City Councillor

Authorised by Helene Ritchie, 101 Wakefield Street, Wellington

Helene in Northern

Experience Counts!

Helene knows how to make things happen for you...

Johnsonville Pool and Library

Press statement to: The Wellingtonian, from Helene Ritchie 15 December 2009.

“Exciting News...

The Northern Suburbs is to get an upgraded Keith Spry swimming pool, with new space for learners and lane swimmers… and a new library right next door.
Wellington City Councillor Helene Ritchie last week successfully brought forward a combined new library and swimming pool upgrade as two collocated projects, aligned in planning, funding and construction, to include an integrated administration area (in the Southern/central corner, first mooted in the 1980’s).

"It makes sound sense to combine the projects but without one suffering at the expense of the other."

“The vote was close,” she said. Councillor Hayley Wain seconded the motion and Councillors Best, Pepperell, Wade-Brown, Pannett, Goulden supported the motion I moved. “

Her campaign to add new facilities and restore the Keith Spry Pool culminated in its opening in 2015.

Effective, Outspoken, Strong Voice

“It takes years to bring projects to fruition and I’ve worked hard with colleagues and community, and been outspoken for Northern where I lived for 31 years.
Northern has matured into a place the size of a City.
I am proud to have helped create what it is today by being determined, strategic, and outspoken for the “ordinary person” and the Northern Ward - all of it: for Johnsonville, Woodridge, Newlands, Paprarangi, Grenada, Grenada North, Churton Park, Glenside, Ohariu Valley, Tawa.”

Achievements

Over the last six years, i.e the last two trienniums, there's been much achieved both through my initiatives and in cooperation with colleagues. The natural environment (including trees, tracks and parks) has been my portfolio.

Pool upgrades, refurbishments additions:

Tawa
Keith Spry

Community centres opened:

Churton Park

Parks improved (Plimmer Bequest):

Tawa - Grasslees November start Dog exercise fence and planting-August/Sep

Community Gardens:

Tawa Community Garden

61 Northern Reserves classified

Playgrounds opened:

Churton Amesbury school hall and playground (shared partnership)
Newlands Lyndfield Lane
Johnsonville West Park School (partnership)

Trees and walkways:

Old Coach Road protected
Churton Park - Stebbings Valley
Glenside historic Halfway House opened and heritage orchard planted
I have planted four fruit trees-apple, pears, damsons one for each grandchild and reminiscent of the orchard we had in Ohariu Valley.

Planting groups - Support for Tawa, Woodridge, Nga Hau e wha Marae, Glenside Stream and Tawa Bush Reserves. Congratulations to the new Johnsonville Community Association planting group!