoor plus a greywater collection system for subsurface garden irrigation.

[kegan]

http://www.raumatibeach.co.nz/image/development/Raumati-East-larger.jpg

http://www.raumatibeach.co.nz/image/development/Raumati--West_larger.jpg

22,000 sqft (2082 sqm) of new retail building; 7,000 sqft (662 sqm) of Office and Apartments

Includes:

35 shops
25 offices
2 cinemas (25 seater & 50 seater)


As of last year this project was waiting consents. I haven't found any up to date info to suggest that they have been granted.

Website: http://www.raumatibeach.co.nz/dev_news.htm

[kegan]

Airport development cleared by commissioners
Radio NZ News (http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200803131620/1dbceac5) - Posted at 4:20pm on 13 Mar 2008

Multimillion-dollar plans to redevelop Paraparaumu Airport are a step closer, with three independent commissioners giving their approval.

The decision comes almost four weeks after three people died in a mid-air collision between a helicopter and a small plane near the airport.

Residents opposed to the redevelopment voiced concerns at the time of the crash on 17 February, suggesting that extending the site would increase risks.

The Paraparaumu Airport Coalition says plans to get rid of a secondary runway will mean planes have no alternative landing site in high winds.

Spokesperson Alan Tristram says the airport company's concession lowering building heights from 15m to 12.5m will not help safety.

He says placing large buildings near an approach path puts more people in the vicinity of aircraft, and says the buildings themselves can create wind turbulence in high wind conditions.

The coalition says the development process should wait, until the report into the accident is out.

However, the airport's owner, Paraparaumu Airport Holdings, says the tragic crash in February is a separate issue to the redevelopment.

Director Noel Robinson says the accident happened in airspace, not on take-off or landing, and could have happened anywhere. He says under the development plans his company would bring in 50-seater commercial flights.

Paraparaumu Airport Holdings says almost 40% of Kapiti Coast residents drive out of the region for work, but the airport development will create local jobs.

But the coalition says the 130-hectare development will not provide the sort of jobs the area needs.

Kapiti District Council still has to vote on the commissioners' recommendations.

[minimum chips]

I am hoping that this one goes through. Kapiti really is a beuatiful area that gets overlooked for domestic tourism. Surely if they build this, then they will come. And if Air NZ start a service from Auckland it must surely help all those in this area not having to add to traffic on SH1 going into Wellington (while we wait 116 years for the new motorway to be built). Not to mention with cheap fares that the airline comes up with mean we get Aucklanders coming down for a quick trip.

[vuong tt]

Tomorrow I will take the train to Paraparaumu for visit with some friends I have made at University. I want to see the Kiwi beach. I will try to borrow my uncles digital camera and make photographs for you.

[minimum chips]

^^ Did you go voung tt. Photos? Been a couple of years since I was last in Kapiti, had a great day out. Enjoyed the train trip too. Keen to see how she's looking now.

[KLK]

I have no doubt that on my eventual return to NZ, I will have to spend a couple of years in Auckland. But long term? Wellington for me. And while a nice swish inner city pad sounds great, I have always thought that the Paraparaumu/Raumati area would be a great place to live.

Bit of peace from the grind of the CBD, on the coast for those summer weekends, hassle-free train commute into the city for work....

Nice.

[kegan]

Good. Now just get on and do it.
Hopefully it doesn't get dragged through the Environment Court by the opponents.

Councillors back development of Kapiti airport
Radio NZ News (http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200804080944/2dbc86dd) - Posted at 9:46am on 08 Apr 2008

Councillors on the Kapiti Coast have voted 5-4 in favour of developing Paraparumu Airport.

Last month, three independent commissioners backed plans for changes, which include a bigger terminal and control tower, and big retail outlets, offices and warehouses.

More than 100 supporters and opponents of the development plan attended the Kapiti District Council meeting, which began on Monday morning.

Supporters of the project spoke of the benefits the development would bring to the area, including more jobs.

Opponents, including local iwi, urged the council to defer its decision until the question of the land's ownership was resolved.

The land was taken by the government during World War II for aviation purposes.

Opponents have 30 days to appeal against the decision to the Environment Court.

[minimum chips]

It seems the opponents of this are vehemently against it. Could be a big fight brewing.

[Milan Luka]

As per Kegans previous post I can now confirm the following-

Slightly oldish news (well from last week) but Paraparaumu Airport revamp has been confirmed. Final go ahead for $450 million development has been signed off. It will include a new terminal, business park, retail buldings and the extension of the main runway. I think that there is also potential funding for relocating the crossway runway as well.

Good news there (for most!) Only the guys that own near the airport seem opposed to this. So why did they build their homes near an aerodrome in a fast growing region of the country?

[kegan]

The NIMBYs Strike Back ...

Airport Coalition Appeal To Environment Court
Wednesday, 23 April 2008, 10:43 am
Press Release: Paraparaumu Airport Coalition (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0804/S00251.htm)

The Paraparaumu Airport Coalition says it will appeal to the Environment Court against the recent Kapiti Coast District Council decision to allow major development on airport land.

The Kapiti Coast District Council recently approved findings from an RMA Hearing which could mean the closure of the East/West alternate runway and a major business park established on more than 50 per cent of the airport land.

The Airport Coalition convenor, Alan Tristram, says one of the biggest mistakes the Council made was to ignore Maori pleas to delay a decision while they pursued their claim for land taken by the Government during the Second World War.

He says the Coalition’s move is fully supported by Te Whanau a te Ngarara, which represents the descendants of the original Maori landowners.

In addition, says Mr Tristram, Te Whanau a te Ngarara is supporting a new ‘Appeal Fund’ being launched by the Coalition.

As well as pursuing justice for the original Maori and Pakeha owners of airport land, the Coalition will be appealing on several other key issues, Mr Tristram says.

“We have a tremendously strong case,” Mr Tristram says,” and we are supported by a large and growing number of Kapiti Coast people.”

The Appeal will focus in particular on the RMA commissioners' failure to deal with legitimate Maori concerns – and to observe its Treaty of Waitangi obligations.

He says another key ground of the appeal, will be the Commissioners' unquestioning acceptance of the developers’ argument that their over-payment for the Airport justified a massive development plan and therefore a complete change in the area’s District Plan.

Another main ground of the appeal would focus on the huge increase in traffic volumes, which the RMA Hearing Commissioners failed to address properly.

“The loss of a vital secondary runway and so much open space is something the RMA commissioners also fell down on,” he says.

“So this Appeal will be a community effort to get the consultation and justice for so long denied by the local council – and, unfortunately, by the RMA process.” He says.

[Milan Luka]

^^ HHHMMMM. Not impressed. Strange though that this group would use a land claim to try and stifle this. My thinking is that these old nimby groups dont usually like to get in bed with 'radical' maori interests.

[UglyBob]

Below is the link for Te Whanau a Te Ngarara. The thing is that they may well claim to represent the original Maori owners but the Crown will only engage with Ngati Toa as an iwi regarding any formal Treaty Settlement redress. From that point of view, the group is unlikely to hold any sway other than as a fly in the ointment for the airport development

http://aotearoa.wellington.net.nz/he/ngarara.html

[kegan]

Development Name: Ngarara
Developer: Maypole Environmental
Location: Just north of Waikanae - between the town and the beach

Proposal: (from Maypole Environmental's Ngarara website (http://www.ngarara.com/site/index.php?page=the-proposal))
In general, the proposal is for a clutch of villages and hamlets offering a range of lot sizes and lifestyles. All linked by quiet roads, cycle paths and walkways. Natural areas of wetland and original coastal forest would be protected and enhanced, as would waterways. Engineering work would have the least possible impact on the existing landscape and settlements, and all structures would be built to reflect and blend into their surroundings.


Size: up to 1900 sections

Requires a district plan change. KCDC will be asking for public submissions.

Sources: Maypole Environmental's Ngarara website (http://www.ngarara.com/site/index.php?page=home); DomPost Ariticle (http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4592669a23955.html)

[metroman]

Sounds like it would have some similarities with Pegasus. :)