Herne Bay Issues (originally submitted 5 Mar 2020)

I met up with Herne Bay Residents Group on the 21 st February. They drew my attention to the number of street trees that are under extreme stress with the drought, also how certain tree pits that allow easy watering can help. I have committed to looking into how well trees are doing across the city, with particular regard to new plantings. A meeting will be set up for the board with the community facilities team to look into street management. There are roadworks coming up around Herne Bay to slow traffic down. There was some confusion but Clifton Road will be included. There have been issues with parking in the area as Herne Bay is just outside the residents parking zone of Ponsonby and St Mary’s Bay. This in addition to the roadworks may have put pressure on school drop offs area. AT has been in touch with principal of Ponsonby Primary. Consulation into extending the residents parking zone area into Herne Bay is scheduled to begin, all being well, in the next financial year.

The issue of asset management with regard infrastructure and heritage was raised which I have followed up. There is a Central Reporting Asset Management (CRAM) Tool. I have looked up the Leys Institute building which many in the community are very keen on saving. The trust deed of the Leys demands that the property remains a library. A report in 2018 noted the 5% risk and recommended timely remedial work to avoid risk of hurting someone:

The cost to strengthen the building up to 67% at the time of the report in 2018 was $3.2m. In short, the longer we wait, the more expensive and difficult the job will be.