Pippa Coom, Author at Pippa Coom

Monthly Board Report August 2013

This report covers my activities from 1 July – 31 July 2013.

Portfolios: Community, Transport- West

Positions: Grey Lynn Business Association, Newmarket Business Association (alternate)

Committees: Grants (Chair), Central Joint Funding

PORTFOLIO REPORTS

Community Development

Community Facilities

The community portfolio met the new Community Facilities team for the first time during July. For some time now we have been concerned about the standards at our halls for hire. It was good to hear that a new cleaning contractor has been in place from 1 July and that hirers are being offered the option of paying a service fee of $120 for cleaning.

We also heard from the Manager of Community Occupancy that recent hirer surveys have returned a satisfied or very satisfied of 89%.

We also raised our concern that Campbell Free Kindergarten building lease has still not been finalised due to the delay installing a new kitchen.

Graffiti

During the month I reported two lots of graffiti and was impressed with the speedy response. Within 24 hours Civic contractors called to confirm that the graffiti has been removed. Civic Contractors have recently won the contract for vandalism prevention for the Central area.

Sustainability initiatives

Environmental services are looking at how to work more effectively with community development on sustainability initiatives that have wider community benefits. During the month we had a workshop with the new Sustainability Programmes Manager and heard about a number of potential projects including “Sustainable Streets” that has been piloted by Albert – Eden Local Board and opportunities for Neighbours Day.

Anti- social behaviour in St Patrick’s Square

Residents of St Patrick’s Square have raised with Auckland Council their concern about the anti-social behaviour of skateboarders who find the Square a desirable place to skate.

These are clearly major issues that needs to be resolved. However the proposed solution of NO SKATING signs is not going to work and is unnecessary. It also adds visual pollution and reinforces negative behaviour.

We have asked the senior safety adviser to consider the international evidence that NO SIGNS are not effective and to look at other options. Such as making the square less attractive to skate and providing directions and a safe route to the skate park.

Regardless of whether a sign is in place, if anti-social behaviour does occur the Council can still act in accordance with the Nuisance by-law which prohibits the use of skateboards in a manner which may damage a public place or intimate or be dangerous or injurious or cause a nuisance to persons in the public places.

Transport

Auckland Transport’s quarterly report is on our agenda this month including an update on our Local Board agreement projects. Auckland Transport also reports on the main issues raised at our monthly catch up.

Central East- West Transport Study

Auckland’s City Centre has been diminished by the motorway “collar” and the volume of traffic travelling through the city. It is therefore great to see the work that is progressing from the vision set out in the City Centre Master plan.

We received an all of Board presentation on the study that has looked at the proposals for the key east –west routes. The proposals for Wellesley Street, Victoria Street, Quay Street and Fanshawe Street are particularly impressive and have the potential to make Auckland a walkable city where people embrace PT as the preferred option to get into the city Centre.

Parking

Auckland Transport announced in July that the St Mary’s Bay parking scheme trial would be extended for another year and the zone expanded to include Hackett Street.

A parking survey is going to Freemans Bay residents about parking concerns in their area.

Promotion of bike parking at events

Auckland Transport has a new initiative to take temporary bike parking to events and farmers markets over the summer. Last summer Auckland Transport discouraged ATEED from promoting active transport for “safety reasons” so it is great to hear about this new approach.

OTHER BOARD ACTIVITIES

Unitary Plan

July has been the month to read the extensive feedback on the Unitary Plan and to finalise the Board’s feedback (to be tabled at an extraordinary meeting on 8 August).

I have attended all of the Board’s workshops on the Unitary Plan as well as the all-day mapping workshops on 12 July and 2 August.

Release of the draft Ponsonby Road master plan

After many months of work by the Ponsonby Road master plan working group the draft Ponsonby Road Master plan was released on 26 July 2013.

The presentation speech is attached as ATTACHMENT A.

Feedback on the plan is open until 4 September.

Photos from the release event and the first pop in session held

Resource recovery centre

In July we received an update on the business case that is currently being prepared for the establishment of a facility that will provide a model for a future resource recovery network across the Auckland region. Progress has been made on identifying a suitable site that can serve the Waitemata, Puketapapa and Albert-Eden Local Board areas.

This is one of our key projects for 13/14 and is an exciting opportunity to create local jobs, minimise waste, teach new skills and make a significant contribution to the vision of Auckland becoming zero waste city. It is also complementary to the Council’s Waste Management and Minimisation Plan adopted in June 2012.

Auckland Conversations

Over the last three years we have been treated to some amazing speakers as part of the excellent Auckland Conversations series. I have learnt a huge amount from the experts about design, planning, heritage, environment and socio-economics. All topics of huge relevance to the discussion about Auckland’s future development.

Of all the speakers, Harvard Professor Edward Glaeser who visited in July, was an absolute standout. The author of the Triumph of Cities: How our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier and Happier he spoke from an international perspective about urban policy, housing affordability, road pricing, the environmental challenge and what makes a modern day competitive city.

Key points that I noted:

Future of NZ depends on Auckland thriving – Auckland has to work at attracting and retaining people which requires quality of life strategies
Cities provide pathways out of poverty. But should not ignore inequalities- the best investment is early childhood education
Government’s focus should be on providing educational and removing barriers to entry
It is for local government to manage the “demons that come with density” – such as contagious diseases, and clean water; crime and corruption; traffic congestion
Cities are the more sustainable way of living – allows for people to better protect the environment
Essential to get land use policy right to make the “magic” of cities happen
If you make it easier to build then there is less price volatility

I was particularly interested in his comments about transport infrastructure investment and road pricing. Professor Glaeser’s view is that you cannot engineer your way out of congestion. You have to charge for valuable assets such as roads and it is in fact a “Soviet approach” to give away a valuable resource for free. He pointed out Singapore as the place to have got electronic road pricing right. Road pricing is economically sound and not regressive as some argue but actually a progressive approach if the proceeds are invested in PT.

With regards to the debate about how we can intensify while protecting heritage. His view is that every time a city says no to build up saying no to a family who wants to take advantage of living in a city. He advocates not turning cities into museums as this makes them unaffordable. Also if you freeze growth then Auckland will turn into a boutique town that won’t do its job of providing opportunities for a wide range of people.

He also cautioned against community led neighbourhood planning when it is used as a tool of NIMBYs to say no to development

(An interview by Geoff Cooper, Chief Economist and Professor Glaeser is available on shapeauckland.co.nz and the video of the event is on the Council website. )

In other Auckland Conversations Joris de Bres, former Race Relations Conciliator gave a challenge to Auckland Council to lead the way by understanding the % of employees of different ethnicities at all levels of Council and working out in the community and for Council engagement to be done in the community’s own languages. He has a vision of Auckland as a multi-lingual city and supports the IMSB te reo vision.

LGNZ conference

I attended the LGNZ confererence – Transforming Communities building a successful New Zealand in Hamilton from 21- 23 July. My conference report is attached as ATTACHMENT B.

Local Board Workshops and meetings

I attended during July

Key Stakeholder workshop on 1 July – way finding systems and design presented by the creators of Legible London
Waitemata Local Board weekly workshop on 2 July
Review of Local Board community centre funding for 2013/2014 meeting on 3 July
Relationship manager meeting on 3 July with Waitemata Local Board committee chairs to review best practice for next term
Resource Recovery Facility – business case update at Puketapapa Local Board office on 3 July
Meeting with Libraries to discuss proposed property and renewals programme on 3 July
Communications catch up on 3 July
Deborah White, presentation on Auckland Art Week
Neighbourhood Planning Task Group meeting convened by Roger Blakeley on 4 July
Quay Street quick wins workshop on 9 July
Waitemata Local Board business meeting in Grey Lynn on 9 July
Meeting with Jane Bennett from Housing New Zealand Corporation to discuss a possible redevelopment they are considering in Parnell
Ponsonby Road master plan fortnightly catch up with officers
Fairtrade Auckland meeting to provide an update on Council’s implementation of Fairtrade
Waitemata Local Board weekly workshop on 11 July
All of council all day Unitary Plan mapping workshop on 12 July at the Rendezvous Hotel
Media briefing – Funding Auckland’s Transport Future report of the Consensus Building Group
Local Boards Chairs Forum on 15 July
Arch Hill Residents meeting to discuss next steps to stop the Bunning’s development on Great North Road on 15 July
Waitemata Local Board weekly workshop on 16 July
Meeting to finalise the draft Ponsonby Road master plan and confirm engagement plan
Community Development and Partnerships monthly catch up with the portfolio holders on 17 July
Meeting to discuss business case for Pioneer Women’s and Ellen Melville Hall redevelopment
Meeting with Kaaren Goodall to discuss the workshop on apartment dwellers
Meeting to discuss the cleaning, maintenance and daily operations of Waitemata community halls
Transport portfolio monthly catch up with Auckland Transport
Extraordinary Waitemata Local Board meeting on 25 July regarding the board’s Unitary Plan feedback
Placemaking Workshop with Kaaren Goodall & Frith Walker, Waterfront Auckland
Waitemata Local Board Unitary Plan discussions with Auckland Plan Committee led by Shale Chambers on 29 July
Waitemata Local Board weekly workshop on 30 July
Meeting to discuss the Waitemata Local Board Unitary Plan Feedback on 31 July
Meeting to discuss options for dealing with the anti- social behaviour in St Patrick’s Square

Events and functions

During July I attended:

Auckland Conversation presentation with leading Harvard economist 2013 Sir Douglas Myers Visiting Professor, Edward Glaeser on 1 July
Auckland Conversation: WALK London, New York and Auckland on 2 July
The Annual Travelwise Awards at the Cloud on 3 July
Seddon Fields Artificial Turf Opening on 5 July
Auckland Conversations: Cultural diversity and race relations: Reflections after a decade as New Zealand’s Race Relations Commissioner
Bad Jelly the Witch production on 12 July at the invitation of Auckland Theatre Company
Opening of Grafton Gully Cycleway Stage One on 16 July
Grey Lynn Business Association networking breakfast
LGNZ conference in Hamilton 21-23 July (conference report back attached)
St Marys Bay Association AGM – I gave an update on the draft Ponsonby Road master plan
Release of the draft Ponsonby Road master plan event at the Ponsonby Community Centre on 26 July
Stop the GCSB Bill protest on Saturday 27 July
Re-opening of Shed 10 on 31 July
Public ‘Drop-in’ Engagement Session – draft Ponsonby Road Master plan at the Leys Institute Library on 31 July

City Vision campaign launched

It was great to be at the City Vision campaign launch on Sunday 4 August with such an enthusiastic and positive buzz of candidates and supporters.

Chair Robert Gallagher welcomed Mayor Len Brown and a strong presence of MPs – local Mt Roskill MP Phil Goff, Mt Albert’s David Shearer, Jacinda Ardern and Denise Roche from Auckland Central and Carol Beaumont from Maungakiekie.

Mayor Len Brown spoke about the achievements of the first Auckland Council in the areas of affordable housing, securing the CBD Rail Link and rates restraint. He committed to continuing an inclusive approach to get things done and to ensure the old C&R ways of oppositional politics did not return.

The whole City Vision team standing for the Waitemata Local Board were there with City Vision endorsed Cr Mike Lee who is standing for the Waitemata & Gulf Ward.

City Vision has also launched a new website at www.cityvision.org.nz and campaigning is underway.

City Vision on twitter

City Vision on FB

GCSB Bill Protest

“To sin by silence when we should protest makes cowards out of men” Ella Wheeler Wilcox

The GCSB Bill provides for the unjustified intrusion into our rights to privacy. It is opposed by the NZ Law Society, the Human Rights Commission, the Privacy Commissioner and I am sure the majority of NZ’ers. We can’t sleep walk into the further erosion of our democratic rights by the National Government. Great to see all the protesters out yesterday.

Draft Ponsonby Road Masterplan consultation underway

It is really exciting to see the draft Ponsonby Road Masterplan printed and ready for feedback. I introduced the idea to set up a working group to develop a draft to the Waitemata Local Board last year. Since then Tricia Reade and I have championed the project through to a beautifully presented draft, packed with ideas to transform Ponsonby Road. We hope the draft will provoke robust discussion and feedback.

The working group made up of iwi, community representatives, stakeholders and the Ponsonby Business Association met over the last 5 months to develop the draft. It was a unique partnership approach to developing a plan that was able to build on previous community initiatives. Through the process we were also able to learn about the Māori heritage of the area. (The Council commissioned report on Māori heritage values and opportunities from in order to better engage with relevant Iwi for the project area is available here)

The draft identifies specific outcomes and provides concepts for all modes of transport, arts and culture, the streetscape and key sites.

Public consultation on the draft masterplan begins on 24 July and will continue until 4 September.

Have your say online

Community open days

Wednesday, 31 July, 11am-2pm, Leys Institute Library Ponsonby, 20 St Mary’s Road, St Marys Bay
Wednesday, 7 August, 11am-2pm, Whitespace Gallery, 12 Crummer Road, Ponsonby
Saturday, 10 August, 10am-3pm, Leys Institute Library Ponsonby, 20 St Mary’s Road, St Marys Bay
Wednesday, 28 August, 5.30pm-8.30pm, Ponsonby Community Centre, 20 Ponsonby Terrace, Ponsonby

Public meetings

Thursday, 15 August (6.30pm-8pm) Leys Institute Library Ponsonby, 20 St Marys Road, St Marys Bay

For more information, or to order hard copies of the feedback form, phone 301 01 01 and ask to speak to Alana Thurston.

Build it and they will come: Grafton Gully cycleway stage one opens

Stage one of the Grafton Gully cycleway was opened this morning by NZTA.

The 300-metre long section between Grafton Road (by the business school ) and Alten Road provides a small experience of the joys of riding on a safe, dedicated, high quality cycleway . Stage two on Churchill street is currently under construction. Stage three should start in October providing a continuous connection from Beach Road to Upper Queen Street and the NW Cycleway.

Waitemata Local Board Transport Projects

Every year Local Boards negotiate an annual agreement with the Governing Body (the Councillors and Mayor) that forms part of the Annual Plan and sets out the Board’s budget and service levels. A section of the annual agreement also includes the advocacy projects the Local Board is seeking Council Controlled Organisations like Auckland Transport, Watercare and Waterfront Auckland to deliver.

The Waitemata Local Board has a detailed list of advocacy areas to Auckland Transport for delivery as part of the Board’s 13/14 Annual Agreement. Auckland Transport reports quarterly at our monthly business meeting on our advocacy projects (next report due 13 August 2013).

Waitemata Local Board Transport advocacy areas to Auckland Transport

1. Cycle infrastructure

Auckland Transport to consult with Local Boards on the development of the Cycling Business Plan and the routes and priorities of the Auckland Cycle Network

a) Auckland Transport to improve cycle infrastructure through the completion and extension of the Auckland Cycle Network with safe, connected, dedicated cycleways.

Carlton Gore Road (painted bike lanes currently planned)
Beach Road, linking with the Grafton Gully Cycleway and with Tamaki Drive and Parnell Station
Wellesley St connection to Auckland Domain under Symonds St overbridge and on-road connection to the NZTA funded / constructed Grafton Gully Cycleway.
Parnell to the City Centre walk/cycleway, through the new underpass south of the Parnell Train Station
Nelson & Hobson Street (with separated two-way cycleways, as described in the City Centre Masterplan)

b) Auckland Transport to prioritise for upgrade, in the 2013/2014 financial year, all routes currently identified as “complete” on the Auckland Cycle Network within the Waitemata Local Board area but are not of a safe standard.

2. Traffic calming

a) Auckland Transport and the Board to work together on identifying traffic calming measures for the shopping areas in Parnell, Ponsonby, Karangahape Road and Richmond Road to support 40 km/h zones. This would include for example, raised crossings, raised intersections and kerb build-outs to narrow the road.

b) Auckland Transport to extend the trial of a slow speed zone in a residential area.

c) Auckland Transport to implement the city centre 30km/h speed zone (as described in the City Centre Masterplan).

3. Cycle safety

Auckland Transport to prioritise the installation of advance cycle stop boxes with feeder lanes including in the following locations:

i) Williamson Avenue northeast coming onto Ponsonby Road

ii) College Hill Road westbound coming onto Ponsonby Road

iii) Tamaki Drive, westbound at The Strand

iv) St Stephen’s Avenue westbound coming onto Parnell Road

v) Karangahape Road eastbound at Symonds Street, onto the Grafton Bridge

vi) Great North Road eastbound coming on to Karangahape Road.

4. Pedestrian safety

Auckland Transport to improve intersections for pedestrians with substantial foot traffic and develop solutions to improve safety and mobility for pedestrians. This includes:

All intersections with left–turn slip lanes and no pedestrian facility
Intersections with long pedestrian crossing delays.

Auckland Transport to advocate for a change of the give way rule requiring motorists to give way to pedestrians at intersections.

5. Richmond Road Safety Plan

Auckland Transport to complete the implementation of the safety improvement action plan during the 2013-2014 financial year, in conjunction with Auckland Council for the shopping areas and school zones of Richmond Road, concentrating on the following elements:

Pedestrian and cycle safety
Traffic calming and slower speeds
Urban design.

6. Franklin Road upgrade

Auckland Transport to undertake the planned upgrade of Franklin Road to provide for safe and continuous walking and cycling pathways from Ponsonby Road to Victoria Park including continuous pedestrian facilities (i.e. an unbroken footpath on both sides of the road) across all side streets, driveways and intersections (for example by installing raised tables).

7. Newmarket traffic management plan

Develop a traffic management plan for Newmarket to make traffic flow in a way that is logical and supports public transport, walking and cycling and economic development. This would include consideration of parking, arterial infrastructure, motorway access and signage.

8. Residential parking zone

Auckland Transport to implement the residential parking zone scheme to manage commuter parking in central Auckland suburbs.

9. Auckland Domain traffic management

Auckland Transport to improve walking and cycling access to and around the Domain, while discouraging commuter parking use of the Domain through:

i) Implementation of a parking scheme for the Domain that works to discourage commuter parking (e.g. through pricing)

ii) Improving walking and cycling options

Contribute to the development of a Masterplan for the Domain (to be led by Auckland Council).

10. Newmarket street upgrade

Auckland Transport to work with Auckland Council to investigate an upgrade for the western part of Teed St), York Street and Kent Street (the Eastern part of Teed St and Osborne Street having been completed in 2010.

11. Sky path

Auckland Transport to progress the Auckland Harbour pathway project (the SkyPath) for delivery in 13/14.

12. Footpaths

a) Auckland Transport to prioritise the 2013/2014 footpath renewal programme in conjunction with the Waitemata Local Board

b) Auckland Transport to create an agreed public consultation framework for the footpath renewal programme.

13. Greenways

Auckland Transport to fund and deliver the on-road components of the Waitemata Local Board greenways project prioritised for 2013/2014.

14. Auckland Transport to set the three year programme of works in collaboration with the Waitemata Local Board with regards to footpaths, road safety initiatives, cycleways, parking, greenways.

15. Auckland Transport to support other Waitemata Local Board agreement priorities including:

Support the introduction of low impact storm water solutions in the Local Board area
Support delivery of green walls, roofs and community gardens on Auckland Transport assets e.g. car park buildings
Support drinking water fountains in the street environment
Support development of the Ponsonby Road master plan
Wayfinding signage for pedestrians

Monthly Board Report: July 2013

At the Waitemata Local Board July meeting last night we approved two exciting projects:

Waitemata Greenways plan
Draft Ponsonby Road masterplan for public consultation

Board member reports are included in the agenda. My report covers my activities from 1 June – 30 June 2013.

PORTFOLIO REPORTS

Community Development

At our monthly Community portfolio meeting we welcomed Greg Whaiapu, the new Community Development Programme Manager (Central) and Kristin Fanselow, Community Development Facilitator to the team. They reported positively on the new structure of the Community Development, Arts and Culture department and how well it is falling into place. A copy of the minutes from the meeting is attached as ATTACHMENT A.

We also met during the month with the Community Centres team leader who is working on the centre contracts and funding to be covered at a whole of Board workshop on our request.

Transport

SH 16 widening

We have had two all of board workshops with Auckland Transport and NZTA to discuss the proposals for widening SH16 at the St Lukes interchange. The widening design includes improved cycling facilities such as cycle lanes on the St Lukes Road Bridge and better connections to the NW cycleway.

However from a transport perspective the proposals fall short of providing safe, continuous connections to Great North Road. Cyclists will be taken from a cycle lane and/or shared bus lane into two lanes of general traffic and through a motorway interchange. This is unacceptable for a route which is on the Auckland Cycle Network. We have asked Auckland Transport to further review the plans so that the project is not progressed in isolation to safety issues on the rest of the network.

Route optimisation – New North Road

At the Transport portfolio monthly briefing with Auckland Transport we met the route optimisation team to hear about the New North Road Project and details for improvements at two of the intersections in our Board area. Following consultation the proposals include the removal of car parking on New North Road near Exmouth Street to improve road user safety, provide an extension to the bus stop and parking limits changes to discourage commuter parking.

Parking – Freemans Bay

Following the St Marys Bay Residential Parking Zone trial Auckland Transport is undertaking a Residential parking review to develop a residential parking policy which will provide the framework for future residential parking zones.

The transport portfolio had hoped that Auckland Transport would start to implement a parking scheme in Freemans Bay this year but due to the review this is now timed for April 2014. In the meantime Freemans Bay residents will unfortunately have to continue dealing with the issues resulting from all day commuter parking which also disadvantages Ponsonby Road businesses who have limited visitor parking.

Richmond Road safety Action Plan

Further improvements are proposed for Richmond Road to increase pedestrian safety near Richmond Road School. A raised threshold on the intersection with Cockburn Street and a throat treatment to narrow the exit from Lincoln Street is currently at the design stage.

Full details of other current proposals and issues are outlined in Auckland Transport’s monthly report attached to the Board agenda.

Other board activities

Ponsonby Road master plan working group update

A final workshop of the working group was held on 17 June for the purpose of refining the options to appear in the final draft of the master plan (to be endorsed this month by the Board for public consultation).

Urbanism Plus also presented the proposed concepts from the draft plan to local board members.

A consultation plan is in the process of being drafted.

Local Board Workshops and meetings

I attended during June:

Waitemata Local Board weekly workshop on 4 June

Auckland Transport update to the Waitemata Local Board on the Sarawia Crossing options
Meeting with Peter McKinley in relation to his work on Community-Level Governance: what provision should be made and/or mandated in local government legislation
Meeting with Auckland Transport to discuss next steps for SH16 widening
Meeting with Peter Stoneham from Auckland MTB club to discuss on-going maintenance of the Arch Hill mountain bike track
Second workshop of Te Kai o Te Rangatira (TKOTR) Programme delivered by subject experts of Te Waka Angamua Maori Strategy and Relations Department (Pou Tikanga, Pou Whainga, Pou Hononga). An introduction to Tikanga and Te Reo/Maori protocol for elected representatives
Grey Lynn Business association strategy session on 10 June
Waitemata Local Board business meeting in Parnell on 11 June
Ponsonby Road master plan fortnightly catch up with officers
Waitemata Local Board weekly workshop on 13 June
Ponsonby Road Master Plan working group – Workshop 5: Draft Master Plan review
Meeting with the Board’s new community engagement adviser
Community Development and Partnerships monthly catch up with the portfolio holders
Presentation by Penny Cliffin (Unitec) – on-line arboretum tree database proposal www.unitec.ac.nz/tree
Community centre catch-up with Kate Holst and Keril Booth on 19 June
Waitemata Local Board Workshop on 20 June : Unitary Plan Feedback
Waitemata Local Board weekly workshop on 25 June
GLBA committee meeting
Tour of Keeper’s Cottage to view the Bruce Wilkinson Bequest on 25 June
Fortnightly catch up on the Ponsonby Road master plan to discuss a draft consultation plan
Be.Accessible reflections – interview with Adrian Field, Synergia
Workshop on 27 June: Unitary Plan (follow up on Local Board feedback)
Transport portfolio monthly catch up with Auckland Transport
Grafton Gully Cycleway Stage 3 site visit with Scott Wickman, NZTA

Tricia Reade, Pippa Coom, Christopher Dempsey, Greg Moyle

Above left the “money shot” on the Grafton Gully Cycleway looking towards Rangitoto.

Events and functions

During June I attended:

Richmond Rovers Centenary Family Day Opening Ceremony on 3 June (photos below)
Three Exhibitions Opening on 4 June at Art station for the Auckland Festival of Photography
We know Auckland – RIMU hosted Keynote address, Out of the Valley of Death into Networks, Dame Anne Salmond, Distinguished Professor of Màori Studies and Anthropology at the University of Auckland and New Zealander of the Year 2013.
Cycle Action’s Associations Breakfast at the Auckland Art Gallery 6 June
Puketapapa Local Board greenways opening (photos below
Celebration of Auckland as a Peace City at the invitation of Laurie Ross, Peace Foundation at the SGINZ Centre in Elleslie 8 June
Freemans Bay community garden working bee on Sunday 9 June (see photos below)
Grey Lynn Business Association networking drinks at the Richmond Rovers Rugby League Club
Matariki Festival launch at the Auckland Museum
Blessing Ceremony for ASB North Wharf at the invitation of Waterfront Auckland
Opening of the Coxes Bay boardwalk and bridge on 15 June (photos below)
Opening night of Anne Boleyn at Q Theatre at the invitation of Auckland Theatre Company
Conscious Consumer function
Myers Park Public Open Day on Sunday 23 June (photo below left of local resident Gael checking out the development plans)
Mayor in the Chair at the Grey Lynn Community Centre on 25 June
Auckland Conversation on 27 June: Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, Brisbane: Economic and Environmental Sustainability
Cycle Action presentation – Why do cyclist’s run red lights?
Safe School Travel Plan Launch at Newmarket School assembly on 28 June

Richmond Rovers Family day opening ceremony

Freemans Bay community garden working bee

Letter to the editor: Cycling myths

Peter Calder’s excellent opinion piece on cycling last week ( $10 billion for transport but how about bikes? ) provoked a typical letter to the editor along the lines that cyclists should be registered and are bludgers.

I fired off a quick response to the NZ Herald and was surprised to see it published today:

The view that cyclists do not deserve to be on the road because they do not pay for them is based on a myth. Cyclists along with everybody else contribute by paying taxes and rates. It is time for Aucklanders to embrace the huge economic, environmental and social benefits to be realised from investment in cycling infrastructure

Opening of the new Coxs Bay Bridge and Boardwalk

I remember when the original boardwalk was built by Muldoon’s PEP workers in about 1983. Since then I’ve used this route heaps but was always weary about falling into the creek especially more recently as the boardwalk deteriorated. So it is great to see the boardwalk replaced and upgraded to a width of 2.5m to create a proper shared path. This is a Waitemata Local Board funded project that is the start of our Greenways network. The connection from Coxs Bay to Grey Lynn Park and then on to the NW Cycleway is our priority route (the Greenways Plan will be on our July agenda).

Photos from the opening today

Monthly Board report June 2013

This report covers my activities from 1 May – 31 May 2013.

Unitary Plan

May has been dominated by the draft Unitary Plan engagement process leading up to the final day for feedback on 31 May. During the month member Tricia Reade and I, with fantastic support from officers, organised additional information sessions across the Waitemata Local Board area.

Photos from information sessions in Grey Lynn, Parnell and Ponsonby

During the month we held information sessions at:

Grey Lynn Farmers Market
Parnell Farmers Market
Station Square, Newmarket
Leys Institute Library
Grey Lynn Community Centre

I also attended Unitary Plan meetings hosted by the Herne Bay Residents Association, Grey Lynn Business Association/Grey Lynn Residents Association and the Newmarket Community Committee.

Next steps in the development of the draft Unitary Plan (as reported by the Mayor on 30 May)

Council officers will now summarise all community and stakeholder feedback on the plan by theme and locality
During June and July, workshops will be held with local boards and key stakeholders on specific issues
The final draft plan will then be published and formally notified later this year
The council will then enter a formal consultation period, where Aucklanders will have the opportunity to make formal submissions

Community Funding

The Central Joint Funding Committee met on 23 May to distribute funds from the Community Group Assistance Fund (second and final round for 13/14). The committee is made up of representatives from the Local Boards in the old Auckland City Council area.

The minutes of the committee are available on the Council website

The Waitemata Local Board community grant committee also met during May to consider applications to the fourth and last round of this financial year 12/13. Recommendations for the allocation of the remaining $18,538.00 (from $80,000 for 12/13) are on this month’s agenda.

Transport

The Transport portfolio monthly briefing with Auckland Transport took place on 30 May. We covered:

Proposed Grey Lynn shops bus stop changes
Richmond Road Safety Action Plan update
Union Street/Victoria Street Intersection investigation of keep clear markings
Poynton Terrace- consideration of whether AT can install the proposed crossing from St Kevins Arcade to the park as part of the Myers Park upgrade
Ponsonby Road bike corral proposal (see below)
The Domain traffic calming improvements which are due to start this month (for completion by September)
Motor cycle parking issues in the City Centre- options to charge motor cycles for all day on street parking (which is currently difficult to enforce under the new City Centre Parking scheme)
Bike parking – proposals for bike parking in the City centre

Full details of current proposals and issues are outlined in Auckland Transport’s monthly report attached to the Board agenda.

Bike Corral on Ponsonby Road

With the support of the Transport portfolio and the Ponsonby Business Association Auckland Transport has chosen 264 Ponsonby Road as the location for a six month trial of Auckland’s first bike corral. This will be an on-street bike parking facility with capacity for 10 bikes designed to best suit the street environment of Ponsonby Road.

There is now plenty of research to show the economic benefits of encouraging cycling.

http://momentummag.com/features/how-bicycles-bring-business/

The proposed design was consulted on during May. Construction is scheduled for late June.

Transport infrastructure

Geoff Lawler, Director of City Planning and Infrastructure – City of Melbourne, visited Auckland during May. I attended a discussion forum with him for officers and elected representatives on planning for future growth.

Geoff gave an overview of the infrastructure strategy and the projects that have been implemented to cope with the rapid growth and densification of the city of Melbourne. I was particularly interested in Melbourne’s new transport strategy which sets key directions and targets for a growing city. Around 800,000 people move through the city every day; this is expected to increase to more than one million by 2030.

Melbourne has bold mode share targets and is aiming to be a walking and cycling city.

Mobility by mode – getting into the city centre

Mode	Current mode Share	2030 target
Walking	3%	8%
Cycling	4%	12%
Car	47%	20%
PT	46%	60%

Traffic volumes plateaued in 2005 for a number of factors. PT became a viable alternative due the influence of the Commonwealth Games 2006, there was a political imperative to improve PT and a price shock.

Key messages:

Divide intersections by predominant mode not dominate use
In Melbourne the move to a metro system and the development of a new $4bn underground line is considered essential transport infrastructure
Car use is discouraged for commuter trips – use is focused on for short term business trips
Private car parking discouraged with the introduction of a tax in 2006

More information at www.Melbourne.vic.gov.au/futuregrowth

Ponsonby Road master plan working group update

An option identification and development workshop was held with the working group, iwi reps and invited guests on 22 May. The UrbanismPlus team together with Council planning officers presented a range of concepts covering Transport, Open space and Arts, Culture and Heritage and Land Use + Key sites.

The concepts and feedback from the workshop will be presented at workshop in June to Board members.

Other board activities

Local Board Workshops and meetings

I attended during May:

Meeting to finalise Waitemata Greenways Plan & report back on public consultation on 1 May
Monthly catch up with Ashley Church, Newmarket Business Association and update for NBA Board
Unitary Plan information display at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market on Sunday 5 May
Meeting with Arch Hill residents on 6 May to discuss the Bunnings development proposal on Great North Road
Waitemata Local Board Workshop on 7 May
Ponsonby Road master plan fortnightly catch up with officers
Waitemata Good Citizen Awards: consideration of nominations
Waterfront Auckland presentation on the Heritage walk proposal “ Sea Auckland”
Planning team update to the Board on the draft project execution plans for K’rd and Newton Precinct Plans
Meeting to discuss Grey Lynn Precinct Plan and Unitary Plan feedback with Planning team and GLBA representatives
Unitary plan meeting with representatives from GLBA, GLRA and GLUE on 10 May
Unitary Plan information display at the Parnell Farmers Market on Saturday 11 May
Selection Panel meeting for Waitemata Good Citizens nominations
Waitemata Local Board business meeting at Graham Street on 14 May
ATEED update, Heritage Hotel on 15 May
Waitemata Local Board Workshop 16 May
Getting Parking Right for Auckland Seminar Part 2 with Todd Litman hosted by the Board, Auckland Transport and AECOM on 16 May
LGNZ Zone One meeting in Otorohanga on 17 May
Funding Auckland’s Transport Future – Local Board briefing 20 May
Unitary Plan information display in Station Square, Newmarket on 20 May
Community Development and Partnerships monthly catch up with the portfolio holders
GLBA committee meeting
Ponsonby Road Master Plan – Option Development Workshop 22 May
Central Joint Funding Committee 23 May
Discussion forums with Geoff Lawler – Director of City Planning and Infrastructure – City of Melbourne
Unitary Plan information display at the Leys Institute Library on 28 May
Placemakers meeting hosted by Waterfront Auckland
Waitemata Local Board workshop on 28 May
Unitary Plan information display at the Grey Lynn Community Centre on 28 May
Meeting to discuss the Board’s Funding Auckland’s Future submission
Meeting with Alison Sutton from COMET to discuss Education Snapshot
Meeting with community portfolio holders to discuss Waitemata Local Board’s community centre operational subsidies 2013/2014
Waitemata Local Board Grants Committee on 30 May
Briefing session by Auckland Council Property Limited to Local Board members on ACPL’s portfolio review, process for disposal and acquisition role
Transport portfolio monthly catch up with Auckland Transport
Fortnightly catch up on the Ponsonby Road master plan progress
Auckland Neighbourhood Planning Task Group meeting on 31 May with Roger Blakeley

Events and functions

During May I attended:

NZ Music Commission launch of NZ Music Month on Lorne Street on 1 May
Cycle Action’s Associations Breakfast at the Auckland Art Gallery
Opening of All Fresco Art Festival at the invitation of KBA and First Thursday events on K’rd on 2 May
Fairtrade’s Fairly Funny: a lunchtime comedy for fairtrade fortnight (at the invitation of Fairtrade NZ) on 3 May
Oxfam’s Biggest Coffee Break on 6 May
Herne Bay Residents Association AGM on 8 May
Growing Sustainable Communities – How to establish and maintain a Transition Town group workshop at the GLCC on 12 May
Citizenship ceremony on 13 May at the Auckland Town Hall
Newmarket Community Committee Unitary Plan presentation and meeting 17 May
Official opening of Pt Resolution Bridge on 21 May (including the installation of a cycle gutter –see photo)
Council hosted one day event: Lifting our Game – Thriving Neighbourhoods in Action
Transport Forum hosted by Puketapapa Local Board
Breast Cancer Breakfast at Sky City at the invitation of the Mayoress
Sustainable Business Network AGM on 29 May (I am a member of SBN)
Good Citizen Awards presentation evening on 30 May

Congratulations to all those individuals and groups acknowledged at the Good Citizen Awards for their outstanding voluntary contribution to the community.

A quick round up of Unitary Plan feedback

In the final days of feedback on the draft Unitary Plan I am impressed with the focus and attention to detail that has been put into a number of template submissions on the plan. These templates do the hard work of analysing many of the complex rules in the proposals and pull together the key issues.

Here are my favourites so far that I will be using for my own personal feedback:

Auckland Transport Blog

Grey Lynn Residents Association – Quick feedback template

Generation Zero – Quick feedback

Environmental Defense Society (all 71 pages!)

Greens

I also really enjoyed reading Russell Brown’s A Plea for Sanity on the Unitary Plan

The feedback form is available here . Due by 5pm on Friday 31 May

(Received an email from the 2040 group asking you to give feedback? Read this first before using any of the content – unfortunately it is highly misleading)

A selection of photos from the Waitemata Local Board’s unitary plan adventures

The long and winding Richmond Road

This appeared in the May edition of Ponsonby News

Book-ended by café Jafa and a new shopping strip at one end and Ponsonby Central at the other, Richmond Road offers a diverse range of unique neighbourhood experiences as it meanders its way through Grey Lynn.

Along the way there are two schools, three churches, the Buddhist Centre, Community centre, local shops, cool bars, fabulous cafes, boutique retail and of course the variety of the West Lynn shops dominated by the long serving Harvest Wholefoods. Richmond Road hosts the Grey Lynn Farmers Market on Sundays, the Car Boot market and Kraftbomb at the end of every month as well as the Grey Lynn RSC and West Lynn Street party nights.

There are also surprises on route. See if you can spot the “guerilla” flower and herb garden, a shop window art installation, the teddies playing in a large tree and the swing-by community library nestled in a front fence (a clue is the swing out front). Majestic Carlile House sits eerily vacant waiting for a deal to be struck between the church owners and Council so this historic relic can be gracefully restored. I’ve heard many people who work or live along its length say they love Richmond Road for the vibrant atmosphere, the eclectic mix of heritage houses and the easy connections to everything the wider Grey Lynn/Ponsonby area has to offer.

All the activity on Richmond Road , including the recent opening of Farro Fresh, however has also resulted in increased traffic and a diminishing pedestrian experience. After more than four years of raising concerns about the safety of students, Richmond Road School has been successful in Auckland Transport taking action to install a range of traffic calming measures including new signage, markings and raised strips to encourage slower speeds.

These improvements are being undertaken as part of the overall Richmond Road Safety Action Plan which is a Waitemata Local Board initiative. We are working with Auckland Transport to target the shopping areas and schools zones concentrating on pedestrian and cycle safety and traffic calming together with good urban design to provide enhanced overall attractiveness and amenity.

The next priority for action is the West Lynn shopping area to tackle the on- going issues regarding the speed of traffic, illegal parking, and concerns for pedestrian safety. Other priorities include the zone where Countdown, Mitre 10 and Farro Fresh converge and the intersection of Richmond Road and Peel Street (by the Little Grocer ). The Board’s proposed Greenways Route will add a new dimension to Richmond Road by providing a link between Grey Lynn Park and Coxs Bay.

By taking a “complete street” urban design approach and working to make people the priority, Richmond Road has the potential to offer an even greater destination experience and not just a circular route through Grey Lynn