House full of blokes

I have written quite a lot about the Cromwell Memorial Hall over the last three years and it has been a political football kicked backwards and forwards for many years now. The previous CCB really thought that they had got the renovation project across the line.  It has then been a truly contentious issue over this current term of the board with the overturning of the decision to renovate, earthquake safety reports causing concern and ongoing debate about what will happen next. The Cromwell Memorial Hall Let's be really clear that the plans to renovate are well and truly behind us - the board voted not to proceed and there is very unlikely to be any appetite for returning to the table to discuss the benefits of upgrading the existing facility.  So what is happening instead?  The hall certainly is still very much in the minds of our community and the issue was again highlighted in the annual residents survey. The decision to shelve upgrade plans was made around the...

My last post was a bit of a reflection on the last three years and I deliberately kept it positive in thinking about the work that I have personally done in the community and about the strategic visioning from the Master Plan that seeks to steer us in a planned growth model.  I didn't really touch on what I would like to see happen next and therefore why I might be a person worthy of your vote. Cromwell - what do I have to offer for it's future? First and foremost I am a cool head in what has been some volatile situations on our board.  I bring a balanced view point and a pragmatism about what is actually going to be a workable solution.  Sure, I've been frustrated by slow progress and politicking but there is no point in holding grudges and looking backwards - it is not the direction that we want to be moving in. So what are the key issues from my perspective?  What is worthy of our time, attention and opening the Cromwell Community Board purse strings for?...

It has been an interesting and reasonably eventful first term as an elected member of the Cromwell Community Board (CCB) - but there must have been some good stuff or I wouldn't have decided to stand again - surely! Fresh faced and naive - Anna Harrison 2016 version So I thought it was timely to think back through to being fresh and a wee bit naive at the beginning of my three year term in October 2016 and actually think about the things that have been rewarding, where connections have been made or progress forged - I think it is probably always best to start with some good stuff - we can all too easily focus on the things that have frustrated, angered or upset. Three years ago the Big Fruit reserve was under construction, one side of the mall had been repaved and beautified, the Cromwell Memorial Hall was just about ticked off for a major renovation and stage 5 of the Gair Ave Estate was being considered for development.  The Cromwell Community Board found itself with four...