Submission to NZ Transport Agency

1          Coasters Musical Theatre supports the Western Link Road 4 Lane Expressway Option

             with the following recommendations:

                                A} That additional interchanges be created at Kapiti Road and Te Moana Road

                                B}  That the interchange at Otaihanga be removed.

2              Coasters Musical Theatre does not support the submission made by the Kapiti Coast District Council.

                                The Kapiti Coast District Council has not sought the views of Kapiti ratepayers. That their submission does not reflect the views of the wider community is demonstrated by the fact that at the Council Meeting the submission was not supported by all Councillors. Their option is far too costly in both dollar terms and destruction of homes and businesses on the Kapiti Coast.

3              Coasters Musical Theatre does not support either the Eastern Option or the Western Option.

                We believe that these options would also be too disruptive to the community.

BACKGROUND.

                Coasters own and occupy the premises at No’s 15 & 17 Hinemoa Street                Paraparaumu. Coasters Musical Theatre is a community based amateur group with a membership of approximately 100.

                                The original building [ # 15 ] was the first Post Office and Postmaster's residence in Paraparaumu. After the Post Office relocated it was purchased by Council and became the Community Centre.

                                In 1996 Coasters purchased the building and modified it to         accommodate a small theatre and a                 costume hire outlet. The alterations were carried out by volunteers and took 1000's of hours to                                                              complete to the standard it is today.

                                We have spent 30 years building up what we have today.

                                The purchase and alterations were funded by grants, a mortgage - which is nearly repaid- and from the funds raised through our productions and costume hire activity.

                                The building has special significance as a Historical Building and the Council has approached us to have it placed on the Heritage Register.

                                It has also played a significant role in the history of Coasters in that the 1st  two meetings to form our society were held at #15.

                                Given the history we are disappointed that the Kapiti Coast District       Council is prepared to allow the destruction of the building.

                The WLR 4 Lane Option

                                COASTERS PERSPECTIVE:

                This option would allow us to retain both our theatre and costume hire activity and allow continuity of our operations.

                Over the last few years a sub committee has been exploring future options for the Society and the main                 thrust has been the redevelopment       of both the theatre and costume hire. A new theatre to accommodate up to 250 patrons and to enlarge the area for our costume hire facilities.

                 As with many organisations we were looking to maximising our opportunities to increase both usage of the building and our income. To this end we had envisaged that our revamped premises would also be able to be used as a small conference venue.

                COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE:

                This Option will be the least disruptive. Many property buying decisions have been made on the clear understanding of where the current WLR designation has been for at least the last 60 years.

                Almost no disruption to the wider Kapiti district traffic during construction of the expressway and none of the  wholesale demolition of homes and commercial properties.

                It is the least costly to ratepayers. The WLR in its present form has been a major impost on Kapiti ratepayers.

                With the recent decision on the Paraparaumu Airport it makes commonsense that given the    inevitable expansion of both business and air services that we make provision NOW for access to the expressway to enable the rapid and safe movement of both goods and passengers both           within and out of the district. It would not be desirable for this traffic to clog local roads.

                KCDC intend to move the focus of the Town Centre to the west so it makes sense to provide better access through the WLR option.

                It will also provide the necessary speedy access for emergency vehicles.

                Residents, particularly the elderly, would still have the existing SH1 route         to provide access throughout the district.

THE EASTERN AND WESTERN OPTIONS:

COASTERS PERSPECTIVE:

Even allowing for reasonable compensation the economic effect on Coasters would be considerable.

A community theatre has needs and requirements more specific than the ordinary householder with critical factors such as: 

                A             location - we couldn't operate in a residential area.

                B             securing premises suitable for a theatre and costume hire operation. We currently enjoy a central location with easy access from all parts of the Kapiti Coast.

                C             Securing funding to either build from new or modify an existing building. The current economic climate is a severe limiting factor to our ability to raise the required funds through either sponsorship and or borrowing.

                                As with other affected property owners we would be locked into properties that cannot be sold and be reluctant to develop further.

COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE:

                                Kapiti ratepayers will face substantial rate increases to cover the cost of construction or alteration to existing roading to allow for the passage of the Expressway. Much of the existing internal                    roading will not cope with the higher volumes of traffic.

                                There will inevitably be major disruption to all traffic during construction for many years.

                                Neither option allows reasonable access to the central business districts in both Paraparaumu and Waikanae.

For and on behalf of

COASTERS MUSICAL THEATRE

A.F. LLOYD

PRESIDENT