from Shale Chambers, Chair, Waitemata Local Board

The Port - our vital local asset

The Ports of Auckland is an integral part of the economic, social, historic and cultural life of our city.   The founding fathers and mothers who arrived here in the mid 1800s saw the Waitemata Harbour and the waterfront area that is now owned by Auckland Council as an entranceway to Auckland and New Zealand.   Wharves were built and land reclaimed from the sea to take the new buildings for marine and fishing endeavours and warehousing.   Boats came into the harbour to disgorge passengers and freight and then loaded up again to take our produce and goods to the world.   Roads and rail joined up with the ports and then trams and motorways.   Our villages and city were built outwards from our waterfront to the south, north, east and west.

Working on the wharves to unload and then reload freight and goods has always been an important industry, first for mostly semiskilled labour but then as mechanisation kicked in for highly skilled machine drivers and operators.   The Watersiders union has been the backbone of the union movement and all the major industrial disputes has seen them stand up for all New Zealand’s workers in disputes with employers and Government.

The wharfies’ employers have changed over the years but they were always within a Government or Local Body ownership… the Harbour Board, the Auckland Regional Council and now our Auckland Council.

So to many it may have seemed like ‘business as usual’ when the Ports were legislated as a Council Controlled Organisation in the reorganisation of Auckland Local Government in 2010.   However a National Government had put a ‘silver lining’ in the pocket of the Ports Chief Executive Tony Gibson. The Auckland Transition Authority at the Government direction had removed all but two of the experienced directors of the Ports.   In addition they had put the appointment of the Ports of Auckland directors into the hands of the ACIL, the Investments CCO and thus twice removed from its owners … the people of Auckland via the Auckland Council.  

As a twice removed Council asset with only an ‘at arm’s length’ ability to have any say over one of Auckland’s important institutions, the newly appointed directors have been able to hoodwink Councillors with soothing words about how they were bargaining in good faith with the union.  Their real game plan was not even a secret… we all knew they were advertising abroad to replace union workers with cheaper contract staff and privatisation was back in the vocabulary as the ultimate aim of the CCO.  

At a time when the Waitemata Local Board elected members are meeting with their constituents and fronting up in public meetings to discuss residents priorities in the Waitemata area,  non-elected directors of the Ports that supports 22% of the Auckland economy and sustains 187,000 jobs are doing the opposite.   Behind closed doors they were making changes they could never sell at a public meeting and get public support for.

The dispute has revealed the ‘real agenda’ of Auckland’s local government reorganisation.  Aucklanders now appear to have no say over one of our enormously critical assets, and the future use of the money from those assets are put at risk with risky decisions by the new Ports’ directors and the CEO.  Tying the Port up in knots in a manufactured dispute while not telling the owners the real agenda, and loosing large amounts of trade for Auckland are not what we bought into when we elected local politicians to lead our city.

Hundreds of millions of dollars of profits and dividends from the highly successful Ports have been returned to the Auckland economy over the last 20 years which has allowed the renaissance in public transport to occur.   Former owner of the Ports, the ARC, with local Councillor Mike Lee at its head, oversaw the wise spending of that money in investment in trains, ferry terminals, train stations, and the North Shore busway.

It was only in September last year that Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson himself boasted the rate of cargo unloaded off ships was “the best ever recorded at the Ports of Auckland”. The union says Auckland’s port is the second most time-efficient in Australasia, second only to Tauranga.

Your Waitemata Local Board has been one of the many voices urging both union and Ports management to get back to the bargaining table and bargain how the labour laws of our land intend.  In good faith.   We all hope that the discussions and negotiations now happening after the successful court case by the union to bring the Ports management back to the table will end up in a new collective and the Ports and its unionised workforce working again in the Auckland economy. 

The city and its elected representatives have many difficult hurdles and challenges ahead of us over the last 18 months of this term, and risky decisions by Council Controlled Organisations have no place in our future.

Contact me: shale.chambers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Edited from Ponsonby News article in the April edition

from Shale Chambers, Chair, Waitemata Local Board

Building the Future in Waitemata Local Board Area

While the 18 Paget Street demolition of an 1880s heritage home may be out of the media spotlight, within the bowels of Council much has been afoot.  The Internal Review of the resource consent clearly said ‘a different conclusion could have been reached which would have equally been defensible’.   That’s Council speak for ‘we fouled up’.  The system of ingrained ‘secrecy’ that helped the developer obtain the demolition away from ‘public eyes’ let heritage and our community down.  In a win for more ‘public eyes’ the Review gave the Waitemata Local Board a new role and we will be briefed now on any proposed demolition in Residential 1 and 2 zones and our views will be included in the Planner’s Report.  The more eyes overseeing the management of the resource consent department and making them accountable for elevating the importance of assessment of relevant character heritage in planning decisions the better!

A newly formed local heritage group, the Western Bays Community Group that had its inaugural meeting in late February will be a welcome additional set of eyes to help preserve our heritage.  I am sure they would welcome any new members into their fold.   Local Ponsonby resident and long-time heritage campaigner Gerry Hill is a good contact on 3765527.

After what must seem like an eternity our Waitemata Local Board Agreement, with its 10-Year Plan budget proposals is out …in Draft of course as part of Council’s overall first draft 10-Year Plan awaiting your comments.

Our initiatives focus on upgrading our parks and facilities for our growing inner-city population; identifying, protecting and promoting our heritage; making our city centre a more accessible child and family friendly place to be; and protecting and enhancing our natural environments with a focus on clean water, carbon emission reduction and better management of waste.

On the transport front we are advocating for the delivery of initiatives by Auckland Transport that improve pedestrian and cyclist safety through slowing traffic, improving intersections, increasing cycle infrastructure and developing masterplans for two of our local roads.

We are advocating to ensure good local governance of our assets – like our parks, the waterfront and ports, swimming pools and streets.  Policies must be developed that improve connectivity of decision-making responsibility and budgets between local boards, the governing body and council controlled organisations.

To put our Plan in everyday ‘doing’ language, below are some of our 2012/3 and beyond local board priorities:

• Provide Western Park lighting
• Provide drinking fountains in parks
• Identify and signpost historical buildings and sites
• Develop and support events that are locally specific and environmentally responsive
• Restore Symonds Street Cemetery through enhanced maintenance
• Develop the Waitemata coastal walkway from Parnell to Meola reef
• Enhance Pt Erin Pool
• Improve signage of public spaces
• Upgrade Myers Park
• Support an urban food economy through fruit trees in parks
• Upgrade Grey Lynn Park Athletics Clubroom
• Provide two all-weather turf fields at Seddon Fields
• Develop a localised plan to cut carbon emissions
• Explore the development of a community-led waste minimisation and resource recovery programme and centre
• Renew the Pioneer Womens Hall
• Improve cycle infrastructure through an increase in connected, dedicated cycleways
• Conduct a need assessment of community facilities in the city centre and provide recommended facilities
• Advocate with Auckland transport to develop masterplans for Ponsonby and Richmond Roads; upgrade Franklin Road; install advance cycle stop boxes with feeder lanes and slow traffic on residential streets and local shopping centres
• Advocate with Auckland Council Investments to ensure the Ports stay in full public ownership and follow a socially responsible investment.
• Advocate to Watercare to develop a medium and long term approach to resolve the issue of non-separated storm water and waste water in Cox’s Bay
• Advocate to the Governing Body to develop an approach and related budget for local boards to support economic development and ensure that a strong position on Heritage is reflected in the Unitary Plan.

Please tell us what you think.  The draft Long Term Plan and Local Board Agreement and a submission form can be accessed on www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/longtermplan or in libraries or the local board office. We would love to see your submission and remember it has to be in by 23 March 2012.   You have only a few days left.

The Mayor's Alternative Transport Funding discussion document  - Getting Auckland Moving is alos receiving submissions.  Graeme Easte gives a good summary on: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10783927

Another successful Pacifica event was held a few weekends ago in Western Springs opened by champion kapa haka students from Western Springs College and the Mayor.    It was bigger than ever and a real tribute to those volunteers who have put the festival together for 20 years.

Contact me: shale.chambers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Edited from Ponsonby News article in the March edition

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from Shale Chambers, Chair, Waitemata Local Board

 Heritage Issues Continue in Ponsonby

Old habits die hard.  The many headed monster that was the resource consenting and planning department of the old Auckland City Council we hope has finally had its last gasp and is now dead.

Using the old Auckland City Council’s tame ‘yes men’ consultants and commissioners to flout the intention of District Plan rules simply can’t be the answer going forward.   The District Plan rules are quite clear in the protection of heritage, especially in Residential 1 zoned areas.   The plan change in 2007 bought about by locals and their political representatives in Western Bays was done to make sure our homes in Residential 1 would be safe from the wrecker’s ball.  An old original heritage home still standing from 1882 in Paget Street should have been firmly out of bounds from threat of demolition … no matter who owned it and what they had paid for it.

A ‘compact city’ is a focus for the Auckland Plan and next Unitary Plan due to be notified this year. If our communities see entrenched Council staff processes assisting to demolish heritage houses in Residential 1 suburbs like Freemans Bay, and heritage town centre buildings like ‘Cook the Books’ in Ponsonby and Turoa Street in St Heliers, they will fearlessly resist, not embrace intensification.

The only way a compact city can work for historic communities is if Council keeps its promises to residents and town centre building owners who have lovingly fixed up their heritage homes and building in heritage precincts.  These owners must be assured that despite land prices rising, these homes and buildings will not be allowed to be demolished by ‘tame’ consultants bought in by the very Council which is legally and morally bound to protect the District Plan provisions. 

A great compact city is one where heritage buildings and homes are meticulously protected and cherished as a reminder of the past lives of a city and its forbears.   Well-designed 5-20 storied apartments blocks, midsized blocks and smaller town houses with good amenity are built close to public transport in areas that are not heritage precincts.  There are plenty of streets in Auckland where high rise is appropriate and where heritage homes and buildings will not be overshadowed and where volcanic sight-lines won’t be impinged upon. Balanced growth is critical.

The key will be for our inner city heritage streets in Ponsonby, Herne Bay, Grey Lynn, Freemans Bay and Westmere, and also Parnell areas to be correctly identified in the review of the District Plan.  The Waitemata Local Board’s Heritage and Planning portfolios holders, Christopher Dempsey and Tricia Reade have been working to make sure that our Local Board and our communities’ view of heritage precincts is quite clear to those who make the decisions and rules when notifying the Unitary Plan.    A new owner must be under no illusion that they can bowl a home or building in a heritage street, make unsympathetic renovations, or neglect structures until they fall into a bad state of disrepair.  ‘Demolition by neglect’ must not be able to happen.

The Governing Body Councillors made the wrong decision to ‘take Local Boards’ out of the planning process last year and instead put all the power into the hands of Council planning managers.  Your local elected representatives are the ‘eyes and ears’ of our community within Council and are the ones that must be given the ability to challenge recommendations of planning officers like in 18 Paget Street, and ‘Cook the Books’, and the character heritage buildings down in the Wynyard Quarter.

The Review of Council consenting processes in late January which occurred after the fated decision has bought in new roles in demolition resource consents for Local Boards.

There is now a new step in the process of Res 1 and 2 houses that gives the Local Board an opportunity to provide their views on whether they think the application should be notified.   Moreover this view must form part of the planning report that goes before independent commissions or the Hearings Committee who will be making the ultimate decision on notification.

Thanks must go to the fourth estate for their role in making heritage decisions transparent.

Contact me: shale.chambers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Edited from Ponsonby News article in the February edition

Statement by Chair of Accountability and Performance Committee, Cr Richard Northey, at the Committee Meeting, 9 February 2012

Ports of Auckland Dispute

 The concerns I believe that Auckland Council as owner on behalf of Auckland residents and businesses can legitimately have about the Ports industrial dispute are relatively narrow ones:

1. Both the Maritime Union and Ports of Auckland very much need to make every effort to resolve the dispute speedily and fairly and to achieve more efficiency, and to negotiate in good faith. The obligation to negotiate in good faith is a clear legal requirement and moral obligation and both sides, particularly the Port Company that Aucklanders own, need to negotiate in good faith to achieve a settlement.

2. Many Auckland businesses, farmers and workers owe their viability and livelihood to having an efficient and effective Port operating in Auckland. I am concerned at the risk that major disruption of the Port operation, particularly if it came as a consequence if the Port Company were to act to contract out the workforce, could severely harm Auckland manufacturing and exporting businesses and their workers. The Port Company should make every effort to achieve a good new collective agreement because of the potential damage to the Auckland economy that could well result from acting to contract out the workforce.

3. Medium term disruption of the Ports operation would also risk the Auckland Council’s dividend and total income and lead to a significant cutback in Council services or alternatively a rate rise.

4. I support the Port Company seeking to make the work practices of the Port more flexible to make an already efficient Port of Auckland more efficient and effective. However, a directly employed and fully engaged workforce is preferred because it materially contributes to that objective. If better efficiency can be achieved through the collective agreement negotiations, having a directly employed workforce using their skills, experience and offering proposals for further improvements can be secured for us all to benefit.

Contact:  Cr Richard Northey, Richard.northey@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz,

027 247 9662

from Graeme Easte, former City Councillor, long time member of the Campaign for Better Transport and Albert Eden Local Board member

Funding the City Rail Link

I am not going to deviate into discussing the merits of the proposed link under the central city except to say that while a few argue that it is unaffordable, many more of us know that we simply cannot afford not to build it.  My model is Sydney which began developing its underground system 85 years ago when its population had also just passed 1.5 million people heading rapidly towards 2 million.

Costs:  The most authoritative costing for the Link was in the May 2011 Parsons-Brinkerhoff business case which gave a range of costs from $1.99 to $2.38 billion.  At the behest of Government, Council has ordered a thorough review of the costs and projected benefits which is due for release in a few months.  In the meantime I shall use the average of those two figures: $2.2 billion.

Although that is a huge amount of money, it will not require payment all at once.  About $200 million will be required this year and next for planning and land purchase.  The rest of the cost will be incurred as a series of progress payments during construction which is expected to take about four years.  Assuming that the target date for completion is 2018, repayment could be manageably spread over the next six years.  Payments could be smoothed over an even longer time by using debt funding, though this would add interest charges to the bill.

Thus the annual repayments would never exceed $500 million per year – still eye-watering but manageable.  By comparison, Auckland Transport has already budgeted $586 million for capital works this year.  While they could use part of existing budgets for some of the Link expenditure, Auckland Transport cannot be expected to cancel most of their other capital projects for years on end in order to pay for it all. 

So Len is correct in saying that we need to investigate other sources of funding specifically for this project.  However, the gap looks a whole lot less frightening when put into proper perspective.

Government Share:  Whether the Government should or will share in the cost of this project has been a vexed issue for years.  Although Len has championed this project, it was being actively discussed in Auckland (and rejected by Wellington) even before candidate Brown announced that this was one of his top priorities. 

But knowing that the Government has not completely closed the door, the Mayor has chosen his words very carefully, saying that “so far, the Government has declined to contribute to the project”.  While they are certainly playing very hard to get, I believe that he is correct to believe that they must eventually come to the party.

Government has literally heaps of cash available in their GPS (Government Policy Statement) which allocates $35.75 billion for nation-wide transport expenditure over the 2012-22 decade.  This money is collected for that purpose and can only be spent on transport projects.  Aucklanders will pay one third of that sum in taxes and levies as we make up a third of the nation by both population and economic activity.  It is only fair therefore to expect that expenditure in Auckland will approximately match our contribution (about $12 billion dollars). 

About two-thirds of that $12 billion or so share from the GPS will be required for necessary maintenance, local road projects, minor safety works, public transport operations, etc.  But that still leaves several billions available for major new transport projects in our region.  A decent share of that should go into Auckland’s priority of connecting up our public transport network and the City Link in particular.

Some rural and small town mayors were very quick to bleat that Government funding of yet another major project in Jaffa country would come at the expense of their country roads.  Sensitivity to this false but potent argument may partly explain why Governments over many years have been reluctant to fund a series of commuter rail projects in Auckland.  Curiously however, it has not stopped them from spending up large on new motorways even when Auckland has consistently lobbied over many years for action on railway infrastructure as its greatest priority.

Len and the Council could make it easier for the Government if they offered them a quid pro quo:  in return for Auckland agreeing to a moratorium on new motorway projects in the region for the rest of this decade, Government should fund a half share in the City Rail Link.

 Contact Grame Easte, 027 209 7565

from Shale Chambers, Chair, Waitemata Local Board

Ponsonby News, December 2011 

The parliamentary election is over and we have another Minister of Local Government in Hon Nick Smith.   Let us hope he has moved from his 2005 position as National Spokesman for Local Government when he presented his draft Local Government policy to Local Government New Zealand with the phrase “National believes the new Local Government Act’s purpose, which is to give councils a broad role in ‘social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of communities’ is flawed and idealistic nonsense.”

We are all on Christmas countdown.  Whether it is the amount of ‘sleeps’ before the big day, anticipation of a quiet time at the beach or a music fuelled noisy time at a festival or just in the back yard we have yet to get through the Christmas present buying, and cooking up a storm on Christmas day for our loved ones and friends.

Just in case you are wondering who the Grinch was who stole Ponsonby Road Christmas Telecom tree that was a magnet for families, teenagers and friends over the last few years as part of the wander between Franklin Road lights and the tree at Western Park, it was Waterfront Auckland. It’s now at the new Wynyard Quarter despite the fervent lobbying by your Waitemata Local Board to the tree’s telecommunication owners to keep it in Ponsonby Road.

It is the little victories and losses that are day to day work of your very busy Local Board.  The nice pictures and stories in local news media of the Victoria Park Skate Park, going smoke free in our local playgrounds and sports grounds, planting trees in local parks, making Waitemata a Fair Trade area, calling upon developers to keep to their promises about opening up public space they promised when they got additional development rights in the city centre are only a small part of what we have had to do over the last year.

The Waitemata Local Board are proud supporters of the Grey Lynn  Park Festival and Art in the Dark and it was great to see so many people - locals and from greater Auckland - taking advantage of attending well-staged events.

We should have the Three Lamps back on the corner of Jervois and Ponsonby Road in their almost original position.  The new water fountain in West Lynn is one of many that will be coming into the parks and shopping centres where you need fresh clean water for drinking.   Bikers will be able to rest their bikes up safely in new bike stands.   Walkers, bikers and car drivers should be safer when we implement the results of representations on unsafe crossroads, and roads.  The staged walkway around our coast will be a valuable asset for our communities.  The destination playground at Myers Park will be great for our children.

Waitemata has become an ‘assessable’ Board so that all our residents no matter what their needs will find it easier to enjoy our buildings and public places.  New path lights for Western Park will enable dog walkers and locals to enjoy evening walks. More trees will be safe from developers’ chainsaws.

These are the little things but sporting and recreational clubs will be pleased we have been able to budget for some bigger items as well such as new all-weather turfs at Seddons Fields, a refurbished athletics clubroom building at Grey Lynn Park, and hopefully upgrading the Pt Erin Pools before long.

Residents have all been busy writing submissions this year about how you want to see in your community over the next 3-30 years. My thanks go out to all the submission writers for caring and participating, and helping to plan for Auckland to be the world’s most livable city. Plans have been coming out of the Auckland Council system this year for your comment like lollies handed out to children by the jolly man in the red suit at Christmas.

Wresting local control of the funding from where the Auckland Transition Authority put it has been one of our major challenges as a local board, as our funding has been wrongly given to other Boards, Departments and CCOs.  But the end is in sight.  Waitemata Local Board has been allocated $34 million projected to increase to $60 million over the next 10 years to spend in our communities and we have listened to you about your priorities and how residents want their rates prudently and carefully spent.  The Local Board Plan setting out our direction for the next 3 years and beyond has now been published.

Property revaluations have meant some families will be paying higher rates in these tough times.   All residents demand that it is well spent in our communities in an accountable way.

We have a great responsibility to make sure you get the biggest bang for the bucks.  Our accountability report on our first year will shortly be online on the council website and will be an on-going account of how we have or intend to spend your money.

On behalf of the Waitemata Local Board I wish you and your loved ones season’s greetings.

Contact me: shale.chambers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Edited from Ponsonby News article in the December edition

Victoria Park Tunnel has a Community Open Event

Thousands of local families - young and old - walked down the emergency exits and through the tunnel on 29 October before it  opens to traffic.  There was a real buzz about the occasion.  It must have been similar to the opening of the Harbour Bridge, but without the views, of course.  It was an extremely well organised event and a fundraiser (by donation) for Freemans Bay Primary School who are raising money for a new school hall.  Many thanks to the Victoria Park Tunnel people for making it happen.

Waitemata Local Board Chair opens Skate Park. Speech by Shale Chambers

Victoria Park Skate Park Opening Friday, 7 October 2011 

Designed as a safe, urban plaza, elements in the park are styled to look like natural street terrain with stairs and benches. It features a bowl, a BMX jump box, mini ramp and two quarter pipes. Broad walls, steps and planters provide seating for visitors wanting to enjoy the action.

It’s not just the Rugby World Cup

Let’s Hear It for Sports and Recreation in the Community 

by

Shale Chambers, Chair, Waitemata Local Board

Like most of you over the last month I have been caught up in the razzmatazz of the Rugby World Cup or, alternatively, the marvelous arts, community and cultural events that have been rolled up into this international sporting event that has sent Auckland into event exhilaration and at the same time event exhaustion. It is sometimes easy to forget that at the end of the day this is a sporting event that sits on the shoulders of grass-roots sport and recreation clubs facilities in our community.

Community sport and recreation is held together by enthusiastic parents who act as coaches, dedicated committees that serve our community year in year out, bright eyed children who want just to have fun with their mates, and charities like the ASB Trust which has a wide mandate to fund recreation, arts and culture that benefit the community, supported by local politicians like the Waitemata Local Board, whose predecessors over many terms of office, have wanted to help see our communities fit, healthy and engaged.

When I spoke at the opening of the upgraded building and facilities of the Western Springs Association Football Club at Seddon Fields last month, I was humbled by the tenacity and enthusiasm of the parents and their executive committee who have fought over about 5 years to see this project to completion. They are at the ‘coal face’ dealing with the demand in a ‘roll up your sleeves’ way and my congratulations and admiration go to them.

 The demand for soccer has exploded in Ponsonby and Herne Bay over the last 10 years as our immigrant communities who play the sport want to join local clubs, and as girls, as well as boys take up the sport in increasing numbers.  The Club sorely needs three all-weather artificial fields to meet the demand and the Waitemata Local Board has put funding the million dollars needed for the first field into its just-concluded 3-year Local Board Plan … the first step in the process.

Auckland Council has just completed a ‘sports field capacity development strategy’ and has identified that Ponsonby and Herne Bay suburbs will have the second largest projected shortfall in field hours to meet this increasing demand by 2021.  Officers have recommended a $10.3 million per year additional investment over the next ten years to make sure our children and adults can both play and train on fields.  The Club may yet see the three all-weather fields in the next 10 years with the support of the Board.  I was surprised to learn that there are 777 winter fields in Auckland, with playing capacity at 8,544 full sized equivalent hours.  Football takes up 4,407 hours, rugby 2,615 hours and league 1,523 hours!

The other ‘big figure’ recreation facility in the Ponsonby area is the Pt Erin Pools in Pt Erin Park. The Waitemata Local Board has identified enhancement to these facilities as a key project to secure funding for and make progress towards building over the next three years and beyond.  The key finding in the recent community needs assessment conducted for our Board was that there is strong community support to retain the special outdoor character of Pt Erin and that any redevelop should not negatively impact on this.  Users are interested in seeing improvements and a wider range of aquatic activities provided, and thankfully there is capacity to do just that. It is a much loved pool and local users make up 42% of those of those who visit in the summer.

The good news is that the Board is pursuing two broad development concepts: to develop the pool as an iconic outdoor destination fun pool, and to retain the outdoor fun pool and develop a local indoor pool providing fitness and learning aquatic activities.  Officers are doing the costing, and that will be between $4-12 million depending on which option is chosen, before the Board undertakes community consultation over the preferred option, and a decision next year.

What’s happening over the next month by way of events and activities?  Rugby World Cup continues!!  Look up the Council events website, leaflets in the Leys Institute library, and posters all over the show, as there will be loads of plays, exhibitions and festivals as the world wind continues to its business end at the long weekend at the end of the month. Then it’s time to rest up with the family from all the fun (and hopefully not sporting heartache), and over indulgence on Labour Day with the end of the Rugby World Cup extravaganza.

Contact me: shale.chambers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Edited from Ponsonby News article in the September edition

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It's Still Good News!

The Rugby World Cup has Finally Arrived

by

Shale Chambers, Chair, Waitemata Local Board

Seeing trams return to the city centre of Auckland for the first time since 1956 is both historic and a matter of great joy to my Board.  This was made possible by your local councillor, Mike Lee’s quiet visionary planning and funding of the heritage trams three years ago when ARC leader. Mike clearly took much pride in driving the first tram that day and everyone, including Mike, beamed from ear to ear. I was indeed honoured to be on that first tram, with 4,700 Aucklanders riding them on just that first day.  We look forward to the tram line first being extended to Britomart.

Finally, let’s not forget the ‘Cloud’ and refurbished Shed 10 on Queen’s Wharf that will be ‘Party Central’ for the large number of rugby visitors and locals who just want to convivially celebrate the teams, the sport and soak up the atmosphere.  The opening night lights and fireworks display on the waterfront on 9 September will be the biggest we have ever seen. Don’t miss it. Shoppers will be welcome too at the lovingly restored Britomart buildings and the newly opened Takutai Square Atrium with its green walls and new entrance to the Britomart train station. Central Auckland has never seen so many new or reburbished precincts open up at the one time.

For more information, contact Shale Chambers, shale.chambers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Edited from Ponsonby News article in the September edition

How Encouraging!  

The Community Speaks with a Loud Voice in Local Board Plan Submissions

by

Gwen Shaw, Deputy Chair City Vision

The new Auckland Council is almost one year old.  What do we think of it so far?   Down at community level the new Local Boards have each constructed their own Draft Local Plan and asked for submissions. 

In my local area there was a really good response with 130 individuals or organisations making submissions to the specific Waitemata Local Board plan - the documentation came out at nearly 700 pages.  Interestingly, there were 41 submitters who related to all the draft local board plans, rather than any specific one. It is good that people and organisations realise that nothing stands alone.  Over the last two weeks or so, all the local boards have been hearing the submitters who wished to speak in person.  

It was fascinating to sit as an observer at some of the Waitemata hearings.  It probably reflects the ‘central city’ nature of the Board that submitters were concerned about having a clean and healthy environment.  People talked about needing plans to minimize alcohol harm; to protect our children from the effects of smoking - even outside.  The customer-driven call for smoke-free grounds at Auckland Zoo was quoted as something to aim for in our parks and playgrounds. 

There were plenty of calls for healthy transport options to encourage walking and cycling  (“Cycling is a serious transport mode. 50% of the population would cycle if it was safe”) and to develop public transport.  The spokesperson from the NZ Automobile Association, while strongly supporting the Board’s desire to address local bus infrastructure and services, was disappointed that there was very little acknowledgment of the importance of the roading network to the vitality of Waitemata, especially the City Centre.  And he did oppose the City Centre Rail Link.

There were also many comments on the built environment; not just to embrace and protect our heritage buildings and streets but to ensure we build a quality environment for the future.  One way to do that is to make sure that the community knows what building (and demolition) is going on in their area (“Notices for resource consent need to be put on appropriate buildings and lampposts.  Neighbours should get flyers in letterboxes so the community knows what developments are occurring.”).  Victoria Park was quoted as a major asset.  It has a long history of being well used by sporting clubs for cricket and rugby and for informal recreational activities such as skateboarding and casual ball games.  Now it is in demand for Events, such as the Taste Auckland Festival in October.  The Board was asked to ensure that the users were carefully consulted about when, what and where these events would be allowed.

It is clear that the extensive Waitemata Local Board area has an active and engaged community.  We are a growing population and that means that more can always be done to foster emerging community groups and support those already providing a service.   The work of the Parnell Trust and the St Colomba Community Project was given as examples of ‘how to do it’.    

All this is so encouraging and helpful.  Although, as so many people said, the devil is in the detail; or the proof of the pudding is in the eating; or any one of those old sayings that we use to say something might look good at first sight but we need to know a little more how things are going to shape up.  Several submitters wanted to see more information about how all the projects were going to be funded and how they ‘fitted in’ with the great scheme of the Auckland Plan and those of the neighbouring local boards.  The Waitemata Board members were very pleased to be told by one submitter that “Waitemata was the best board plan in Auckland” and I don’t think she was related to any of the members!

The photo shows the City Vision members of Waitemata Local Board, Christopher Dempsey, Jesse Chalmers, Pippa Coom, Shale Chambers and Tricia Reade.  Greg Moyle and Rob Thomas make up the total members of the board.

Over on Puketapapa Local Board, Roskill Community Voice members Julie Fairey and Michael Wood report that they have been struck by how the community has endorsed the priorities they have been pushing.  The future of Three Kings Quarry and the Manukau Foreshore have been repeatedly raised by the community, seeking public input and supporting proper planning processes for both areas.  Submitters have identified the importance of minimising harm to people by advocating for community say in liquor licensing and a sinking-lid approach to pokie machines, both of which were issues Roskill Community Voice campaigned on. 

Julie and Michael comment that they have been able to have particularly strong input to the areas of the plan aligned to their portfolios (Community Development, and Parks, Open Spaces & Heritage, respectively).  Submissions on those areas have been largely supportive.  It has been rewarding to see that the approach of promoting community engagement whenever possible is resulting in increased response from individuals and groups in Mt Roskill.  Past community board members have reported that the response received to the draft Puketapapa Local Board plan is the most significant public feedback they can recall.  A key priority for Roskill Community Voice has been to reach out to the community and provide a connection to local government in the area. 

Helga Anderson reports that the Albert-Eden Local Board Plan too, received many excellent submissions, reflecting the optimism of the citizens of a new city whose mayor is promoting transformation. ‘Give pedestrians priority in our streets’ was a call already being reflected in the city’s new shared spaces, and ‘give us better cycleways, walking paths and public transport’. Public transport is especially pivotal, the Board was reminded, for non-driving young people and also for the elderly.

The Civic Trust urged that Albert-Eden and Waitemata Boards, as the two with the largest collections of heritage buildings, should advocate for ‘a planning environment that acknowledges and protects heritage’ and promotes and guides heritage upgrades and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, and the Mt Eden Planning Group sought active initiatives to build good quality, well-designed housing to accommodate our increasing population.  There were eloquent requests for ‘Better parks and playing fields, more street trees and fruit trees and herbs in parks; more areas for dogs to be off-leash; more art; smoke-free open spaces please!   

 It was very encouraging and satisfying for Board members to be told that presenting to the Board in person was a rewarding and unthreatening experience, and that hearing the submissions given by others was valuable too.   Civic engagement is doing well in Albert-Eden.

The photo shows City Vision members of Albert Eden Local Board, Peter Haynes, Helga Anderson, Simon Mitchell, Margi Watson and Graeme Easte.  Pauline Anderson, Lee Corrick and Tim Woolfield make up the total members of the board.

For more information, contact:

Gwen Shaw, Deputy Chair, City Vision, gwenshaw@xnet.co.nz

Shale Chambers, Chair, Waitemata Local Board, shale.chambers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Julie Fairey, Puketapapa Local Board, julie.fairey@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Peter Haynes, Chair, Albert Eden Local Board, peter.haynes@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

The Good News

Improving ‘People Friendliness’ in Western Bays

by

Shale Chambers, Chair, Waitemata Local Board

Myers Park has always been a good place for demonstrations.   In the 1970s and 80’s it was at its zenith, and it is still a good venue today.  Anti-apartheid, anti-nuclear testing, anti-battery hens …. Heck, anti anything, and Myers was a good place to start or finish with a band playing and lots of camaraderie.  Well, this hidden gem of an inner city park is due some attention, as part of a more child-friendly Auckland city centre.  Such is the nature of changes in the city centre over the past 20 years that new apartment dwellers need a playground for their children and themselves that is safer, better lit and with better sightlines.  We will keep all the wonderful historic features and statues that make it unique, and even the statuesque phoenix palms that are now considered by authorities a weed will stay.   They are part of the iconic park and safe when well maintained!

Myers Park upgrade proposal is one of the 16 key parks priorities for the Local Board Plan that you should have received in your letterbox last month.  We have 98 local parks and 5 Regional Parks in Waitemata.  With 48% of our population under 30 years of age we are grasping this as an opportunity to engage youth in what our city has to offer. Developing Green links, drinking fountains in all parks,  Meola and Coxes Creek restoration, better management plans and a new village square at 254 Ponsonby Road are just some of the projects proposed in our new Local Board Plan.

Our Waitemata Plan has been spotted by the influential Auckland Transport Blog which extols its virtues in its ‘Exciting ideas in Waitemata Local Board Plan’ post.  It dissects and analyses it from the little improvements in street design, part pedestrianising of Queen Street, making cyclists feel safer through high quality cycling infrastructure, to an audit of intersections to make it safer for pedestrians.

St Marys Bay and Ponsonby residents worried about commuter parking in their streets will be able to take heart from an Auckland Transport review of residential parking.   With the support of the Local Board, there is to be a trial parking zone in St Marys Bay and the learnings from this will inform the policy review.  The trial will cover most of St Marys Bay and will have a blanket two hour time restriction although residents will be able to purchase permits which will allow an exemption.   Most other cities in the world with managed commuter parking in residential streets take this approach so hopefully we will follow up their lead to a sensible solution for local residents.

One of the new playgrounds for central city residents and visitors will be the new Wynyard Quarter, down at the Waterfront.   It is set to become more local and visitor friendly over the next few years.  The first stage