PRESENT: Lisa Rowland; Richard Balm; Thomas Schwarz; Karyn Hutton; Pete Masters; Mike Langley; Keith Crate

APOLOGIES RECEIVED: NIL

CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES:  Committee agreed that minutes of  5 March 2008 were a true and correct record, Accepted by Thomas/Mike

MATTERS ARISING:

1.       ViaStrada meeting – see subcommittee reports

2.       Bike Taupo Strategic Planning Day – to take place 3 May 2008 at Le Pine’s offices (Alan Vane facilitating)

INCOMING/OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE:

Incoming:

1.                   7 March – Environment Waikato – Notice of joint hearing between Lakeview Properties Ltd and Waikato Regional council and Taupo District Council.

2.                   18 March – TDC – draft 2008/2009 Annual plan – submissions close 21 April. 

3.                   31 March – Notification of plan change for the Mapara Valley Structure Plan.  Plan change is available for submissions until 30 May 2008

4.                   3 April – Environment Waikato – re Joint Hearing – April hearing is cancelled and advice re a replacement date will be advised but will be some months away.

5.                   10 April – Mountain Bike Club – letter with cheque $500.20 being track maintenance fees from Summer Handicap Series 2008.

6.                   April – CAN invoice plus brochures and copies of Chainlinks.

Outgoing:

1.                   7 March – TDC – response letter to their letter re the Culvert near Rainbow Drive.

2.                   14 April – Letter of support for Opus regarding a cycle way on Western side of Waikato River from Aratiatia to Huka Falls

Accepted by Pete/Thomas

TREASURERS REPORT: 

OO Cheque:  $10,705.00

O1 Account balance (W2K) is $6,804.92

Online Saver Account:  $10,726.93

Petty Cash:  $4.00

Receipts:   $37,415.55

Payments: $23,080.32

Overdue debtors:

·         TDC                                        $2,165.62

·         Tukairangi Valley Props     $18,000.00 (Mar)

·         Tukairangi Valley Props     $15,000.00 (Apr)

·         Top Gear Cycles                  $150.00

Accounts payable:

·         Bruce Jaine Ltd                    $70.88

.

W2K Treasurers Report

Accepted:  Pete/Lisa

“WHERE ARE WE GOING WITH BIKE TAUPO?” STRATEGIC PLANNING DAY

Richard started the meeting asking for a discussion on how we all think Bike Taupo is doing, where we are going etc.

There is some concern whether the members are “coming with us” as it seems that we are getting bigger and bigger and inheriting more and more large tasks – this could be good and bad (started with the Wairakei concession and now there’s W2K  - Pete realises its bigger than he thought it would be.

The Strategic Planning day is very timely and we need to have a serious think prior to it about where we want to be in 10 years time.

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS:

Urban/Rural Cycle Facilities:

1.       Rainbow Drive Culvert:  Very frustrating as Lisa is continually put off.  She still awaits notification from Council regarding an engineers meeting and is tiring of always chasing them.

2.      Via Strada urban implementation plan:  Andrew MacBeth and Warren Lloyd of Via Strada were in Taupo last week.  Between Richard and Thomas many mini meetings were organised with the CEO, some Councillors, and Senior Staff of the Council.  Richard feels more progress was made in 2 days than in the last 3 – 4 years with Council sitting up and listening to what Via Strada has to offer and say.  The four specific areas where Via Strada feel’s Bike Taupo could move forward with the council (either with or without Via Strada) are:

• Development of the industrial / commercial structure plan (Hilary Samuel);
• The review of the walking and cycling strategy (John Ridd);
• Direct liaison with Denis Lewis with respect to on-road pavement markings (including coloured surfaces); and
• Submission to the Annual Plan process on the levels of funding for implementing the cycling component of the walking and cycling strategy (and subsequently to the LTCCP review).  They believe we should seek funding as follows:  $100K infrastructure and $25K for planning.

3.       Cycling/Walking Focus Group Workshop:  Thomas and Lisa attended this workshop with Environment Waikato and Opus and other interested people eg. The health sector and councillors.   It was very useful and the outcome of which will be a good Strategy document for the Waikato region.  Bike Taupo offered a lot of feedback.

Media Promotion and Website:

1.       DLT will fund an advertisement for the Mountainbiking Magazine featuring “biking in Taupo” which will feature a whole page - 1 every two months.  Matt Dewes designs the ad.

Maintenance:

1.       The recent rain storm has caused huge damage to some of our tracks, particularly:

·         The Rotary Ride – major slips (can be viewed on the website).  The works required to amend are approx 4 days work with the digger.  A working B will also be organised.

·         The Tunnel Track has been washed out on the western side of the tunnel and will probably require a bridge structure to fix.

Wairakei Forest Mountain Bike System

Nil to report

Submissions:

1.       Richard and Thomas will work on the Annual Plan submission due in on Monday 21^th April 2008 .

Funding/Projects:

1.       Nil to report.

W2K Track

1.       The Track is completely through and was so for the Oxfam Trailwalker. We have received excellent feedback on the track and the great experience it is to either bike, walk or run it.   The length of the track is 14.5 from stile to stile.

2.       Keith is doing a fantastic job with organising the W2K official opening which is on Saturday 26 April.  The lnvites have been sent out and Thomas has done a fantastic job of putting cool pictures on it.  The Minister of Conservation is booked and confirmed to officially cut the tyre tube!  We are getting a good response from people who will be turning out to the opening.  More FM will be present to do a BBQ, music and talking for $500.  Harvey’s are also sponsoring a free BBQ.  Buses will be organised to bus people around from Kinloch to the opening at Whakaipo.  Lisa is hoping to have a map ready for giving away as a memento.  Should be a great successful day. 

CAN Update

NIL to report.

GENERAL BUSINESS:

1.       Charities Commission – These have been given to Alan Vane for processing – he’ll also keep a copy and we should hear back in the next couple of months.

2.       Volunteer Awards – Richard Pete and the Mayor all did a fantastic job and return with 2^nd place and $1,500 – an excellent effort.  Richard said the winners dealt with getting kids off the streets and were remarkable.  Richard said they were humbled to come away with 2^nd.  Our presentation was excellent and the committee joked that it had heard all about it but had yet to see this presentation!!

Meeting closed 9:34pm

NEXT MEETING:

·         4 June 2008 at 7pm (or such other date as committee chooses)