This is Saturday 10th August doors open 5:30, show starts 6:30pm.
This show is a Fun(d) Raiser for City Vision’s 2019 local government election campaign supporting progressive candidates.
This is Saturday 10th August doors open 5:30, show starts 6:30pm.
This show is a Fun(d) Raiser for City Vision’s 2019 local government election campaign supporting progressive candidates.
This report covers the period 15 August until 11 September 2018 including the start of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 10 – 16 Mahuru.
Ko te reo te taikura ō te whakaaro marama
Language is the key to understanding
He pai ake te iti i te kore
A little is better than none
Summary
Waitematā Local Board August business meeting
At our monthly board meetings, we are fortunate to welcome a range of presenters to an often lively and interesting public forum. Our August business meeting was especially well attended with presentations from:
Minutes are available on the Auckland Council website.
2006 – 2015 Urban Forest Canopy Changes in the Waitematā Local Board area
Last term the board initiated LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) mapping to understand changes in the urban tree canopy. It has taken some time for the results to be presented due to a number of technical challenges. At our August meeting we received the draft ‘Tree loss in the Waitematā Local Board over ten years (2006 – 2015)’ report funded as part of the Waitematā Local Board’s 2017/2018 urban forest framework project
The report highlights that the amount of tree loss in the Waitematā Local Board area 2006-2015 is 61.23 hectares (approximately 17 per cent) and that 65 per cent of the urban forest clearance has occurred on private land. This does not include the growth of new,canopy. Further analysis work is underway and will be the subject of a subsequent report.
A significant part of the tree loss has been caused by the removal by the former central government of Council’s general tree protection rules so we urge the Governing Body to advocate to government to change the law to enable Auckland Council to reintroduce general tree protection rules.
Western Springs Lakeside Park Development Plan consultation
A draft park development plan for Western Springs Te Wai Ōrea Lakeside Park was out for consultation until the end of August.
The Board held an open day at the park playground on 18 August (photo right Deputy Chair Shale Chambers and member Adriana Christie with local resident Chuck Joseph). A number of people gave feedback not just about the park plan but about concerns over current maintenance issues.
I logged these issues and in response received the following updates:
We also received positive feedback from “Friends of Fukuoka Gardens” community group who have been working directly with contractors to improve maintenance of the Japanese garden.
It is proposed that issues such as water quality and bird feeding will be addressed through the plan.
Salisbury Reserve consultation and removal of the Masonic Lodge
Consultation on the two options for opening up the entrance to Salisbury Reserve ended at the end of August. During the month I met on site with both local residents and representatives of the Herne Bay Residents Association. I confirmed that the local board doesn’t intend revisiting the decision to remove the Masonic Lodge building for a number of reasons:
The standard available hours in 10h/day and the percentages below is based on the standard.
Utilisation FY16/17 FY17/18
Leys Institute Hall 16% 20%
Freemans Bay Community Hall 38% 39%
Grey Lynn Community Centre 55% 53%
Ponsonby Community Centre 37% 36%
Leys Institute Gym 59% 57%
Central City Library opening hours
The board made funding available so the Auckland Central City Library can open for an extra hour on Saturdays and Sundays from September 1. Funding is guaranteed until 30 June 2019.
John Street, Ponsonby – a trial for a new “healthy streets” approach
As a narrow street and rat run John Street in Ponsonby has suffered from a number of parking, traffic and safety issues going back some time. The transport portfolio has been following up with a group of residents who would like to be part of the solution. They are keen for John St to be used to showcase AT’s new approach to safer, healthier streets which are designed for all road users not just cars.
On 18 August I met with residents on the street to discuss potential options. I confirmed that the Local Board is pushing AT to use all the tools available to improve the conditions of John Street. AT is currently preparing a proposal for consultation.
Grey Lynn Parking
The local board passed the following resolution at our business meeting on 21 August in response to the parking concerns that have been raised with us in response to a letter drop to 600 Grey Lynn households opposing a proposed time restricted parking zone.
MOVED by Chairperson P Coom, seconded by Deputy Chairperson S Chambers:
That the Waitematā Local Board:
In response to the resolution AT has confirmed that the RPZ implementation will be brought forward to December and they will put on hold the time restricted parking. Further details are on the Auckland Transport website.
Waitematā Safer Routes
New designs prepared by Boffa Miskell to fix the issues on the two Waitematā Safer routes were presented to Community Liaison Groups (CLGs) on 5 September. A few days later the NZ Herald reported that the Grey Lynn cycleway debacle could cost $35m to fix and claimed that the project was for a few “existing cyclists”. Grey Lynn Business Association co-chair Irene King was reported as saying that preliminary designs as “very, very stunning” with beautiful urban design and landscaping.
There is a lot that Auckland Transport has got wrong with this project and it should have been done correctly first time (I have previously reported on the background and what went wrong) but it is far is more accurate to describe the project as a street upgrade as it covers a safety improvements for everyone, bus stop changes, bus stop changes, traffic lights, parking, stormwater, landscaping and new trees. Auckland Transport has also confirmed the figure of $35m is incorrect and should not have been presented to the CLG. The actual projected cost for this project sits between $17m-$22m at present. AT has explained the figure of $35m was an initial costing that had long since been refined but was unfortunately inserted into the presentations to the CLGs and wasn’t caught until it was too late.
Auckland Transport plans to take the proposals out for consultation in Novembers so the wider community can decide what should be prioritised within the available budget.
Road Safety
My latest Ponsonby News column covers the 9th anniversary of speed reduction on Ponsonby Road and the speed bylaw proposals that are shortly to go out for consultation (Attachment 1). Deaths and Serious injuries (DSi) across Auckland have increased by 67% since 2013. In Waitematā 77% of all DSi involved vulnerable road users, people walking or cycling. This is the highest percentage among all Local Boards.
I was really pleased to see Auckland Transport’s CEO strong leadership and uncompromising statement on safer speeds in a letter to NZ Herald on 10 September (right).
On 5 September I attended a business strategy workshop in Wellington as a committee member of Trafinz. The New Zealand Local Authority Traffic Institute or Trafinz represents local authority views on road safety and traffic management in New Zealand. It exists to lobby the government, to influence decision making on road safety and traffic issues. It also acts as a forum for collectively pursuing traffic issues of interest to local authorities, and for sharing information and advice.
Trafinz is actively involved in the development of a new road safety strategy with a Vision Zero target.
Meetings and workshops: 15 August until 11 September 2018
Events and functions: 15 August until 11 September 2018