1: LTCCP. The council released its Long Term Council Community Plan (the “ten-year plan”) last week. Perhaps you have had a chance to browse it, but if you haven’t, here it is! We have the chance to submit to the plan electronically by clicking the “have your say” link at the top of the LTCCP and filling in the gaps. If you are wondering about whether to choose to have your submision heard at a public hearing, tick “yes”. You can always either opt out, or nominate someone else to talk for you as a group. I envision a representative from every Grey Lynn 2030 group presenting at the submissions hearing… how about it…

If you are wondering about the usefulness of participating in the LTCCP process when the council is obviously in a state of change, the council’s attitude is “business as usual”. Don’t let the changing structure of Auckland’s governance dissuade you from participating… in fact we need more representation than ever. Our opinions are taken into account by the council.

The chance to make submission to the LTCCP finishes on Friday 19th of May.

2: Future Planning Framework. Another interesting planning initiative from the council is the “FPF”. Its the long-long term “vision” for Auckland City, covering areas like “Spatial Framework” and “Strong and Healthy Communities”. And you can read it here. Once again there’s the chance to participate online and I’d really like to see all Grey Lynn 2030 groups in on this one! There’s a forum being held by the council on Tuesday 5th May at 6pm (this is a change from the previous date) at Leys Institute in Ponsonby for which you need to register on the website (click on “Events” at the top of the page).

The chance to make a submission to the FPF closes on the 8th of May.

3: Is it a town? NO! Is it a community? NO!! It’s Supercity!!! By now we have all heard of the Supercity scheme being rushed through parliament. John Banks reverted to his old, rabid ways on the radio last week and frankly, it scared me! However it was an interesting interview with Katherine Ryan. I wrote to Nikki Kaye (our local MP) as well as every other National MP in Auckland that I could think of. Some of them even sent replies. The addresses to send to are listed in this article from last weeks Aucklander. Please do write to the MPs outlining any concerns you might have about the supercity proposal. If you are unsure about what exactly is changing, Brian Rudman summed it up quite nicely here.

Ruth Marsh and James Samuel are facilitating a weekend event
using the best that the Transition Towns movement has to offer.

Together they will explore where the Transition movement in New Zealand is , how we got here,what we want for our future, and how will we create it.

Theintention is that you take away a deep sense of possibility, for a bright and vibrant future.

For all the details about this 2 day event visit:
www.ttnorthland.wordpress.com

Transition Pt Chevalier in collaboration with Pt Chevalier School is delighted to present a free public talk by:

Eion Scott: Eco Design Advisor,

Auckland City Council

Thursday, 21st May, 7.30pm, Resource Room, Pt Chevalier School, Te Ra Rd.

Keen to make your home more energy efficient, comfortable to live in, cheaper to run and easier on the environment? Eion’s talk will cover issues such as energy and water efficient appliances and systems, waste management, indoor environment quality, and selecting more sustainable materials. The event will appeal to anyone who has a concern about the quality of their living environment, regardless of whether they are cooking up a grand design, converting their dream home into a green home, or just making their wooden tent a little warmer before next winter.

As well as talking at such events, Eion offers up to two hours of free, independent, tailored advice on how to improve the sustainability of homes, including a visit to the home or building site. You can book a follow-up visit from him at his talk.

Transition Pt Chevalier will be offering a free eco light bulb to the first 30 people who arrive and running a free raffle for anyone who walks, cycles or takes public transport to the event

For further details please contact Eion Scott, Eion.Scott@aucklandcity.govt.nz or Niki Harré, nikiharre@xtra.co.nz

Biogas is the flammable gas given off during

Anaerobic Digestion (fermentation).

Anaerobic Digestion is a useful process!

Biogas is a useful product!

Biogas can be utilised as a free energy source in a domestic or farm situation!

Small scale Anaerobic Digestion for the House and Farm, is the topic of a Presentation at:

the Maharishi Vedic Center

295 Wainui Rd

7 pm

30 April 2009

$5 per person

Biogas.  This is the natural production of methane using organic wastes.  The two speakers are Jo Knight of the NZ Zero Waste Trust who has travelled extensively in Europe and studied large scale biogas plants and Helensville engineer Steve Rodda who has been experimenting with building biogas reactors locally.  Steve is keen to find a suburban community who wants to build a cooperative biogas plant.

Are you involved with another voluntary group besides GL2030? If that group is trying to get online, but lacks the budget or know-how to do it independently this could be for you.

Help is now at hand in the form of innovative community web service, the People’s Times . A brand new addition to Aotearoa’s digital landscape, the People’s Times has brought together the latest internet technologies to create a world-class website with a very homegrown mission – supporting New Zealand’s grassroots groups to communicate, organise and promote their activities, while also giving individual Kiwis a place to express themselves.

The People’s Times offers three purpose-built, integrated services in one place. They are:

• People’s Times Communities – offering simple, ad-free homepages for groups with user-friendly networking tools and online storage built in;
• People’s Times News – NZ’s first dedicated “citizen journalism” platform: anyone can submit original articles and pictures or link to stories elsewhere; and
• People’s Times NoticeBoard – searchable, community-oriented free listings (also accessible directly at www.noticeboard.org.nz).

It may be ambitious in scope, but the sites features are simple in application and determinedly non-commercial – everything on the site is free to use, and ads are kept to a minimum – making it ideal for groups who haven’t yet made it online for reasons of expertise or expense.

The People’s Times is the result of a partnership between the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, leading open-source developers Catalyst IT and e-learning specialists Flexible Learning Network, and the project has received financial support from the Community Partnership Fund as part of the Government’s Digital Strategy.

Project Director Richard Wyles says that the site began life in time-honoured fashion – as jottings on the back of a napkin over a beer with a friend.

“Many of us are involved in groups and clubs at the neighbourhood level – they’re a really vibrant and vital part of New Zealand society. Yet despite the internet revolutionising the way people do business and even run their social lives, many small, local groups are yet to make the leap online.”

Drawing on his experience using open-source web technologies to support communication and learning in business and education, Richard started to think about how the latest web developments could be customised to produce something simple and practical for community groups.

“We were trying to think of a way to help grassroots groups to harness the new communication tools available in the digital age, without needing to develop the infrastructure individually. Organising virtually can reduce the administration burden for small groups, while helping to ensure their accessibility to new generations of members.”

Richard had also become interested in the burgeoning web phenomenon dubbed “citizen journalism”, which is becoming increasingly popular internationally. As a result, New Zealand’s first dedicated citizen journalism platform – People’s Times News – is one of the three strands that make up the site.

Adding the Noticeboard to the mix was a logical third step, providing for community listings such as advertising school fairs, public notices, and Lost and Found.

For more information visit www.peoplestimes.org.nz or info@peoplestimes.co.nz

ANZAC DAY, Saturday 25 April, the market will be open from 12 noon to 3pm

Parnell Farmers’ Market is an authentic growers market which is located in the Jubilee Building car park at 545 Parnell Road, Parnell. 

Growers, farmers and producers sell a seasonal selection of fresh and organic fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, plants, baked goods, honey, eggs, flowers and plant-based products. 

Parnell Farmers’ Market does not include craft, art or clothing.