Relocating!

The Deborah Bay Association has reformed as Deborah Bay Residents Association and a new blog reflects that name change.

Please go to deborahbayresidentsassociation.blogspot.com

Excavator on the skyline

This morning there is an excavator cutting a track along the ridgeline of the Lewis Farm.

This appears to me to be in breach of the District Plan. The image below shows the area of the farm covered by the North Coast Coastal Landscape Preservation Area. It comes from the planners report to the Chalmers Community Board which is also below.

Page 1 of 2

Report

TO: Chalmers Community Board

FROM: Planner (Policy)

MEETING DATE: 11 March 2009

SUBJECT: DEBORAH BAY NATIVE BUSH

SUMMARY

At the public forum of the Chalmers Community Board meeting of the 28 November 2008,

the site at 177-179 Aramoana Road, Deborah Bay, was highlighted as having some values

which may be important to protect. This report provides the information requested by the

Chalmers Community Board in relation to any known values and protection currently

accorded to the site.

IMPLICATIONS FOR:

(i) Policy: No

(ii) Approved Annual Budget: No

(iii) LTCCP/ Funding Policy: No

(iv) Activity Management Plans:

No

(v) Community Boards: Information for the Chalmers Community

Board

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the report be received.

Page 2 of 2

INTRODUCTION

The site at 177-179 Aramoana Road, Deborah Bay, was discussed during the public forum at

the Chalmers Community Board meeting on 26 November 2008. The site was highlighted as

a site that should be preserved for future generations. As requested this report outlines any

known values and protection currently accorded to the site.

BACKGROUND

The site extending from Aramoana Road up to the adjoining main railway line, contains

approximately 49 hectares over several certificates of title. The site contains areas of pasture

and vegetation, which forms a continuum with adjoining vegetation up towards Mt Cargill and

Mihiwaka.

DISCUSSION

The site is zoned Rural under the Dunedin City District Plan (Attachment 1). The North Coast

Coastal Landscape Protection Area extends over half of the site and controls the development

of structures and establishment of forestry. There are no Areas of Significant Conservation

Value (ASCV) or heritage items identified on the site. The removal of any existing indigenous

vegetation will be controlled under Rule 16.6 in the District Plan.

The vegetation on the south-western part of the site has been identified in a city wide survey

as having potential values as an ASCV, due to it being part of a continuum of native

vegetation of podocarp/broadleaved and kanuka forest which extends from the harbour edge

up to Mihiwaka/Mt Cargill. A detailed assessment of the site against the ASCV criteria has not

been undertaken to confirm the significance of any vegetation. However as part of the

assessment programme it is intended to liaise with the landowner to enable the values of the

vegetation to be assessed and discuss opportunities to actively protect and manage any

conservation values identified.

CONCLUSION

The site at 177-179 Aramoana Road, Deborah Bay, is not identified in the Dunedin City

District Plan as having any significant values. Any development on the site is subject to the

rules in the District Plan, particularly as it relates to landscape and indigenous vegetation

removal.

Prepared by:

Debbie Hogan

PLANNER (POLICY)

Approved by: Kate Styles

GENERAL MANAGER STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT

Date report prepared: 2 March 2008

Attachments

Attachment 1: Aerial photograph of 177-179 Aramoana Road with zoning provisions

The image below shows the approximate position of the excavation work as at 23 March. The area indicated by the dotted line is being excavated as I write.

Corner of Lewis St and Aramoana Rd

Another view in Deborah Bay.

I'll put images up on this blog from time to time that are of Deborah Bay.

This is published under a creative commons license.

CR.

DBA origins

There are the rules for the DBA in the post before this one. Quite straightforward and simple, they fit on an A4 page when printed.

The officers when the last meeting was held were; Secretary, Chris Reid (author of this blog post); Treasurer, Marian Poole; Chair, Oliver Goldsmith.

The last meeting was held on 10 July 1996.

It is my intention to ready the DBA to come out of recess. There are plans to develop the former Lewis Farm, which may greatly affect the amenity of the Bay. So far the plans have not been announced but a number of residents, including the DBA, have written to Alan Worthington at the DCC asking to be included as interested parties in any resource consents that are applied for in relation to the farm.

There are other issues that the DBA has taken an interest in such as control of traffic on the road and the perilous nature of the road for pedestrians between Deborah Bay and Careys Bay.

In 1996 the DBA was a party to Environment Court hearings regarding the proposal to fill in 1.6 hectares of the bay to create a car park and boat ramp for the Port Chalmers Yacht Club.

After much effort from all sides that proposal was defeated and the Bay remains a beautiful and peaceful place for recreation on and off the water.

The DBA was formed in 1994 to respond to that particular issue. It was involved with the development of The Green and then allowed to go into recess when there were no further pressing issues that required it.

The time might be right now to bring it back online.

CR.

Rules

RULES OF THE DEBORAH BAY ASSOCIATION (INCORPORATED)

1. NAME The Deborah Bay Association Incorporated

2. OBJECTS To preserve and enhance the amenity and environmental values of Deborah Bay, for the benefit of the community.

3. MEMBERS Any person normally a resident or ratepayer at Deborah Bay may join the association by informing the secretary; and will then have their name recorded in a register of members. A person may cease to be a member by resignation.

4. RULES These rules may be altered, added to or rescinded on the vote of a 2/3 majority of those members present at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose.

5. MEETINGS The Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held close to the shortest day. Meetings shall be called by the Secretary when they think appropriate or on the request of any 3 members. Notice of any meeting shall be given to all members not less than seven days before the meeting. Notice of any meeting to change the rules of the Society shall be given in writing and shall state in detail the purpose, time and place of the meeting. Meetings shall be under the control of the Chair. Voting shall be by voice, by show of hands or by secret ballot at the discretion of the meeting.

6. OFFICERS The day-to-day running of the Society shall be in the hands of the Secretary; the financial affairs in the hands of the Treasurer and meetings under the control of the Chair; elected by a majority of members present at the Annual General Meeting or at any general meeting should that office fall vacant, on the nomination of any member present; a quorum of seven members will be required for any meeting.

7. COMMON SEAL of the Society shall be under the control of the Secretary on the authority of a majority of members present at a meeting of the Society.

8. THE FINANCIAL AFFAIRS of the Society shall be in the hands of the Treasurer except that all cheques shall be signed by the Treasurer, the Secretary and the Chair. The Treasurer shall cause proper accounts to be kept and shall report to the A.G.M.

9. THE SOCIETY may own property, borrow or otherwise raise money and do any other lawful act in furtherance of its objects.

10. WINDING UP The Society may be wound up and assets disposed of if, in the opinion of a 2/3 majority of those members present at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose, it has ceased to effectively further its objects; and if such a resolution to wind up the Society is confirmed by a subsequent Special General Meeting called for that purpose not less than 30 days after that original resolution to wind up was passed.

First Post

Hello, welcome to the first post on the Deborah Bay Association blog.

The Deborah Bay Association is a residents group for people who reside or own property in Deborah Bay near Port Chalmers and on Otago Harbour.

This blog will be an information and forum site for issues relating to Deborah Bay.

More details including the charter for the DBA will appear soon.

Regards,

Chris Reid