Minutes of Transition Point Chevalier - 10 May 2011

Attendees: Bruce, Ruth, Geoff, Francisco, Niki, Crea, Ellen, Yolanda, Keith

Apologies: Jenny, Ali, Deryn, Viviana

Chair: Geoff

Minutes: Niki

1.       Waiata: We started with two fabulous waiata, Nga Iwi E and Blowing in the Wind, Francisco, Niki, Crea and Yolanda on guitar or ukulele, and everyone else singing with their magnificent voices.

2.       Garden group (Crea) – A group met on Sunday at Meola Reef, got kaikuya and took it to the garden to build a huge compost pile with fish and pony poo and other contributions. A great collective effort that involved lots of people.

3.       Bike pump (Yolanda) – Using Crea and Ellen’s bike parts as well as Logan’s old washing machine pump, Yolanda arranged for a welding lecturer at Unitec to make a bicycle that will pump water – there were some initial problems, but now the bicycle is up and running and Yolanda will pick it up on Friday and take it to the Homestead Garden.

4.       Community gardens: The above items led to discussion of various other community garden set-ups. Ellen talked about a community garden in Manukau which includes lots of plots and a woman who cooks from it, selling stir-fries etc for $5. We may want to do a group visit at some point.

5.       Plastic (Yolanda): Yolanda and Deryn have followed up with Enviroreel. We can ring her whenever we are ready and ask for a big bag that they will pick up when full. To make it work we need to arrange something for the big bag to stand in. Ellen has offered a stand that might work. We talked about various ideas – one being a drop-off point that is always available and the other being a time slot during which people can bring their bags, possibly at the school. We discussed that in our communications we should instruct people on how to store their bags in the interim. Niki will talk with Keryn at Pt Chev Primary and if appropriate to follow up with Viviana about the kindergarten, Geoff will talk with the Shell Station. Other ideas were to involve the various local businesses. This could be a pilot project that we can spread to other Transition Towns.

6.       Paper recycling (Geoff): There is also a company that will do paper recycling along the same lines and this has an advantage over the council system as the paper is not contaminated and so can be used for higher grade products. We may want to look into this in the future.

7.       Music (Francisco): We started singing this meeting and will continue to sing before meetings, using the same songs next month. Francisco is happy to facilitate the first official “music” session, which will be a one hour session that will involve making rhythms. People will be asked to bring anything they like that can make rhythm -  sticks, forks etc. Children will be welcome and there will be a shared afternoon tea, so a weekend event. The Old Homestead was a suggestion or possibly Geoff’s place. The date was set for Sunday June 12, 1-3pm. Francisco and Ruth to put together an email.

8.       Eva (Crea): She will be here next time to present her ideas on alternative Pt Chev development plans.

9.       Peak Oil (Geoff): Geoff passed on a message from Deryn that peak oil may have happened in 2006, this may motivate people to get involved.

10.   Unitec (Geoff/Yolanda): Interested in recycling and in cycle-ways. The council may be putting a cycleway through Unitec. They have started a fund for people who can put in ideas for research. It might be possible for us to be co-applicants for some of that funding. The future of the garden there is still uncertain – one option is to open up the space for individual plots. Planting fruit trees is another option.

11.   Fruit trees (Ellen). Ellen has put forward a proposal for fruit trees to Otahuhu and Judith has put a proposal for Mt Eden Village People, she is looking for 20 schools to have five trees each. Niki will let Keryn and Sarah Coughlin know about this. Ellen wondered if we could plant fruit trees in Pt Chev, given the grass verges on which they could be planted. A SLIPS application is the easiest way to do this – Ellen can share her information if we want to do this – her applications have covered the trees and the planting and maintenance. The best way to go about it is to raise the issue at a local board meeting. We discussed a tentative sub-group that may be Ruth, Ellen and Bruce.

12.   Purchasing (Niki): Blueberries – 60 kilos, Toothbrushes, Avocados, Eco-store are some of the products that have or are being offered.

13.   Eco-film (Ruth): Ruth will forward an opportunity for people to support an inspiring and positive eco-film based on The Fifth Sacred Thing.

Meeting finished 9.15pm.

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