Council partnership to help Aucklanders buy new homes
Posted Thu 13 Sep 2007

Auckland City Council's innovative assisted home ownership programme reached a major milestone today with a partnership that will see the construction of affordable houses, beginning with a development in Mt Roskill.

The move is a first for an Auckland local authority and means the council enters into an agreement with the New Zealand Housing Foundation (NZHF).

Under the assisted home ownership programme, the council will pay regular contributions to the NZHF in return for the development of about 100 homes over the next five years.

The first development is proposed for a site in Denny Avenue, Mt Roskill, where the NZHF plans to build seven homes and make them available as part of the assisted ownership programme.

Chairperson of the council's Community Development and Equity Committee, Councillor Cathy Casey, says the Denny Avenue demonstration project is an exciting step forward.

Auckland City Council's innovative assisted home ownership programme reached a major milestone today with a partnership that will see the construction of affordable houses, beginning with a development in Mt Roskill.

The move is a first for an Auckland local authority and means the council enters into an agreement with the New Zealand Housing Foundation (NZHF).

Under the assisted home ownership programme, the council will pay regular contributions to the NZHF in return for the development of about 100 homes over the next five years.

The first development is proposed for a site in Denny Avenue, Mt Roskill, where the NZHF plans to build seven homes and make them available as part of the assisted ownership programme.

Chairperson of the council's Community Development and Equity Committee, Councillor Cathy Casey, says the Denny Avenue demonstration project is an exciting step forward.

Stage one of local link to state highway complete
Posted Wed 12 Sep 2007
Auckland City Council is pleased to announce the completion of stage one of its $17 million upgrade of Tiverton Road and Wolverton Street in New Windsor.
Tiverton Road, between Blockhouse Bay Road and Whitney Street, has been widened to allow for four lanes, with a new road surface that is smoother and quieter to travel on, extensive planting, two new bus shelters and a more attractive street environment.

Councillor Glenda Fryer, Transport and Urban Linkages Committee deputy chairperson, says the completion of this first section marks an important milestone in the council's work upgrading local roads to support motorway extensions.
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Waiheke to get a new library in Oneroa
Posted Wed 12 Sep 2007
The Community Development and Equity Committee today decided that Waiheke will get a new stand-alone library in Oneroa and a new council service centre in Ostend.
The decision follows considerable research, investigation and public consultation into redevelopment options for the island's library and service centre.
The committee heard that a library in either Ostend or Oneroa would represent a good outcome for the community, but it felt Oneroa was ultimately the better option.
Chairperson, Councillor Cathy Casey, says the committee carefully examined the pros and cons of both locations for the library.
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36 ideas for improving our recreation opportunities
Posted Mon 10 Sep 2007
The Art's Culture and Recreation committee has approved a plan to guide council's the management and development of the city's recreation centres over the next ten years.
The plan aims to encourage communities to get involved and lead healthier lifestyles by improving facilities and participation at six council-owned and five partner-managed recreation centres. The plan's 36 actions will be implemented over the next decade and include:
introducing free or low-cost casual access to recreation centres to encourage participation by all members of the community
providing activities for young people to help them form healthy lifestyles, build their self-esteem and connect with the community
trialling a targeted programme at the Otahuhu Recreation and Youth Centre using innovative and accessible programmes to meet the diverse needs of the Otahuhu community
identifying available space in council and non-council venues to alleviate peak-time pressures and demands on the existing recreation centre network
providing activities for all age groups to promote life-long activity.

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Council's role in city's economic success
Posted Fri 07 Sep 2007
Auckland City Council's economic development strategy is to focus on what tangible actions the council can take to contribute to the economic success of the city.
"We want the strategy to focus on practical things the council can do that are cost effective and will make the biggest positive difference to the city's economy," says Councillor Richard Northey, chairperson of the Economic Development and Sustainable Business Committee.
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