Karekare Ratepayers and Residents Trust Minutes of 1999 Annual General Meeting

Karekare Surf Club,10am Saturday, January 23rd

The meeting was attended by Cr Penny Hulse, Community Board Member Betty Hanson, KKRRPT committee members and 19 community members.

1. Apologies:
Sue Curtling, J.L. Hunt, Karel Witten-Hannah, Ingrid and Warren O'Hanlon, Steven Pye, Valasi Eves, Carolyn Stone, Brian Williams, Bob Harvey, David and Susie Munro.

2. Confirmation of Minutes of AGM held on February 1st 1998
Moved by Robin Taylor, Seconded by Fran Williams

3. Matters Arising from Previous Annual General Meeting

3.1 Shellfish Ban and fisheries issues - Report by John Edgar
It is now five and a half years since we gathered on the beach to witness the placing of the rahui on shellfish gathering at Karekare. The same year, in May 1993, MAF put in place legal restrictions on the taking of all marine life except finfish. That initial legal ban expired after two years and in May 1995 Karekare was given a further 3 years of protection, the maximum extension allowed under the existing law.

That closure expired in May 1998. The new Fisheries Act (1996) does not allow for extensions as the previous act did, and further protection needed to be done by way of fisheries regulations under the new act. Bob Drey from MAF who has worked on this project since its inception worked on the regulations and late last year Karekare received a permanent. We should be very pleased to have achieved this in only 5 years. I believe that we are the only beach in New Zealand to have such a closure. Hopefully this will set a precedent so that other beaches will be able to obtain the same.

A voluntary ban at Piha, White's Beach and Anawhata, has been effective over the summer at limiting the gathering of shellfish, but only because residents have spent many hours educating the public.

I believe that we need to work harder at educating the public about our ban. Just because we have a rahui and a legal closure, this does not mean that the problem is solved. If these rocks are ever to recover they need to be carefully protected and this is up to us residents to ensure that this happens.

Karel (Honoury Fisheries Officer) reports that there have been few incidents of people taking shellfish, but it is impossible to police the rocks all the time and there is evidence that some fishermen take mussels for bait and maybe take them home too if the catch isn't so good. There has also been an instance of a local Karekare resident caught taking mussels and who has stated that he refuses to comply with the ban. He has been issued with a warning and will receive a fine on the next occasion.

New signs have gone up in the grove and the car park and the one across from the surf club is to be renewed asap. New pamphlets are being printed and will be available for distribution very soon.
Three weeks ago we carried out the 11th Shellfish Survey. The results of our shellfish surveys are not showing much recovery in shellfish numbers yet. But we are learning alot about growth rates and natural factors that limit recovery such as sand movement, sunburn, natural predators, etc Our photographs will provide a detailed database in the future for comparative studies.

Thanks to: Ann Grace Marine Biologist
Miles Hargest Photographer
The Shellfish Survey Team, Ann, Donna, Diane
WCC who are covering our costs for the surveys.
Karel W-H who has done his unenviable job of implementing the ban
The Surf Club patrols who watch the rocks and check up on people.

It was suggested that a paragraph be placed in the Bill Board to let community members know that some locals have been caught taking shellfish. A motion was passed by John Edgar and seconded by Caroline Witten-Hannah in support of a Waitakere City coast wide ban on the harvesting of shellfish.

John Edgar was thanked for his continuing work on shellfish issues.

3.2 Water Issues - Report by Robin Taylor
The joint Council / community Water Issues Steering Group has met regularly throughout the year, and has been a useful forum for KKRRPT members to communicate with Council staff and politicians. We were represented by Robin Taylor, Shalema Witten-Hannah, and Fran Williams.

The two main areas of concern to us were water quality and erosion, and the Council has also suggested funding a stream restoration/replanting programme.

Wastewater:
Thanks are due to all those property owners who, in the interests of the community, have upgraded their septic tanks and wastewater systems over the last few years. There are still, however, three Karekare landowners who have yet to comply with Council requests and offers of assistance regarding greywater discharges, and whom the Council is preparing to prosecute if necessary.

Carpark erosion
After a model process of community involvement in designing flood protection works for the Karekare "Green" carpark, Council's internal communication mechanisms failed spectacularly, and a quite different, and woefully inadequate design was eventually contracted out by a Council engineer. Fortunately, once locals realised the error, Council politicians and senior staff put the matter right, by implementing the original design and funding additional works to protect an area downstream that was damaged by flooding in the midst of the project.

Following planting in a community working bee, the new works have coped well with the summer storms.

Stream Restoration
Council has a longterm plan to control flooding and erosion by replanting and restoring waterways, and will fund suitable projects. Please contact Mary Gardner or Robin Taylor if you have an idea in mind. .

Robin, Shalema, Fran Williams and Craig Lupton (ARC) were thanked for their contribution to water issues.

3.3 Land Beneath the caves at KK - Art and Wine Auction - report by Shalema

As you all will know by now the land beneath the cave has now been added to the Waitakere Ranges regional Parkland. The ARC agreed to pay 3/4 of the purchase price if we (the KKRRT) contributed the remaining 1/4.

Having no real alternative at that stage we agreed. The WCC kindly offered to give us an interest free loan of $21,250 to be paid back over 3 years.

The Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society generously offered to help us pay back our loan by giving us $100 for each new member from Karekare who joins the Society (up to a maximum of $5000).

Single, Family and Non-profit group membership fee is $47.00;
Senior and Senior Family membership fee is $35.00; and
Students membership fee is $30.00.

Only a couple of people have taken up this offer so far - If you would like to help us in this way please get a membership form off Robin Taylor. Please note on the form that you are from Karekare and send the form to this address (not the one on the form):

Ken Catt
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society
P.0. Box 45 144,
Te Atatu Peninsula
Waitakere City

We are planning to have an art and wine auction sometime this year to hopefully raise the bulk of the $21,000. Diane Carter has been plugging away behind the scenes trying to secure Lopdell House as a venue. They have mucked us around and we have now appealed to Bob for help.

We are hoping that local artists will contribute work and that others in the community will contribute wine, food, entertainment and their organising talents. Artists can stipulate how much they would like to donate.

Once we have set a date we will have a meeting for all those who are interested in helping organise the event. If you are keen to help or offer advice please leave your name with Diane (8128167), Shalema (8128863) or one of the committee members.

Shalema thanked the Gribble family, Diane Carter and all those who have offered their help and support.

The Waitakere Ranges Protection Society brought up the idea of clearing the land and planting it with natives, possibly in association with the millenium. The possibility of a "weedathon" to raise money was also suggested. Marking the boundaries of the land, informing the public and giving the opportunity for donations were thought to be good ideas. The possibility of using the WRPS PO box was suggested. The fact that the ARC is now in a much stronger financial position was raised and it was suggested that the be approached to ask if and further funding is available to assist in the purchase of the land.

4. West Coast Plan- report by Shalema
The WCP is a Council initiated project to create a 30 - 50 year strategic plan that addresses in detail the sustainable management of the West Coast.

The WCP is not a legislative requirement. The Council initiated the process because it believes that the West Coast requires a targeted strategy to deal with the many pressures it faces. The WCP is also being viewed by the Council and stakeholders as a mechanism for:
o pooling resources available to the West Coast;
o coordinating the efforts of WCC, the ARC and community groups;
o supporting community initiatives; and
o creating partnerships with community groups.

Following the Launch of the West Coast Plan a 'beach road show' traveled around West Coast beaches informing visitors about the WCP process and giving them the opportunity to be involved and give feedback on key issues. 10 schools across the City participated in a school programme that collected the values of children through role playing, songs and storytelling. The Council also ran a one day facilitation workshop for community representatives to help build the human capacity of West Coast Communities.

Twelve visioning workshops were held to discuss what people wanted for the future of the West Coast. Over 350 people attended these workshops. Workshop participants included bach owners, iwi, environmental groups, tramping clubs, fishing groups, business owners, young people, surfers and visitors.
The WCP will not be a traditional plan with policies and rules. Instead it will consist of a shared vision for the future with supporting goals and targets and a set of actions that will address the detail of how to achieve the vision.

The WCP is being developed using a participative consultation process. The Council hopes to achieve consensus between stakeholders and a high level of community 'ownership' of the plan.

A Liaison Group has been formed to bring together stakeholders and involve them in facilitating participation, co-ordination and consensus on issues. The Liaison Group is 'inclusive' that is anyone is able to join the group at any stage of the process.

The Liaison group has nearly finished going through the visioning booklet and making changes in response to feedback from submissions and the workshops that were held. Hopefully this will be finished at the next meeting and we can move on to the action planning phase.

Half way through the year a visioning booklet and state of environment report were published as part of the WCP process.

The KKRRT has been involved in the process right from the start and has been a key player throughout. In 1997 we organised and ran two community visioning workshops and last year we held 3 meetings.

Dave Beck, Kerrie Littlewood and Mary Gardner were thanked for hosting these workshops. Sue, Mary, Robin, and Dave were also thanked for the time they spent revising the draft vision, goals and targets. Everyone who attended the workshops were thanked for their input.

The work that was done at these workshops and by committee members has enabled the KKRRT to have real input into the process.

5. Chairperson's Report
I would like to note the sad passing of Tina Grenville's mother Lucy De Lacy and Phil Stubbs. Our condolences to their families. Thank-you to the Surf Club, First Response and Fire Party members for their attendance at these incidents.

We have had a busy and productive year last year despite membership losses to our committee over the year due to health reasons and changing circumstances.

E-mail has made my job a lot easier at times and I urge anyone who uses e-mail and would like to be kept informed of meetings, events and working bees to pass their e-mail address on to a committee member.

I will just give you a quick idea of some of the things we got up to this year:

o Attending West Coast Plan meetings and organising workshops.
o Writing and processing the Management Plan survey.
o Erosion Protection works and water quality issues.
o Two planting projects - one in the car park with the School children and the other at the site of the erosion protection works.
o A spring clean up - collecting rubbish, weeding, stream clean up, and noxious plants eradication.
o Securing land beneath the cave.
o The usual annual plan and funding at rating submissions and road and rubbish issues. (We have requested that the Council consider putting power lines in Karekare underground, in particular the beach area.)

The ARC have finally finished restructuring - the results of which we are not very happy with. Four rangers spend a week each in the Karekare, Piha, Anawhata area. So we will have a different person each week. The Anawhata farm still takes up a considerable part of their time. Since the restructuring we have had difficulty contacting staff.

I would like to thank Craig for working with us this year. We are especially grateful for his assistance at the time of the erosion protection works and at our Spring Clean.

The notice board in the car park is temporary and will be replaced eventually with a notice board that we are designing in conjunction with the ARC.
There was considerable interest last year in setting up a youth wing of the KKRRT we would like to see this take form this year. If you or someone you know is keen let someone on the committee know.

Projects for 1999 will include:
o Updating Management Plan
o West Coast Plan
o Art and Wine Auction and fundraising to pay back loan
o Stream restoration project subject to funding availability
o Spring Clean Up
o Notice Board
o Annual plan submissions

The results Management Plan survey were circulated at the meeting.

In addition to those I have already mentioned during the meeting I would like to give thanks to the following people:

Jenny Taylor - for doing an amazing job publishing the Billboard and coordinating the Neighbourhood Watch groups.

Mayor Harvey, Councillor Hulse, Councillor Stone, Councillor Lowe, Bill Hales (Community Board) and Betty Hanson (Community Board) - for supporting us, fighting for West Coast issues, and making our dealings with the Council worthwhile.

I would also like to thank the following organisations for their service to our community over the last year:

The Karekare Surf Club
The Karekare Fire Party
The Lone Kauri School Committee
The Neighbourhood Watch Coordinators
The Piha/Karekare First Response Unit

A special thank-you to the Surf Club for having us here today.

A big thank-you to all those on the committee for their hard work during 1998.

After five years on the committee, four of them as Chairperson, I have decided to stand down. Thank-you to all those family members, friends and committee members who have supported me over the years and whose encouragement keep me going through the down times.

5.1 Matters arising from the Chairperson's report
The maintenance of the Anawhata Farm by the ARC rangers was raised and discussed by the meeting. Mary Gardner is talking with the ARC regarding alternative uses for the farm, eg for use by horse owners and riders.

The mown area opposite the glade (Bill's area) is diminishing in size. The KKRRT to contact the ARC and ensure contractor mows the full area.

The wave danger warning sign on the Piha road and warning signs for fishermen were discussed by the meeting. They are a result of a coroners report. Surf Club and others are unhappy with the sign because the message is not clear. The message 'Beware of waves' encourages people to swim in calm spots (rips). ARC will be signs to warn rock fishermen of the dangers at Karekare. They have agreed to settle for signs at the car park, glade enterance, Watchman's Road entrance and several temporary signs that will be stored in the Surf Club and put out when conditions are particularly bad.
Concern was raised that many native plants (some unique species included) were being recklessly damaged during track clearance. The Buck Taylor has been widened to 4 metres in places. The possibility was raised that this was an attempt to make a fire break or that it was a result of storm damage clearance. The KKRRT to raise this issue with Parks staff.

It was suggested that the contracting of work by the ARC should be advertised locally. Keys to the notice board in the car park need to be obtained from the ARC.

Warning signs on the cutting are needed to encourage people to slow down and change gear. Use of horns of blind corners was suggested. The give way sign at the bottom of the cutting also needs replacing.

Support for putting the power and telephone lines underground was voiced by those at the meeting. If this happens it should be down in an integrated way that gives residents the opportunity to underground lines on private land.

The plaque needs to be organised. A note will be put in the Bill Board asking for a carver.

The meeting voted thanks, with acclamation, to Shalema for her years of service and for helping to move the community forward.

6. Financial Report
Treasurer Ella Baker presented the financial report. Attached.
John Edgar moved that the financial report be accepted, seconded by Olivia Sheehan Report accepted.

7. Election of Committee for 1999
Shalema Witten-Hannah, Greg Fletcher and Mike Curlis stood down from the committee. They were thanked for their service to the committee over the years.

The following people were re-elected and elected to stand on the committee in 1999:
Robin Taylor (Chairperson)
Ella Baker (Treasurer)
Ann Robinson (Secretary)
Ingrid O'Hanlon
Mary Gardner
Fran Williams
Sue Curtling
Dave Beck

8. General Business

Consideration of the possible exchange of reserve management responsibilities between WCC and the ARC
Shalema warned that this may not be in our best interests, as the Council was likely to be more responsive to local concerns than the ARC would be.

Fire Party report - Kevin Ferguson

Surf Club Report - President Andy Shaw

The Surf Club was asked about parking on the beach. Discussion followed. It appears fishermen have been towing their boats down the beach and leaving them parked on the beach while they go out fishing for the day. The gate to the beach should be locked at all times. The Surf Club now has a combination lock. A concerned resident felt that if parking was allowed on the beach it should be open to everyone not just privileged few. The Surf Club and KKRRT will make some enquires and ask those who have been parking on the beach to park in the car park. A notice will be put in the Billboard and in the Surf Club newsletter.

School Report - Ingrid O'Hanlon
Last year we had our 20 year celebrations at the school. This event was a great success and a good time was had by all. We would like to thank everyone who attended and also helped. In August last year we lost our second teacher, Viv Mulgrew. This was because our roll numbers had dropped and to retain Viv we needed to have 29 pupils on our roll. To the best of my knowledge we will be starting the school year with a roll of 14 children. We hope to continue working with the ARC on the nursery and also continue to develop our pond area. I am now a co-opted member of the Oratia Board of Trustees and am finding this very interesting. My hope is for continued communication between both schools in the effort to get the best possible for our children.

First Response Team Report - Shalema
We now have a set of gear in Karekare and a defibrillator in the area that is in the Surf Club during the summer and up in the farm area during winter. Always call 111 first in an emergency. The first response team is automatically responded to medical emergencies following a 111 call. In some emergencies you may like to ask the control room to respond the Karekare Fire Party.

Race Day - 28th March

Bird Rescue
Currently there is no provision for bird rescue made by Councils. The lady who cares for rescued birds (in Pamure) is currently being prosecuted. A bird rescue service is needed within Waitakere City. The meeting agreed that the KKRRT should send a letter supporting the development of a native bird rescue facility within the City to the WCC (annual plan process).

Concern was raised about the increasing numbers of mynah birds and magpies within Karekare. It was felt that some action is needed. The KKRRT will try and find out about suitable control methods.

The public toilets in the car park
Do they need to be ungraded? The general feeling was that as long as they work and are up to standard they are O.K.

It was suggested that anchor points be put on rocks for fishermen. The meeting felt that this was not necessary and that fishermen would be unlikely to use them.

The old notice board from the car park is available for community use. It is not currently erected anywhere. Any suggestions as to its use?

The Meeting closed at: 12.40 pm