The Waitematā Local Board met on 20 April. It was a very busy meeting.
We heard deputations and public forum presentations from John Fay about the future of the Olympic Pool, from Kate O’Neill about the community event celebrating our great new playground at Home Street Reserve in Arch Hill, and also a detailed report about her work from our Councillor Pippa Coom. The meeting approved updated priorities for our Local Board Grants Programme, discussed our views on the Auckland Regional Land Transport Programme - which we encourage you to give feedback to Auckland Transport on now, received a performance report on the Waitemata Local Board’s current projects, and debated and set down our views on Council’s Statement of Expectation for CCOs, the Animal Management Bylaw, the Regional Fuel Tax Scheme, the Public Trading and Events Bylaw, the Unit Titles Amendment Bill, the Navigation Rules for the Waitemata Harbour and the Gulf, the Council’s Code of Conduct and the National Parking Management Guidelines.
We reviewed our Waitemata Local Board portfolios and created a new portfolio of Maori Outcomes to reflect our new first outcome in our new Waitemata Local Board plan and appointed member Kerrin Leoni of Ngati Paoa to that position. Our other portfolio holders were reaffirmed. We thanked Kerrin Leoni for her work and loyal support to the Board as Deputy-Board Chair and welcomed member Alex Bonham to her planned succession to that position from the end of April until the end of the Board’s term next year.
On 11 April I spoke on video to carry out a virtual naming and opening of the new Amey Daldy Park and playground in the Wynyard Quarter. The upgraded play space at Home Street Reserve has been reopened by a community organised event and gives children of all ages, including basketballers, a long planned upgraded playground and recreation space in Arch Hill.
Following the Board’s adoption of a strategic plan for the Western Springs Lakeside Te Wai Orea Park, the playground on the zoo side of the lake has been designed by local designer Nina and rebuilt with a nature theme. On Saturday 17 April Nick Hawke of Ngati Whatua Orakei and Adriana Avendaño Christie, the Waitemata Local Board’s parks portfolio holder, spoke to lead a celebration of the reopening of this wonderful, renewed playground, surrounded by hundreds of thrilled children and families. It is intended to reopen the forest on the eastern side of the Park once the aging pines are taken out. Removal of the pines has begun and will take place over the next two months, with some being dragged out along a narrow track created for the purpose, and some left to rot down as a home for wildlife. Then the regeneration and planting of a native forest, with community participation, will be progressed.
I have proposed a remit to the Local Government New Zealand National Conference urging government urgently to change the law so councils can bring back their General Tree Protection policies.
As well as their Regional Land Transport Programme, Auckland Transport is currently consulting on detailed plans to improve the streetscape and safe use of Great North Road for all road users. Please access Auckland Transport’s website and click, “Have your say on the Great North Road improvements”, to respond by 7 May. An artist’s impression is shown.
Ponsonby community and business members are meeting regularly to develop low-cost tactical improvements to Ponsonby Road as part of the Innovating Streets programme.
Thank you for all of you who gave feedback on the Auckland Council’s proposed Long-Term Plan and Budget. The Waitemata Local Board members and staff are now carefully reading the views and ideas coming from people and organisations in our area. We will then be reviewing our own budget and work programme, taking your views into account. Our next Board Meeting will be on Tuesday 18 May held at the Board Office at 52 Swanson Street, Covid willing. People can take part either in person or by Skype. (RICHARD NORTHEY)
I can be contacted at 021 534 546 or richard.northey@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz