Churton Park - the forgotten suburb has been remembered

The Dominion Post previously reported the plight of Churton Park - "the suburb progress forgot". Recently the suburb has received more attention from central and local government.  Given the substantial amount of tax and rates revenue collected from the suburb the only surprising thing is how long it took to get noticed.

 

Today the suburb has:

• a new primary school under development at Amesbury Drive;
• a new neighbourhood Shopping Centre planned for 2011 on the corner of Lakewood Avenue and Westchester Drive;
• a new roading extension at Westchester Drive - expected to be started next year and connecting to SH1;
• and the possibility of new multi-purpose community facilities of some description.

At last it seems there is a real prospect of good solid infrastructure being put in place for this growing suburb.

Council invests $2.75million in new Newlands Community Centre building

Wellington City Council has invested $2.75million of ratepayers money in building, operating and owning a brand new Community centre building in Newlands. The project is in Wellington City Council's description of the newlands Community centre. 

The Newlands Paparangi Progressive Association should be congratulated on achieving a great outcome for their community.  They overcame the Council's apparent reluctance to own buildings.  The new centre acts as a hub for the local community and is in high demand by a variety of community groups.  It has become a focal point for building community connectedness and enhancing social capital.

There are six separate spaces in the new centre:  a drop-in space/cyber library near the entrance where people can call in, access the Internet, read the newspaper, pick up and drop off library books, sit in comfortable chairs and chat.  The centre expects to be used for holiday programmes during school holidays. Small groups can book the space for low-key activities.  There is also a performance area which has a stage, retractable tiered seating.  There is also space for tai chi, yoga and keep fit classes.

Another space is designed for youth but available to all - it looks out to a half court for activities and social occassions. There are also 3 rooms upstairs - small, medium & large size - to cover the needs of a variety of community groups. All rooms are carpeted, heated and furnished.  There is also a reception area and of course a well-equipped kitchen and toilets - as well as dedicated space for the new Toy Library and food bank. there is access for people with disabilities to the first floor via a lift.  Photos of this impressive building below.  It is situated close to the Newlands shopping centre and so is accessable to local residents.

TSO reform is good news for rural telecommunications users

According to Victoria University economist Bronwyn Howell changes being made to New Zealand's Telecommunications Service Obligations (TSO) Deed could ultimately kill Telecom.  Did she mention  Telecom's sponsorship of the Institute at Vic Uni for which she has done work in the past? If Telecom's existence is really reliant on ill-gotten gains from the hated TSO levy then the company is in weaker shape than first thought. 

Telecom faces no competition for providing TSO services - yet the industry is currently forced to pay it $60-$70 million of dollars each year to allegedly provide such services.  Worse still no one checks to see that Telecom actually invests that money into rural NZ.  In the meantime the TSO levy continues to act as a penalty for Telecom's competitors as well as a guaranteed income stream for Telecom.  Most international commentators cannot comprehend why Telecom should have been given this privileged position for the last nine years.  Now at last the government is moving to tackle this roadblock to competition and new investment in rural telecommunications. Well done Steven Joyce. This week has been a good week for rural telecommunications users and for competition.

Disclaimer: the writer is employed by Vodafone NZ.  Views expressed here are the author's own views.

Increased investment in science needed

BBC news reports that the British opposition party is proposing increased government investment in science - as a means of boosting productivity and economic growth. Might be worth governments in new Zealand considering?

Executive quits amid Telecom XT fiasco | Stuff.co.nz

Executive quits amid Telecom XT fiasco Stuff.co.nz
Stuff news report out re Telecom exec resignation.

The Pope versus climate change deniers

A Sojourners Report highlights the recent alacrity with which climate change deniers greeted the snowstorms that struck North America in recent weeks. 

Councils to be given an incentive to meet deadlines

Colin Espiner reports that councils which are slow in processing consent applications will be given an incentive to respond to customers in a more timely manner. Late processing will soon incur a fine if Nick Smith has his way.  This is a fine idea and should help make councils more responsive to applicants who know only too well that when it comes to renovations and construction projects time is money.