DBRA AGM Minutes – 20 Aug 2008

Minutes of Days Bay Residents Association AGM Wed 20 August 2008 – Chocolate Dayz Cafe, 614 Marine Drive, Days Bay – opening 7.10pm. There was a short audio visual show of historic photos & recent photos of projects & activities during the past year.

 

Present – Bob & Jacqui Fairburn, Hayley & Gary Crawford, Gerry Thyne & Stephanie Middleton, Mary Greig, Simon Hoyle & Janet Andrews, John & Joan Martin, Maggie & John Rainey Smith, John Butt & annette Begg, Rebecca Chevalier, Liz & Brian Nightengale, Robyn & Roger Cooper, Kevin Martin, John & Edith Gates, Jeff & Mary Tallon, Chris & Ian Sliper, Michelle & Warren Bolger, Valierie Blennerhassett, Ginny & John Horricks, Diane & Terry Seward, Louise & Noel Smith, Gail Dallamore, Jim Mitchell, Jan Heine, Frank Fitzgerald

 

Apologies – Cameron Sanders, Blair & Judith Treadwell, Owen & Jenny Symmans, Arnold Heine, Elliot Dawson, Barry Clayton, Margaret Press, Ian & Lynne Miller, Spencer & Diane Logan

 

Minutes of last AGM read – motion to be taken as read & approved – moved by Simon Hoyle, sec. Roger Cooper – carried

 

Matters arising – none

 

Financial report – Our regular auditor Trevor Taylor to arrange audit on return from Beijing. Unaudited acounts were circulated to the meeting. The audited accounts will be made available on the Days Bay blog when available.

Chairman’s Report for 2007/2008 – Welcome to the 2008 Annual General Meeting of the Days Bay Residents Association. I have pleasure in reporting on the Association’s activities for the 2007-2008 year . Your committee has been working in your interests throughout the year. I believe that this has been a year of quiet achievement. The committee has met on 5 occasions during the course of the current period. We welcomed some new faces to the committee following the last AGM. I believe we are fortunate in having a committee that possesses a valuable mixture of experience and fresh thinking. The effectiveness of the committee is perhaps best judged by the content of this report.

Acknowledgements – While the Association does not have a big expense budget there are inevitably items of expenditure. The committee is mindful of the need to care for the finances of the Association and has worked diligently to maintain the available funds at a level similar to the balance recorded in previous years. From time to time, generous residents make donations to the Association. Over the years the Association has also benefited from generous sponsorship of a number of business enterprises. Our two most consistent sponsors have been the Eastbourne office of Harcourts and the Dockside Bar and Restaurant.

The Year in Review – The annual picnic held on 17th February was again an outstanding success and as well as providing local residents with a friendly social gathering also provided recent arrivals in the area the opportunity to become acquainted. The North v South tug of war is becoming increasingly competitive.

The tennis courts continue to be popular during the summer months. In this context we were very pleased to record the continuing assistance of Hutt City Council by way of a contracted maintenance programme for the lawn tennis courts.

Throughout the Association’s year we have maintained regular contact with Hutt City Council on a number of matters. Subjects of particular concern included:

 · Erosion of the beach area in front of Wellesley College

· Construction of a new footpath in front of Williams Park

 · Gravel accretion at the south end of the beach

 · Traffic congestion in front of Williams Park

 · Improved rubbish collection facilities on the waterfront

Residents cannot help but notice that Council contractors recently completed the erection of a sea wall and walkway on the north side of the wharf. When first completed, this project greatly improved the appearance of this section of the beach and road frontage. Sadly the elements have again made something of a mockery of man’s efforts. We will need to re-establish dialogue with the Council to ensure that the improvements, initially so full of promise do not simply revert to the state that prevailed in recent years.

Last year we reported that Hutt City Council is proposing a serious upgrade of the beach toilet and changing facilities. A tender has been let and subject to completion of the consent process, construction work is due to begin very soon.

We are pleased to confirm that the website proposed at our last AGM is now a reality. A number of local businesses have provided sponsorship by way of advertising. Reference to the website will confirm the names of the sponsors. Their support is appreciated. In addition our ever busy secretary Simon Hoyle has established a blog that allows us to keep residents up to date with local developments.

The gravel accretion at the south end of the beach continues to cause concern as the gravel appears to be creeping further north. Our once sandy beach has lost much of its appeal as a family summer playground. I am sure you will agree that the change is dramatic even if it has occurred over a period of 50 years or more. We are continuing to discuss possible solutions with the council. During the last 12 months the council has sponsored two visits from Coromandel based coastline expert Jim Dahm to review the harbour coastline. The committee is to consider the prospect of sponsoring a further visit from Jim to focus exclusively on the state of the Days Bay beach.

The committee is continuing to maintain a watch on the flow of traffic during summer weekends. Ironically, despite having experienced one of our better summers last summer, traffic congestion seemed to be much less of a problem. We are not sure why.

Some of our forward thinking residents who first looked back at pictures of Days Bay as it was back in the 1930s have suggested that there may be a place for re-designing the relationship of Williams Park with the beach. Such a concept could see the realignment of the road so that the Park play area and the beach became one continuous recreation area. A 1930s style pavilion building would enhance and complete the facility that will again make Days Bay the summer playground of Wellington and Hutt Valley residents. Your views on this concept are welcome.

In summary the outgoing committee has worked hard at developing the blueprint for the Association’s role in the community as set in the previous year. It is up to residents to endorse the committee’s work or to provide corrections to the thinking of the outgoing committee. Our committee members have again offered themselves for re-election. The exception is our treasurer Kevin Martin who has served the Association well both as a committee member and as treasurer. We thank Kevin for his contribution.

Thank you for your attention. John Martin, Chairman

Followed by some discussion re Williams park, Days Bay beach retaining wall & gravel accretion on beach.

Election of Officers – Current Committee – Kevin Martin resigned as Treasurer. Spencer Logan not considered as he is living out of Bays temporarily. Simon Hoyle assumed the chair while nominations were sought for chairman. John Martin re appointed as Chairman by acclamation. Simon Hoyle reappointed as secretary. Nomination for Annette Begg as treasurer – nominated by Simon Hoyle, seconded by John Butt – motion carried unanimously. Committee nominations – John Butt, moved by Annette Begg & John Rainey Smith, moved by Roger Cooper. Both nominations seconded by Simon Hoyle – motion carried unanimously. Both welcomed on committee.

General business – Simon showed photos of gravel build up on Days Bay beach – general supportive discussion. Mention of John Butt’s research into former reports, historical & current photos – these will be made available from the Days Bay website & Blog. (See Blog below) Motion by Janet Andrews -“The DBRA committee be asked to obtain a report on Days Bay beach by an independent consultant with a view to proposing to HCC short & long term plans for the preservation of Days Bay as a valuable recreation & nature area for the greater region” – seconded by Annette Begg. The motion was put and carried.

Photos were shown of a suggested replacement for the present Pavilion – an older 2 storey wooden building that might be sourced at nominal cost then relocated. Maggie Rainey Smith suggested finding a more “period” style building. In addition, realignment of the main road in conjunction with a new/old Pavilion building – supportive comments were received from the meeting but obviously more research & public consultation is needed. John Gates mentioned the infrastructure/drains, etc. in the road but Simon pointed out that future work on these would benefit with the main road not affected. Noted that Ian Miller, not present, had concerns about the road realignment option but would support a study for a character building in place of the current pavilion, but it would of course need to be cost effective. (his written comments will be presented to the DBRA committee)

Meeting closed 8.10pm followed by excellent buffet style dinner at the Chocolate Dayz Cafe. 9.15pm Jeff Tallon entertained with a talk “Ca Va?” – outlining NZ’s decline in productivity over the past 30 years & a lack of committed funding towards important scientific research – food for thought!