Petone: New Motel Development seeks resource consent

The new motel development is at resource consent stage and will be situated at 44 Cuba Street, just off Jackson Street. It will incorporate an adjacent property and has the backing of the developer Mr Rudings.

Mr Rudings says he learned a lot from building Boulcott Lodge (opens end of July) in Lower Hutt (see below)
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and he is confident that he can avoid the problems that delayed it when it comes to the Petone motel.

His application for resource consent is based on a 21 unit property on the corner of Cuba and Heretaunga Streets.

To try and avoid any difficulties with neighbours he says he personally visited 25 neighbours to explain the proposal. Consultation also included two presentations to the Petone Planning Action Group and local residents.

A local urban design consultant was also used to make sure the two-storied building blends in. The design will make the motel look like three buildings, so it does not look out of place amongst residential properties, he says.

The site currently features a dilapidated house and a large building that was once used for car upholstery.

The feedback he has got from neighbours is that they believe the motel will improve the area.

The design includes traffic calming measures in the entrance of Heretaunga Street, which he will pay for.

”That will slow down the boy racers and make the place look much better.”

The proposed design does not conform with the District Plan on three aspects but Mr Rudings says they are all minor and he is confident that he will get consent.

Upper Hutt: Private Wind Turbine possible on Emerald Hill

A 15 metre high wind turbine to be installed on private land (situated next to the trig station) at Emerald Hill owned by Adam Blackwell has past its first hurdle after being accepted by the Upper Hutt City Council.

It will provide power to the owners Main Road North property with its generated net power fully used by the house.

The decision by the council is the first stage in the planning process and sees the council acting as the “requiring authority” only. It will be subject to normal resource consent requirements.

Emerald Hill is a dominant landscape feature for residents of Maoribank, Brown Owl, Emerald Hill, Parkdale, Birchville and for users of State Highway 2.

An earlier report commissioned with regard to recent cellphone tower installation at the Emerald Hill site says

“Although the ridgeline has been comprised by power lines running across its northern face, the presence of a cluster of cellphone towers close to the summit will increase the visual encroachment into the skyline.” 

The cellphone towers are regarded as utilities and as such have dispensation within the Councils District plan, this private  installation of a wind tower will now facing normal Resource Consent processes which call for public input.

The question is will the public dispute its installation.

Lower Hutt CBD Development plan

A $20 million new city council building is in the offering for Lower Hutt to give the city’s tired central business district a boost.

Retailers, business leaders and the mayor agree the central city lacks a heart and there is tentative support for the Hutt City Council’s ideas.

Along with the “multi-purpose civic building” proposed for High St near the Hutt River, councillors are also supporting a new bridge from State Highway 2 into the city, a riverside promenade and a green area around the NewDowse art gallery.

The ideas, backed by a council committee last night, are part of longterm plans to revitalise the central city by 2030.

A report prepared for the council says the central business district is unfriendly to pedestrians, full of big box developments and lacking in entertainment options.

Lower Hutt Mayor David Ogden has called for help from a local retailing figure, in the manner of Newmarket Business Association’s Cameron Brewer, because of the big number of empty shops in the city.

“I’ve been getting more and more frustrated that there doesn’t seem to be an effective way of addressing the lack of vitality and vibrancy here,” Mr Ogden said.

The new council building was a good idea because the council’s existing premises would need $15 million to $20m of earthquake strengthening in 2018, he said.

“I’m not prepared to put it off, so we would have to move out in any event … It behoves us to have a place where people will gather and have a social life together.”

The proposed building roughly costed at $21.5m would include 6000 square metres of space for the council, as well as space for parking and shops.

The council report suggests that moving into the struggling southern end of High St could spark development in the area, while a nearby public square would link the city and the Hutt River.

But moving from the council’s present Laings Rd site would also mean finding a new owner, such as a hotel.

Professionals Hutt City owner John Ross said the central business district “lacks soul” at present.

It would be easy to find a developer who could take on the existing council buildings, he said.

One retailer, Mandeep Pala, said there had been plenty of consultation about the proposals, though he was ambivalent about the council’s planned new home.

“If they could spend money on other things, that would be better. But it [council repairs] hasn’t been done in 50 years, so I think it’s probably justified.”

An artist's drawing of the proposed changes looking from Laings Rd toward the Hutt River.

Artists impression of development in Laings Road Lower Hutt looking towards Hutt River.

Lower Hutt: Whats new in the Entertainment scene

I really get encouraged by people willing to give things a try in the hospitality scene, and at present there is a lot going on in Lower Hutt. While most businesses are looking to retrench or have gone into survival mode, I have to tip my hat to these four in trying something new in the Lower Hutt entertainment scene.

Loaded Hog High Street Lower Hutt

Loaded Hog High Street Lower Hutt

Loaded Hog

Recently taken over by James Thwaites who comes from a background in the hospitality business in Wellington. Major plans are on the cards with a current project to develop a 50 seat dining area upstairs. Also longer term is a 500 capacity band and nightclub venue next door, together with the intention to lauch a One Red Dog upmarket pizza restaurant above the night club. This restaurant will have an outside balcony looking out over High Street. That al fresco concept might also be a feature carried over into the upstairs part of the Loaded Hog. Paul Rowan, of ex Mange Tout is group executive chef. Paul has already changed the existing restaurants menu and the aim is to bring the Stonegrill concept to the new upstairs restaurant upon completion.

Las Margaritas Daly Street Lower Hutt

Las Margaritas Daly Street Lower Hutt

Las Margaritas 

Open about a week in the former Workshop Cafe in Daly Street.

The result of a dream of 14 years by owner Andres Pimentel, is a restaurant that is a combination of Mexican casual and upmarket cusine. Chef Roberto Amaro from Puebla Mexico will be in the kitchen while Andres sister Marina is the maitre’d.

They hope to share their culture through the food and ambience they have created.

Several other outlets are in the planning and while not yet confirmed here are the other two.

Possible Upmarket Burger Restaurant Cadillac

Possible Upmarket Burger Restaurant Cadillac

 

Cadillac

Further down southern High Street is a conversion of a former curry joint into Cadillac an upmarket burger outlet. Work is still being completed on fitout.

Possible Mediterranean Food Warehouse

Possible Mediterranean Food Warehouse

Mediterranean Food Warehouse
 
(check out the review on The Med Warehouse here)
 
Opposite McDonalds in High Street,  this is a further outlet for the Mediterranean Food Warehouse group (Newtown Wellington).
Construction has taken longer than predicted through resource consent delays. Offering hard to source food supplies from the Mediterranean along with a cafe with an upmarket pizza outlet.
It is encouraging that these developments are progresing in the Hutt and offer a greater hospitality experience.
I wish them all the best, and if you know of any other new dining outlets opening soon please let us know at HuttNZ@gmail.com or dm www.Twitter.com/HuttNZ

Hutt Park Redevelopment – Valley Indoor Sports to move next year.

Last week Hutt City Councillors approved issuing a lease of up to 33 years for land on the Eastern fringe of the Park so that Valley Indoor Sports can build a 3000sq mtr stadium incorporating 6 courts.

Valley Indoor Sports has run the indoor stadium off State Hughway 2 in Petone for the last 17 years. Owner Graham Kelly says around 3000 people a week play netball, soceer or cricket at the current stadium. His son Leigh Kelly, now runs day to day operation. NZ Transport Agency owns the lease over the old building and while there is no pressure to leave the current site early, the aim is to open the new stadium at Hutt Park in July next year. The Kellys will still have to get resource consent for the new stadium. Parking is a major consideration but upon formalisation of site layout in development that may be abated.

Petone Civil Aviation Authority move to Wellington

Transport Minister Steven Joyce says he is “not at all impressed” with the $8.5 million cost for the Civil Aviation Authority to move from its current Petone location (10 Hutt Road) to a new, multi-storied building in downtown Wellington.

The rental costs in the new building will be considerably higher on a per square metre basis than the CAA’s current facilities in Petone.

The decision to relocate was made last year, prior to the general election, and was supported by the then Transport Minister Annette King.

The move is scheduled for the end of next year. “I am not impressed that these costs are being incurred to this level and at this time when New Zealanders are having to tighten their belts in the current global economic recession,” says Mr Joyce.

About 90% of CAA revenue comes from industry fees and charges, including the domestic passenger levy.

Mr Joyce says he has made his views on this matter very clear to the Civil Aviation Authority.

“I have tested the options to amend or not go through with this move over a period of time with the Chair of the CAA. Unfortunately commitments were made with the support of the previous government that are unable to be changed.

“The CAA has assured me that everything possible will be done to contain costs going forward from here.”

Upper Hutt’s main shopping complex renamed

Controversial as it was being called “The Trentham City Shopping Mall” the owners the Pelorus Property Group have reverted to the original name wanted by most Upper Hutt people and the complex will simple be known as “The Mall”

Centre Manager Mr Threaplton says Upper Hutt people almost universally refer to the shopping centre as “The Mall”

“Its part of the culture here, of living and working in Upper Hutt. Its a really consistent thing and we really want to pick up on that. The new owners (Trentham City Investments, an amalgam of the Austrailian Pelorus Group, private financiers, and the Gibbs Family Trust) felt it was time to return to the original name and get back to the grassroots of the community”

“There was a general belief naming a shopping centre after a suburb 10 minutes away was not the way to go. We feel the locals were right on this one”

Currently the mall sit at about half full with capacity for 45 tenancies. The goal is to be fully tenanted but 90% of the area is already leased, a figure directly resulted from long term tenure of the Warehouse and Farmers.

Further to the interests of the development group concept designs have been created for 2 high rise buildings, one above Hazelwoods and the other on the Criddles site, the empty Main Street site, result of the fire to the Hannahs and Hallensteins stores is to be replaced with a 500 square metre 2 shop construction. All of these will be marketed with the ambition to have them pre-leased before any construction go-ahead.

via The Leader

Taita Walter Nash Stadium

It will take $11.1 million for an upgrade to Walter Nash Stadium. That will incorporate a 3 court extension for netball, seating for 3000, and see a new Taita Community Hall become part of the complex.

The proposal is one of the largest and biggest financial decisions placed in front of councillors in recent years.

The future of the stadium has been debated for more than a decade without any progress being made.

The current proposal requires sponsorship funding $4.4 million. Council will require to fund $6.7 million.
If the $4.4 million isn’t found the deal is off.

If the council goes forward with this proposal several other projects are in jeopardy like refurbishing the Eastbourne Bus Barn and upgrading the McKenzie Pool in Petone.

The council has some hard decisions over the future use of this complex, but to put at jeopardy other projects hardly seems warranted given that $4.4 million sponsorship money in the current economy is but a pipedream.

This issue needs to be resolved, there is no doubt the popularity of the Taita Netball courts and the interest in this area on any winter Saturday, the contentious issue is that is the Walter Nash stadium a go forward project for the Hutt and beneficial to the community at large. $4.4 million of sponsorship money is a tad rich I feel.

Aussie Steve Donnelly has been around before!

Know as the man who banned Wainuiomata from his motel in Palmerston North, it is not the first time the Hutt Valley has had exposure to Mr Donnelly and his forthright manner.

This is the same Mr Donnelly behind the 82 apartment Settlers complex in Jackson Street Petone.

This project was abandoned earlier this year after protracted planning hearings pushed out the development into the real estate downturn.

Mr Donnelly told the Hutt News paper at the time that when he builds the 8 storey towers when the recovery comes

“I’ll stand on the top storey and spit on those people (who objected)”

Nice, no doubt Aussie Steve does not mince his words.