You could be forgiven for having 'consultation fatigue' after the recent Have Your Say events, but it was hugely beneficial for the Waitemata Local Board, with almost 1500 submissions on the 10-year budget and local priorities.
There was 81% support for the targeted rate to stop sewage going into the Waitemata Harbour to reverse years of under investment. Your environmental concern was also seen in 69% support for the natural environment targeted rate.
The Mayor’s proposal to keep average rates increases at a 2.5% received 63% support. You also gave your Local Board’s priorities for the next year a combined 83% support or partial support, which was hugely gratifying. We will know by the end of May whether the development of 254 Ponsonby Road ('Ponsonby Park'), the Local Board’s priority capital project, will receive funding in council’s budget.
What was also helpful was the trouble so many of you took to point out other areas where you think we can do more. There was support for additional Auckland Art Gallery and arts funding, for Victoria Quarter city centre improvements, for the Vision Zero approach to road safety to be included in the Auckland Plan 2050, and requests to better prioritise pedestrians.
Another strong theme was around homelessness, with calls for more support. We are looking at improving city centre public facilities such as toilets, showers and lockers, and would like the governing body to include in the 10-year budget financial support for Auckland City Mission’s HomeGround project on Hobson Street.
The waste plan was also consulted on, and received 130 submissions, with your views presented as part of the Local Board’s feedback at the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan hearing early in May. There was strong community support for ramping up approaches to reducing waste and looking at waste as a resource such as working with Central Government to introduce product stewardship and container deposit schemes.
The monkey bars are back!
When the bars went as part of a Grey Lynn Park playground upgrade, then eight-year-olds Ila and Jaya Patel were not impressed. Organising a petition, they presented it to Mt Albert MP, and now Prime Minster, Jacinda Ardern at a Grey Lynn Primary School assembly I was at with my colleague, Adriana Avendano Christie.
The ‘bring back monkey bars’ petition attracted 210 signatures and the girls, who are now nine, also spoke at a board meeting. We were delighted to fund monkey bars that still fit the overall playground design for smaller children, but which the girls have found a good height for the tricks they enjoy. Democracy in action. Congratulations to Ila and Jaya, and to all of you who shared your passions for Waitemata. (PIPPA COOM)