Winter has brought gloom and not yet enough rain for our power supply and certainty over summer supply. It has also bought another Covid-19 lockdown.
If we all obey the lockdown rules, not use playgrounds, sports grounds, or other shared facilities, we should be able to come through again. I have had both my Covid jabs, which I hope you all will ensure that you get as soon possible. The Auckland Council received a well-deserved award in recognition for the best response by a council to the challenge of Covid and we will continue to be proactive in supporting our community.
At our last Waitematā Local Board meeting on August 17 we attracted 16 presentations from local people in public forum. The Board appreciates the effort these people made, and the Board undertakes to take their ideas into account in our future decision-making.
At the meeting we formally approved the Board’s Annual Report for financial year 2020/2021. We congratulated Council’s staff for completing over 100 projects and activities in spite of the pandemic. These included the completion and opening of the Western Springs Lakeside Park Playspace, the new changing rooms at Grey Lynn Park, the Home Reserve Playground, and the Heard Park Plunket Rooms. We also saw renewals of Studio One, Pt Erin Park and the light pathways on Western Park. Agrichemical free maintenance of four major parks was continued as well as initiating a no mow pilot in part of Grey Lynn Park, shortly to be trialled in other parks. Our Parnell Festival of Roses was a success and we supported Festival Italiano, Artweek, the Grey Lynn Festival and the Santa Parade.
Another decision from our August Local Board meeting was to agree to the sale of a Council property at 19 Jervois Road. We did this to raise funds for the restoration of the Leys Institute buildings. Our resolutions required that the sale proceeds go towards the restoration of the Leys buildings, noted that a start had been made on developing a detailed business case for this restoration and urging that restoration work on the site commence as soon as practicable. Council will offer advice and support to Plunket and to the Ponsonby Toy Library to relocate their services and move the Michael Joseph Savage memorial fountain to be protected on a nearby Council property.
Because of revenue loss caused by Covid-19, Council’s Long-Term Plan provides for spending of only $27 million over the next four years for seismic strengthening projects across the whole region. The restoration of the Leys Institute alone would cost more than half that. Council has asked the Board to make a substantial contribution, particularly through sale of nearby Council properties such as 3 Ponsonby Road and rental properties associated with the Leys Institute. If these do not raise sufficient funds, a targeted rate could be consulted on for the Western Bay area to ensure the Leys Institute restoration can proceed.
The Waitematā Local Board’s top priority projects it lobbied for in the Long-Term Plan - the restoration of the Leys Institute for public use and the creation of the Ponsonby Park at 254 Ponsonby Road, remain our top priorities. There is no specific money in the Long-Term Plan for Ponsonby Park, although the Board secured half the value of the project from another property sale, which was to be matched by Council before Covid-19 intervened. Ponsonby Park supporters have suggested that Council go ahead with half the project, being the design and open space development, in the meantime. However, the Board would need formally to decide to put the first stage in next financial year’s work programme.
The Waitematā Local Board remains actively concerned about continuing issues related to homelessness and sometimes related anti-social and criminal behaviour in accommodation and on the streets in town centres in the Waitematā Local Board area. We have written again to the Government seeking the identification and appointment of a public agency to take the lead to ensure effective co-ordination and lasting solutions for these issues. I chaired a meeting of the Alcohol and Community Safety in the central City Working Party on 13 August about this. Council, Police, Noise Control, and other agencies resolved to work together to make our streets safer at all times of the day and night and I reported on this on ZB news that night.
Our Board will once again be holding its Good Citizens Awards Ceremony in late November. Nominations for the awards will be open and welcomed from 20 September. (RICHARD NORTHEY)
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for information about making a nomination: www.facebook.com/waitemata
I can be contacted at richard.northey@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or T: 021 534 546.
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Published 3 September 2021