Long Term Community Plan 2012-2022 - Hurunui District Council

Hurunui Community Long Term Plan 2012 - 2022
In addition, the Amberley Ward also has an elected Ward
Committee which includes amongst its varied responsibilities
the overseeing of the ward’s water and sewerage schemes, and
the Amberley Recreation Reserve Subcommittee. The Amberley
Ward also has the Amberley District Residents’ Association,
the Leithfield and Leithfield Beach Residents’ Groups and the
Amberley Beach Residents’ Association.
Key Long Term Opportunities and
Challenges
• The worldwide economic downturn had a temporary
negative effect on growth and development in the
Amberley Ward. However, this is expected to reversed
as people need or want to leave earthquake affected
areas in Christchurch and Kaiapoi may consider buying
houses and sections in the ward. Amberley Township is
also popular to an increasing number of retirees.
• State Highway 1 remains a major economic strength
and improvements have lessened the pedestrian
safety challenges for the community. The outcome of
the proposed District Plan change will likely have an
influence on development in upcoming years.
• The number one Amberley Concept Plan (ACP)
priority project that was identified was in regards to
residential and commercial zoning. After a lengthy
consultation process, the District Plan Changes became
operative in 2009.
• New District Plan provisions for independent senior
living units (ISLUs) and minor dwelling units (MDUs)
were made operative late last year. This enables another
type of residential development that will cater for the
needs of the “earthquake refugees” as well as the needs
of the aging population.
• The ACP identified the current centre of town location
for the Amberley Transfer Station to be inappropriate,
and new potential sites have since been investigated. A
site in Greys Road has been identified as the preferred
location and this will now be consulted on.
• The need to upgrade the Amberley Swimming Pool was
also highlighted during the concept planning process,
and subsequent investigations have found that the pool
has a limited life expectancy and that we should not rely
on it after 2018. The Amberley Ward Committee, via a
working group, has been further investigating options
for the future including whether the current pool can
be upgraded or whether a new pool should be built.
Extensive consultation will be carried out prior to any
final decisions being made.
• A huge land bank now exists in Amberley resulting
from recent plan changes which rezoned rural land to
residential use.
• The resource consent for the long awaited supermarket
and shopping complex for Amberley was signed off in
2010. Although a commitment has not yet been made
by one of the major supermarket chains, this is still
being pursued by the developer who remains optimistic
that a deal will be completed in the near future.
• The Council has adopted a Walking and Cycling
Strategy, which aims to facilitate the desires made by
some members of the Community to improve the
Walking and Cycling linkages within the Hurunui District.
Of particular importance for the Amberley Ward are
the proposed commuter routes from Amberley to
Amberley Beach, Amberley to Waipara, and Amberley
to Leithfield.
• The Amberley Ward beaches from Ashworths to “the
Rocks” are included in the Northern Pegasus Bay
Coastal Management Plan. This Plan contains a number
of recommendations, including a requirement that all
vehicles on Northern Pegasus Bay must obtain a permit
and obey all conditions of the permit including, a speed
limit for vehicles of 10km/h around people and 30km/h
on the open beach, in addition any vehicle on the beach
must be operated below the high tide mark.
• The Amberley Ward’s population growth since 2008 has
been slow. However, previous growth, and anticipated
moderate future growth, particularly in the townships,
will ultimately create a need for expanded community
facilities. Further expansion and development of the
Amberley Domain may become necessary. New
subdivisions need to include the provision of parks,
reserves and walkways. Another long term challenge
to meeting population growth and developers’ and
residents’ expectations for the Amberley Ward will be
the possible demands to seal existing gravel roads.
• The presence of State Highway 1 will continue to
stimulate associated growth and development, whilst at
the same time placing responsibility on the council, the
community and the New Zealand Transport Agency to
manage the associated effects of such traffic.
• Amberley Ward’s locality acts as a valuable “gateway”
to the Hurunui District, offering opportunities for
further growth and profitable gains to the local tourism
industry.
• Impacts from the Pegasus Town development have
not yet become apparent. As the town grows, a
foreseeable possible adverse impact on the Amberley
Ward is the additional traffic volumes creating longer
commuting times between Woodend and Christchurch.
Possible positive impacts include more employment
opportunities and Amberley Ward could be a satellite
base for staff for the new township. The proposed new
High School would be the closest one to the Amberley
Ward.
• The Amberley Ward has nearly one third of its
population aged 65 years and over (Stats NZ Census
2006). The requirements of this demographic has
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