It looks like I have left meeting schedules too late for us to get together in 2004.
I intend to organise the Canterbury Branch of Living Streets more formally in 2005. I got a little too preoccupied with my project in Lyttelton!
I would like to propose that we meet regularly next year, every 6 weeks beginning the last week in January. We just need to find a suitable evening. How about Tuesday evening at 5.15pm at the Sustainable Cities meeting room, Level 4, Ibis House, 183 Hereford Street. Let me know if that suites you. If suitable that would mean our meeting schedules are as follows:
Jan 25th, March 8th, April 19th, May 31st, July 12th, Aug 23rd, Oct 4th, Nov 15th
Just a brief run down on the Living Streets Conference in Wellington. Canterbury was reasonably represented. Tim Hughes, Andrew McBeth, Shane Turner, Steve and myself were there.
The Minister for Transport Pete Hodgson opened the conference. He made some encouraging comments and certainly showed he was a keen supporter of walking. The Minister showed his displeasure of funding mechanisms for walking. For instance why Transfund funding does not have a FAR for the construction of footpaths. Lets hope that he can do something about that.
There were a series of interesting speakers from Australia and New Zealand. Steve gave a great presentation on community audits and why they were a vital form of feedback to complete the cycle for councils to get user feedback on infrastructure to enable them to continually modify and improve the walking environment. I was able to give a good run down on the map and signage project for Lyttelton. Looks like the signs and map will be included as best practice guidelines in MOT and LTSA literature.
Overall the conference was a great success and a chance to make contacts with other people working in the field over New Zealand.
At the conclusion of the conference LSA had its AGM. Celia listed the focus for LSA next year. She hopes that LSA can train and carry out Community Street Audits around the country, continue to produce a range of maps and maintain our advocacy efforts to improve conditions for all walkers.
So what does that mean for us in Christchurch?
Think it means our work program should mirror the aims of the main branch. This translates into focusing on Pilot Community Street Audits. A small project has been drawn up and thanks to Susan we are able to apply for some Road Safety funding from the CCC council. It also means encouraging more map and signage projects.
So in brief for the year ahead I think we should focus on developing Community Street Audits in ChCh alongside doing some advocacy work.
Thanks you to everyone who has contributed to LSA Canterbury over the last year.
I look forward to working with you all next year and making an impact on the walking landscape in Canterbury.
Regards,
Wendy Everingham
Co-ordinator LSA Canterbury.