4 November 2020
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Marguerita Street proposal
Enquiry
I'm working on a preview of tomorrow's [Operations & Monitoring] committee meeting on the topic of recommended changes to Marguerita St. I have some comments I would like to put to the council for right of reply.
Below is the first I am getting to you for expediency, but I'll have one more to you shortly.
I also have one question -
A Glenbrae resident (one central in their petition) said he was not aware of the council's recommendation until advised by the media today - were Glenbrae residents notified about the outcome of the public feedback process? If not why not?
Peter Baars
Peter Baars owns Farm Source on Marguerita St as well as several other businesses in the area and organised petition calling for maintenance of the status quo, which attracted 680 signatures.
On Wednesday Baars said he did not oppose the council's recommendation of a pedestrian crossing on the street but did not want to see any other changes, such as the narrowing of the street.
To some degree I'm pleased, but also perturbed that there was an overwhelming support for the status quo [and the] council have made a modification to the street and are still calling it the status quo, which is nonsense. They're not doing what the public has asked.
He said narrowing of the street could have an impact for larger vehicles on the street which in turn could impact business.
The council indicated early on there wasn't an issue with speed on that street so why do they need to take action to try to modify speed when they themselves said it wasn't an issue?
Any modification to the status quo is no longer the status quo. It bewilders me.
Baars was considering attending tomorrow's committee meeting but said he saw it as a foregone conclusion.
SUBSEQUENT:
Here's the second - it may be worth Steve replying on some of this criticism of elected members.
Glenbrae resident Graham Winter was surprised the council had not advised him of the outcome of the public feedback process, only learning of it when the Rotorua Daily Post contacted him for comment on Wednesday.
He said the outcome was a bugger and he was thoroughly disappointed at the outcome.
That's not even a band aid. Doing nothing to the wound and the wound will just open up even further.
He said a pedestrian crossing was good but didn't address the main problem for Glenbrae residents, which was heavy traffic.
He said heavy traffic was fine at the north-eastern end of the street but didn't want them at the residential, south-western end.
He wasn't sure what the next steps would be for the residents of Glenbrae.
The only thing we can do is change the council, to be honest.
I can see it doesn't really affect the councillors so it doesn't really worry them too much.
If they can put chicanes in other areas, why can't they do it on Marguerita St?
He said distress from rumbling trucks for some of the residents fronting Marguerita St was on-going.
I wish they'd just have a bit of a rethink on it.
Response
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
When we heard of growing concerns about Marguerita Street, myself and the council's infrastructure group manager met with Glenbrae residents to understand their concerns.
The right process was then undertaken in terms of community consultation, and we understand that there are diverse views.
Elected members now need to consider and discuss the recommendations from council officers and ultimately, make a decision.
From Infrastructure Group Manager Stavros Michael:
Emails have been sent to submitters who provided email addresses, providing links to the report that will be considered by the Operations & Monitoring Committee tomorrow, along with information about tomorrow's meeting and how to access livestreaming.
Prior to this a council staff member spoke directly to a Glenbrae residents' representative to discuss, in general terms, the outcome of consultation and the potential recommendations that would be put to elected members for their consideration.
We will meet with Glenbrae residents again once a decision has been made.