Let's Talk Kaiapoi Community Hub Concept Plan
Consultation has concluded and we are collating your feedback. This will help us develop a draft masterplan and we will be back in touch with the community for more feedback in 2022. Thank you.
Since late 2019 we’ve been talking to local residents about a community hub in the Kaiapoi South regeneration area. We’ve sent you some information updates, held some community workshops and collected your feedback over this time. Based on this feedback we’ve made some changes and we now want to know what you think of the revised plan.
Quick recap on what’s happened so far?
In December 2019 we asked for feedback on the proposal to provide a community hub in this location. Following this consultation and feedback collected from the community workshops, the plan has been updated to try to address the concerns that were raised.
The key concerns raised related to:
- Increase in traffic and parking
- Large truck movements
- Antisocial behaviour in the area
- Use of poor quality buildings
- Removal of community open space
- Noise close to residential areas.
There are three groups who have indicated an interest in being located at this community hub:
- Food Secure North Canterbury (FSNC)
- The Croquet Club
- The Menz Shed
These groups are working with the Council’s Community Team to develop a community trust model to manage the hub and help with funding this project.
Proposed Concept Design
Feedback on a new playground
As part of this project we are building a new playground in the Kaiapoi Community Hub, to replace the existing playground in NCF park which is due for renewal.
Having the playground as part of the Kaiapoi Community Hub, is a better location as it is more accessible and closer to where people live.
We would like to understand more about the type of play items that local children would like to see in the hub, so will also collect information about this project at the same time.
You can find out more about the project here
What changes have we made?
Over the last 6 months, the three key hub user groups have worked with council staff on the concept design for the site. Many of the changes are a result of the feedback collected from the workshops in the community that were held earlier in the year.
The table below identifies key ways in which the design has progressed to address some of those concerns.
Concern | Description | What’s Changed |
Noise | Activities in the hub will be noisy and disruptive | There will be very little noise generated by activities at the hub although the Menz Shed may produce low level noise with their DIY projects. However, they only operate for a few hours per week and we’ve moved their location away from houses. |
Parking | There won’t enough parking and cars will park along streets instead, causing issues for residents | A large car park is proposed on site to accommodate user groups. Space has also been left if more parking is needed in the future and when funding is available. |
Traffic movements | Increase in more vehicles using the area and large trucks in a residential area | It's highly unlikely all activities at the hub will take place at the same time and none of the user groups have large trucks |
Antisocial behaviour | The hub will encourage antisocial behaviour to happen | The landscape plan has followed ‘Crime Prevention Through Environmental Designs’ CPTED guidelines. This ensures good sightlines through the area, so people can see in and be seen. |
Large shed like buildings | The area will be covered in large, unattractive sheds | We will work with hub groups on the size, type and style of buildings they want to build or locate on site. There will be rules on the size and colour of buildings, and the types of building materials to make the community hub an attractive place. These will all form part of any lease agreement. Groups will need to maintain their buildings and keep them in good order. Trees and landscaping across the site are also included in the plan |
Community space and landscaping | There won’t be any public greenspace areas for the local community to use after the development is complete. | The remaining greenspace area will be open to the public and includes seating, pathways, landscaping and a new playground. Local residents are also welcome to join the croquet club or the Menz shed too. |
Position of the buildings | The buildings are going to be too close to houses and the buffers could be built on. | Following feedback from the community we have moved the buildings away from the houses. Council are committed to retaining the buffer between the hub and the houses as you can see in the revised plan. |
Funding | How will community groups fund their project | A community trust will be established to manage the hub. The Trust will be responsible for the running of the community hub as a whole and will be able to apply for funding to support the entire project. The Council will continue to support the Trust as it develops and will provide assistance with funding applications. |
What are the next steps?
We will be onsite at the Kaiapoi Hub location (between Charters Street and Courtenay Drive) on Thursday 2 December, drop in to see us anytime between 5pm and 7pm to talk about the revised plan. You will be able to see what the layout will look like on site and talk to the project team.
Once we’ve heard what you think about the revised plan we will include this feedback in our resource consent application in early 2022.
If our resource consent application is a notified consent, then that will provide another opportunity for nearby residents to provide feedback.
Tell us what you think
Make sure you tell us what you think by 5pm, Monday 13 December 2021.
Who's Listening
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Phone 0800 965 468 Email chris.brown@wmk.govt.nz
