Update on EV Parking Consultation

Recently, the council proposed a change to two parking spaces on William Street. Changing two angled parks to EV charging station car parks.


Following a period of consultation, the council has opted to postpone the implementation of TR27-24 William Street, Hataitai - P120, EV charging only, considering the input received.

 

Council officers have been instructed to initiate additional community engagement efforts and persist in exploring the optimal solution for this location. Future proposals will be announced either through the WCC website on Let’s Talk, an advert in the Dominion Post, or a direct letter drop if you reside near any proposed change.

How to make a submission to the Ministry of Health about the new Vape Store!

Some members of our Community have expressed strong objection to the proposed Specialist Vape Store located at 6 Taurima Street, Hataitai. This guide has been created to assist those who wish to make a complaint about this store.

Local legend Gordon Douglas, ex-Regulatory officer, has contacts in the Police and Manatū Ora (MOH), and has done some research for the Community. 

Here's the process to provide your feedback about the proposed SVR (Specialist Vape Retailer) at 6 Taurima Street. 

Visit: https://vaping.harp.health.nz/submissions/new

· Pick a form: Select complaint - if you wish to make a complaint.

· Complaint Details: Vaping

· About You: can be anonymous

· Your Complaint:

o Business Name : (leave blank)

o Business Address: 6 Taurima Street, Hataitai, Wellington

o Business Website: (leave blank)

o Complaints Details: (Cut and paste this copy, or type in as you wish)

I understand an application is being made for a Specialist Vape Retailer (SVR) to open on Taurima Street, Hataitai. The premises are only 20 metres from Hataitai Kindergarten and on the main pedestrian access to the Mount Victoria tunnel, which is used by a great number of students from all schools in the Eastern Suburbs including Rongotai College, St Patrick’s College, Scots College, St Catherine’s College, Wellington East Girl’s College, Wellington College, Wellington High School, St Mark’s School, Hataitai School and Kilbirnie School.

I understand the rule is a SVR can't be within 300m of a school, and technically Hataitai Kindergarten isn’t a school, BUT, we have advice that as it is a Ministry of Education licenced early years service, there is a case to be made.

I assume the purpose of the 300m rule is so vapes are both less accessible to rangatahi, and to ensure they are not marketed to. Both of those arguments apply in this situation, as it would be along one of the only routes our rangatahi take to get to school as well as to Hataitai Park (where regular youth sporting activities take place). I am particularly interested in the well-being of my community and thoroughly disagree with making harmful substances easier to access and more visible to the general public. I strongly believe this vape shop should not be present (at all, but especially not in its proposed location). Vapes are already available (discreetly) from other shops in Hataitai Village, so a new outlet is not needed.

o Date of Occurrence: (Todays date)

· Submit!

Thank you to our Sponsors and Congrats to our Raffle winners!

THANK YOU

It’s with heartfelt thanks that we wish to thank those individuals and businesses who supported our Christmas on the Green raffles by providing goods and services as prizes.

Including Peter Ellis, Circa Theatre, Dame Fiona Kidman, Kate Mahony, Peter Coates, Colleen Flynn, Angela Brown, Hataitai Pharmacy, The Realm Bistro and Bar,Louise Brockway, Nakhon Thai, Burger Fuel, Crazy Rabbit, Four Square Hataitai, Green Chilli, Jane De Lisle, Pollinators Connected Hataitai, Pak’N Save, Hataitai Community Recreation Trust, Glenna Lee, Children’s Bookshop and Jane Quirke.

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners!

Including Jane Scoular, Honey Grace, Kyra and Peter Roberts, and Derek de Lisle.

Thank you to all who bought tickets and supported our fundraising efforts.

WCC Proposed EV Charging Park on Williams Street

Wellington City Council is proposing changing some of the parking on William Street. They would like to create two EV charging station car parks outside number 3 William Street.

This would involve:

  • Reorientate the 60o angled parking spaces to 90o parking spaces

  • Apply the following parking restrictions: P120, EV Charging only

Why?

WCC is proposing the change as Wellingtonians have asked the Council for action on climate change, housing, and better transport options, so Wellington City Council is getting on with it.

As part of Te Atakura – First to Zero, our climate change action plan, one of the goals is to reduce the city’s emissions to net zero by 2050. Around 50% of the city’s carbon emissions come from transport. To help reduce emissions, the Council is making important changes to our transport system to give people better ways of moving around the city so we can all enjoy more vibrant, liveable streets. They are changing some parking spaces for electric vehicle (EV) charging, in line with our Parking Policy 2020. Installing EV chargers on local streets and places like our pools, libraries, and recreation centres helps to encourage people to switch from their petrol or diesel vehicles to an EV.

WWC is also making things safer and easier for pedestrians, people riding bikes or scooters, people taking the bus or using car share so more of us can be less reliant on our cars. Switching to an EV can be one of the biggest ways for individuals to reduce their emissions.

Electric vehicles are a growing presence in our city. Between January and September 2023, 16% of new vehicle registrations in New Zealand were battery-electric vehicles. The Land Transport (Clean Vehicles) Amendment Act 2022 sets incremental emissions reduction targets over the next five years. These targets will increase the number of electric vehicles in the market and, thereby, the demand for charging facilities. In response to this increased demand, the Council is installing 60 fast (25kW DC) chargers at 30 locations. These chargers take between 40-70 minutes to charge a vehicle and are, therefore, best located in places where people can do other things while they wait.

Hataitai currently has no publicly accessible electric vehicle chargers. The proposed installation near the shopping area would enable residents and visitors to recharge their vehicles as they visit nearby community facilities, shops, and cafes. The selection of this site was based on its proximity to the shopping area, the space required to install the chargers in line with good design practice, and the ability to connect them to the electricity grid within a reasonable budget.

The change to P120, EV charging only, is consistent with WCC's parking enforcement abilities and other council-controlled parking settings for EV charging-equipped parking spaces. It ensures that the parking spaces are used for their intended purpose with a turnover rate that enables a range of users to utilise the chargers. The change from 60-degree to 90 degree parking angle is required for users to drive in or reverse into the parking spaces. This is required so that users can access the charging port, which can be on either side, front or back, of the vehicle.

• For more information regarding our Privacy Statement, please check the Council’s webpage: Privacy Statement - Wellington City Council.

Feedback • If you would like to provide feedback, which will be added to the Traffic Resolution following consultation and made public in full, you can do so by filling out an online submission form, downloading a printable submission form on https://www.letstalk.wellington.govt.nz/ or emailing us at trfeedback@wcc.govt.nz.

Please note if you are giving feedback, the consultation period opens at 9am, Tuesday 13 February 2024 and closes at 5pm, Monday 26 February 2024.

Community Concerned about Vape Store in the Village

At a recent Hataitai Residents Association Meeting, concerns were raised by the Community about the pending opening of a Vape Store on Taurima Street in the Hataitai Village.

Concern centre around the proximity of this store to Hataitai Kindergarten and on a main throughfare for local primary and high schools in the area. Within 1.5 kilometres of this store are two high schools, two primary schools, two kindergartens, a playgroup and a playcentre. The concern centring on the impact of this store would have on the health of local children.

The Resident’s Association and concerned locals are reaching out to local city councillors, businesses, churchs and sports clubs in the area. If you are concerned about this store, then please contact the Resdient’s Association to share your concerns: residents@hataitai.org.nz